A Chicago-based accountant walks us through a week of thoughtful spending, from skincare splurges to shared expenses.
Age: 29
Location: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Accountant
Estimated Annual Salary: $96,000 – $131,988
Marital Status: In a relationship, cohabitating
Total Spending This Week: $748.03
Day 1 — Monday
💸 Spent: $0
Zoe kicks off the week with a no-spend day. She had leftovers from grilling burgers on Sunday, biked to her dentist appointment (covered by insurance), and reflected on her financial habits. “It’s not an infrequent occurrence,” she says of no-spend days.
Zoe, we all aspire to be the same!
🗓️ Day 2 – Tuesday
Total spent: $0
Another no-spend day thanks to a full day of in-office meetings — meals were covered.
“I’m an accountant, so I look at money, and I see money all day, every day for my job,” Zoe says. “So I think sometimes not spending money doesn’t register as much to me, or maybe it registers more, so sometimes I’m not really sure. I think that’s why I like being an accountant. I can see money in this way and look at it more analytically, and I don’t really think about it as much in my personal life, on those kinds of days.”
🗓️ Day 3 – Wednesday
Total spent: $174.73
- Gas: $39.00
- Whole Foods groceries + water bottle: $70.36
- Electric bill: $65.37
Zoe describes this as a “pretty big day” for spending.
“I definitely splurge on food… and sometimes I buy things like a water bottle, which I feel a little guilty about. But I don’t often buy material things, so I grant myself some grace there.”
She also reflected on her savings habits: “I’m trying to save for a house, and I save close to 36% of my gross salary, so I’m not really buying that much every single month.”
🗓️ Day 4 – Thursday
Total spent: $361.91
- Credo Beauty haul: $227.16
- Bus fare: $2.25
- Groceries (incl. light bulbs, ice pack): $43.34
- Amazon order (vacuum filters, spray bottles): $88.16
- Date night dinner with partner: $180 (covered via shared spreadsheet)
“I replenished my skincare and beauty products… It’s something I like purchasing for myself and always feels like a fun treat.”
She and her partner track shared expenses, including utilities, groceries, and nights out. “We check in once a week or so to see where we’re tracking. Usually, we’re pretty even by the end of the month,” she says.
🗓️ Day 5 – Friday
Total spent: $189.42
- People’s Gas bill: $150.42
- Gym membership (monthly): $39.00
- Tonic water at bar: ~$0 (covered by boyfriend)
Zoe highlighted the value of her gym: “It’s a local gym with great classes. If I go 10–12 times a month, it’s a pretty inexpensive per-visit cost.”
She also talked about flexibility with spending in her relationship: “Sometimes he pays for things in cash and doesn’t track it. I don’t think he’s necessarily tracking as much.”
🗓️ Day 6 – Saturday
Total spent: $47.45
- Groceries for lunch and dinner: $47.45
The couple went to the beach, found free parking, and Zoe resisted the urge to shop.
“I think there was an interest in spending some money, seeing people at the beach. I want a new bathing suit. I did a little bit of online browsing today, but a lot of times when I do this, it’s good to sit on it and then realize, usually the next day, that I don’t really want or need those things.”
Day 7 – Sunday
Total spent: $14.66
- Fabric from local store: $14.66
Zoe bought a pink cat-print fabric on impulse, but doesn’t regret it.
“I liked supporting them as a local business, and I want to go back and visit them and get more items from them, and go to some of their events. So it was nice to establish that.”
💬 Final Reflections
Total spent: $748.03
“A lot of it was intentional. A lot of it was pre-planned. A small amount was impulse. And that is how I try to live my life.”
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