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A Week In Vermont On A $155,000 Joint Income

Welcome to Money Diaries where we are tackling the ever-present taboo that is money. We're asking real people how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar.

Today: a nonprofit director who has a joint income of $155,000 and spends some of her money this week on Birkenstock clogs.
Occupation: Program Director
Industry: Nonprofit
Age: 38
Location: Vermont
My Salary: $60,000
My Partner's Salary: $95,000
Net Worth: ~$780,000 ($143,000 in my retirement accounts, $132,000 in partner's retirement accounts, ~$380,000 in home equity (we own the house we live in as well as a small second house that we rent out), $42,000 in joint savings, $5,000 in personal savings, $9,000 in personal investments, $56,000 in joint investments and $12,000 in a 529 for our daughter).
Debt: $221,000 left of our mortgage for the house we live in.
My Paycheck Amount (biweekly): $1,474.12 plus $2,200 a month in additional various income streams.
My Partner's Paycheck Amount (biweekly): $1,695
Rental Income (monthly): $1,100
Pronouns: She/her

Monthly Expenses
Mortgage: $2,162
Heat: $362
Electricity: $50 (we have solar panels so we don't usually have to pay this in the summer).
Daycare: $816
Car Maintenance/Insurance: $467
Phone/Internet: $230
Streaming: $27

Annual Expenses
Chase Sapphire Preferred Annual Fee: $95
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Was there an expectation for you to attend higher education? Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it?
I was definitely expected to attend college. My first semester I realized I could be doing something else and had a meltdown, but I stuck it out. To pay for school I had a bunch of scholarships, worked multiple jobs, was an RA and took out loans for the rest (about $60,000, which I paid off in six years or so). I also went to graduate school, which I paid for in cash while working full-time.
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent/guardian(s) educate you about finances?
We were very middle class. I was given an allowance and expected to save 20% and give 10%. My parents split when I was young and ended up living very different financial lives. I was told to save and invest but mostly in ways that didn't make sense until well into my adulthood.
What was your first job and why did you get it?
I babysat and worked retail in high school to pay for gas and clothes.
Did you worry about money growing up?
I absorbed the worry my mom had but we were always stable.
Do you worry about money now?
I don't worry so much as compulsively plan.
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?
This was probably gradual after college. I paid for my own phone and living expenses in college. I bought my mom's car when I graduated and lived with her for a few months while I started my job. Both my partner's parents and my parents are our financial safety net.
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Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.
Over the course of the last 10 years, we've been given quite a lot. My mom gave my sibling and me $20,000 over the course of a few years when she came into money. My partner's parents gave us $20,000 when they realized we really weren't going to have a wedding, and my dad gave us $10,000 for the same reason. His parents also shared about $55,000 when they received a family inheritance. I had a family death recently and was left $30,000 in the will, which we have not yet received. We've used this money to establish an investment and emergency savings, refinance our house and pay off debt.

Day One

6 a.m. — Our 18-month-old, H., wakes up. My partner, N., gets her and brings her into bed. Then he takes care of the dogs and makes coffee, while I make sourdough toast and eggs for breakfast.
8 a.m. — I shower and give H. a bath. Then I play with H. for a bit until it's time for me to leave for my pottery class.
10 a.m. — I go to my weekly pottery class. I paid for six weeks of classes upfront a few weeks ago ($350 total).
12 p.m. — Just before the bank closes, I go in to pay off our first mortgage! I bought a <500-square-foot house in 2013 for $65,000. We have less than $750 left of our mortgage so I'm paying it off in one lump sum today. We rent this house to a lovely single woman. $738
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1 p.m. — N. takes H. to the dump and BJ's and buys various groceries and OTC medications like Tums and Pepto-Bismol. $101.45
3:30 p.m. — H. and I head out to cross-country ski with my friend, F. I ski with H. on my back to give N. some child-free time. It's a relatively flat course and fun to catch up with my friend. We stop at the local market for a red pepper, which H. ends up eating like an apple. $2.98
5:30 p.m. — Making dinner is the bane of my existence. I set up the Instant Pot to make yogurt for the week. Dinner is nachos with the rest of the red pepper, beans, onion, seasoning and lots of cheese.
7 p.m. — H. goes to bed. We spend an hour watching TV (currently loving Shrinking and Extraordinary Attorney Woo). N. puts away dinner and lets the dogs out. I take my meds and I'm asleep by 8:30.
Daily Total: $842.43

Day Two

7 a.m. — I'm awake. Ugh.
10:15 a.m. — We spend the morning at the local science museum (we have a membership, $100, previously purchased) and bump into some friends.
12 p.m. — We head home for lunch and a nap. While H. naps, I online shop. I buy two pairs of shoes: a pair of Brooks sneakers and a pair of Birkenstock clogs. $179.95
1 p.m. — I fold some laundry then browse the Sephora website since it's my birthday munch. I get the Dior Lip Glow and a bunch of samples with my points. I take care of our plants and gather clippings for a new coworker who just moved and had to get rid of all her plants. $40
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3 p.m. — I go to the grocery store to stock up before a visit from my mom. I get cheese, milk (cow + oat), eggs, veggies, sausage, ground beef and a few other necessities. $241.79
4 p.m. — I get gas on the way home. $38
5:30 p.m. — We have steak and cheese for dinner, then I prep smoothies (greens, frozen fruit, bananas, various health powders) and chicken tikka masala crock pot meal for tomorrow. Bedtime routine for everyone and we're all asleep by 9.
Daily Total: $499.74

Day Three

6 a.m. — Up and moving and working early today. N. changes H.'s diaper and then brings her to me to nurse. He does the dogs and breakfast while I get ready. N. takes H. to her grandparents for the day and I head to the office. Breakfast is sourdough toast and an egg.
8 a.m. — At the office, I log into remote court proceedings. I do a lot of heads-down work and then have a meeting for my side gig. Lunch is leftovers.
3 p.m. — I lead a professional development class and then pack up.
5 p.m. — Pick up H. My mom is here by the time I get home.
6:30 p.m. — N. finishes making chicken tikka masala and we eat all together. H. is in bed by 7 and the adults watch TV until 8:30.
Daily Total: $0

Day Four

6 a.m. — Good morning! Breakfast, coffee, clothes, pack lunches. H. goes to daycare and I plan to work from home because of a weather warning for the day.
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10:26 a.m. — This is where the week goes sideways. The power goes out at 10:26, four minutes before I'm supposed to be on a call. No power means no phone, so I brave the weather and head to the office. I make it to the office and spend the day there.
4:30 p.m. — I have a late training and still no power at home so I stay at the office. This ends up being a bad decision. I head home around 7:45 p.m. in horrible conditions. Poor N. gets so worried, he drives into town to wait for me where there's cell service in case I need help.
8:30 p.m. — Finally home, I have a beer and leftovers and head to sleep at 9.
Daily Total: $0

Day Five

6 a.m. — I don't work for my primary job on Wednesdays. Today and tomorrow I have a training for my side gig, which is why Mom is here to watch H. We still have no power so I drive to N.'s parents' house for the day.
12 p.m. — I settle in for a long day of training.
4:30 p.m. — Done for the day! Each eight-hour training pays more than two weeks at my primary job so I take as many as I can.
5:30 p.m. — Dinner is ravioli with sausage, onion and tomato sauce with a side of roasted broccoli. We still have no power. Thankfully, we have a generator to keep our fridge/freezer cold. Bedtime is 8:30 as usual.
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Daily Total: $0

Day Six

6 a.m. — I get up, get the baby and myself ready and drop her off at daycare.
8 a.m. — I go into the office for a half-day but there is no internet. No power at home, no internet at work and a virtual training this afternoon — really doing great this week. I frantically call the local library to reserve a conference room for basically the whole day and head back home to get all of my things. I fill up on gas on the way home. $37.59
10:30 a.m. — Just as I'm heading out, the power comes back on at home. I'm saved from a day in the library.
12 p.m. — I have my second day of training for my side gig, which I can thankfully take from home.
4:30 p.m. — I am pooped! I pick up H. from daycare and feed her. After dinner, I scroll Poshmark for baby clothes and make two offers that get accepted. I get her a few pairs of pants, a few shirts and a pair of sneakers. $130.96
Daily Total: $168.55

Day Seven

6 a.m. — TGIF! I take H. to daycare. We are planning our first plane trip vacation ever with a kiddo and I have a passport appointment today. I have to drive two hours to get there and my mom decides to join me. I get gas before I leave. $23.07
10:15 a.m. — I get to the passport office and breeze through the paperwork intake (I was so afraid of forgetting something again). I pay $220 for the book, card and expedited service. They tell me to come back at 3 to pick up my passport. $220
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11 a.m. — I post up at a coffee shop with wi-fi and a latte. My computer is not connecting to any Outlook product. I touch base on a few things with my coworkers but today is basically a wash. I might as well take PTO for the day. $8
12:30 p.m. — We have lunch at a diner recommended by the passport office ladies. Mom and I share a corned beef hash skillet and sweet potato fries. $27.49
3:02 p.m. — I go back to the passport office and SUCCESS! Send a selfie to the fam and head home.
5 p.m. — N. and H. get home about the same time as we do. I make corned beef hash and eggs round two for dinner. We all fall asleep around 8:30.
Daily Total: $278.56
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