A data scientist in Denver, Colorado, earning $110,000 annually, shares a week of spending with a focus on balancing work, personal interests, and financial goals.
A Week of Balanced Spending in Denver
A 29-year-old data scientist in Denver earns $110,000 annually, working in the nonprofit sector. She lives with her boyfriend, E., and they split expenses proportionally based on their incomes. She covers more of the rent, healthcare, and entertainment costs, while they share groceries equally.
Her monthly expenses include $1,100 for rent (her portion), $70 for utilities, $90 for Wi-Fi, and $106 for a climbing gym membership. She also pays $15 for renters’ insurance and various subscriptions like NYT, iCloud, Spotify, and local mutual aid organizations. Her health insurance is covered by her employer, but she pays $230 monthly for E.’s insurance. She spends $400-600 on therapy and $75-100 for E.’s therapy.
Her assets include $4,343 in checking, $20,180 in a HYSA, $79,906 in a Roth IRA, $72,951 in an IRA, $7,550 in a 401(k), and $280,004 in various investments. She has no debt.
Growing up in affluent communities in New York, she learned the value of budgeting from her mother. She attended NYU with a 90% discount due to her mother’s employment there, graduating debt-free. Her first job was as a summer camp counselor in the Hamptons, earning $100 a week.
She worries about future financial goals, such as owning a home and starting a family, despite her current financial stability. She has a financial safety net from her parents and her own savings.
Day One: Friday
She starts the day with a latte and work emails, followed by a stand-up meeting with her team. After work, she walks her dog and heads to the mall for data collection at her part-time job. She buys perfume for $30.52 and has dinner for $20.36. She ends the day with a movie night and online shopping for her mother’s birthday gift, spending $66.80.
Day Two: Saturday
She and E. hike a 13,000-foot peak, then enjoy a post-hike brewery visit, with her spending $36.85 on food. Later, they shop at Trader Joe’s for tequila and snacks, spending $49.90.
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Day Three: Sunday
She spends the day cleaning and relaxing, with no recorded expenses.
Day Four: Monday
She works from a co-working space and treats herself to a vegan banana walnut loaf for $6.09. After work, she attends a HIIT/weights class and has leftovers for dinner.
Day Five: Tuesday
She works from home and takes E. to the airport. In the evening, she attends a sapphic social event, spending $19.30 on drinks.
Day Six: Wednesday
She has a therapy session and buys tickets to a movie for $25.27. She also purchases a sauna/cold plunge membership for $49.95 and shops on Amazon for dog food, moisturizer, and party props, spending $95.78.
Day Seven: Thursday
She works on a data reorg project and shops at Trader Joe’s for groceries and household items, spending $119.55. She hosts a writing club at her home, cooking pizza and salad.
She questions how they can afford a house, children, or a wedding on their current incomes.
Spending Habits and Lifestyle
She enjoys a balanced lifestyle, spending on experiences like hiking, dining out, and social events. She also invests in her well-being with therapy, a gym membership, and a sauna/cold plunge membership.
Career and Personal Growth
Her career as a data scientist in the nonprofit sector provides a steady income, allowing her to save and invest. She’s passionate about her work, especially in AI ethics, and enjoys writing about its societal impact.
