Hi! This is an update MD, mine was published back in summer of 2022.
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/paralegal-brooklyn-ny-salary-money-diary
and I published a Reddit update here: https://www.reddit.com/r/MoneyDiariesACTIVE/comments/17eo26n/i_am_a_28_year_old_woman_making_120000_as_a/
🏦 Section One: Assets and Debt
- Savings $186,094.18:
- Total Retirement Balance: $121,740.50 (two different 401k accounts, my current employer matches 100% of the first 3%, a ROTH IRA a Traditional IRA, and an HSA)
- High Yield Savings Account balance: $10,450.45 (most of this is emergency fund but some is for a Japan/Korea trip I’m planning for next October and a few small sinking funds)
- Checking account balance: $2,359.28
- House fund: $1,543.95
- Vested Company Stock: ~$50,000 (this is Monopoly money in my head until we IPO and I sell so I don’t typically calculate this with my net worth bc it’s all estimated but wanted to include for transparency, I vest another $25,000 every work anniversary for the next 2 years) Bitcoin $0 (I cashed out my Bitcoin at around ~35k that was referenced in previous MDs to pay for a large chunk of my grandparents’ hospice care)
- Debt $9,475.47:
- Credit Card balance: $2,233.32 (Chase + Amex, not a running balance)
- Student loan debt $7,242.15 for a BA in History. (My tuition was covered by scholarships, this is the last quarter of room and board debt.)
🧮 NET WORTH: $176,618.71
💸 Section Two: Income
Income Progression:
- Year 1 $42,000 + $8,000 in bonuses
- Year 2 and 3 $60,000 + $11,000 in overtime $3,000 in bonuses
- Year 4 and 5 $77,000/80,000 + $20,000 in overtime $2,000 in bonuses
- Year 6 $120,000 + $6,000 in bonuses
- Year 7 $130,000 + $12,000 in bonuses
*bonuses at law firms were commensurate with OT clocked/what trials you were on that got settled, now it’s company + personal performance based.
💵 Monthly Take Home:
GROSS: $11,073.18
NET: $5,834.88
Deductions:
- Insurance: 100% covered by company FSA: $66.66
- 401(k): $1,916.00
- Transit: $100
🤑 Section Three: Expenses
Rent $2,024.85 My half of the rent. The rent hasn’t changed as I pre-negotiated a 0% increase in exchange for a 2 year term
Electric ~$100
Gas ~ $10
Wifi - $22.50
Verizon cellphone unlimited plan $109.10
Pet insurance $25 (SO covers the other half)
Pet food subscription $50 (SO covers the other half)
SLT Monthly membership $145 (work covers $100 of this)
Monthly Therapy: $20 copay
Korean classes: around $180 a month for 4 classes a month
House fund: $250
Savings contribution ~$500 Currently adding to my emergency fund and vacation fund
Subscriptions: CrunchyRoll $10, Hulu/Disney/ESPN: $0 through Amex, Apple Music $0 through Verizon, NYT Paper and Games: $15, Retainers: $35 a quarter (I have intense TMJ and chew threw retainers like it’s a full time job)
YNAB: Annual plan $109
Liberty Half Season ticket: $900 (M used to pay for my seat in seasons prior but I offered to pay for my seat so we could move up to a better section.
Debt payments $200 to my student loans. I have two loans, I contribute above the minimum payment (mainly to the one with the larger interested rate!) I sometimes double this payment if I have extra money but I’m just not super pressed about this right now. I want cash on hand to fund the upcoming holidays.
Money for grandparents: ~$300 My Korean grandparents needed specialty hospice care. My parents pay for most of it but I like try to send them something every month
Donations I volunteer with some attorneys who do pro bono work for asylum seekers. I fill out paperwork and attend court hearings with clients who don’t understand the American legal system well. I also try to donate a few hundred dollars in cash and I coupon for items year round to donate to pet/homeless/women’s shelters. I also knit hats, scarves, and gloves to donate to people I see on the train when it gets cold.
💳 Credit card annual fees:
AMEX Platinum $695
Amex delta gold $150 (just went up, debating on closing)
Chase Sapphire Preferred $95
*My SO and I do not combine finances, we just split bills down the middle, share subscriptions, (that’s why Netflix or HBO isn’t listed above) but we do like treat each other to dinner/gifts/classes etc. I currently make about $30,000 more base salary than he does. We usually end up close to the same number once his commission hits at the end of the year.
Day 1 Monday
7:00 AM - Roll out of bed to make a morning Pilates class. ($5.80 round trip). I stop by one of my favorite bakeries to pick up scones for M and I $15.00 with tip.
8:30 AM - I make coffee for M and I (pumpkin spice with oat milk for him, and a mocha protein coffee for me). We look over the calendar for the next month while we snack because we have a lot of guests and events coming up. He starts work but I rinse off and complete my morning routine before sitting down in my office.
11:00 AM - I take a break from work to pull some gumbo I made last month from the freezer and start some rice. M is on zoom calls all day so I just leave a bowl for him on his desk so he can eat it whenever he’s finally off his on camera calls. I settle down in the office again to handle more emails and vendor due diligence.
6:00 PM - Leave my apartment to head to the dentist. $2.90 When I was 15, I was diagnosed with TMJ. Until now, I’ve been dealing with it by frequently replacing my retainers, not chewing gum, avoiding large sandwiches etc but this year a new challenger arrived. Migraines and they’ve been knocking me flat on my ass. Last week during my normal check up I brought up my new symptoms to the dentist. They also noticed my masseters looked even more pronounced than usual. Botox had been recommended to me in years previous but only now has the price seemed worthwhile. We sit down and discuss any possible side effects and what the long term treatment implications were. I told her I’ve reviewed all the articles she sent over and was good to go after reviewing and singing the waiver. While the actual injection was not painful the bill (that cannot be covered by my insurance or HSA) certainly was $600.00(!!!!). $2.90 for the return trip home.
9:00 - Home with M. He made some Ghia mocktails and grilled shrimp salad. He puts on Rings of Power in the bedroom but I fall asleep while reading Mistborn.
TOTAL: $611.60
Day 2 Tuesday
7:30 AM - Get up and head to work. ($2.90) The office manager greets me and mentions she’s ordered more of the matcha I like so we go to the pantry and I whisk up lattes for both of us while she updates me about the apartment she moved to. I procrastinated with her for a bit before heading to my desk and answering the emails that came in late last night.
12:30 PM - I’m momentarily distracted by the smell of the catered Thai food. There’s never enough pad see ew in my life so I’m thrilled. I bring my food back to my desk so I can redline more agreements and make note of different provisions for Finance, Compliance, and Ops to be aware of. I also get on a long zoom call with one of my friends in Compliance and we discuss this quarter’s goals for legal/compliance ops improvements but otherwise I don’t get a whole lot of pings and manage to work in relative peace today! I leave the office on time ($2.90).
7:50 PM - 1.5 hour long Korean class, and another week of wondering why I chose to take class so late in the day.
9:30 PM - M made us salads with kale, slivered almonds, goat cheese, and sliced steak and we put on a WNBA game on in the background. M does the dishes as I review my Korean notes on the couch.
Total: $5.80
Day 3 Wednesday
5:00 AM - I wake up and head to Pilates ($5.80 round trip). After my shower, I’m anxious to get some work done so I can be free all night to celebrate my boyfriend’s birthday. I just brush my teeth and put on moisturizer before taking a seat in my office and reviewing all of the notifications.
8:45 AM - I crush enough work that I finally feel comfortable making a matcha and getting through my full morning routine. Right as I sit back down with my caffeine in hand General Counsel cold zoom calls me asking if we can edit a letter I drafted for him live.
10:30 PM - The zoom call turned 1.5 hour session where my boss was pulling people across departments in to get their input or flag certain sections of a large agreement that we’re trying to finalize. I can tell even my immediate supervisor, Associate Counsel, is getting worn down. But finally, we have been released so I try to knock out some other work. Around 11, my computer starts having issues. I’m troubleshooting it with IT over Slack but nothing is working so IT offers me a new computer but mentions if I want it before Monday I need to go to the office today. I tell him to prep the computer bc I’ll be there in 30 minutes! $2.90.
12:30 PM - I get there just in time for lunch to be served. I help myself to some stir fried tofu and veggies and talk with some coworkers I haven’t talked to in a while. Right as I’m finishing up, the IT director places a gigantic laptop next to me and says “here you go!” He saw my confused expression and said “oh, we don’t have any more 13 inch computers in stock at this office. This computer is technically an engineer spec laptop but the guy we bought this for ended up only working here for 2 months. We have a company policy we can’t reissue engineer spec laptops to other engineers so if you want it it’s yours”. All I could say was “this feels like overkill for someone in legal who’s just running redlines, isn’t it? But I appreciate it!” I bring the computer back to my desk and immediately realize an issue 1) the damn thing is heavy but more pressingly 2) my work bag is only suited to hold a 13 inch laptop and even that was a stretch. I might have let the intrusive thoughts go too far, because I took my computer in my arms and made the short walk to Polène. I had been coveting one of their bags for the past year but could never justify it. And even now I was hoping that the laptop I was carrying wouldn’t fit into it. But sure enough, the Cyme was just as stunning in person and the computer fit in the bag with room to spare. I really must have been in a fugue state because with 15 minutes of walking in, I had already handed my credit card over to the sales associate and said yes to monogramming the bag. $520.00
4:00 PM - I had hoped I to be spending the rest of my day doing my normal tasks and setting up my new computer but instead I’m dealing with the landlord because upstairs construction has caused the ADA bathroom to spring a leak. The office manager and I are yelling at management and then I’m running to my desk to call GC who is on the west coast to confirm this is how he wants to handle the issue. Before going back to the landlord and demanding that he fixes the issue and gives us a discount on the rent for each day we’re dealing with this issue. We come to a tentative agreement and I shove all of my things into my new bag before leaving to meet my boyfriend in Brooklyn.
6:00 PM - Meet for drinks at our favorite tiki bar $2.90. M also wanted the cocktail book. The waitress brought it and said she had it signed by the author because he was in the back hanging out $87.39 ($40 for the cocktail book not included)
8:00 PM - We took the train to a Persian restaurant that M picked out that’s been on our “to try” list for a while $2.90. We are seated and only glance at the menu to confirm that everything we debated ordering is still available. We get the grilled carrots, tahini and date salad, the lamb shank with herby rice and extra yogurt. We both had enough to drink so we just get mocktails the waitress recommended. After inhaling everything and confirming we still have room for dessert, we order the cardamom rose cake. Once we finish that I pay the check ($165.87) and we catch back home $2.90.
10:00 PM - Back home I let M unwrap his real gift the Rivendell Lego set. We stay up entirely too late for a school night starting the build and sipping chamomile tea. But I couldn’t stand the thought of the day ending.
TOTAL: $790.66
Day 4 Thursday
6:00 AM - I wake up to the sounds of dripping. At first I don’t think much of it at first because our bedroom is connected to the terrace so we can always hear rain when it comes but this sounded closer than normal. I sit up and see that water is coming in through the bottom of the door. I jump out of bed and start shoving towels along the door and go downstairs to grab a bin that’s low enough to catch the water only to see more leaking. I pull old beach towels from the laundry room and large bowls from the kitchen as M comes downstairs and also notices the destruction. The next hour is spent frantically drying up what we can, placing containers under the fast leaking, and taking pictures of everything for the management company.
9:00 AM - I send the rest of the legal department a slack explaining what happened and that I’ll be on and offline through out the day to handle the state of my apartment. I spend the majority of the day documenting everything in Notion, saving pictures and videos, texting my super, emailing the management, etc. while also trying to answer anything that looked urgent work wise.
12:30 PM - The place is still a disaster but somewhat under control. Management has been silent but the super has come over to check on everything and go up to the terrace and roof to look at the drainage. M runs out to pick up lunch. I requested Vietnamese because all I want after rain inside my apartment is hot crispy spring rolls wrapped in lettuce with nuoc cham and the biggest, hottest bowl of pho possible. He returned with all of that plus a Vietnamese iced coffee and banh xeo. My hero.
7:00 PM - Still nothing from my management company so while M prepares dinner I start drafting a letter to serve my landlord and management company. Because this wasn’t the first time this apartment leaked, I also call up an old friend/coworker, A who is an attorney that works in real estate law, to get his opinion on some things about my lease. We talk over the phone while A reviews my draft and very kindly offers to work on the letter tonight and sign and send it himself after we both approve of it. I offer to call his assistant in the morning to get an engagement letter together and put down a deposit for a retainer but he said the retainer isn’t necessary due to all of the help I did on his pro bono cases years ago even when they hurt my billable hours. But we do agree to execute an engagement letter in the morning.
9:00 PM - I sit down and eat dinner (boxed mac and cheese) with M and discuss the phone call. We’re going to push to get a rent abatement back dated to when we first started telling the owner and management of the issues. And/or potentially being released from the lease. I give him a rough idea of the game plan, let him read the letter and give any feedback, and we also talk about how we’ll deep clean the apartment/make it livable while its actively still leaking and falling apart. I sit in bed reading Intermezzo to unwind*.*
TOTAL: $0.00
Day 5 Friday
9:30 AM - Called my friend’s assistant, she got the EL together while we’re on the phone and promises to send it out once he reviews. He calls an hour later, I Docusign it and we get to finalizing our letter and he serves it. I’m really struck by how lucky I am to have such talented and kind friends because we got a response and a promise for a conference call within the hour.
12:00 PM - Off the phone with our management company! They tried to low ball us but my attorney and I pushed and got them to agree to paying for professional cleaners, mold testing, on top of a 1/2 month abatement. AND until the apartment is fully repaired we get an effective 5% of the rent for each week we’re waiting. Management gets off the call and I tell A that drinks and dinner are on me on a weekend of his choosing. I also send an emailed thank you and Starbucks ($25) gift card to his assistant for putting together my engagement letter first thing in the morning. With that handled, I start working.
2:00 PM - While I’m doing everything in my power to finish catching up on work I missed in the last 24 hours a fire drill comes in. The CEO wants us to review a new agreement and complete due diligence on a high risk vendor within the day. No one is particularly happy about it, but we all sit on zoom to work on the review together in an attempt to expedite it.
7:00 PM - Because most of our bowls and large pots are in use to catch rain water we order in again for dinner. Lamb saag for me and butter chicken for him plus naan and samosas. I run out and pick it up myself to save on delivery fees $39.13. We eat and watch Chopped and I do my Korean homework.
8:30 PM - Some of M's friends that lives in the neighborhood asked if we want to meet up for belated birthday drinks. We say we’d love to come and blow off some steam so we meet at a dive bar we all like that’s equidistant. We love all of the staff, vibe, and beer list. We didn’t let M pay for anything and his friends were kind enough to pay the whole bill but I insisted on leaving the tip ($40.00).
TOTAL: $104.13
Day 6 Saturday
8:30 AM - Awake and somehow not feeling pickled despite all the drinking. I go downstairs and make some homemade biscuits and gravy. M comes down saying he was woken up from the smell. He’s having a harder time this morning. He says its because he didn’t sleep well. I say it’s because he was taking shots with everyone and old now. After eating, I start cleaning the apartment and take extra care to look for any missed water damage or mold. M has to have some gatorade and ibuprofen before joining my crusade.
11:00 AM - All dust bunnies have been vanquished. M plays 2K while I paint my nails. I still am unable to justify the price of a manicure but I want to try a glass nail trend I saw on TikTok. I’m hoping that I can get it done and look decent within 2 hours so I still have time to enjoy my day.
3:00 PM - My nails turned out almost exactly like the pictures I saw. I feel invincible. I FaceTime my girlfriend, S, who lives near by to see if she wants to hang out. She says she wants to but would need to stay home because her fridge is having issues. I say we’re happy to come! I hang up and make a jug of our fave lychee martinis and walk over with M. Her wife is out of town so she’s taking advantage by just watching all the sports she can. We start with some college football before switching to the WNBA playoff games. M abstains from the martinis but I get toasty. S had dinner already on the stove and she offers us oxtails, rice and peas, and plantains. Truly a perfect day.
10:30 PM - I start nodding off due to the booze and oxtail so M excuses us and walks us home. I fall asleep before my head hits the pillow.
TOTAL: $0.00
Day 7 Sunday
7:00 AM - Up and just applying some sunscreen before heading to Pilates ($2.90). M meets me after class with a protein shake that I drink while we take a long walk home. After my shower I sit down with YNAB and review everything that’s happened during the week. The botox and birthday expenses were somewhat expected and are mostly being covered with sinking funds but the bag was super impulsive. I do some reviewing and rebalancing and find that I’m able to reconcile about half of the bag. And even though it’s not the true YNAB way I make a note that I’ll need to use my next paycheck to cover the rest.
12:00 PM - Pull a large ribeye from the freezer and place it in the sink with running water to thaw for dinner. For lunch I just slap together some soondubu and rice. M and I spend the day reading, listening to records, and playing some board games.
7:30 PM - I make some gochujang garlic compound butter and place it in the fridge before I get the smash potatoes into the oven. I head upstairs with and grill the seasoned steak and some asparagus. M and I dig in while we discuss the apartment, the week ahead, and our general plans for the rest of the year.
TOTAL: $2.90
📊TOTALS📊
| Food and Drink | $347.39 |
|---|---|
| Fun and Entertainment | $0.00 |
| Home and Health | $600.00 |
| Clothes + Beauty | $520.00 |
| Transport | $37.70 |
| Other | $25.00 |
| GRAND TOTAL | $1,525.00 |
This was an absolutely unhinged week of spending for me. And while there is definitely a natural ebb and flow with how money gets spent this was still an abnormal week. I’ll def be at home and for the foreseeable future and only spending in categories that were budgeted for. Luckily I have a lot of knitting projects to keep me occupied at home.
I wrote this a few weeks ago and I can confirm that since then my apartment has been fixed (we tested, found, and removed all the mold; patched holes’ replaced floors; etc) and I’ve gotten 1 month of rent free. M and I are putting that month of free rent into a HYSA so we have a moving fund started for next summer.
Finally, after a week of dealing with 2 landlords I'm further inspired to get my own apartment. I swear nothing has radicalized me further than just dealing with greedy, lazy landlords and management companies. I only started my house fund a few months ago but I'm going to put most of my Christmas bonus away and move some things around in my budget to save more aggressively.
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