31, Earning $116K, and Navigating Life Alone After a Breakup: A Money Diary
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.
This week: A graphic designer working in government who makes $116,000 per year and spends some of it on a shimmery dress.
This Money Diary was written at the start of 2026. This is a follow-up diary, you can read the previous one here.
If you'd like to submit your own Money Diary, you can do so via our online form. We pay $150 for each published diary. Apologies but we're not able to reply to every email. Please note: We are legally unable to publish any diaries that have been written with the use of AI.
This week: A graphic designer working in government who makes $116,000 per year and spends some of it on a shimmery dress.
This Money Diary was written at the start of 2026. This is a follow-up diary, you can read the previous one here.
If you'd like to submit your own Money Diary, you can do so via our online form. We pay $150 for each published diary. Apologies but we're not able to reply to every email. Please note: We are legally unable to publish any diaries that have been written with the use of AI.
Occupation: Graphic designer
Industry: Government
Age: 31
Location: Washington, D.C.
Salary: $116,000
Joint Income/Financial Setup: n/a
Assets:
Thrift Savings Plan: $156,000
Roth IRA: $78,000
Brokerage accounts: $19,000
Savings account: $12,000
Debt: $0
Paycheck Amount (1x month): ~$5,200 (after TSP)
Pronouns: She/her
Monthly Expenses
Housing Costs: $2,300
Loan Payments: $0
Investments: ~$500
Rental insurance: $8
Utilities: ~$150 (gas/electric)
Phone & Internet: $125
Subscriptions: $9.52 (Netflix & Apple Storage)
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?
Yes. As I touched on in my last Money Diary, as a first-gen Asian American born of refugees, the pressure to succeed academically and go to college was high. I chose a public state university because it was the only feasible option, financially. Besides IB credits and some financial aid during my first year, I had to take out private loans for the bulk of it. I eventually had $10,000 in federal loans paid off by my employer, and refinanced and saved to aggressively pay down the remaining $60,000 in private loans.
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent(s) educate you about finances?
The only conversations we had about money revolved around how to get my family out of enormous debt. My parents were ambitious entrepreneurs, but lifestyle creep meant the money went out faster than it came in. Things went from designer clothes and luxury trips to foreclosure and avoiding debt collectors real quick. Mixing family with business only added fuel to the fire, leading to a lot of burned bridges and a nasty divorce when I was in high school. As soon as I became independent, I made it my mission to unlearn those habits and take ownership of my finances and my life.
What was your first job and why did you get it?
My first job, outside of working for the family business pro bono, due to the “roof over your head/food to eat” rule, was a temp job at a big magazine during summers in college. It was an effort to break free from filial obligations and build something for myself and my résumé. I ended up freelancing for the magazine for many years after.
Did you worry about money growing up?
Constantly. I grew up faster than any kid should because my family relied on me as their translator, mediator, and everything-doer. From adolescence, I was dealing with the IRS and debt collectors on their behalf. My parents blamed it on not being fluent in English, but they were certainly more capable than a 12-year-old. Despite having two older brothers, the burden of managing the family's chaos fell on me (is there such a thing as youngest daughter syndrome?).
Do you worry about money now?
I do. Even though I've made massive strides and feel empowered, I still carry lingering guilt when spending money. I'm still super frugal by default, even when I don't need to be. It's hard to shake the feeling that the floor could fall out at any moment. Old habits (and financial traumas) die hard…
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?
At 22, I moved out on my own and became completely financially independent. I don't feel that I have a secure financial safety net, but I think now my mom could help get me out of a bind if needed, as she's in a better place since she remarried. I usually keep a healthy emergency fund, but I dipped into it recently for some investments and to max out my Roth IRA for the year.
Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.
Again, I wish!
Industry: Government
Age: 31
Location: Washington, D.C.
Salary: $116,000
Joint Income/Financial Setup: n/a
Assets:
Thrift Savings Plan: $156,000
Roth IRA: $78,000
Brokerage accounts: $19,000
Savings account: $12,000
Debt: $0
Paycheck Amount (1x month): ~$5,200 (after TSP)
Pronouns: She/her
Monthly Expenses
Housing Costs: $2,300
Loan Payments: $0
Investments: ~$500
Rental insurance: $8
Utilities: ~$150 (gas/electric)
Phone & Internet: $125
Subscriptions: $9.52 (Netflix & Apple Storage)
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?
Yes. As I touched on in my last Money Diary, as a first-gen Asian American born of refugees, the pressure to succeed academically and go to college was high. I chose a public state university because it was the only feasible option, financially. Besides IB credits and some financial aid during my first year, I had to take out private loans for the bulk of it. I eventually had $10,000 in federal loans paid off by my employer, and refinanced and saved to aggressively pay down the remaining $60,000 in private loans.
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent(s) educate you about finances?
The only conversations we had about money revolved around how to get my family out of enormous debt. My parents were ambitious entrepreneurs, but lifestyle creep meant the money went out faster than it came in. Things went from designer clothes and luxury trips to foreclosure and avoiding debt collectors real quick. Mixing family with business only added fuel to the fire, leading to a lot of burned bridges and a nasty divorce when I was in high school. As soon as I became independent, I made it my mission to unlearn those habits and take ownership of my finances and my life.
What was your first job and why did you get it?
My first job, outside of working for the family business pro bono, due to the “roof over your head/food to eat” rule, was a temp job at a big magazine during summers in college. It was an effort to break free from filial obligations and build something for myself and my résumé. I ended up freelancing for the magazine for many years after.
Did you worry about money growing up?
Constantly. I grew up faster than any kid should because my family relied on me as their translator, mediator, and everything-doer. From adolescence, I was dealing with the IRS and debt collectors on their behalf. My parents blamed it on not being fluent in English, but they were certainly more capable than a 12-year-old. Despite having two older brothers, the burden of managing the family's chaos fell on me (is there such a thing as youngest daughter syndrome?).
Do you worry about money now?
I do. Even though I've made massive strides and feel empowered, I still carry lingering guilt when spending money. I'm still super frugal by default, even when I don't need to be. It's hard to shake the feeling that the floor could fall out at any moment. Old habits (and financial traumas) die hard…
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?
At 22, I moved out on my own and became completely financially independent. I don't feel that I have a secure financial safety net, but I think now my mom could help get me out of a bind if needed, as she's in a better place since she remarried. I usually keep a healthy emergency fund, but I dipped into it recently for some investments and to max out my Roth IRA for the year.
Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.
Again, I wish!
Day One: Friday
7:30 a.m. — I've been waking up around this time every day… probably because that's when I start hearing my cat, C., move around the apartment. C. is a stray I took in a little over a year ago and my first pet ever, and I'm obsessed with her.
8:30 a.m. — After looking at my phone in bed a little more, I get dressed, brush my teeth, feed C., and make some iced coffee. I knock out some menial tasks I've been meaning to do: make a doctor's appointment, call banks — you know, adult things.
9:45 a.m. — Oh, C. I love you, but did you have to jump on my desk during my Zoom meeting, knocking over my tall glass of coffee?! I try to do some damage control while my boss and colleagues laugh. Luckily, it's just a casual check-in, but I'm definitely awake now. Bye-bye, coffee.
10:00 a.m. — Finally cleaned up, I get my Roborock going (best Black Friday purchase ever). Suddenly, I'm inspired to keep cleaning, so I seize that energy because it comes oh-so-rarely. I guess C. did me a favor?
10:30 a.m. — For breakfast, I heat some leftover chicken congee I made earlier this week. Maybe it's because I'm getting older, but I always crave warm soup in the morning. I top it with ginger, scallions, cilantro, half a boiled egg, fried shallots, and a splash of soy sauce. Perfect slop bowl. I spend the rest of the morning coordinating with clients, designing web assets, and planning some projects.
1:30 p.m. — Lunchtime! I heat some leftover ground turkey goodles I made the other night. Very cheesy, very comforting. I respond to my friend, G., who moved away last year, about “happy hour” later, which is basically just drinking while yapping on the phone.
4:30 p.m. — The rest of the workday is uneventful, as Friday afternoons usually are. I'm able to wrap up early, so I get ready to walk to Trader Joe's to grab some drinks for “happy hour.”
5:00 p.m. — On the way, I pop into my go-to consignment store. I don't shop often, but when I do, I really only buy secondhand. My friends are getting married this summer, and their wedding theme is “disco,” which I'm struggling with (my wardrobe is basically monochromatic). After trying on several things, I settle on a shimmery Madewell dress as well as a J. Crew skirt for work. $39.22
5:30 p.m. — I make it to TJ's! I grab more than I need because I'm hungry. (Never shop hungry, y'all.) In addition to the hard ciders I came for, I grab an onion, shallot, jalapeño, cucumbers, a block of feta, a block of parmesan, tzatziki, roasted seaweed, chile lime pork rinds, rice crackers, canned calamari and oysters, farro, a soft drink, and a bottle of grape soju. I call G. to keep me company on the mile walk home. $63.16
6:00 p.m. — When I get home, I unload, feed C., and continue to catch up with G. while fixing a quick dinner of leftover bibimbap I made earlier this week (rotisserie chicken, veggie banchan, kimchi, multigrain rice, gochujang sauce, and the seaweed I just got).
9:00 p.m. — G. and I yap for three (!) hours. Time always flies whether it's on the phone or in person. I miss living down the street from each other. She and I both went through long-term relationship breakups last year, so we've been bonding over that. I make tentative plans to visit her in her hometown this spring.