Today: a Global Change Lead working in technology who spends some of her money this week on Popcorners.
Monthly Expenses
Monthly Housing Costs: $1,275 (junior one-bedroom)
Student Loans: $370 (for grad school)
401(k): $683 (my employer matches 50% up to 6% of salary)
Car And Renter's Insurance: $127
Cable/Internet: $65
Orange Theory Membership: $109
Spotify/Netflix/Washington Post: $36 (I use a friend's Hulu)
Planned Parenthood Donation: $15
Savings: $300 (this is my minimum transferred per month)
10 a.m. - I wake up feeling better, thankfully. I get up and put on this week's Grey's Anatomy episode and clean up the apartment post-drunken wrath. I lounge on the couch for a while, being super lazy.
7 p.m. - After more lounging, my former boyfriend, D., stops by after watching football with some friends. D. and I started dating over four years ago when we both lived in DC. He moved here to go to grad school and I moved to join him after he finished and got a job. We lived together for a year and a half, broke up about six months ago, and I moved out. It's been a really difficult period and we still love each other and want to work on things. We've been taking things slow and are basically dating again. It's been strange, but also fun to feel like we are at the beginning of our relationship.
9 p.m. - We spend some time talking about our status and what we both want. It's still open-ended, but we like where things are going. One thing leads to another and D. ends up staying the night.
5:30 a.m. - D. wakes me up on the couch to tell me he's leaving and gets me to move to the bed. He is an awful snorer and it was always a pain point in our relationship. Unfortunately, he doesn't fit on my couch hence why I am there. He kisses me goodbye and I fall right back to sleep.
7:30 a.m. - Sleeping on the couch caught up with me and I am going to be very late. I don't have to be at work at any particular time, but I try to get in by 8:30, which is definitely not going to happen today. I go through my morning routine (brush teeth, Caudalie toner, Caudalie radiant serum, Tula eye balm, Korres moisturizer), put on light makeup (Make Up Forever concealer, e.l.f. bronzer, Tarte mascara) and run a straightener through my hair. I dress in a long sleeve tee, boyfriend jeans, and mules (my office is very casual). I dump some marinade on chicken thighs to make tonight. I pack myself the remainder of the iced coffee and leftover Chinese and I'm out the door by 8:30.
9:15 a.m. - Argh, traffic was awful - It usually takes me 20-30 minutes to get to work. I work in change management supporting internal improvement projects at my company. My morning is light so I catch up on my emails, submit some reports, and prepare for my meetings. I eat my leftovers at my desk (I know it's a terrible habit).
3 p.m. - After my meetings are done, I move on to other work. I am attending a certification program course in two weeks and there's pre-work to submit by tomorrow. I shift to working on that and get it sent out by the end of the day. I head out around 5 for an OrangeTheory class. I usually do OT on Mondays and Saturdays, sometimes with an extra day thrown in here and there, I love it!
8 p.m. - I get home and cook the marinated chicken thighs with roasted veggies and cauliflower rice. I eat that for dinner and put the rest in containers for my lunches this week. I take a shower and do my nightly routine (brush teeth, Differin gel, Face Here Go-To face oil). I also pop half a melatonin (I recently started taking Lexapro, which has changed my life but weirdly makes me jittery and restless at night) and read my book for a bit. I'm out by 9:30.
6:30 a.m. - Up on time today! I spend too long scrolling on my phone and actually get out of bed at 7:30. I do my morning routine and dress in an old but trusty H&M top, black jeans, and Rothy's sneakers. I pack my lunch and I'm out the door by 8. I stop at Starbucks on the way for an iced coffee and it's "free" since I have a ton of star points. I get to work by 8:30.
4:30 p.m. - I'm out earlyish to make it to a 5 p.m. hair appointment. I have decided to go back to balayage after just dying my roots for a few years. I forgot how long this takes, but it gives me a chance to finish my book (HIGHLY recommend Daisy Jones and the Six). After the first wash, my hair is BLONDE and my stylist and I decide it's too much so she applies another toner. I know it will continue to lighten up anyway so I'd rather start darker. After a marathon appointment ($173 plus $40 tip), I'm finally heading home around 7:45. $213
8:15 p.m. - I get home and text a picture to my BFF, B. I make frozen dumplings, put on Looking for Alaska and start packing for the weekend. I'm headed to DC on Thursday for a wedding, my last one of the year. I'm so excited to be back with my friends. B. is pregnant and due next month, so I can't wait to see her. I go through my list (type A over here, obsessed with the Notes app) and get a good start, I'll finish tomorrow. I do my nightly routine, finish this episode, and call it a night at 10:30.
7 a.m. - Almost up on time! I manage to get myself out of bed without getting sucked into my phone and start getting ready. I do the usual routine and spend a little more time getting dressed. I have a presentation this morning with our Europe team and I'll be on camera. I wear a flowy top, dark jeans, and sandals. I also throw a load of laundry in the wash. I grab my lunch and head out a little before 8. I stop at Starbucks again and use points.
5:45 a.m. - Up and at 'em early today! And my friend had a happy and healthy baby girl last night - baby and mama are doing great. I take a quick shower and dress in a simple outfit for my flight this afternoon (white t-shirt, boyfriend jeans, light jacket, sneakers). Grab my lunch (I'm really sick of these chicken thighs...), load up the car and head out around 7.
12 p.m. - Apparently all I do is go to meetings. I take a break at lunchtime to do some research on egg freezing. I had a consultation with a fertility center last month to start the process and was planning on completing the procedure at the beginning of the year. However, I recently was part of an email discussion on this very topic and read some warnings about how much insurance will or won't cover, including experiences with a lot of misinformation. I make a mental note to reach out to our employee assistance program for help with navigating the details.
3 p.m. - I head to the airport! My flight is at 4:45 and I need to park. I pre-paid for parking via The Parking Spot so that expense won't be noted. I get my spot, jump on the shuttle, and get through security with no problems (Pre-Check is truly the best thing that's ever happened to me).
9 p.m. - I get home and greet B. and Q.'s dog. They are still at the game so I stay up for a bit to watch the Nationals lose (unfortunately), take a shower, and head to bed. I can't sleep so I try reading for a bit before eventually drifting off at 11:30.
5 p.m. - The ceremony's over, it's time to party! We make our way through cocktail hour and I get to catch up with a ton of my college friends, some of whom I haven't seen in years. We dance and drink the night away.
10 p.m. - B. and Q. go home, but I go to the hotel with the wedding party. I decide to stick to water for my last drink.
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