Welcome toMoney Diaries , where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking millennial women how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar. (Thanks,New York mag , for the inspiration.)
Paying for groceries every week and rent every month can get expensive. But add on the cost of a wedding? Yikes.
Thanks to the wedding industrial complex, the event can cost anywhere from several thousand dollars to, well, $31 million. And as we started asking women to spill everything they spent on their weddings, we realized we wanted to know more: How do people think about money as they plan for their big days? And how does the wedding price tag affect everyday decisions, like whether to eat out?
Ahead, we asked four money diarists from different parts of the U.S. to track their weekly spending while planning — and paying for — a wedding.
Money Diaries are meant to reflect individual women’s experiences and do not necessarily reflect Refinery29’s point of view. Refinery29 in no way encourages illegal activity or harmful behavior.
The first step to getting your financial life in order is tracking what you spend — to try on your own, check out our guide to managing your money every day. For more money diaries, click here.
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The accountant in Hoboken, NJ, working with a wedding budget of $200,000.
Industry: Insurance
Age: 28
Location : Hoboken, NJ
Salary: $115,000 plus annual bonus
Paycheck amount (2x a month): $2,754, after 401(k), insurance, and HSA deductions
# of roommates: 1, my fiancé
Monthly Expenses
We haven’t combined finances yet, so everything (rent, utilities, groceries, weekday dinners out) is split 50/50.
Housing costs: My fiancé and I split our rent of $2,450. My portion of the rent is $1,225.
Loan payments: None
Utilities: My half of the cable-and-internet bill is usually around $130
Transportation: $40 for a 10-pack of Light Rail tickets, which lasts at least a month, since no one ever checks if you validated your ticket. My PATH SmartLink Card auto-renews, but I usually spend around $25 per month in trips on the PATH.
Phone bill: $0. Family plan for the win!
Savings: I try to put at least $1,000 per month into my savings account on top of my 401(k) contributions.
Chiropractor: $79
Gym: $21.39
Wedding budget: $200,000. Both my parents and my fiancé’s parents are contributing.
Day 1
9 a.m. — I took the day off to prepare for our engagement photo shoot later, so I wake up late and make myself an iced coffee and peanut butter on whole-wheat toast. I am obsessed with our new Nespresso machine. The best part of being engaged is registering for fancy gadgets you've always wanted but don’t want to buy yourself.
11 a.m. — Go to the grocery store to pick up food for my fiancé and my lunches for the week, as well as a few dinners. I buy chicken breasts, broccoli, asparagus, mixed vegetables, nectarines, bananas, eggs, whole-wheat bread, milk, and ground turkey. We usually drive to the cheaper grocery store, but since I’m on my own and don’t have much time, I go to the specialty store a block away, and my wallet pays the price for it. $91.72
12:30 p.m. — After the lunches are made, I book a last-minute spray tan with the hope that it will help me look glowy and radiant in these pictures. $79 + $15 tip = $94
1 p.m. — I reheat leftover Japanese food from last night’s dinner to have for lunch while my tan dries.
3:30 p.m. — Since it’s hot as hell outside, and I don’t want to sweat off my newly acquired bronze, I take an Uber into Manhattan for my hair-and-makeup appointment. $39.49
5:30 p.m. — The salon is taking pictures and shooting how-to videos for their website, and they end up using me as their “bride model.” To thank me for helping out, the owner of the salon offers to charge me half of the price we had agreed on. Since they’re busy filming, they take down my credit card info and will charge me tomorrow.
6 p.m. — Cab to the Plaza Hotel fountain to meet up with my fiancé and the photographer. I watch the meter rise as we sit in NYC rush-hour traffic. $17.76
6:45 p.m. — After sitting in front of the fountain for 45 minutes, we finally get in touch with our photographer, who apparently forgot about the shoot. While he is on his way back to Manhattan from Brooklyn, my fiancé and I grab a quick dinner at the Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza to kill some time. We order a round of (necessary) drinks and split a branzino filet. Since I paid for the groceries, my fiancé picks up the check for dinner.
9 p.m. — We manage to get some great shots at Grand Central, the High Line, and some city streets before the sun sets, but aren’t able to make it to Central Park. The photographer promises a second session once he is back from his monthlong vacation in Australia. I convince my fiancé to Uber home. $46.52
Daily Total: $289.49
Day 2
8 a.m. — Peanut butter on whole-wheat bread for breakfast.
8:30 a.m. — As much as I love my Nespresso for mornings at home, I can’t give up my pre-work Starbucks iced coffee. $2.41
11 a.m. — Summer means my morning snack is a juicy nectarine instead of a trip to the vending machine.
12:30 p.m. — I eat my homemade lunch of grilled chicken over roasted veggies and farro.
2:30 p.m. — A few coworkers and I head out for our daily afternoon Starbucks run. Since I am a Gold member, my iced-coffee refills are free.
6 p.m. — Pick up apartment essentials on my way home: toilet paper and wine. $4.99 and $49.11, respectively. Total: $54.10
6:30 p.m. — I cook turkey meatballs and whole-wheat pasta for dinner. If my fiancé and I don’t overeat, there will be enough left over for dinner tomorrow. I also open one of the bottles of wine because I’m still feeling sorry for myself after what happened yesterday.
Daily Total: $56.51
Day 3
8 a.m. — Peanut butter on whole-wheat bread for breakfast.
8:30 a.m. — Mobile ordering on the Starbucks app saves me from being late to work. Iced coffee to go. $2.41
11 a.m. — I eat a nectarine at my desk.
12:30 p.m. — Day two of grilled chicken over roasted veggies and farro.
1:15 p.m. — My coworker and I steal a piece of cake from another department’s birthday party.
2:30 p.m. — Starbucks run for another iced coffee. I’m trying to eliminate my second-cup habit, but it’s hard to say no to a walk outside when the weather is this beautiful.
6:30 p.m. — I reheat the turkey meatballs and boil some whole-wheat pasta. And wine, because wine.
Daily Total: $2.41
Day 4
8:30 a.m. — Another day, another iced coffee at Starbucks. $2.41
9 a.m. — I run down to the cafeteria before my morning meeting and pick up an egg-and-cheese sandwich on an English muffin. $2.77
12:30 p.m. — Lunch-and-learn event at the office is a welcome break from my repeat homemade lunches. I grab half of a turkey pita sandwich, some Greek salad, and a bottle of water.
2 p.m. — I finally get the receipt for my engagement-shoot hair and makeup. They charge me full price. $350 + 20% tip + tax = $435.76. Since it’s part of the wedding budget, my parents will reimburse me.
4 p.m. — Banana at my desk.
6 p.m. — I take the PATH into Manhattan for a going-away party for a coworker from my previous job. Since he is moving to San Francisco tomorrow, and I was his work wife for almost six years, I put up with awkward small talk with partners I haven’t seen since my sudden resignation eight months ago so that I can say a proper goodbye. The nerves lead me to drink more than I should on an empty stomach. I nibble on a pretzel someone finally orders, and manage to cut myself off around 9 p.m. A former coworker offers to share an Uber back to Hoboken with me, but he decides to stay later and orders a car for me anyway. He charges it to his corporate card.
9:30 p.m. — I crash my fiancé's NBA draft party in our living room and try to hide the fact that I’m drunk, but my cover is blown after I steal whatever is left of my fiancé’s quesadilla, plus a handful of BBQ chips and some M&M's. I get bored after five minutes and retreat to our bedroom.
Daily Total: $440.94
Day 5
8 a.m. — Even though I am pretty hungover and would cut someone’s arm off for a bagel with butter, I force myself to eat peanut butter on whole-wheat bread for breakfast.
8:30 a.m. — Iced coffee at Starbucks helps ease my headache. $2.41
11 a.m. — Banana at my desk.
12:30 p.m. — I reject my homemade lunch of grilled chicken and veggies, and instead get a chicken TBM melt and iced tea at Cosi. My company gets 10% off. $10.48
2 p.m. — It’s my coworker’s birthday today, so three of us buy her a gift of assorted truffles from Godiva and split the cost. $10
6:30 p.m. — I take the PATH into the city for an early double date with my fiancé and another couple. We meet at a comedy club and have dinner in the upstairs restaurant before the 8 p.m. show. We each order a drink and an entrée, and the boys split the bill. My friend bought the tickets for us, so my fiancé and I Venmo her $20 each for our tickets. There’s no drink minimum at the show, but it's a tough crowd and some comics are bombing pretty hard, so we all get two more drinks. This is my first time at a comedy club earlier than 10 p.m. and I’m pretty sure it will be my last. Our drink bills come separately, and my fiancé pays for ours. I order the Uber home. $43.32 + $20 = $63.32
Daily Total: $86.21
Day 6
8:30 a.m. — Nespresso iced coffee and peanut butter on whole-wheat bread for breakfast.
9:30 a.m. — I am trying on wedding gowns this afternoon with my mom and future mother-in-law, and I’ve learned from experience that if your hair looks great, you can better envision yourself in the gowns on your wedding day. I walk to the blowdry bar and come out with perfect, loose waves. $40 + 20% tip = $48
12 p.m. — My fiancé and I take the PATH into Manhattan to meet up with my parents and his mom for lunch before our appointment at Saks. I order a salad with shrimp, and my dad takes care of the bill for the table. My dad and fiancé head to a bar to kill time while the moms and I walk to Saks.
1:45 p.m. — The first time I went wedding-gown shopping, I found a gorgeous Carolina Herrera that made me tear up when I put it on. I try it on again and am 99 % sure it is THE dress, but I want to sleep on it just to be positive, and run it by my sisters when they get back from the Hamptons.
7:30 p.m. — Once we’re home, I realize I’m more tired than I thought, so instead of going out we order in and continue our Orange Is the New Black binge. I use my Seamless account to order drunken noodles for my fiancé and pad woon sen for me. $34.96
Daily Total: $82.96
Day 7
10 a.m. — I order two iced coffees from my Starbucks app for pickup. $4.82
10:15 a.m. — My fiancé and I walk to breakfast at our favorite diner in Hoboken. We both get eggs, bacon, hash browns, and wheat toast. Fiancé pays.
2 p.m. — We trek to Bushwick, Brooklyn, to meet up with my friend and her boyfriend at Roberta’s, which has some of the best pizza in New York. We order three pizzas and a calzone to share, as well as two rounds of drinks. The boys split the bill.
5 p.m. — One more round of drinks at a bar a few blocks away. Their signature drink is a mango-flavored slushy rum concoction that’s only $4 until 6 p.m. I pay for our drinks. $8
9 p.m. — Lunch keeps us full through dinner, but a few M&M's are required for the epic Game of Thrones finale.
Daily Total: $12.82
The Denver woman starting to pool expenses with her fiancé, and planning a wedding on a $35,000 budget.
Industry: Marketing/communications
Age : 27
Location: Denver
Salary: $73,000 + my fiancé’s salary of $115,000. My fiancé and I live together and are in the process of pooling all of our money. Right now, we share expenses via a joint checking account, but also have our separate accounts.
Paycheck amount (2x a month): $1,750, after health care, 401(k), and HSA deductions
# of roommates: 2 (my fiancé and my pup!)
Monthly Expenses
Rent : My half of the rent is $775. My fiancé and I split the rent, which includes the cost of our garage, trash valet (What kind of ripoff is this?), and gas/water.
Loan payments: $250 per month for student loans (only $11,000 left!), and any additional payments on my credit card, which is about $50 to $100 per pay period
Utilities: $30 per month for my half
Transportation: $75 per month on gas
Phone bill: $55 for my half
Savings: My fiancé and I each put $600 per month into our wedding savings account.
Netflix: Free, we’re on my fiancé’s parents' account.
Amazon Prime: Free, my fiancé somehow finagled this for the year.
Investments: I contribute $40 per month for a small contribution to an external Roth IRA account and to a life-insurance policy.
Wedding budget: ~$35,000. My fiancé and I opened an 18-month interest-free credit card to make our wedding purchases. We pay it off as we go with the money we are funneling into our savings account. We are using all of the points we earn to pay for our honeymoon (so far, our flights are paid for!). Thankfully, my parents are helping us pay for the wedding with $15,000. It’s nearly impossible to have a traditional and fun wedding (with a top-shelf open bar, of course) for under $35K in a big city, but I’m proud that we’re doing it!
Day 1
6:30 a.m. — I eat a bowl of high-fiber cereal and head into the office. We have visitors staying with us, and my coffee maker is really loud, so I opt for crappy office coffee so I don’t wake them up. (Fun fact: When you live in Colorado, you get a lot of visitors. We’ve had five already this summer!)
11:30 a.m. — I heat up a Lean Cuisine for lunch and snack on some trail mix and a banana I brought from home. I try not to spend money on lunches during the week, and I’m usually pretty good about it. Lean Cuisines are a last resort when I’m low on groceries. I take a 30-minute walk outside to get some fresh air.
4:30 p.m. — I drive home from work and stop to pick up the mail because our wedding invitations are in! We ordered them from Shine Invitations, and they look perfect. Next step: Assembling all of the invitations and figuring out what postage will cost.
6:30 p.m. — Our guests are still in town, and we’re out of food, so we order pizza. Our guests chip in, so it only runs us $20. I pay with a rare $20 bill I have in my wallet. $20
8 p.m. — I’ve been slacking on the wedding planning for the past week since we’ve had houseguests, so I get on Etsy and finish ordering crystal-beaded belts that I’m buying as gifts for my bridesmaids. I have three left to purchase, and put them on the interest-free wedding credit card. $55 a piece, total $165.
Daily Total: $185
Day 2
5:30 a.m. — I grab a quinoa-and-oatmeal breakfast bar from the batch I made over the weekend and make some coffee at home. I usually only treat myself to Starbucks once every other week or so. I drive into the office a bit earlier than usual.
10 a.m. — I am hangry. I snack on the broccoli, carrots, and hummus that I brought from home, and start counting down until 11:30, when it’s socially acceptable to eat my lunch.
11:30 a.m. — I made it. I eat a Greek yogurt that I left in the office fridge, along with a salad of lettuce, cucumber, tomato, and turkey that I threw together this morning. Not satisfying at all...
3:50 p.m. — I’m off work a bit early and need to pick up my prescription. I pay for the $10 prescription with my Health Savings Account card that I contribute to pre-tax.
4:30 p.m. — I fill out my wedding hairstylist’s contract and pay the deposit for the wedding-day services. All of my bridesmaids are paying for their hair, but I’m covering makeup costs for them. I put this expense on the wedding credit card. $196
5:30 p.m. — My fiancé and I catch the light rail to Union Station in Denver to meet our visitors for the Rockies game. It’s only $2.90 per person. I buy the train tickets and the first round of beers for everyone. For some reason, the beer is so cheap... I’m not mad about it. $21
7:30 p.m. —My fiancé ate before the game, so I pick up a black-bean burger from concessions. It isn’t great, but it keeps me away from the nachos I really want. $7.50
9:30 p.m. – On the train again, but we were in such a rush we forgot to buy tickets. Thankfully, the train patrol didn’t check tickets — oops!
Daily Total: $224.50
Day 3
6:30 a.m. — I’m working from home today, so I make coffee, scrambled egg whites, and a whole-wheat English muffin for breakfast.
12:30 p.m. — I eat some grapes and a Greek yogurt for lunch since the fridge is borderline empty, and decide to make a grocery list for camping this weekend and next week’s dinners and lunches. On the menu for the week: steak kebobs with chimichurri sauce, my fiancé’s amazing homemade sushi, BBQ chicken-Gouda-apple wraps, spaghetti squash, and chopped salad.
4:30 p.m. — I drive to the nearby King Soopers to pick up groceries. We’re in charge of making breakfast while camping, so I grab eggs, chorizo, black beans, green chilies, shredded cheese, and tortillas for breakfast burritos. I also get a few snacks for camping and all the supplies for dinners and lunches I planned for next week. I also buy cereal, English muffins, protein bars, and plenty of fruit and vegetables. I charge this to our joint checking account. $80.45
5:30 p.m. — You can’t buy beer or wine (above 3.2 ABV) at grocery stores in Colorado, so I pick up a few things for camping — mostly craft beer and two wine juice boxes, because why not? I pay for this out of my own account. $22
6 p.m. — Last errand of the day! I stop at the post office to pick up the postage for the wedding invitations, but they don’t have enough of the stamps I need. I ask them to weigh one of the assembled invitations, so I know what type of stamps to order online.
6:30 p.m. — When I get home, I place an order online for 70 large stamps for the invitations and 70 Forever stamps for the response cards. Fingers crossed we get them soon. I charge $81.50 to our wedding credit card for the postage. I haven’t been able to find wedding shoes yet, so I browse online and find a pair from Stuart Weitzman on sale for $255 at Bloomingdale's! They’re $55 over budget, but it could be worse. I also put these on the wedding credit card. $336.50
8 p.m. — I pack for camping and then read a new book on the patio with a glass of wine. I try not to think about how much money I’ve spent on the wedding this week. The mountain views are helping.
Daily Total: $438.95
Day 4
9 a.m. — After a quiet morning and a quick breakfast of coffee and a quinoa-and-oatmeal bar, my fiancé and I drive to REI to pick up the sleeping pads we rented for camping. He’s a member and gets a discount, so he pays for the rentals. He also picks up the tab for the Patagonia hat I wanted. He’s a keeper.
11 a.m. — We’re on our way to the campgrounds with the dog. My fiancé is starving, so we pull off the highway so he can get a cheeseburger. I offer to pay. $6
1:30 p.m. — We pay for our camping day pass and start to lug all of our gear to the campsite. It’s a gorgeous day, and we’re camping next to a reservoir. I charge this to our joint checking account. $7
7:30 p.m. — After setting up camp, we hike to an area where we can cliff-jump into the water (and by cliff I mean small boulder, but still amazing). We continue to snack and lounge before prepping our campfire dinner of hamburgers, coleslaw, salad, and chips that our friends brought.
Daily Total: $13
Day 5
5:45 a.m. — Early wakeup call from the dog, who thinks just because the sun is up we should all be awake. We get the fire going again and start to get the breakfast burritos ready. So good.
10:45 a.m. — We pack up and head out of camp. On the way home, we stop for a necessary cup of coffee. I get a nonfat latte and my fiancé orders a flat white and a breakfast sandwich. I offer to pay, since he carried all of our camping gear. $12.84
6:30 p.m. — We’re exhausted from camping and don’t feel like cooking, so we order Chinese food. My fiancé and I make a pact to eat at home for the rest of the month to scale back on spending before the wedding — after this meal, of course. I pay via our joint checking account. $30.15
Daily Total: $42.99
Day 6
5:15 a.m. — Why are Mondays so brutal? I get ready for work, eat a bowl of cereal, and pack a lunch and snacks. Lunch for the day is a salad with roasted beets, goat cheese, tomatoes, shaved pecans, and vinaigrette dressing.
12:30 p.m. — I take a break and go for a walk outside. On my way inside, I grab the salad I made this morning to eat when I get back to my desk.
4 p.m. — I drive home, thankful that I only live a few miles away from the office. I won’t need to get gas for a few more days.
5:30 p.m. — I get dinner started for the two of us. I make shredded BBQ chicken, apple, and Gouda wraps. I also cut up some veggies for a small salad. I make enough for my fiancé and I to take for lunch tomorrow.
7 p.m. — My fiancé and I drive to REI to return the sleeping pads from camping. Must get him out of here before he buys everything. REI to him = Target for me.
8 p.m. — Netflix-and-chilling with a glass of red wine.
Daily Total: $0
Day 7
6 a.m. — I make a toasted English muffin with yogurt butter, and remember that we are having a lunch meeting at work. I make coffee at home since I have a few extra minutes to spare because I don't have to pack a lunch. I grab some SkinnyPop popcorn and a nectarine to snack on while at work later.
1 p.m. — My colleagues and I wrap up an editorial meeting and head to a lunch meeting. My boss ordered sandwiches and salad from a local deli. Free lunch is the best lunch. On my walk back to my desk, I get an email that my wedding dress is in! I schedule an appointment for next week to try it on.
2:30 p.m. — I take my break and head to the office gym. It’s a nice perk, but I only take 30 minutes. I run on the treadmill for 20 minutes and walk to cool down for five.
4:30 p.m. — I squeeze in a hot yoga class after work. I have a free monthly membership, so it doesn’t cost me anything.
5:45 p.m. — I bought wedding jewelry that’s a little bit too sparkly, but have been too lazy to return it. I stop by Nordstrom on my way home to do my return and get $81.50 back on the wedding credit card.
6:15 p.m. — My fiancé is at home and getting dinner started. Tonight is the steak kebabs with chimichurri sauce. Smells delicious! I chug some water (so necessary after yoga) and open the bridesmaid belts that came in the mail from Etsy. They are beautiful!
7 p.m. — I read an article that says Moroccan oil helps with keratosis pilaris (red, bumpy skin) if you put it in a bubble bath. I’m willing to try anything, so I log on to Amazon and order it via Amazon Prime. $15
8 p.m. — I already have the wedding day-of timeline done, but I need to figure out where the bridal party will get ready and what time our makeup artists and hairstylists need to get started on the wedding day. I start to write down a plan, but decide Netflix sounds better. I call it quits for the night, pour myself some red wine, and get comfy on the couch.
Daily Total: $15
The Manhattanite making “single-lady” dinners and working with a wedding budget of $30,000.
Industry: Marketing
Age: 30
Location: New York
Salary: $97,000 + 15% annual bonus
Paycheck (2x a month): $1,964, after 401(k), benefits, and taxes
Roommates: 1 (fiancé)
Monthly Expenses
Rent: $1,587.50 (my half)
Cable, internet, and utilities: ~$100 (my half)
Phone: Work pays, $0
Netflix: $7
Gym: $0, in the apartment building
Transportation: I walk to work and most other places, so I don’t buy a monthly MetroCard. I put $30 a month on a pre-tax TransitChek card, and use that to load up my pay-as-you-go MetroCard as needed.
401(k): Maxing out the $18,000 allowed for the year, monthly amount already accounted for in my paycheck stats above. Company matches 4% of my salary.
Roth IRA: I maxed out the annual amount in a lump sum earlier this year at bonus time, $5,500.
Wedding budget: ~$30,000. I’m putting as many wedding expenses as I can on my credit card to get the points, but I always pay it off immediately with money from this budget. My parents are giving $15,000, and my fiancé's parents are giving $15,000, and we will pay whatever we go over that. We're also paying for our whole honeymoon ourselves, which we don't include in the full wedding budget.
Day 1
8 a.m. — Breakfast is a piece of toast with peanut butter and an iced coffee at home. Fiancé and I had some people over yesterday, so we did a big $150 grocery run to pick up goodies for the party (a huge piece of brisket for slow-cooker tacos, dips, beer, salad fixings) and some other weekly staples (bread, coffee beans, milk, eggs, fruit, veggies, etc.). Not technically a part of the diary, but I feel like I should mention it since I’ll be depleting the supply throughout the week.
12:30 p.m. — Lunch of coconut shrimp with two sides from a place near work. It’s expensive but it’s so good and a ton of food, so I try to stretch it into two days’ worth when I eat here. $14.43
6:30 p.m. — Work out in my building's gym. It’s small and bare-bones, but it’s free!
8 p.m. — Dinner of leftover tacos from our gathering.
Daily Total: $14.43
Day 2
8 a.m. — Make a green smoothie at home for the two of us. Kale, avocado, banana, berries, and OJ.
9 a.m. — Forgot my homemade iced coffee, so I pick up a Venti from Starbucks. $3.54
12:30 p.m. — Leftover lunch from yesterday.
6:30 p.m. — Work out in my building's gym.
8 p.m. — Fiancé is out of town, so I cobble together a dinner of avocado toast, hard-boiled eggs, and cherries.
Daily Total: $3.54
Day 3
8 a.m. — Another green smoothie for breakfast, same as yesterday. I remember my iced coffee this time.
10 a.m. — We keep procrastinating on booking honeymoon flights, but I spot a deal today on a low-cost foreign carrier for one of the legs we need. $1,235
1 p.m. — Brought some bread and an avocado from home to make avocado toast at the office for lunch.
5:30 p.m. — Beach getaway coming up this weekend, so time for a wax. $55
6 p.m. — Hit CVS for a couple of random toiletry items. Here’s a secret about me: I LOVE using coupons at CVS. If I ever move to the 'burbs, call TLC because I will immediately become an Extreme Couponing prodigy. I pick up about $30 worth of stuff, but using strategically stacked coupons and ExtraBucks, I get out of there for $8.19.
7 p.m. — Three loads of laundry (in the building, card-operated) at $1.75 wash, $1.75 dry for each load. $10.50
8 p.m. — Another single-lady dinner of hummus, pita chips, and hard-boiled eggs.
Daily Total: $1,308.69
Day 4
8 a.m. — Another green smoothie, to use up the rest of the fresh ingredients before going out of town.
9 a.m. — Head to the airport for my flight to the beach! One-way ticket purchased a few weeks ago (we’re taking an alternate route back, more on that later). Pat myself on the back for taking the train to JFK, $7.75 on my prepaid MetroCard.
10 a.m. — Iced coffee at the airport. $3.54
2 p.m. — Meet up with fiancé and our friends at our destination. We’re staying at our friend's house, no charge. Cab into town to get some food. $20
3 p.m. — Clam chowder and a crab-cake sandwich. Welcome to New England! Also pay for fiancé’s lobster mac 'n' cheese and a few drinks to celebrate being on vacation. $76.56
3:30 p.m. — Pick up two bottles of wine as host gifts. Friend’s parents will be partaking, so I go for the good stuff. $ 59
8 p.m. — Dinner out. Fancy splurge meal. Friend pays, will Venmo later.
Daily Total: $159.40
Day 5
10 a.m. — Breakfast burritos, coffee, and kombucha, before spending the day exploring (it’s too cloudy for the beach). $22.61
2 p.m. — I buy a blanket as a souvenir. It’s chilly out, I’m wearing shorts, and we have a long journey ahead of us tomorrow. $42
2:30 p.m. — Find a spot in town for an afternoon cocktail; I pay for the two of us. $23.50
4 p.m. — Hit the local market for snacks (friend pays, will Venmo) and then the local brewery for the rest of the afternoon. Lots of beers, fiancé pays. Sit outside; new blanket already paying for itself.
8 p.m. — Sushi dinner, then out on the town: Fiancé pays again.
Daily Total: $88.11
Day 6
2 p.m. — Fiancé and I are taking a boat back to Manhattan. It’s a six-and-a-half-hour trip, and I keep seeing flashes of The Perfect Storm playing in my head. Flight prices were insane, so we decided we were down for an adventure and are trying this out. Tickets were paid for by fiancé several weeks ago. I stop at a pharmacy to pick up some Dramamine. $9.75
3 p.m. — Should have brought some food along. The bar on the boat has hot dogs and pizza slices, surprisingly cheap given the captive audience. I get one of each for us to share, plus two Coronas. $18
9 p.m. — Survived.
Daily Total: $27.75
Day 7
8 a.m. — Back in the grind. Peanut butter on toast and iced coffee at home.
11 a.m. — Venmo friend for miscellaneous weekend expenses for myself and fiancé. The splurge dinner plus groceries. $300
12 p.m. — Lunch from the same place as day one. Grilled salmon, roasted eggplant, and watermelon-tomato salad — eat half, save half for tomorrow. $14.43
5 p.m. — I sneak out of work to go to my first wedding-dress fitting. Thank goodness I still like it! I put a 50% deposit down when I ordered it a few months ago, and the balance is due now. Another hit to the wedding budget. $1,100
8 p.m. — Makeshift dinner of frozen dumplings we had in the freezer from forever ago.
9 p.m. — Find another honeymoon flight deal, this time with miles. Book another leg, just pay the taxes out of the wedding budget. $92.40
Daily Total: $1,506.83
An Atlanta woman planning a wedding in Tennessee with a $25,000 budget.
Industry: Software consulting
Age: 23
Location: Atlanta
Salary: Joint salaries, $138,000 (plus quarterly bonuses and end-of-year bonus — fiancé and I have joint finances, so I counted his income).
Paycheck amount (2x a month): $3,515.89
# of roommates: 1 — fiancé. We just passed/survived one year of cohabitation.
Monthly Expenses(For both fiancé and I)
Rent: $2,401 (we live in an unnecessarily large 2-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom apartment in a largely residential neighborhood, but we like the extra space for when we have guests stay with us, which happens at least once a month).
Student loans: $867.65/month. Thankfully, I am the only one of us with student-loan debt and we are aggressively trying to pay them off.
Utilities: $300 (electricity, water, gas, sewage)
TV/internet: $130/month
Car payment: $270/month (I had just paid off my last car when I got into a pretty serious car accident a few months back, requiring us to buy a new car.)
Car/renters'/ring insurance: $330/month
Phone bill: $200/month (covered by work when we remember to expense them)
Health insurance: $280/month
Savings: $360 for wedding fund. We will be engaged for over 20 months when we actually get married, so we have had time to spread out the savings to a more manageable amount.
401(k): Each of us pays 8% of our pre-tax income into a 401(k) that is matched by our employer
Spotify: $20 (both have Premium, but considering switching to the family version to save $5)
CrossFit: $165/month
Wedding budget: ~$25,000 for a wedding in Tennessee in December. We have my parents, his dad and stepmom, and his mom each contributing $5,000. We are covering the rest. His dad and stepmom are paying for the rehearsal dinner. I bought my own dress, and we are paying for our honeymoon. I am so fortunate that our families were able to help, and think that the splitting of responsibilities like this ensures that it doesn't turn into a wedding that isn't what we wanted just because someone else is paying for it.
Day 1
8:30 a.m. — Breakfast at the house of avocado toast with a fried egg and free coffee from our apartment.
11 a.m. — Order a necklace for my maid of honor for her birthday, which is Saturday. She deserves an island for helping me (dealing with me) through the process of wedding planning, but for now, a necklace will do. We are getting together in a few weeks to celebrate, but I had it sent to her place in Tennessee so she could get it on the day. $98.33
12:30 p.m. — Brought my typical lunch of salmon, broccoli, and feta that I eat at my desk while I keep working. We work long hours, so I rarely take a true lunch unless I am running errands. Bad, I know.
4 p.m. — We bought our wedding bands on Saturday and put them on my fiancé’s credit card to get the points, but we're paying them off now. This is the last payment, and should be the last major wedding purchase before the big day (we already paid for the honeymoon, thankfully). $2,200
8 p.m. — Fiancé runs to the store to get goat cheese, beer, buns, and hamburger meat for dinner tonight while I am at my 7 p.m. CrossFit class. My CrossFit gym is right near the store, but he still goes for me so we can avoid eating dinner too late. $16.55
Daily Total: $2,314.88
Day 2
9:30 a.m. — Friday! Yay! Grab a breakfast croissant from the café in the lobby of our office building to celebrate, plus a sparkling water to make the $5 card minimum. $6.23
12:30 p.m. — Every other Friday, our company brings in a local restaurant and they set up in our break room so we can purchase lunch without having to go out. Great BBQ place this time. I get some chicken, mac 'n' cheese, and a Diet Coke. $8.69
1 p.m. — Fiancé gets a haircut on his lunch hour. $35
3 p.m. — Buy one of my bridesmaids' dresses for the wedding. She is still in school and fronting this much money at one time was too much, so I offered to cover it and she is paying me back in pieces. $300.44
6 p.m. — Happy weekend! Fiancé picks up a six-pack from a grocery store on his way home. $9.71
9 p.m. — Take a walk down the BeltLine to a local warehouse-turned-shopping center filled with great shops and restaurants for a late dinner before meeting friends. He gets gnocchi (which I can't try because they were made with hazelnuts and I am allergic), and I get a pizza. A couple glasses of wine for me, two beers for him, and two coffees after the meal. Everything is delicious. $112.88
11 p.m. — Meet some friends and coworkers for drinks at an outdoor bar that was on our walk back to the car before calling it a night. $29
Daily Total: $501.95
Day 3
8 a.m. — Up early to meet the family we are dog-sitting for. Down some free coffee provided by our apartment complex and head to a 9:15 a.m. CrossFit class. I have an unlimited membership, so I try to go four to six times a week (yes, I am that typical CrossFitter who talks about it all the time).
11:10 a.m. — Sprint home from CrossFit to shower quickly before I go see my waxer. It is a little pricier than some options in this city for a Brazilian, but they use sugar instead of wax and they play Sex and the City while getting it done so it is worth the price to me. Pick up some sugar scrub while I am there as I just ran out. $60.80
2 p.m. — Long, lazy lunch with my fiancé at a sports bar not far from our place. We come here way too often, but the wings are delicious and their beer list is a mile long. Spend an hour or so watching the Olympics and chatting. $ 54.32
8 p.m. — Saturdays with no plans often lead to long afternoon naps in our house. After we wake up, we move to the couch where my fiancé does mock fantasy football drafts (I don’t get it) and I work on the wedding timeline provided by our planner (a.k.a. my guardian angel). Finally get hungry and order some amazing Indian food delivered by Uber Eats. $40.36
Daily Total: $155.48
Day 4
8 a.m. — Breakfast of coffee and leftover Indian food from takeout the night before. I usually am not up this early on a Sunday, but I am dog-sitting so I needed to be up earlier to let out the pooch.
2:30 p.m. — Go to a brewery near our place for a friend’s birthday. I don’t usually drink (or do anything) on Sundays, but it is worth it to celebrate her. $12
6 p.m. — Wake up from my post-brewery nap with a headache, so I send my fiancé out for noodles and spring rolls. $25.92
Daily Total: $37.92
Day 5
8 a.m. — Throw together a breakfast burrito from some stuff in the fridge plus some free coffee from the apartment for breakfast. Sunday spent at the brewery instead of getting ready for the week has me a little off my game this morning, so I go for a second cup of coffee before I leave for work.
12:30 p.m. — Lunch from the café downstairs a work. Get a Reuben, chips, and a Diet Coke. This place could easily get addicting, but it's a little pricey to eat there every day. $9.10
7 p.m. — My fiancé is out of town on business, which is rare (usually I travel more than he does, so I rarely have the house to myself). I take advantage of this. I skip my workout, order more Indian food on Uber Eats, and spend my evening with wine and The Real Housewives. $23.25
9 p.m. — Hefty power bill drafts for this month. I keep our place way, way too cold, but I sleep better that way. $255.87 (counted in monthly expenses)
Daily Total: $32.35
Day 6
9:45 a.m. — Wake up with a nasty cough, so I decide to work from home. Apartment is out of coffee, so I drive to Whole Foods to grab a cup (their Breakfast Blend is my truest addiction). Good coffee and leftover Indian food for breakfast. $2.23
4 p.m. — Get distracted working and watching The West Wing (C.J. Cregg is my hero) and forget lunch. Eat a piece of a tortilla with salsa and sour cream for some pre-workout fuel.
8 p.m. — Tough workout at CrossFit leads to Zoës Kitchen for me and Chipotle for my fiancé for dinner. We rarely eat out this often, but if I miss going to the store on Sunday, it can be hard to make ourselves go after work. $23.63
Daily Total: $25.86
Day 7
8:30 a.m. — Make eggs for breakfast, but the apartment is still out of coffee so I have to go without until I get to work (somehow, I survive).
12:30 p.m. — Brought microwave soup for lunch today. A little sad, but I can’t keep eating out, and I still haven’t found time to make it to the store. It's actually much better than I expected, especially in the freezing-cold office I work in.
6 p.m. — Fiancé worked from home, so he graciously volunteers to go to the grocery store for me after I had a hell of a day at work. Burgers and wine for dinner made up for a sucky day. $49.59
Daily Total: $49.59
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