However, remaining steadfast during the last 12 months of chaos were the brilliant Money Diaries submitted by you, the R29 readers.
As we sail into the new year, we thought it was high time we checked in with some of your favourite diarists in 2022 to see how they’ve gotten on since tracking their weekly spends.
To find out how their jobs, finances and personal lives have changed (or not!) since their submissions, click through the slideshow ahead…
Interviews have been edited for length and clarity.
Run date: 7th September
What got commenters talking: Commenters loved learning about this diarist’s high salary and success in a male-dominated industry.
Life update: “Since my Money Diary I had two large (positive!) changes in my life, which have had a big impact on my financial situation. Firstly, we finally got a house! Not the one I mentioned in the diary so we’ve been lumped with some spicy mortgage rates courtesy of the Tories. My partner and I also got engaged! We’ve pushed the wedding to 2024 given we’re buying a house but it turns out weddings are pretty expensive.
I’m clearly in a financially privileged position but this reduces my disposable income quite a lot so in the last month or so I have become much more focused on trimming back the treats. I’ve cancelled my gym and PT, I’m bringing breakfast and lunch into work and I’m trying to cycle rather than get the Tube. It’s actually been quite eye-opening how much I’d let these costs slide in the past and I hope I keep this up a bit when I’m back in the black (within reason).
Now we’re getting married I also want my partner to have more formal access to my salary as we’re a partnership. We’re currently working out how best to do this fairly, like maybe a joint account where I contribute more but keep other finances separate. It’s interesting how tricky finance conversations can be even with someone you love. We come from different financial backgrounds and one of us comes from divorced parents and one of us doesn’t, which I think impacts our outlooks massively.”
Run date: 18th March
What got commenters talking: Commenters loved learning about this diarist’s path to single homeownership.
Life update: “Since my diary I have had a pay rise and am now in more of a managerial position at my company. I am a lot more comfortable financially and am able to do a lot more of what I want to do but it goes hand in hand with working more and more hours and taking on more responsibility.
My mum finished her cancer treatment (chemotherapy, lumpectomy and radiotherapy) and is cancer-free and having regular check-ups. I am elated about this!
I have had a few struggles with my mental health as my grandfather got diagnosed with terminal oesophageal cancer a few weeks after the diary and passed away in under two months. I have had to have counselling but I’m getting there. We were very close so it has been a hard thing to deal with, especially with how quick it was from diagnosis to his passing and my mum having cancer at the same time.
I have been saving a lot more. My brother got engaged in the summer and his wedding is on a cruise around Italy, the south of France and Spain next July. Due to saving I was able to pay the £2,000 for that straightaway. I have also travelled to Berlin as my first getaway since the pandemic and have booked one for next year in Dublin.”
Run date: 1st June
What got commenters talking: Commenters loved this diarist’s work ethic and approach to spending while being a high earner.
Life update: “I am happy to report that since writing my Money Diary I have cut down on my spending and drastically increased my savings. My boyfriend, A, and I recently decided to start house hunting so we have both been saving as much as possible each month for our deposit. Having this financial goal has really helped me cut down on my ASOS and Uber habit, and A has been great at encouraging me to be more financially astute. As a result, I think I am now saving about triple what I used to save in a month.
After considering the comments on my diary, I also decided to stop using Klarna and increase my pension contributions from 5% to 8% (I will further increase my contributions after we purchase a house).
The one thing I am still happy to spend on is travelling. A and I had a lovely trip to Italy in the summer and I went on a road trip from Nashville to Chicago with my brothers. I am also going to visit my best friend in Australia next year. I am already counting down the days until I see her!
I am not running or working out anywhere near as much as I used to. My long runs to work on concrete messed up both my ankle and my knees so I am seeing a physio for those injuries. My working hours have also increased dramatically since June, which means getting up to work at 6.30am most days, working until I go to sleep and then working most weekends. I know it’s not for everyone to spend so much time working but I am definitely still loving the job and the people I work with so I don’t mind too much.”
Run date: 24th August
What got commenters talking: Commenters loved hearing about this diarist’s career trajectory and high salary bracket for their age group.
Life update: “Since writing my diary entry earlier this year, a lot has changed. The super sexy and cool startup I was working for turned out to be mismanaging money and lying to employees about how much funding was left. After a month of holding our breath for a fire sale buyout, the company went into administration.
Luckily, during this month I reached out to contacts I had in case I had to find another position and ended up reconnecting with the hiring manager at a company I had an offer from last year. After a round of conversations we were able to align on a role within her team and a salary figure of £110k + avg. 15% bonus.
In a way I feel extremely fortunate that I was laid off in the summer when the job market was still in favour of jobseekers. I am thinking about everyone who is going through hard times right now. Stay persistent as quality people will always be needed.
My spending has decreased slightly as I am prioritising saving and investing more to take advantage of ‘discounted’ stocks. In addition, now it’s cold and dark I am more than happy to just hibernate and cook at home.”
Run date: 2nd March
What got commenters talking: Commenters loved hearing about this diarist’s ‘work hard, play hard’ approach to life.
Life update: “I was really blown away with the comments on my Money Diary, which were overwhelmingly positive. Not much has changed since I wrote my diary. I am still living life to the fullest and had an absolute blast travelling around Central America for the first three and a half months of the year.
I’ve really knuckled down into my role at work and my workload has stepped up massively (as expected). That said, I keep my weekends full to the brim with fun plans and I’ve actually managed to get away on holiday every month this year (even if it’s just a short European weekend break). I am still single (and glad about it) and still living with my housemate and cat.
I’ve cut out the sun beds entirely but the vape and the Vespa are very much still a part of my life. I wouldn’t say there have been any major changes to my finances save for a £9k pay rise (I expect I will also get a bonus at the end of the year). I am currently enjoying having disposable income to travel while saving a fair bit each month for a rainy day.
I am enjoying my job but still have reservations about whether I could do it long-term and honestly would love to do some more long-term travelling in the near future. I feel lucky to be in a position where I am able to save enough to perhaps leave this job, take some time out and come back to a similar role. I am trying not to get used to living within my means for that reason.”
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Money Diary: A Credit Risk Specialist In Glasgow