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- [00:00]
Helena
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- [00:42]
Courtney Harrell
60% off other retailers prices on your favorite spring finds.
- [00:46]
Helena
A heads up before you listen this podcast is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only.
- [00:53]
Courtney Harrell
We are not financial advisors. You should always do your own research.
- [00:57]
Helena
And consult your own financial advisor before spending or investing your money. Please note that all income, financial information.
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Courtney Harrell
And expenses in what we spend are self reported. What is the financial spectrum of your friends now?
- [01:15]
Helena
It's all over the place. I think I'm in terms of like what we make on our own. I'm at the higher end I think for sure. I have a few friends that are like in banking and finance where like I don't even want to know how much money they make because it's probably ridiculous. But I just, I feel really grateful again that I do actually have an excess of money if I'm not treating people to things or if I'm not like doing something semi extravagant every month. I guess it could be putting all that excess money in savings but I'm trying to be really careful where I'm like I'm just saving enough to hit my goals right now because I'm afraid of triggering unnecessary anxiety.
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Courtney Harrell
This is Helena.
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Helena
I'm 27 years old and I am a marketing director at a skincare startup brand.
- [02:04]
Courtney Harrell
And where do you live?
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Helena
A little bit confusing, but I'm based in New York City in Brooklyn and I've lived there for about 10 years but my job is totally remote and so for the past few months, including when I have been recording, I've been based out of California.
- [02:19]
Courtney Harrell
Helena and her boyfriend Ollie have been traveling for the last eight months with a few stopovers back home in New York they spent last summer in Europe, traveled around California, and then landed in LA for the week of her audio diaries. For Helena, the travel is partly about taking advantage of her and her boyfriend's remote jobs. But underneath that, it's also a way for her to put into practice a new relationship with her money. When Helena was a teenager, her family had an unexpected change in their finances. The change was big and dramatic, and it had a tangible impact on what Helena could do with her life. It also left her with an anxiety around money that she still carries even now, after years of trying to be responsible and working her way through her first jobs after college. But now she's trying to shake that off, trying to just enjoy the money she's got. And this week we'll follow along and see if that's possible. I'm Courtney Harrell and this is what we spend. How much money do you make?
- [03:36]
Helena
I make. I just got a raise like a week ago, so I officially make, I believe, $173,000 as a base salary each year. And then I'm negotiating a bonus structure right now, but aiming for, like a 15% bonus structure based on company performance and my performance before my raise, I was making 155,000 before, and so it was a pretty steep jump.
- [04:01]
Courtney Harrell
So it's a big raise.
- [04:02]
Helena
Yeah, I mean, I feel good about it. I think since my last promotion and raise to that 155 mark, I've felt like for the first time in my life living in New York, that I don't worry about money. Like, I always have enough, even if I'm feeling a little bit reckless. Like, I don't. I don't try to be crazy reckless in any way. But, yeah, I feel really grateful for my salary. At the same time, I'm always trying to find ways to make more money, to be honest. And I'm always have a goal of a more round number in my head, and now that goal is 200,000. But honestly, it's more in my head than anything and also more to do with trying to build my savings at this point than needing to pay bills. So I need to remind myself of that because sometimes I also feel like I'm kind of abstract and just a little subjective with the numbers that I throw out.
- [04:51]
Courtney Harrell
Let's get into Helena's numbers. Like she said, Helena makes $173,000 a year before taxes, health insurance and bonuses. She also splits household bills, rent and utilities, and usually groceries with her boyfriend. He's in tech sales and with commission at the end of the year usually makes a little over 200,000 before taxes and their expenses.
- [05:15]
Helena
So for housing, it's been confusing, but since we've been out in California, we have only paid rent for two weeks, and the rest of that time, we have not been paying rent because we have sod letters in our New York room. So it's been zero. And this is the first time in my working life that it's been zero. And it feels great.
- [05:32]
Courtney Harrell
They spent a total of 1,800 on their two weeks of housing in LA, but the rest of their time in California, they stayed with family for free. Back in New York, they'd be paying 1,500amonth for a room in a larger apartment that they share with roommates. There. Utilities run roughly 100 to 200amonth, depending on the season.
- [05:51]
Helena
Phone bills, I don't pay anything for my phone bill. I'm on a family plan, and my parents say that it's cheaper for them that way, and so I just don't ask questions.
- [06:00]
Courtney Harrell
In New York, she takes the subway for about $80 a month. But while she's been in California, she's been using her dad's car for free and spending less than $100 on gas.
- [06:10]
Helena
Groceries. I'm estimating $400 a month. I think usually I'm like, if I've spent $100 for a week of groceries, where I'm, like, actively cooking that week, then I feel like that's a good price. Yeah, restaurants, it really depends. In New York, I really love eating out. And I would say, like, it's usually over $400 a month, but, like, I would say max 800, unless I'm doing something extravagant, and then maybe it's closer to like, a thousand per month.
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Courtney Harrell
On restaurants, wifi at home is $40 a month. Streaming services are $40 a month, too. Digital storage is $4.99 a month. And she pays for Amazon prime in one yearly $60 payment.
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Helena
Right now, I'm paying $175 a month for storage, which is literally the bane of my life. I'm just like, I can't believe I have stuff in this overpriced storage unit.
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Courtney Harrell
Her health, dental, and vision insurance come out of her paycheck for a total of $185 a month. Then she spends $50 a month on medication and has a $30 copay to see a psychiatrist once a month. She also has a recurring donation of $100 a month to the Brooklyn bail fund.
- [07:13]
Helena
And then my once this really stupid expense that I do, but I'm so, like, locked into and can't stop is getting hard gel manicures once or twice a month, depending on the cycle. And each time it's like $75 on average.
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Courtney Harrell
Tell me, what was money like growing up?
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Helena
It has oscillated, I think when I was a lot younger, it was not something I thought about at all. I don't know that I realized that I was privileged until I was like, a little bit older, like maybe in grade school, and started, like, going on play dates at people's houses. I was never, like, the, like, bougiest kid of all of them. I grew up in a really extremely wealthy area, Newport Beach, California. So I felt like I was middle of the road compared to my peers. But I definitely knew that I was more comfortable than some of them as well by the time I was going to their homes. But there was a semi dramatic event that happened when I was in at the end of high school, after I had been accepted to college. And essentially, like, my mom had a pretty substantial inheritance from her grandfather who passed before I was born. And she basically found out that another member of her family who was like, de facto managing the inheritance, but didn't actually have their name on the. Like on the trust because it was in my grandmother's name who's still alive. But essentially they'd spent all of money and she didn't know.
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Courtney Harrell
Oh, God. First of all, you said it was a substantial inheritance. What does that mean?
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Helena
I think it was like $20 million.
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Courtney Harrell
Helena's parents are from Iraq, and Helena's grandpa on her mom's side was on the board of a big oil company there. It was a great job. But Helena's grandpa was afraid of political instability in his country.
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Helena
In 1963, right after my mom was born, he was like, we need to leave Iraq. And he moved my family from Iraq to England in 1963. And he basically left everything behind. I think he brought, like, a few briefcases full of cash.
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Courtney Harrell
Helena says once he got to England, her grandpa started over. He took the cash he brought and bought an apartment that he started renting out in London. Then he reinvested the money he made from that property into more property until he was running a few bed and breakfasts.
- [09:34]
Helena
And then he ended up becoming pretty decently successful off of that, and then started getting bigger commercial property management and property investment offers from just, like, friends of friends who had heard about him, basically. So he helped open the Houston Galleria, which was like the mega MALL in the U.S. he started getting contracts in the Middle east and Korea and Japan to build commercial places like malls in Saudi Arabia and Japan and Korea as well. And so that's sort of when it started booming. And yeah, he just made.
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Courtney Harrell
Over time, he became more and more successful. Years later, when he passed away from a heart attack, he left the money he'd made throughout his life to his wife.
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Helena
Again, whole Iraq story. Like, she was much younger than him. She never even finished high school. So she didn't want to be the person like managing the money or on the investment. So she put in the hands of someone else. Hookeep Anonymous but they ended up spending all of it, which I just can't even process how you could spend all that money. But it happened.
- [10:37]
Courtney Harrell
I mean, literally, how did they spend all that money? Do you know?
- [10:41]
Helena
I don't know exactly how they spent all of it, but it's a mix of just like overspending in general and like, not like feeling like there's no end to the money that you have. I feel like makes you spend in a different way, right? Like putting your kids in first class on flights, like buying really expensive homes. I wouldn't say that's how they spent all of it. I'm assuming some of it might have been like, entrepreneurial business investments that weren't seen through and potentially like stock investments also. But that's. I don't know all the details, to be honest.
- [11:13]
Courtney Harrell
Before that point, Helena didn't really talk about money with her parents, including where their money came from. Her mom had been an interior designer, but she stopped working when Helena was born. Helena's dad did well as a software engineer, and they owned a few properties that brought in passive income. So Helena had always assumed that their money just came from that. She didn't understand that her parents were spending with the knowledge that they had a huge future safety net and didn't need to save for things like retirement or college. She actually didn't even know about the inheritance until her mom told her it was gone. Tell me about when your parents told you that that money was gone.
- [11:56]
Helena
Honestly, I feel like I have a little bit forgotten the moment because it was kind of traumatic to me at the time, but. But it was traumatic mostly just to see my parents, like, so stressed, especially about getting me through college. But yeah, it was definitely some point my senior year of high school. And it was definitely started with like a fight about like, I wanted an extra $20 to like go see a movie or something like that. And my mom being like, you need to be like, more careful with your money. Criticizing me about something that I've been, like, careless spending about. But it was, like, a little bit unusual. And we were getting into, like, a classic mom, daughter, high school fight. And then it kind of just, like, came out. Out of her frustration, she basically was like, there is, like, an end to our money, so you can't just be, like, careless.
- [12:42]
Courtney Harrell
Helena had just accepted an early decision offer to Columbia, her dream school. Her parents told her they were still going to do everything they could to pay for her tuition, but everything had to change. No more eating out, no more travel, no more big gifts. Her parents refinanced their house to bring down the mortgage, sold a property, and started looking for places to cut spending or make more money anywhere they could.
- [13:08]
Helena
And so it was, like, a whole shock for my family. And so it was very dramatic and completely changed my perception of money because, you know, my parents were just under a lot of stress, and that trickled down to my brother and I pretty quickly. Yeah. Overall, it changed my perception about, like, how to spend money and, like, how risky you can be with, like, your investments and just created a lot of anxiety for me in general around it. And that really informed, like, a lot of my life up until recently.
- [13:41]
Courtney Harrell
After the break, we'll hear how Helena's relationship with money has changed as we dive into her week. Eczema isn't always obvious, but it's real. And so is the relief from Ebgliss.
- [14:00]
Helena
After an initial dosing phase of 16.
- [14:02]
Courtney Harrell
Weeks, about 4 in 10 people taking EBGLIS achieved itch relief and clear or almost clear skin. And most of those people maintain skin that's still more clear at one year with monthly dosing. EVGLIS Lebricizumab, LBKZ, a 250mg injection, is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds or 40 kilograms with moderate to severe eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, that is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin or topicals, or who cannot use topical therapies. Eglis can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. Don't use if you're allergic to ebglis. Allergic reactions can occur that can be severe. Eye problems can occur. Occur. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening eye problems. You should not receive a live vaccine when treated with Epglis. Before starting Epglis, tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection Searching for real relief? Ask your doctor about epglis and visit epgliss.lily.com or call 1-800-lilyrx or 1-800-545-5979.
- [14:56]
Helena
All right, audio diaries day one really tired weekend I did something social yesterday for the first time in a week. I went to my boyfriend's cousin's engagement party and I was just so exhausted from it. So I slept in until like 11:30 or 12 today, which I basically never do, and rolled out of bed. My boyfriend Ollie went to go get us ramen for breakfast lunch. So we ate ramen together. He paid for both of our meals but it was delicious. And then all of a sudden it was like 4:30 and I had to get ready for Pilates so I went to a Pilates studio in Silver Lake and used Class Pass to book it. I actually get ClassPass for free from work as of this month.
- [15:47]
Courtney Harrell
Class Pass is a subscription service that lets you exchange credits for different kinds of exercise classes. So Helena is basically getting a free gym membership from her work, which is.
- [15:58]
Helena
Amazing because I used to pay like up to 200amonth for workout classes, gyms, etc and now I'm not paying anything. Right after the class I went to Whole Foods to get a few groceries for the week. We have a lot of leftovers from like a big dinner order that we did on Friday night so didn't need that much but just a few essentials. I got us some more coffee, some kiwis, a kombucha and some some like Whole Foods pre made soups amongst a few other boring groceries. Not a huge run but it ended up being kind of expensive I think because I got this like probiotic supplement that was like $20. So the whole total came out to $87.87 but that was my only real purchase of the day. So we'll see how long all this food lasts us and when the next time I'll need to replenish groceries is. But that's basically it. I'm gonna go home and watch Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and probably fall asleep early tonight. So yeah. Audio Diary Day two I had another pretty chill low key day of my life. I got up early love to start the week off on a good note. So I woke up at like 6:30, journaled, went to a workout class at 7:15 which was also free because I booked it on Class Pass which my work pays for as I mentioned yesterday. Then I went home and honestly just worked like I was so out of focus last week That I just needed a full day to catch up. So I worked from like 8:30 to 4. I took a break to book a restaurant reservation for a place that I really want to go in Mexico City. I'm going to Mexico City for two weeks starting on Sunday. So like in a week. And last night I was watching Chef's Table with my boyfriend and there was an episode about this restaurant called Masala y Mais, which is like a Kenyan Mexican fusion restaurant that I guess is getting a lot of hype there right now. So I booked us a reservation. That restaurant which required a hundred dollar deposit covering four heads. But it's going to go towards our bill which I'll end up splitting the four people. I finished up my work and then I met up with a friend to go on a walk. I haven't seen like a lot of friends in a while since I've been traveling for these past few months and not in my home base. So it was just really nice to reconnect. And then I got home and had dinner with my boyfriend. Oh, I also did. Sorry, I'm looking at my Chase account now. But I did pay my credit card. It wasn't do today, but when it starts looking scary, I'd like to just pay it off. I get paid every Friday so like I can technically pay it weekly. I usually end up paying every two weeks. So I paid $2,400 against my credit card bill. I still have a bit of a balance going on with the rest of the bill. Don't want to talk about it today, but maybe we'll get to it at some point. And I was also charged $14 for my Roku subscription, which honestly I don't even know. I need to look into that because I don't know what I'm like, do you have to pay just to have a Roku tv? I have no idea. Anyways, rest of the week's gonna be more chaotic. Gonna be prepping for my trip to Mexico. It's been a crazy amount of traveling, packing in and out of suitcases these past few months. But trying to keep it chill and let it ride. I will speak to you tomorrow.
- [19:38]
Courtney Harrell
With her credit card payment, Helena's total spending for day two was $2,514. And the fact that she felt comfortable with that is a huge shift for her. It's a kind of comfort she couldn't imagine feeling again when she first left home for college. Back then she was anxious about money for the first time, but she didn't fully understand her new financial position until she got to school and saw how other people around her were spending.
- [20:06]
Helena
I mean like, it's just so crazy to even think about this. Like the way that like kids, freshmen kids and kids in college spent their parents money is just like obscene. And like buying tables at clubs, like, just like going on shopping streets like designer stores. And like, I didn't know what my friends allowances were, but I knew that I couldn't afford to do like a lot of the stuff that they could. And I think a lot of it was like, understanding that like I wasn't as privileged as I used to be and like, couldn't hang out with people who are as privileged as I once was and had to be like really thoughtful about what I was, could and couldn't do.
- [20:43]
Courtney Harrell
Helena found herself having to turn down a lot of invitations to dinners at expensive New York restaurants and weekend trips to the Hamptons. And then one night she was supposed to meet her friends for a big end of year celebratory dinner, but she was running late so she would have to take a cab to get there on time. And she realized she didn't have enough money in her account to pay for the ride. So she had a choice. Don't go again or tell her friend that she needed help. She called her friend, which is really.
- [21:14]
Helena
Uncomfortable for me because I also felt in a way that I had been like a fraud or like that they maybe thought I was in a different financial position. And I was also confused about like my financial identity in a way. Like I was like, am I putting out something that is fake? Am I trying to act rich when I'm not? I don't know. Like, I think part of it was like I came from again, such like this wealthy area that like, it was just like behaviors, way of dress, et cetera. Like I didn't realize at the time and now it's very clear in retrospect, like I tended towards like wealthier crowds of people and, and vice versa. I don't know. I think I gave an impression that was authentic because that was sort of my identity up until like a few months before college. And so I was, I felt a little misplaced about like how to behave.
- [22:04]
Courtney Harrell
Even after confiding in her friend, Helena got more and more anxious about balancing what she could afford and living the life that she wanted.
- [22:12]
Helena
I think actually at first it was more like, I'm so sick of my mom fighting with me about this. Like that was like more of the tone was like, oh my God. Like she like acts Like, I'm incapable of supporting myself. Like, it was a lot of just, like, negativity at the time that was like, you are gonna, like, end up poor if you keep spending the way that you are. And, like, almost like you are going to get yourself into the situation because you don't know what you're doing. Which I always felt really righteous about because I don't think I'm spending recklessly. I'm just trying to keep up and, like, have fun and not stay at home all the time. But also like, after that, this is all in my freshman year. And after that year, I was like, I need to dramatically change, like, my standards because it was just so anxiety inducing for me. And I was like, I just need to, like, open up my sphere a little bit.
- [22:58]
Courtney Harrell
Helena started to feel like maybe her mom had a point. And she gradually changed her social circle. She spent less and less time with the friends going on extravagant outings and more time with friends she could afford to keep up with. And she started thinking about her future differently, too. Before college, she'd been interested in being a public defender or exploring creative opportunities, maybe in the fashion industry. But she knew neither of those paths guaranteed stability.
- [23:25]
Helena
As soon as I got to college and realized I needed to be financially independent, I kind of was like laser focused on that. I'm grateful in a lot of ways because I feel like I became financially independent quicker than a lot of my friends and almost surprised myself in that way.
- [23:38]
Courtney Harrell
By giving up the dream of the perfect job, Helena achieved another dream, financial independence.
- [23:45]
Helena
Like, I'm not. Don't think all these jobs have been like my dream job completely. But like, generally I have been happy with my work, but I am coming to that age where I can feel my Saturn return coming. It hasn't started yet, but I can feel the aura of it. And I'm like, I need to do a little bit more self exploration now and figure out what other paths I have in life before it hits. And I'm just like, how did I end up here and why have I sold myself out?
- [24:19]
Courtney Harrell
This episode is brought to you by State Farm.
- [24:22]
Helena
You might say all kinds of stuff.
- [24:23]
Courtney Harrell
When things go wrong, but these are the words you really need to remember. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. They've got options to fit your unique insurance needs. Meaning you can talk to your agent to choose the coverage you need, have.
- [24:37]
Helena
Coverage options to protect the things you.
- [24:39]
Courtney Harrell
Value most, file a claim right on the State Farm mobile app, and even, even reach a real person when you need to talk to someone like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.
- [24:50]
Helena
You know that feeling when someone shows up for you just when you need it most.
- [24:54]
Courtney Harrell
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- [24:56]
Helena
Not just a ride or dinner at your door.
- [24:58]
Courtney Harrell
It's how Uber helps you show up.
- [25:00]
Helena
For the moments that matter. Because showing up can turn a tough.
- [25:03]
Courtney Harrell
Day around or make a good one even better.
- [25:07]
Helena
Whatever it is, big or small, Uber.
- [25:09]
Courtney Harrell
Is on the way.
- [25:11]
Helena
So you can be on yours. Uber on Our Way.
- [25:18]
Courtney Harrell
This episode is brought to you by Peloton. Everyone has a reason to change. Growing old, heartbreak, a fresh start. Whatever it may be, Peloton is here to get you through life's biggest moments with workouts you can do on your time and motivation that keeps you coming back. Peloton's tread and all access membership help you track progress in classes from runs to Pilates, making you stronger and your fitness goals a reality. Find your push. Find your power peloton visit1peloton.com audio diary.
- [25:52]
Helena
Day 3 Today is Tuesday. It's basically the end of the day. First half the day was really boring. Didn't spend any money. I worked from like 7:30am to 6:15pm made breakfast and lunch from food groceries that I got from Whole Foods Netting positive going into the evening with $31 of a refund from Lululemon from a Christmas present that I had bought my mom that she exchanged. So feeling good financially but honestly just like was so bored at that point. Like we haven't been able to explore the neighborhood at all and we decided that tonight we were going to go out to dinner so we decided to go to a place called Barsecco. We drove there because I think we're just enjoying the luxury of driving everywhere in LA but I think it was only like a 10 minute walk so that's a little bit embarrassing. But we had a delicious meal that cost us. I think the total on the bill was $148 before tip and then tip brought it up to like $180 I want to say and I ended up comping the entire bill for my boyfriend and I just because we're coming off of like an anniversary trip right before we got to LA where he was just treating me to everything and was being super generous and every once in a while I like to get him back. At the beginning of our relationship we used to actually split like all of our bills and then we got to a point where we where just like it's like kind of harsh is the vibe to be splitting everything and venmoing each other for everything. It's nice to just treat each other, which I honestly really liked. When we first implemented this policy, I was like, anxious about it because I was just someone who was like, always looking back at my credit card bill and being like, can I venmo someone $5 here or like $10 there? But I think Ollie, my boyfriend, has really taught me about how to be more relaxed with money. And that's like really been a journey of my last year. Like, money goes around and it comes around and generosity always comes back. That's been a huge learning for me. And it might sound woo woo or spiritual or even just like, I don't know, maybe it sounds a little bit privileged because not everyone is privileged enough to be generous. But honestly, like, it's been transformative for me because I used to to be just anxious about money like all of the time. And now I feel extremely free even when I'm being a little bit reckless, which I'm sure this week is going to turn into recklessness eventually. But that is the tea for today.
- [28:37]
Courtney Harrell
Helena and her boyfriend Ollie have been together for three years. And when they started dating, Helena could immediately tell that he felt much more financially free.
- [28:48]
Helena
All of our first fights, or all of really the only fights we ever got in in our relationship for like the first year were about ended up being about money one way or another. So, like, one time we wanted to plan our first trip together. We wanted to go to Miami. I just like shut down and basically any conversation around planning a trip just because I think of the expenses rolling up in my head. So, like, flights, airbnb, all the money that I'm gonna spend while I'm there, and I'm still paying for my rent. Like, at first I was like, okay, well maybe you're reckless and like, you don't know how to save your money properly. And he was like, I'm good. Like, you need to get out of this mind space because you're never going to be able to enjoy your life. And so it took like a lot of practice to be honest, but I think it honestly wasn't until like this last summer when we were in England, because I went into it with the mindset that was like, this is once in a lifetime opportunity. I'm so lucky to be able to be here and do this for summer. Like, this is going to be something that I remember for the rest of my life. Like, I was just like, I'm not going to give a fuck about anything that I spend. Like, I'm not even going to worry about anything that I'm spending money on.
- [29:47]
Courtney Harrell
What do you think happened? Like, what happened for you at the point between him saying, you're never going to be able to enjoy your life if you don't work on this, and you being able to be on a trip and spend money and be like, oh, I'm enjoying this, like, what do you think happened?
- [30:02]
Helena
Yeah, well, I think one big factor is just like, forcing myself through discomfort and realizing that at the end of the month, I can still always pay my bills and, like, no lives were lost, you know. But I think another thing actually was just like, getting more financial literacy. Another part of coming from an immigrant family, which I'm sure a lot of people can relate to, is like, a lot of, like, immigrants don't, like, believe in the stock market, for example. And so my parents always taught me, like, you invest your money in property, obviously there's a really high barrier to entry to invest your money in property. So, like, what do I do?
- [30:35]
Courtney Harrell
Helena knew a lot of her friends, parents had taught them how to open an investment account somewhere like Merrill lynch, and she decided to pursue that herself. So she set up an appointment with an advisor and then opened an account where she started putting a portion of every paycheck.
- [30:50]
Helena
That just the comfort of knowing that I didn't have to make a decision every time about how much I was saving. Just like, I'm saving way more money while I'm also feeling way freer and like, less. Like, I have to feel responsible all the time because I know I'm doing the responsible thing, like, automatically. Audio diary, day four. Today was really fun but really expensive. So I'm excited to get into it. I made breakfast and lunch at home again, but I was on meetings from literally like 9am to 3pm straight with no breaks. And so I was just like, there's literally no way that I'm gonna keep working at 3. Like, I just really need to take a break. So I took a break to go to Whole Foods because tomorrow Ollie and I are hosting a Tiki Tex Mex themed dinner party with some of his family and friends out here in la. And I just want to get ahead of some grocery shopping because I'm going to have to start cooking up carnitas midday tomorrow while I'm working because they need to cook for quite a long time. So I went to Whole Foods around three for a break. I got all the ingredients for the carnitas meat recipe itself, and then tortillas, you know, ingredients for guacamole salsa, chips, etc and all together that came out to 98.92, which honestly is pretty good. I had gotten some drinks too and that's gonna be a meal for eight people. So yeah. So I got home from Whole Foods, finish up the rest of my work and then I got ready because. Because we went to a Lakers game earlier tonight which was so fun. It was my first time ever at a Lakers game. I've only been to one basketball game before in my life. We took an Uber there because the parking situation seemed really chaotic. I called the Uber there. It was $31.98. Kind of expensive, but sometimes an Uber is just worth it. And then at the arena I got Ollie and I each a drink and some snacks and beers at sports games are so hell of extensive. Like it's actually price gouging, but you got to do what you got to do. We each got a beer. I think each beer was like $20. And then we got some like chicken bites. And Overall that was $74. And I did cop it because this was my treat to Ollie. But yeah, he's getting spoiled this week and I'm gonna be broke soon. Overall, it was just such a fun day. Like we really had a great time. I think like thinking about how much money I spent today like two years ago would have stressed the hell out of me. But honestly, these experiences or once in a lifetime like I used to always say no to because I was just so anxious about spending money and that I would always regret it because you end up spending money on stupid other anyways. Like I'd rather spend like enough money that makes me uncomfortable and something I'm excited for so that I'm forced to budget with the rest of my week than not spend money on a concert and then have like that $400, whatever it is and then just spend it on like Zara jeans or like drinks at a bar, you know. So there are ways to save and there are ways to spend. But today it was a big, big thunder high roller day for me. Me. And I don't regret a second of it.
- [34:20]
Courtney Harrell
Total for day four, $204.90.
- [34:27]
Helena
Audio Diary Day Five it started off like a normal day. I woke up and got straight to work. I actually, actually skipped a workout class that I was supposed to go to and late cancelled because I'm just super behind on work right now and needed to get straight to it. So I started work at like 8am I also skipped journaling because I was running late, which I don't feel great about, but I didn't incur a $14 late cancel fee on ClassPass. And then I also ordered lunch today on Uber Eats from Erewhon because I was just so busy. I was on calls from like 8am until three straight and I was just so hungry at a certain point I couldn't leave my laptop to even think about how to make something in the fridge. So I ordered lunch, which I will say they had a fat discount going on Uber Eats that was like $9 off a combo plate. So instead of $29, I paid $20 for like a big piece of rotisserie chicken and two sides. So I'm feeling like it's a luxury steal, you know? So $22 tip included. Feeling good about that. And then I just got ready for our dinner party. It was Tiki Tex Mex themed. We set up crazy amount of decorations. Ollie's aunt is like an event planner and came with like a crate full of tiki and western decor, which I was just so shocked that she even had. And we had an awesome dinner, had margaritas, played games, stayed up a little bit too late.
- [36:12]
Courtney Harrell
On day five, Helena also filled up her tank for $70, bringing her total for the day to $106. On day six, Helena worked from home, then ran by the grocery store to grab a couple things for a dinner party at a friend's house.
- [36:29]
Helena
And then we took an Uber to our friend's dinner party that was close by. It cost $11.94. And then I, at some point in the evening went to a gas station to buy a pack of cigarettes which cost $12, which is so silly because I had like a few last night and I'm not gonna finish the pack. I'm gonna leave it in LA before I go to Mexico. Then I went to a bar and I got everyone a round of drinks, which costs $70.98. And I'm also actually just realizing right now that I got everyone's round, but I believe there was another round that other people covered for me. I feel like usually I get away with not getting the first round at a bar, but hey, I guess I was feeling generous and drunk last night. And then after the bar we all went to back to my apartment, just have a nightcap basically. So we came back here, someone else called a car, so it didn't pay for the ride. But as we were chatting and hanging out, I ordered us an insane feast of Taco Bell, which ended up costing $42 after delivery fees and tip. There was a Lot going on. Someone who was with us hadn't tried Taco Bell before, so it was the least I could do. And yeah, I end up staying up. Like, I checked my phone and it was like 3:30 and our guests were still there. None of us realized how late it was, but that is a sign of good company. So it was a really fun night. But honestly, I'm just feeling so exhausted now. Can't believe that I'm traveling again. But I'm hoping that my trip to Mexico is actually chill because I don't have friends there. So I'll probably just, you know, have a calm, solo, creatively inspired journey and keep a lid on it, hopefully.
- [38:19]
Courtney Harrell
On day six, Helena also made a $500 donation to a retirement fund for an acquaintance, bringing her total for the day to $676.92.
- [38:34]
Helena
All right, audio diary, day seven. It is the last day of my audio diaries and also a day to sort of close things out before going on another adventure. So went to lunch with my parents at a place called Superba in Hollywood, and it was just nice to catch up with them and tell them about our time in la. So that was lovely. My parents paid for lunch and I actually don't know how much it cost, but we got a lot of things to share. And it was.
- [39:09]
Courtney Harrell
Do you talk to your parents about money now?
- [39:11]
Helena
A little bit. Actually, I did have a few moments this summer where I, like, I would call my parents every week and talk to them about what I was up to. And there were a few times where I was like, and I'm spending money like crazy because it was really novel to me, like, that I just wasn't. That I was so free, but. And so I try to sort of qualify it. And there were a few times where my mom was like, okay, well, hell no. When I was in my 20s, like, I would spend all of my paycheck. I wasn't saving a dime. You are having this once in a lifetime experience. You should enjoy it. And I remember just being like, what the hell? Like, you're the one who, like, gave me all these problems. Are you kidding me? Like, you never told me you're spending all your money in your 20s. Like, you, like, always told me that, like, I need to be way smarter about things. So that was weird.
- [39:57]
Courtney Harrell
Did you. Did you say that to her?
- [39:59]
Helena
Yeah, basically, I think she, in that moment was like, would have felt guilt if I was in Europe for the summer and like, staying home because I was trying to save money. Like, it just. It actually just doesn't make sense because it's like, why even do that in the first place then? And so I think, and I think it brought her back acutely to, like, her youth and a time of a lot more financial freedom where, you know, nine years ago when all this stuff happened, like, she wasn't even able to access that part of her. So, yeah, she maybe in ways also, like, healed and a different person than she was then. Leaving first in the morning the next day. And we're just exhausted from the night before. But we did have plans with my best friend for dinner last night. So we got home, finished up all of our packing, cleaned up the apartment so that it's in a good state for our sub lisi to come back to. And so honestly, last night I was so exhausted and I'm still pretty exhausted today, so I'm daunted by the idea of traveling again. But I need to remind myself that I really try to take advantage of the fact that I have a remote job. So, yeah, it's gonna be a good trip. Once we get there, it's going to be very calm. Probably just get dinner and go to bed and restart the whole cycle over again.
- [41:22]
Courtney Harrell
Helena's total for the week was $3,769. What we spend is an Odyssey original podcast. It's written and hosted by me, Courtney Harrell. Our producers are Margot Gray and Kristin Torres. Our editor is Jonathan Menhivar. Our executive producers are Maddie Sprung Keyser and Leah Rhys Dennis. Theme song and original Music by Matt McGinley. Additional music from APN Music Mixing by Pedro Alvira. Special thanks to Melissa, Akiko Slaughter, Joel Lovell, Jenna W.E. sperman, J.D. crowley, Maura Curran, Josephina Francis, Kurt Courtney, Hilary Sheff, Sean Cherry, Laura Berman and Hilary Van Ornam. If you want to be on what We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us atwhatwe spend podcastmail.com sa.