Horse races and frozen Coke: What a teacher on $97,000 spends in a week

Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent/guardian(s) educate you about finances?

My dad often emphasised the significance of superannuation and the importance of early investment for compound interest. He used to give me $100 every year for my birthday, which went straight into my super.

As a teenager, it sucked, but looking back, it was a pretty savvy move by my dad. My mum also assisted me in setting up automatic payments of $50 every fortnight from my pay when I first started working.

What was your first job and why did you get it?

Domino’s Pizza. My friend saw an advertisement in the newspaper. We were both 14 years old and wanted to start working together for fun! It was a great little job, even though it didn’t pay well at all.

Did you worry about money growing up?

Not at all. I grew up thinking we were rich. We lived next door to a housing commission area (specifically for ex-prisoners), so the difference between our home and theirs was quite stark.

I didn’t realise just how different the world could be until I attended high school in Sydney. It was a culture shock for me and for them.

Do you worry about money now?

No, I used to worry about it in the past, but through conscientious planning, I’ve managed to secure myself a good position for the future.

At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?

29. Yes, I’m one of those millennials. Once my brother and I turned 18, we would contribute 20 per cent of our income to cover board. Any expenses outside of the household were our responsibility (except, of course, the university semester fees). So, without a doubt, living with my folks for almost three decades made it easier to save and purchase my own home with my own savings.

Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.

High-interest savings account with 5.5 per cent interest (monthly accrual). I’ll likely earn approximately $2000 this year (before tax).

Day 1

6.45am: The alarm goes off, and I drag myself into the shower, still half-asleep. I assess how tired and sick I feel from last night’s vomiting episode. Surprisingly, I feel better and decide it’s time to glam up for the races. I convince myself I can totally conceal the lack of sleep.

8.35am: Outfit is on, hair is attempted, and makeup is acceptable. I may not look smoking hot, but at least I won’t bring shame upon the family. I shoot a message to my Aunt A in Sydney to inform her that I’m just leaving the Central Coast now. My cousin H and uncle N will join us later.

9.30am: I arrive at A’s place on time. She’s a bit flustered like me but once we’re sorted, we hit the road for Rosehill.

10.30am: We made it! Now we hustle to find a table for the day. The first race doesn’t start until 12.15, but it’s Golden Slipper Day, and like everyone else, we want a table. We manage to snag one of the last available tables and settle in.

12.15pm: The first race is on and we’ve placed our bets. I’ve wagered $5 on Tenderise, but no payout for me. A queues up at the cafe and grabs me a coffee and an apple cinnamon muffin for our very belated breakfasts. She’s the best. $5

12.40pm: H and N arrive. The whole area is now completely packed. We place our next bets, and this time I put down another $5 on Alamania to win. Unfortunately, no luck this time either. $5

1pm: We’re all a bit peckish for lunch, so we take turns hunting down some grub. I find a nice vegetable quiche at the little cafe downstairs next to the bar. The line is short, so I quickly join it. $8

1.25pm: Getting a bit frustrated now, as I’ve had no wins yet. This time, I bet $2 each way on Yankee Hussel. Nope, he didn’t perform today. None of us at the table have had a win or place yet. I ask H if she wants to take some photos for her Instagram. We head down to the old betting ring where various race sponsors have set up fancy spaces for public photos. I snap some shots of her sitting on a large gold slipper; she looks very chic and tall. I wish I had inherited those genes. $4

2pm: For the next race, I decide to place a $4 bet on the favourite, Schwarz, to win. You guessed it, another loss for me. If I wasn’t driving, I’d be hitting up the bar to get merry on some prosecco right now ... N got the winner this time; at least someone can celebrate. $4

2.35pm: I’m starting to lose hope, but I still put another $5 win on Via Sistina. This time, Via Sistina wins, and I receive $10 in return. Yay! Gained $5

3.15pm: Feeling more confident after that last race, I put another $2.50 each way bet on Tom Kitten. Confidence shattered ... Tom Kitten didn’t even get a place — another loss! N wins again, which is good. $5

3.55pm: I place a $4 bet on Militarise to win. He finishes third. Darn it! Didn’t have it each way. N is cleaning up ... again. He’s having a great day! Poor A and H haven’t had a place or win yet. $4

4.40pm: It’s the Golden Slipper. I bet on Lady of Camelot. I take the last $5 note out of my wallet and put it on her to win. Lady of Camelot wins! She bravely holds on to the very end to beat the colts. I pocket $35 ... I watch her prance back into the winner’s yard, ears pricked and very pleased with herself. She’s a tough little filly. Gained $30

5pm: There are still two more races to go, but we leave early to beat the rush of traffic. I bid goodbye to my family members before heading back home to the Central Coast. While driving, I do some mental arithmetic and discover that I spent $37 on bets and won $35.

6.45pm: I’ve made it home and am utterly exhausted from the lack of sleep. I order some Greek chicken gyros for delivery and to meet the $25 minimum, I add a lemonade. My bank app gives me $5 cashback for using Menulog. It arrives, and it’s the best decision I’ve made all day! It just hits the spot. I put on the latest episode of New Look on Apple TV and scoff down my dinner. $26.79 (not including $5 cashback).

8pm: Can’t stay awake much longer, so I take off my makeup and hit the sack.

Daily total: $36.79 ($71.79 - $35 of winnings)

Day 2

4am: I am wide awake. I go out to the kitchen and decide this is probably a good time to clean up the clothes pile I created yesterday when trying to figure out what to wear to the races.

5am: I’m still wide awake after the clean-up, so I have a coffee and watch some YouTube clips of whatever the algorithm has recommended for me. It’s almost time for me to get ready for my early morning jog.

5.45am: I’ve done my stretches, put on my running playlist and am out the door. I’m feeling good, probably because the humidity is now gone and it’s a bit cooler — I love autumn! My aim today is just to run slow and enjoy it.

6.30am: My body is completely shattered after that run … that last kilometre was not awesome. Somewhat grateful the clouds blocked the sunrise – the other recreationalists would have seen that my shirt was completely soaked through with sweat. I jump straight in for a cool shower to bring my body temperature down.

7am: Body wants sleep and I may as well give it what it wants, it’s the weekend. I put my alarm on for 9.30am and fall asleep.

9.30am: Up and clothed, ready to mow my parents’ lawns. I drive round to their place and pass on all the gossip from yesterday’s family get-together. My dad just had back surgery and needs to rest. So far, he has enlisted my brother and I to do all sorts of jobs for him.

10.30am: I ask my mum if I can have a bit of breakfast after mowing the lawns. She offers me some Special K and I gobble it down. Thanks Mum! Mum and I chat for a bit before I head off to the shops for groceries and other errands.

11.30am: I log into the Just Cuts app and check in. It looks like I don’t have to wait, I go straight in — yay! I ask the hairdresser to take off about an inch and a half. My hair is so much better than before. Should have done this last weekend, before the races … Thank you, kind hairdresser. $42

12pm: In Aldi purchasing some groceries for this coming working week. I’ve got my dinners and lunches sorted through Hello Fresh this week (used a 30 per cent discount) so won’t require meat or fresh vegetables. I’ve already cancelled my subscription after receiving my first box of food. I only ever use it when it’s a 30 per cent or more off deal. From Aldi, I grab some almond milk, Greek yoghurt, cheese, strawberries, popcorn, sun-dried tomatoes, chickpea chips, croissants, mini flatbread, dark chocolate, lemonade, and paper towels. $39.95

12.30pm: I’m so hungry at this point when I get home, I crack open one of the lemonade cans and the chickpea chips. They are so good. OK, now that my hunger has waned a little, I think I can muster up a proper little lunch without devouring the food before it hits the pan. I make myself some scrambled eggs with spinach, feta and the newly purchased sun-dried tomatoes. So quick, so easy and so tasty *mwah*.

1pm: I potter around the house getting things done like the washing, vacuuming and cleaning. I ponder, how I, one human being, can make so much work for oneself in one week!

5.45pm: I begin cooking my HelloFresh meal. It is the chicken parmigiana with wedges and apple salad. It’s taking ages (for me at least) to prep and I don’t have enough trays for the oven to get this done. I get out my cake slice tin and put the chicken tenders in there.

7pm: Dinner is done and just in time for MAFS. I settle into my own couch and tuck into my meal. It’s massive and I devour all of it while I watch people on another couch get interrogated by relationship experts. I much prefer my couch right now …

8.30pm: MAFS finished and I look at my phone to check the weather for tomorrow — 28 degrees and 85 per cent humidity! I’m done for … I’ll think about what to wear tomorrow. That can be a tomorrow problem.

9pm: In bed, ’nuff said.

Daily total: $81.95

Day 3

6.50am: I begrudgingly get out of bed and have a quick shower. Remembering it’s a hot and humid day, I take out a light cotton dress that should keep me cool while teaching, as well as being suitable for a walk along the beach this afternoon with an old colleague, R.

7.35am: I shove a croissant in the oven and make my flat white coffee for the morning. I pack my lunch and fling my stuff across my car seat. I’ve got to haul my ass to work.

8.30am: I’m at work and chin-wagging with my fellow colleagues. We catch up on what’s happened over the weekend. One of our colleagues is away so we all help the casual covering her classes gather resources in preparation for the day.

9am: School starts, let the games begin …

11.15am: First break. I bust into the staffroom and grab my food out of the fridge and shove it in the microwave before anyone else gets it. I sit down and wolf down my apple salad and potatoes from last night’s dinner. While eating, I track down some truancies from earlier, print out progress concern letters and input some marks into the system before I lose the piece of paper.

11.45am: Back to teaching another two lessons.

1.45pm: Second break. I come back into the staff room, sweaty and tired. Still got a class to go but at least it’s in a cooler classroom that has a working fan. I reheat the chicken parmigiana and make myself a cold fruit tea. As the designated “young” teacher, I help a fellow colleague understand how to use the school iPad for transferring photographs to student emails.

2.15pm: One last lesson!

3.15pm: Tired, thirsty, and relieved this humid stinking day is almost over. I type up a low-level incident from the last lesson. I review what I am required to have prepped for tomorrow and see that I need to get a new resource together for one of my year 9 classes. I start researching and formulating a worksheet, as well as finding an appropriate skill-building activity for us to do.

4pm: I plod myself down into my very hot car and blast the air conditioning — car temp 34 degrees. I realise I’m still thirsty, so decide to do a Macca’s run for a frozen Coke Zero ($2). Ah … it hits the spot. I let R know that I’m on my way to the beach for our weekly walk. $2

4.30pm: R and I walk along the beach. We enjoy wading in the water and sitting in the shade while the surfers ride the break. It’s relaxing and we both enjoy this ritual walk we do every week.

6.30pm: Back home from the beach and I start cooking my next HelloFresh meal – it’s a chicken and vegie traybake.

7.30pm: I am just now eating my dinner with another little can of lemonade (I’m super slow in the kitchen). I’m still so thirsty and am not that keen on continuing to drink room-temperature tap water. Scrounging around, I find my plum wine in the fridge. I fill the tall glass halfway with ice and wine, then fill the rest with water. While eating my dinner, I do more schoolwork for that year 9 lesson tomorrow and complete more student reports.

10pm: I’ve missed my TV shows while doing schoolwork. I switch over to check Facebook and see that a small group of my friends is interested in going to the Lovedale Long Lunch. I inform them of my very keen interest to eat and drink all day.

11pm: In bed.

Daily total: $2

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