Where does it all go? It’s a question that puzzles all New Yorkers. You went to the ATM two days ago and suddenly you’re there again, trying to remember how it went so fast (oh, yeah, that … $46 you blew on vodka-and-sodas). Our spending patterns, if we think about them, tend toward the irrational—we drop … $200 on jeans, then agonize over whether to take a cab or the subway home. And we wonder, How does everyone else do it? To see how money shapes our daily lives, we asked six New Yorkers of varying incomes to track every penny they spent in week; the figures provide a picture of urban life that is both heartening (even the richest among us drink deli coffee and sometimes take the subway) and somewhat less so (compare our junior professional’s grilled-chicken takeout with our trader’s … $520 dinner tab at Da Umberto). And having money doesn’t mean spending it lavishly—our … $700,000-a-year investment banker spends … $3,000 a year on vacations. Somehow, we all find ways to afford something that meets our definition of luxury, like our grad student who recklessly splurged on, yes, Iron Maiden tickets. Rock on.
The Subsidized Grad Student: $20,000
Brian, a 26-year-old M.F.A. candidate in fiction, earns a modest living from teaching, assisting professors, and writing magazine articles. His parents pay his tuition as well as a $140-a-month gym membership at Equinox. The rent for his half of a West Village two-bedroom is $1,800 a month, most of it covered by his parents. Each month, Brian pays $125 for cable and Internet access,$59.31 on his Verizon cell-phone bill, and $96.67 for a shared desk at Paragraph, a writing space.
MONDAY
Iced coffee, Starbucks … $2.55
Salad bar and Orangina, Garden of Eden … $7.62
Espresso … $2.17
Dinner, Bombay Talkie … $34.10
Groceries at Gristedes (olive oil and mayonnaise) … $15.08
Total … $61.52
TUESDAY
Laundry, Laundromat on West 4th … $10.75
Iced coffee, Bonsignour Café … $2.25
Subway ride … $2
Bacon-turkey-and-Cheddar-melt sandwich and water, Così … $9.65
Subway ride … $2
Mixmag (British electronic-music magazine and CD), Casa Magazines … $9.75
Bottle of water … $1
Total … $37.40
WEDNESDAY
Migraine acupuncture treatment … $125
Fried chicken and corn, Dirty Bird to Go … $10.26
Espresso, Joe … $2.17
Bagel with tofu spread, Murray’s Bagels … $3.82
Total … $141.25
THURSDAY
Groceries at deli on Eighth Avenue … $14.37
Total … $14.37
FRIDAY
Espresso, Starbucks … $1.75
Mac and cheese and chili … $8.75
Cheeseburger, beer, and bourbon, Corner Bistro … $12.25
Ticket to Iron Maiden concert, Continental Airlines Arena … $80
Round-trip bus ticket from Port Authority to the Meadowlands … $9
Beer … $7
Subway to Port Authority and home after concert … $4
Total … $122.75
SATURDAY
Grilled-veggie sandwich, side salad, and two espressos, Doma … $12.59
Two tickets to Shortbus, Clearview Chelsea … $23
One glass of red wine, two coffees, cinnamon French toast with maple butter, Tour … $26.34
Total … $61.93
SUNDAY
Pound of coffee beans, Starbucks on Greenwich Avenue and Bank Street … $13.45
Total $13.45
TOTAL WEEKLY SPENDING: $452.67
The Junior Professional: $54,000
Matt, a 25-year-old publicist, lives with a roommate in an East Village two-bedroom, where his share of the rent is … $1,100 a month. His biggest monthly expenses include the bill for his BlackBerry ($63), his cable bill ($50), and electricity ($50).
MONDAY
Canadian maple syrup and Three Musketeers candy bar … $10.48
Coke Zero and two large bottles of water … $4.23
Subway sandwich … $7.67
Gas for rental car … $26
1/3 rental-car payment … $43
Car service home … $30
TOTAL … $121.38
TUESDAY
Taxi to work … $10
Tuna-salad wrap from Pax … $5.96 Baked Lay’s potato chips from Pax … $1
Subway home … $2
Cetaphil moisturizer, Kmart … $13.54
Bottle of red wine from a liquor store on East 5th Street … $19.54
Trident white gum … $1.50
Taxi to friend’s house … $7
Taxi home from friend’s house … $7
Total … $67.54
WEDNESDAY
Taxi to work … $10
Salad from Teresa’s … $8
Tasti D-Lite … … … … … … … $5
Subway home … $2
Carrot cake from Atlas Cafe on Second Avenue … $4.62
Marlboro Ultra Lights … $7.50
Takeout, grilled lemon chicken with a salad and mashed potatoes from 7A … $14
TOTAL … $51.12
THURSDAY
Six kitchen glasses from Kmart … $6.27
Doctor-bill co-pay … $10
Turkey sandwich … $5.95
Diet ginger ale and Baked Lay’s potato chips … $4.13
Skinny Cow mint-chocolate ice-cream sandwiches from a bodega on Second Avenue … $4.99
Marlboro Ultra Lights … $7
Vodka sodas at Boiler Room … $46
TOTAL … $84.34
FRIDAY
Soup and steamed vegetables for lunch from Angelica Kitchen … $19
Two throw pillows from Urban Outfitters for couch … $43.35
Bagel, chips, and soda for lunch from St. Mark’s Market … $8.68
Subway to Brooklyn … $2
Drinks at Patois … $37
Taxi back to Manhattan … $14
TOTAL … $124.03
SATURDAY
Milk Duds and bottled water at movie (Marie Antoinette) … $6.50
Soup and grilled chicken for dinner with salad at Cafe Orlin … $42
Beer and Marlboro Ultra Lights from a bodega on Second Avenue … $12
Beer at the Phoenix … $15
Grilled cheese, omelette, potatoes from Moonstruck Diner on Second Avenue and 5th Street … $27.40
TOTAL … $102.90
SUNDAY
Grilled-chicken wrap at Cafe Gigi … $15
Afternoon drinks at China 1 … $13
Drinks at Supreme Trading in Brooklyn … $40
Green tea from a bodega … $4.75
Car service to Manhattan … $15
Total … $87.75
TOTAL WEEKLY SPENDING: $639.06
The Mid-Career Fund-raiser: $150,000
Jack, a 35-year-old fund-raiser for a nonprofit news organization, lives with his fiancée in downtown Brooklyn, in a 1,000-square-foot converted loft that costs $2,000 a month. After rent, his biggest expense is the $5,000 to $10,000 a year he spends on two European vacations. He spends $76 on a monthly MetroCard and has a $67-a-month membership to the Y. His utility costs are relatively low; his landlord pays for heat and hot water, while his Internet, telephone, and cell phone are covered by his employer. He has no cable television, but his Netflix membership costs $45.50 a month (for seven DVDs at a time).
MONDAY
Diet Dr. Pepper … $1.49
Regular pizza slice, Ray Bari … $2.76
Bedouin Tent dinner delivery ($17.50 plus tip) for two: one lentil soup, one garden salad (served with fresh pita), one small order stuffed grape leaves (stuffed with rice and spices), one order (two pieces) baklava with walnut and cinnamon, red wine, bottled water … $21
Total … $25.25
TUESDAY
Large iced coffee with milk … $2.50
Tube of Mentos (mint) … $.85
Bran muffin and regular fountain drink from Au Bon Pain … $3.30
Cheeseburger, side of onion rings, order of buffalo wings, two Johnnie Walker Red Labels, two Saratoga sparkling waters, one fountain soda water, for three people total, Cedar Tavern … $50
Two 24-ounce Poland Spring “Sport-Pack” bottles … $3
iTunes album purchase (artist: Fdel; album: Audiofdelity) … $9.99
iTunes album purchase (artist: Hi-Tek; album: Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip) … $9.99
iTunes song purchase (artist: Krafty Kuts; song: “Summer Samba”) … $.99
iTunes song purchase (artist: Krafty Kuts; song: “The Funk Is”) … $.99
iTunes song purchase (artist: Duran y Garcia; song: “Jazz Expression”) … $.99
Total … $82.60
WEDNESDAY
Large iced coffee with milk and a cinnamon-raisin pastry from the Victory (State and Hoyt Streets, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn) … $5
Groceries … $9.67
Ki Sushi dinner delivery: edamame, one miso soup, one garden salad, two pieces bluefin-fatty-tuna sushi, two pieces white-eel sushi, one piece uni sushi, one piece botan-shrimp sushi, one Fashion Roll ($54.19 + tip) … $60
Total … $74.67
THURSDAY
Large iced coffee with milk from Victory … $2.50
Bottle of Botalcura Carmenere Grand Reserve (Chile) from September Wines & Spirits … … . $21.66
Johnnie Walker Black Label (neat) and Red Stripe from Max Fish on Ludlow … $9.50
Half of the bill for two bottles of wine (Sancerre and Carignan) at Jadis … $60
One pint Harpoon I.P.A. and one seltzer water from Local 138 on Ludlow Street … $9
Reuben, small potato salad, diet Dr. Brown’s cream soda, regular Dr. Brown’s cream soda to go, Katz’s Delicatessen ($22.81 + … $3 tip to counterman) … $25.81
Total $128.47
FRIDAY
Large iced coffee, a ham-and-cheese croissant from the Victory … $5.50
33.8-fl.-oz. San Pellegrino, 1.5-l. Fresca, 50.7-fl.-oz. Volvic, Lindemans 750-ml. Pomme Lambic, from deli … $20
Total … $25.50
SATURDAY
Breakfast delivery for fiancée and self from Fast & Fresh Deli on Hoyt (sausage, egg and cheese on a toasted English muffin, egg whites and tomato on a toasted English muffin, side of bacon, two large coffees with milk, one two-quart-size Tropicana orange juice) … $15
One can R.W. Knudsen Jamaican Lemonade, avocado roll, apple, one 20-fl.-oz. bottle Canada Dry mandarin-orange flavor from Sunac Food Corp. (440 Union St., Boerum Hill) … $7.28
Two rose bunches (one light red, one slightly orange) from deli … $10
Birthday card from drugstore … $2.50
Two car-service rides … $16
NY Brite cleaning service … $100
Total … $150.78
SUNDAY
Large hot coffee from the Victory … $2
Half a bag of groceries split with fiancée, plus one Sunday New York Times, one Sunday Times of London … $20
One bottle of Mexican Coke from Fast & Fresh on Hoyt … $1.50
One order chicken-Parmesan entrée (with Greek lemon soup and dinner roll), Salonike Carroll Gardens Classic Dining on Smith Street ($15.50 plus … $3 tip; split with fiancée) … $18.50
Total … $42
TOTAL WEEKLY SPENDING: $529.27
The Expense-Account I-Banker: $700,000
Mary, 32, lives alone in a one-bedroom on the Upper West Side that she rents for … $3,200 a month. She spends about $3,000 a year on vacations and$5,000 on a Hamptons summer share. Her utilities come to about $100 a month, and she pays $130 for cable and $90 a month for her cell phone and BlackBerry. Mary often travels for business, so her daily expenses are covered by her investment bank during those days and weeks.
MONDAY
One night at the Four Seasons Las Vegas (reimbursed) … $202.46
Taxi to the airport (reimbursed) … $20
Flight to El Paso, Texas (reimbursed) … $175
Hertz car rental, El Paso (reimbursed) … $148.13
Feminine products, Walgreens … $10
Fruit salad and Diet Coke … $7.50
Diet Coke … $1.50
BlackBerry car charger … $32.16
Wall Street Journal … $1
Total … $597.75
TUESDAY
Radisson Suite Hotel El Paso (reimbursed) … $201.86
Apple and tea … $2.10
Snack on American Airlines … $4
Flight to New York (AAirpass) (reimbursed) … $19
Book of eight coach-to-first-class upgrades on American … $264
Nylons, black turtleneck, brown turtleneck, Ann Taylor … $373.06
Two baby gifts from Neiman Marcus online … $259.21
Car service to Eleven Madison Park for dinner … $35
Taxi home … $15
Wine delivery (two bottles of Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay, one bottle of Heron Cabernet Sauvignon) … $45
Cleaning lady … $100
Total … $1,318.23
WEDNESDAY
Taxi to work … $10
Coffee from street cart … $1.25
Subway home … $2
Total … $13.25
THURSDAY
Taxi to meeting at the Ritz … $10
Slice of pizza and a soda … $7.50
Drinks with co-workers at Connolly’s bar … $44
Taxi home … $10
Total … $71.50
FRIDAY
Round-trip JetBlue to Nashville (reimbursed) … $467.10
Coat, two pair of pants, sweater set, Sigrid Olsen shop … $524.64
Sweater for sister, Ann Taylor … $65.54
Manicure … $25
Lunch, Cheesecake Factory (reimbursed) … $44
Copy of Making It Up, by Penelope Lively … $14
Total $1,140.28
SATURDAY
Three Diet Cokes … $3
Friend’s birthday gift from Neiman Marcus online … $101.57
Total … $104.57
SUNDAY
Food at airport … $10
Total … $10
TOTAL WEEKLY SPENDING:$3,255.58
out of pocket … $1,978.03
reimbursed … $1,277.55
The Trader (and His Wife): Over $1 Million
William, 41, is a trader at a major Wall Street brokerage, and his wife, Beth, 35, stays home with their 3-year-old twins. They live in a four-bedroom apartment on the Upper West Side, which they rent for $9,000 a month. They spend $28,000 a year for their kids’ preschool, and about $1,000 a month on car payments, insurance, and garage costs. Other big expenses include the$30,000 they spent to rent a house in Amagansett in August, and a six-week apartment-renovation project they estimate at $20,000 to $25,000.
MONDAY
BETH
Tuna-salad platter, Columbus Bakery … $7.95
Hair elastics, Ricky’s … $2.16
Cupcakes, Crumbs Bake Shop … $8.10
Old Navy gift card for baby … $50
Babysitter for three hours … $45
Check for Visa bill … $56.13
Two charity ball tickets … $650
WILLIAM
Taxi to work … $8
Diet Coke … $.75
Total … $828.09
TUESDAY
BETH
Bus … $2
Babysitter for three hours … $45
Two coats, babyGap … $108.97
Birthday cards at CVS … $5.23
WILLIAM
Taxi to work … $8
Fruit-and-granola parfait from office cafeteria … $2.11
Iced coffee from cafeteria … $1.25
Taxi home to check renovations … $10
Taxi … $6
Taxi … $5
Apple, soda from cafeteria … $1.89
Check to contractor … $1,738
Check for cell-phone bill … $92.52
Total: … $2,025.97
WEDNESDAY
BETH
Taxi to Bed Bath & Beyond … $6
Shower curtain, liner, and hooks … $44.40
Taxi home … $8
WILLIAM
Taxi to work … $8
Coffee for guys on the desk … $14
Parfait from cafeteria … $2.11
Iced coffee from cafeteria … $1.25
Salad from cafeteria … $4.25
Soda from cafeteria … $1.19
Apple from cafeteria … $.70
Sushi at Haru … $53
Tip for garage attendant … $1
Total … $143.90
THURSDAY
BETH
Cleaning lady … $90
Quarters for laundry … $10
Iced coffee … $2.48
Three slices of pizza, apple juice, a water at Freddie & Pepper’s … $8.50
Chicken and cheese dosas, Hampton Chutney Co… . $20
Chicken Parmesan, spaghetti and meatballs, eggplant rollatini, and a salad, San Luigi … $39
WILLIAM
Taxi to work … $8
Iced coffee from cafeteria … $1.25
Parfait from cafeteria … $2.11
Apple from cafeteria … $.70
Salad from cafeteria … $5.25
Soda from cafeteria … $1.19
Taxi home to check renovations … $8
Taxi back to office … $9
Taxi home … $9
Total … $214.48
FRIDAY
BETH
Haircut and tips … $270
Taxi … $7
Pizza bagel, buttered bagel, tuna panini at school café … $11
Babysitter (four hours plus money for dinner and cab fare) … $85
WILLIAM
Taxi to work … $8
Iced coffee from cafeteria … $1.25
Parfait from cafeteria … $2.11
Apple from cafeteria … $.70
Salad from cafeteria … $5.25
Soda from cafeteria … $1.19
Subway fare for two … $4
Dinner at Da Umberto (their share of the check with two other couples), antipasti, two pasta courses, striped bass, monkfish, red wine … $520
Total … $915.50
SATURDAY
BETH
Subway … $4
Chicken and ribs, L & L Hawaiian Barbecue takeout … $23.70
Empanadas, Ruben’s … … . . $29.26
Subway … $4
Brownstone School Halloween Fun Fair … $32
WILLIAM
Groceries from Fairway … $56.90
Sushi at Haru … $255
Total … $404.86
SUNDAY
WILLIAM
Smoothie at Juice Generation … $5
BETH
Two tickets to the Little Orchestra Society’s Lolli-Pops concert … $80
Total … $85
TOTAL WEEKLY SPENDING: $4,617.80
Read the Diaries
• The Subsidized Grad Student ($20K)
• The Junior Professional ($50K)
• The Mid-Career Fund-raiser ($150K)
• The Expense-Account I-Banker ($700K)
• The Trader and His Wife (Over $1M)