A Week In Sydney As A Portfolio Director On $270,000

Occupation: Portfolio Director
Industry: Banking and Finance
Age: 42
Location: Sydney
Salary: $270,000
Net Worth: $2.45 million ($200,000 in savings, $10,000 in shares, $450,000 in superannuation, and a property worth $2.5 million.)
Debt: $710,000 remaining on my mortgage.
Paycheque Amount (Monthly): $14,800
Pronouns: She/Her

Mortgage: $3,993. I am a single parent with two kids. I have a new partner but we don’t live together.
Credit Card: My credit card usually has $5,000 on it, which I pay off in full each month.
Joint Account: My ex-partner and I both pay $3,500/month into a joint account which is for the kid's expenses. This covers school fees, extracurriculars, sports, and all things kids related. This also includes future funds for the kids’ high school education.
Other Contributions: I also contribute $1,500 to my new partner each month for staying over at theirs about half the time (when I don’t have the kids).
Phone: $60
NBN: $75
Health Insurance: $200
Home Insurance: $150
Car Insurance: $100. I do not own a car but I borrow my dad’s and cover the running costs.
Utilities: $200
Fuel: $300
Groceries: $600
Entertainment/Eating Out: $1,500

Yes. I completed combined bachelor's degrees in science and commerce at The University of Sydney. I put it on HECS and repaid the debt (which was around $30,000) thanks to a combination of savings and parental support within five years of graduation. That was a long time ago though!

There was no direct conversation with my parents about money, but their attitude was shown through their frugal behaviours. Mum would always look for the best price in everything and Dad would just hand over his pay. Although both my parents worked, Mum was the one controlling the household budget. Dad dabbled in shares from time to time, but it was more of a hobby than an investment. 

My parents used to squabble over money about what to spend and how to spend it. I think it had a strong effect on me, but more on a personal relationship level than financially.

I worked at Hungry Jack's when I finished Year 12. I was very keen and jealous when my friends started getting jobs around Year 10, but I could never get one. My parents were still supporting me and I was still living at home so I didn’t need a job, but I was getting bored. But after that summer stint, I started working at Myer with good hours and made a good amount while I was at uni.

No, not really. I was really careless with money when I was young and spent a lot on frivolous shopping and clothes using money I earned from part-time jobs. However my parents’ arguments over money made me realise that the saying "money doesn't buy happiness" is very true — while my family was comfortable, my parents started getting quite resentful of each other because of their constant budgeting.

Yes, every minute! I have a budget that tracks my spending each month and a forecast of my savings goal for the next 12 months. It’s part of my upbringing and part of my job as I work with numbers and forecasts each day. I also worry about my kids’ future, especially being a single parent.

Probably 20, when I was at uni. I officially moved out of home when I finished uni around 22. I did have a safety net and knew I could always ask for financial help from my parents, but I rarely did. I became a supersaver once I left home! I used to save half of my pay without fail!

I receive a few hundred dollars in dividends from the shares I own that I acquired through employee schemes from previous work. I haven't received any inheritance. I did receive some money from the Bank of Mum and Dad to help out with my deposit when I bought my first property in my late 20s. I had saved $60,000 and my parents kindly topped up that deposit with the same amount. For that, I am forever grateful. It enabled me to purchase a two-bedroom unit in the Inner West before the price really shot up. I am very thankful for what they had done for me and can only wish I could do the same for my kids when they get older.

7:00am — I wake up when the sun is shining through the windows. I roll over and decide I'll sleep in until 7:30am. Kids are not up yet — we are just not morning people and they're usually in bed late, around 9:30pm. I end up staying up way too late after they go to sleep so I can have 'me time'. I have a mental count to remind myself what I needed to do today. Monday is usually my WFH day — I love having a slower start to the week and not needing to rush from school drop-off to the office.

7:30am — Finally drag myself out of bed. Make the older kid a Nutella sandwich and heat up a bacon and cheese roll for the younger kid for brekky. I don’t eat breakfast and haven’t done for years unless I get super hungry in the morning. I do have a large coffee most mornings though, which I usually make from the Nespresso machine if I’m home. Alternatively, my coffee-addicted partner, J., will often buy me one from a reputable cafe. He is a coffee snob!

7:45am — I try to get dressed as I yell at my kids to eat and get ready for school. Post Covid, my kids are obsessed with their electronic devices to the point of no return! 

8:15am — Rush out the door. Start the car for the short drive to school drop off. 

8:40am — Back home. Make a Nespresso. Message J. to say good morning. Get ready to turn on the laptop, but not before a quick scroll on the phone.

9:00am — Finally start work. It's boring and I'm feeling sleepy. I’ve been at my job for ten years now — I started as the only one in the team but with business growth, I was promoted and now have a team to support the more standard day-to-day tasks. The work itself is challenging and involves a lot of numbers and financial analysis, as well as legal documentation review. I mostly enjoy it and do get a lot of autonomy, but I've started to feel more pressure from management due to inflation and interest rate rises. 

1:00pm — Exercise time. I go for a 7km run around the water. It is a privilege to live so close to the water, albeit not right on the beach.

2:00pm — Quick lunch with some butter and Vegemite toast and a cup-a-soup. I loved powdered soup for some strange reason. 

3:30pm — Kids are home from school and get ready for after--school activities.

4:00pm — Drop off kids for dance and basketball practice. Head into Chemist Warehouse to fill a script for one kid’s eczema. Walk out with a random assortment of things, including a L’Oréal eyeliner (they are the best after trying various expensive and drugstore brands!), hair colour, dry shampoo and other bits and pieces. $106.96

4:20pm — On the way back, it's cold and windy. Happen to walk past a boutique that has a cosy fleece jacket. I realise I left my other proper jacket at J.’s, so I decide to get this for only $29! I also pick up a bottle of vodka ($60) and a birthday card for my kid’s friend ($2.95). I was drinking a lot during Covid and I'm now trying to cut down on wine. I read that vodka and sparkling water is a healthier option, as long as I don’t down a bottle each time! $91.95

5:00pm — Pick up kids and drop them off at their Dad’s for the night. We have a very collaborative arrangement in terms of our shared custody and it would be unusual for me to not see the kids every day.

6:00pm — Arrive at J.’s. He's cooked chicken curry for dinner. Yum! I mix a vodka drink for me. J. is mostly a beer drinker, so he passed. 

8:00pm — Log back onto work.

11:00pm — Finished work and head to bed. But not before looking at my phone again and chatting to J. while he's in bed studying for his post-grad. 

7:00am — Today I'm working in the office. Cuddle J. until we absolutely have to wake up. 

8:00am — Leave for work. We usually drive to the city even though public transport would probably take the same amount of time. Traffic is heavy as usual. 

8:45am — Car is parked. J. gets coffee for us. His shout. 

10:00am — Our weekly team meeting. This is getting tedious and is unfortunately quite draining given the way the economy is headed. Today we talk about potential sales of some of our assets to get some capital back to our firm.

1:00pm — 7km run around the Botanic Gardens to clear my head. It is such a beautiful course and I can never get sick of the view. The fact it is pretty flat and without hills is a plus!

2:00pm — Have a tuna salad for lunch using ingredients I brought in. I look at my banking apps and realise an Afterpay payment has gone through for the dryer I bought a few weeks ago. The old one sadly died after a good five years of solid use! $112.25

5:00pm — Leave work to pick up kids from school. The younger one has soccer training tonight.

7:30pm — Drop off kids at their Dad’s for the night and arrive at J.’s. He's made nachos for dinner tonight. I have another vodka mix.

9:00pm — Check my work emails and reply to a few.

11:00pm — Snuggle in bed with J.

7:00am — Another day in the office. Roll over and snuggle with J. I have been waking up during the night with a few work issues on my mind so any extra time lying down is welcome!

8:40am — Leave for work. It's my shout for coffee today. $9.49

9:00am — I have been dealing with some serious issues with work, so this morning I have a workshop with some internal stakeholders. 

1:00pm — Go for a run to clear my head. I was supposed to meet up with J., but he's gotten stuck with some urgent work, so I run alone. It is nice to work in the city together. That was actually how we met — we used to work in the same building. No dating apps here!

2:00pm — Another home brought tuna salad for lunch. I do my budget while at lunch and pay off one of my credit cards in full before the due date ($697.39). I have three credit cards — one for kids' expenses and two for personal expenses. $697.39

5:30pm — Leave work. J. and I both have to go pick up the kids tonight. He picks up his kid and I pick up my younger one while the older one is at dance class.

6:30pm — We all meet up for dinner at the pub. Tonight is burger night, so the kids share a beef burger with fries and some pink lemonade. J. and I also get the burger special, but we grab the spicy chicken. I also grab him a Coke and a red wine for myself. I've been looking around for food deals as we go out two or three times a week with the kids and it adds up. Sometimes we have Thai, but the pub usually has some good deals midweek. I pay for tonight's meals. $71.50

8:30pm —  Home time. Usual routine of getting the kids to do their homework and packing lunches for tomorrow.

9:30pm — Usher kids to bed while I check work emails and reply to a few. Then it's bedtime for me.

7:00am — Up and go! Older kid has choir practice this morning, so our school run is a little early. Then I pick up J. and we head into the city for work.

10:00am — More meetings.

12:00pm — Go for a walk to clear my head. Today I walk to Chinatown which is about 1.5km each way. I get some malatang for lunch at a food court near Town Hall. You basically choose all the ingredients and get them weighed and they cook it for you. I like my spice, so it really hits the spot! $23.06

1:30pm — Back at work. This week, I don’t have any external face-to-face meetings, so most of them are done via Zoom. I read up on a couple of operating reports on our clients to prepare for a project update call at 2pm.

2:00pm — Dial into the call. Usually, these calls are online meetings where all stakeholders will join and discuss all operational and financial issues. Sometimes it goes for ages, but today is thankfully only for an hour.

3:30pm — I drink a can of Coke from the kitchen as a pick-me-up. There are always a few soft drinks cans lying around from previous client meetings (which will usually have catering). I take a peek at the beer and wine fridge which is well stocked but for good reasons, securely locked.

4:00pm — Continue to multitask with report reading, sorting out emails to action and checking in with the deliverables my team is working on. I always offer help but usually, my role is about reviewing the work before getting formal approval further up the chain.

5:30pm — Leave work and pick up my younger kid. My older kid is already at dance class again. We tried everything — sports, musical instruments, but in the end, they decided on dance. She now does three afternoons and one Saturday per week which is full-on, but I just love that she's doing something that isn't on her phone!

6:30pm — Meet J. and his kid for dinner. Tonight we are having Macca's! I don’t usually have Macca's but the kids love it. I use points from my Macca's app and only spend $1 for a frozen Coke. I also get nuggets for the kids and see there's a special in the app for a Big Mac meal with an extra cheeseburger, so I pay for it using points. I give J. the Big Mac and have the cheeseburger myself. I also nibble on some fries and nuggets. Definitely over burgers after two nights in a row. $1

8:00pm — Home and usual evening routines. Homework, packing lunches, kids showered. 

11:00pm — Lights out and message J. to say good night. 

7:00am — Up and get kids ready. Usual Nutella sandwich for older kid and cheese and bacon roll for the younger one. 

8:30am — Today there is a Mother’s Day assembly at school. I take the kids to the school hall and wait with masses of families.

9:00am — Assembly finally starts. The kids are at a Christian school so assembly is held in the chapel. The usual presentation and prayers, followed by a morning tea next door on the school grounds. I pick up a pastry box which is a gift. Before Covid, it would be impossible to go to these types of events at school during work hours, like swimming and athletics carnivals. So if there is one thing positive coming out of Covid, it is the flexibility that remains — hopefully, we won’t ever need to be in the office five days a week! I’m also lucky to have been at the same workplace for ten years, so I do get quite a lot of autonomy.

10:30am — Head home to start work. I give my kids $20 for the school's gift stall so they can choose something for me. I may or may not have asked them to get me only candles! $20

1:00pm — One of the work issues has been resolved! To celebrate getting my boss off my back, I go for a run.

3:30pm — Kids are home and we have snacks. I make some fish and chips in the air fryer for us, which also doubles as a late lunch for me. I also pay a fee for the kids' basketball games. $135

6:00pm — Drop kids off at their Dad’s and head over to J.’s. He has some work issues to deal with as well as an assignment due, so I sit on the couch and catch up on some work half-heartedly.

8:00pm — We decide to get KFC for dinner (J. pays). Then we watched Rabbit Hole while we eat. This is the first season with Kiefer Sutherland which reminds me a bit of 24. 

11:00pm — Bedtime! I love spending time with my kids but the alone time with J. is important too (especially for my sanity).

9:00am — I love a weekend sleep-in! We laze around for a bit longer. I have every second weekend without the kids, so we're able to spend this weekend alone. Having said that, I still see them maybe for a few hours, usually at a soccer game or picking them up from dance. I miss my kids too much if I don’t get to see them the whole weekend!

10:00am — J. goes to get us coffee. Before I met him, I would not have coffee every day and didn't mind the odd instant or capsule coffee. But like I said, he is a coffee snob!

11:00am — J. needs to study so I do bits of tidying up. Laundry, folding clothes, cleaning the kitchen. I don’t do the bathroom cleaning though. I’m a true believer to keep it reasonably clean at all times so it doesn’t require a deep clean.

1:00pm — We make cheese toasties for lunch. I also make a cup-a-soup for me while J. gets another coffee.

2:00pm — We go for a walk around the neighbourhood. It's a bit wintery, but at least it's not raining. We end up doing a long walk and hit 20,000 steps. Although I stay with J. at his place half the time, I’m still discovering and exploring new walking tracks in his ‘hood.

6:00pm — We meet some mates at the pub for dinner. I paid for two rounds of drinks while J. pays for food. Tonight, we have steak and mash. I also grab a wine while J. has beers. $54.10

9:00pm — We stop by Woolies to get desserts. We get some ice cream and chocolates that are on special ($21.50). Then we head home to watch more Rabbit Hole and eventually head to bed. $21.50

9:00am — Oops, slept in! I wake to a message from my older kid wishing me a happy Mother’s Day. There is a dance competition this afternoon, so I'll pick the kids up at lunchtime.

10:00am — Get coffee. My shout ($9.49). Continue to procrastinate and potter around the house. I really love a lazy Sunday and have nothing on the agenda. It's quite rare, even just for a few hours. $9.49

1:00pm — Pick up the kids and buy a dark lipstick for the dance competition ($8.49). We have sushi in the food court and run into my cousin and her kids, who I haven't seen for months. I paid for everyone's sushi ($76.60). I also buy some pastries for the older kid as some dance snacks ($6.37). $91.46

3:00pm — Fill up with fuel ($62.14) and drop off the older kid at her dance comp. I take the younger kid to the park while we wait. After a while, we get bored and decide to drive home, which is about half an hour away. Once home, I do laundry, make a cup of tea, and chop up some cucumbers for the younger kid to eat. $62.14

7:00pm — Picked up the other kid from the dance competition — they received a highly commended certificate. Very proud, especially given they were up against some really strong dancers!

8:00pm — Meet up with J. for Mother’s Day dinner. We go to a Spanish restaurant not far from home. Kids have gifted me candles (as instructed, ha) and a painting they each drew! I pay for dinner. $181.50

9:30pm — Say goodnight to J. and take the kids home. Usual evening routines. Pack lunches for the next day, get their stuff ready for school and food prep dinner for the next couple of nights. I usually marinate some chicken and beef and serve it with pasta or rice and veggies.

11:00pm — Lights out. 

I don’t share finances with my partner. I am the higher-income earner of the two and we each take turns paying. I pay him some money each month to contribute to his household expenses and help out with his mortgage. We both have kids from previous relationships so we're just trying to put the kids first. It’s hard juggling everything — being a single parent, a career, busy kids' activities, and a new partner. I honestly don’t think I have a lot of breathing space, but I am doing the best I can. Once a month or so, I catch up with my girlfriends, but we don’t belong to the same friendship group so I catch up with them separately.