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Welcome to Money Diaries, where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking a cross-section of women how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period – and we're tracking every last penny.
This week: "I am an engineer and recently left a permanent staff job to become a contractor for an engineering company in Paris. I'd lived in London for many years during and after uni and was itching to move somewhere new after realising that no hobby or club I joined could fill this need for something different.
The move to Paris has been very expensive and required pulling money out of savings to pay for rental fees and all the costs that come from setting up my own company. I'm paying rent on a flat in Paris and London but have handed in my notice on the London flat as, although it seems high-flying to live in two capital cities, I need to feed myself.
I no longer get paid holiday or sick days, which has changed the way I view holidays. Now it's a balance between the money I will lose and the fun I will have. Most of the time, work wins.
I'm the first to admit that I've historically been frivolous with money as I rarely manage to say no to little impulse buys or holiday suggestions. I have a 0% interest credit card which I'm now frantically trying to pay off as my 'controlled spending' went a bit bonkers after I drunkenly signed up to two marathons. All I gained was debt, a torn glute muscle and knees that sound like crisp packets."
Industry: Engineering
Age: 31
Salary: €500 (£435.60) per day
Paycheque amount: Between €8,500 (£7,405) and €10,500 (£9,147) depending on the month and the number of holidays taken.
Number of housemates: Paris: 0, London: 2 friends. I'll be sad to leave them.
The move to Paris has been very expensive and required pulling money out of savings to pay for rental fees and all the costs that come from setting up my own company. I'm paying rent on a flat in Paris and London but have handed in my notice on the London flat as, although it seems high-flying to live in two capital cities, I need to feed myself.
I no longer get paid holiday or sick days, which has changed the way I view holidays. Now it's a balance between the money I will lose and the fun I will have. Most of the time, work wins.
I'm the first to admit that I've historically been frivolous with money as I rarely manage to say no to little impulse buys or holiday suggestions. I have a 0% interest credit card which I'm now frantically trying to pay off as my 'controlled spending' went a bit bonkers after I drunkenly signed up to two marathons. All I gained was debt, a torn glute muscle and knees that sound like crisp packets."
Industry: Engineering
Age: 31
Salary: €500 (£435.60) per day
Paycheque amount: Between €8,500 (£7,405) and €10,500 (£9,147) depending on the month and the number of holidays taken.
Number of housemates: Paris: 0, London: 2 friends. I'll be sad to leave them.
Monthly Expenses
Housing costs: My one-bed flat in Paris is €1,354 (£1,179) per month. In London, I pay £725 per month.
Utilities: Roughly £90 per month in London for electricity, water, gas, internet and council tax. In Paris, all bills are included in the rent.
Savings? I'm slowly trying to build my savings back up again after taking a hit on the Paris move. I used to put £600 per month into savings but hope to increase this once I get paid my first contractor salary.
Transportation: €70 per month on the Navigo. I factor in two trips back to London per month which costs roughly £300.
Phone bill: £13 per month for my phone contract, £22 per month for my iPad contract.
Other: London private club £1,250 per year, Tennis club £400 per year, Professional Engineering Institute membership £380, Spotify £9.99.
Housing costs: My one-bed flat in Paris is €1,354 (£1,179) per month. In London, I pay £725 per month.
Utilities: Roughly £90 per month in London for electricity, water, gas, internet and council tax. In Paris, all bills are included in the rent.
Savings? I'm slowly trying to build my savings back up again after taking a hit on the Paris move. I used to put £600 per month into savings but hope to increase this once I get paid my first contractor salary.
Transportation: €70 per month on the Navigo. I factor in two trips back to London per month which costs roughly £300.
Phone bill: £13 per month for my phone contract, £22 per month for my iPad contract.
Other: London private club £1,250 per year, Tennis club £400 per year, Professional Engineering Institute membership £380, Spotify £9.99.
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