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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 a 29-year-old radiology trainee in the NHS.
I live in a shared hospital accommodation flat in central London although since COVID I have been staying at my boyfriend's flat.
Growing up, we didn't have many conversations about finances at all which maybe explains why I'm still not very money-savvy and lack motivation to educate myself more about managing my finances, even though I feel I should. There was definitely always an expectation to attend higher education and I never really considered otherwise to be honest. So I went to university to study medicine, paid for through my student loan.
I don't find myself worrying about money on a day-to-day basis but I do sometimes panic about being able to afford a house and lack of long-term investments."
Occupation: NHS doctor (radiology trainee)
Industry: Healthcare
Age: 29
Location: London
Salary: £65,964
Paycheque amount: £2,269.83
Number of housemates: At the moment, one, my boyfriend.
Industry: Healthcare
Age: 29
Location: London
Salary: £65,964
Paycheque amount: £2,269.83
Number of housemates: At the moment, one, my boyfriend.
Monthly Expenses
Housing costs: £800 rent for a room in a shared hospital accommodation flat in central London, including utilities. It is definitely a bit much for what it is, but was a convenient option when my old landlord decided to sell her flat at short notice. This is taken directly from my salary.
Loan payments: £349 for student loan, again taken directly from my salary.
Savings? £50,000 in a savings account, £5,000 in a vanguard fund, £2,000 in a joint account with my partner (used for shared expenses, food etc), £230 in a Monzo savings pot (my payments get rounded up, which gets added to this), NHS pension – no idea how much this is worth atm.
All other monthly expenses: Most of my monthly expenses are for food/drink/entertainment. I normally don't have much of a commute to work (few minutes walk) but since COVID I have been staying at my boyfriend's flat, so transport has been a much more significant expense. I don't have that many other regular monthly expenses to be honest. I was looking to rejoin a gym but COVID happened, am on an Amazon Prime student trial (doing a part-time postgrad certificate), use my boyfriend's Netflix and my phone bill is paid for by my parents (they paid when I was at uni, which has kind of just carried on). Other less regular but significant expenses include GMC registration (£406/year), Royal College of Radiologists membership (£283/year), indemnity and exam fees.
Loan payments: £349 for student loan, again taken directly from my salary.
Savings? £50,000 in a savings account, £5,000 in a vanguard fund, £2,000 in a joint account with my partner (used for shared expenses, food etc), £230 in a Monzo savings pot (my payments get rounded up, which gets added to this), NHS pension – no idea how much this is worth atm.
All other monthly expenses: Most of my monthly expenses are for food/drink/entertainment. I normally don't have much of a commute to work (few minutes walk) but since COVID I have been staying at my boyfriend's flat, so transport has been a much more significant expense. I don't have that many other regular monthly expenses to be honest. I was looking to rejoin a gym but COVID happened, am on an Amazon Prime student trial (doing a part-time postgrad certificate), use my boyfriend's Netflix and my phone bill is paid for by my parents (they paid when I was at uni, which has kind of just carried on). Other less regular but significant expenses include GMC registration (£406/year), Royal College of Radiologists membership (£283/year), indemnity and exam fees.
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