Profile
I am 40 years old, and I work as a freelance stage manager and occasional digital event producer. In addition to my roles as a teaching assistant and adjunct instructor, I juggle various side hustles while being a full-time PhD student in Drama.
Spending & Saving
February has been busy. My routine has settled into a pattern of balancing schoolwork and teaching during the week, with weekends spent visiting my boyfriend’s mom in the hospital in London. One weekend at the end of the month, while he was at a party, I took the opportunity to clean our rather untidy home and take some time for myself. It was rejuvenating and really helped my mental state. Thankfully, his mom is making consistent progress, although recovery from a severe stroke is a lengthy process.
I’m relieved that this week marks the end of my twice-weekly trips to London. I also teach on Mondays this month, so I’ll likely stay at my boyfriend’s parents’ house on Sunday nights, reducing expenses to just one train fare into the city each week.
Although January and February were costly months for travel, they were in line with my expectations, which gives me a clearer perspective on whether the move has been worthwhile for the upcoming duration of my PhD.
In addition to my teaching in London, I helped out once more with You Me Bum Bum train, but I feel I’ve contributed enough. I have mixed feelings about volunteering in a role I usually get paid for; my experience with it has mostly felt like performing for wealthy celebrities, which isn’t great. Nonetheless, it is a unique show, and I would recommend seeing it if you have the chance, despite the higher ticket price.
Volunteering can be a bit intense. I often rush over immediately after teaching, which leads to late nights and long travel back home. All in all, it has been a peculiar month.
When I’m not volunteering or teaching, I am focused on my thesis. I have nearly completed my Introduction chapter, have a decent draft of the literature review and methodology, as well as drafts for two case study chapters and most of my workshop chapter, though that one remains pretty rough. The discussion and conclusion chapters still await my attention, along with the polishing. It feels like a never-ending task.
I’ve been procrastinating on writing the section on care ethics in my literature review for no clear reason. I believe I understand it well now, but sitting down to write those 1500-2000 words feels daunting.
Current motivation is low, and it’s a struggle to power through. I can only hope it gets more enjoyable soon.
The gloomy February weather has not helped my mood, but I realized how much the sun can uplift me after it appeared last weekend. Sitting outside in a hammock, reading for pleasure, felt revitalizing—even if this is just a brief teaser for spring.
Financially, I’m somewhat anxious but optimistic that this year may turn out better than expected. My projections suggest I’ll have enough saved for my car insurance and a significant portion of my Egypt trip by the end of next month. I did face some unexpected expenses this month, particularly from attending a friend’s wedding in Scotland, which turned out to be surprisingly pricey. We could have chosen budget options, but the experience of being together mattered most.
By April or May, I hope to have saved up for summer adventures with my best friend, along with contributing towards retirement savings afterward. I’m acutely aware that digital producing is quieter than ever; I didn’t clock any workdays in January and only one at the end of February. After May, my income will rely solely on adjuncting and savings until I graduate and secure a full-time position. A part-time role may be sought in the fall while I wrap up my studies.
This month, I also invested in driving lessons and registered for my driving test in May. Since the testing site is an hour away from home, I will need to book a nearby hotel for the early morning exam. I scheduled the soonest available time, which was three months ahead; the first opening in our city is not until late August. I also aimed to challenge myself by taking the test in a manual car, but my lessons have not progressed as hoped. After my final lesson next week, I might switch to taking the test in an automatic.
Maybe my life is challenging enough right now! On an entertaining note, I bought tickets for a few Darkfield shows in April that I’m really looking forward to. Their storytelling through binaural audio is captivating. I also purchased the new San Francisco map for the Ticket to Ride game, something I haven’t done since the last map release. Additionally, I renewed my subscription to Lose It! in hopes of losing the 30 pounds gained during my doctoral work. I made some efforts in the last week of February, but my commitment to this goal remains uncertain.
Expenses this month:
– Rent – $787.98
– Food – $604.99
– Driving Lessons & Test: $532.04
– Trains – $219.41
– Utilities – $172.01
– Scotland Wedding – $155.02
– Gifts – $118.58
– Travel (TfL) – $114.22
– Ubers – $99.22
– Entertainment – $87.04
– Council Tax – $80.99
– Charity – $40.34
– Blog – $37.00
– School – $32.91
– Home – $20.52
– Toiletries – $2.77
Total Spending in February: $3,105.04
Hustling
This month’s income:
– Adjuncting – $1866.52
– Teaching Assistant – $1128.91
– Blog – $84.37
Income This Month: $3,079.80
Net Worth: February 2025
Goals
Onwards to the goals!
1. Max Out My Roth IRA for 2024: Done.
2. Max Out My Roth IRA for 2025: $7000 to go.
3. Max Out My HSA: $4300 to go.
4. Go to Egypt with My Boyfriend and Family: Aiming for $3000 saved (though I hope it will be closer to $2500). I have $500 saved towards this so far.
5. Best Friend Summer Adventures: My BFF visits every summer for about two weeks, and we typically explore a new area of the UK and take a budget-friendly flight for another long weekend. Unless my digital producing picks up significantly, I may have to use part of my savings for this, but I aim for $2000 to $3000 for her visit.
6. Anniversary Getaway: In May, we usually take a long weekend trip to celebrate our anniversary, and I’d love to save $1,000 for this, even though we could manage for less. I might have accidentally messed with our anniversary plans by considering a camping trip. TBD.
7. Save $1,200 for my US Car Insurance by June.
8. Buy a Used Car in the UK: I currently have $10,000 saved for a new car, but I’m now looking to purchase a used vehicle after completing my driving lessons for around £5,000 or less.
9. Pay for a Graduate Visa: This will cost approximately £4000, and with $6000 left in my tuition account, I should be set for this expense by the end of the year.
