A Week In Atlanta, GA On A $36,000 Salary

Welcome to Money Diaries where we are tackling the ever-present taboo that is money. We’re asking real people how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we’re tracking every last dollar.

This week: a former product manager, who is an aspiring product marketing manager working in tech, and who makes $36,000 per year, spends some of it on career coaching session.

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Editor’s Note: This is a 2026 follow-up diary, you can read the previous diary here.

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Occupation: Former product manager (aspiring product marketing manager)
Industry: Tech
Age: 25
Location: Atlanta, GA
Salary: $36,000
Joint Income/Financial Setup:
Assets:
401(k): $69,000
HYSA: $12,500
Money Market Fund: $17,497
Roth IRA: $38,942
Debt: $3,042 (this is tentative due to an unemployment mishap)
Paycheck Amount (Weekly): $2,892.89 (This fluctuates since I work two jobs, both with varying hours)
Pronouns: She/her/hers

Monthly Expenses

Housing Costs: $0 (I currently live with my family)
Loan Payments: $0
Spotify: $12
NYT Subscription: $6
Gym Membership: $29.99
Google One: $19.99
GRE prep resource: $9.99
Therapy: $60
Claude Pro: $20
Tithe: ~$200
Car Insurance: $0 (I paid this off in full at the start of the year)
Netflix: $0 (I’m on my family’s plan)
Debt: $2,994 (credit cards)

Was there an expectation for you to attend higher education? Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it?
Yes — growing up in an immigrant household with a family of educated professionals, higher education was a requirement, and post-grad is the expectation. Luckily, my four-year university was covered by a state scholarship and my parents paid for the remainder and housing.

Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent(s) educate you about finances?
My parents generally talked about living below one’s means and saving aggressively. However, they didn’t really talk about investing. My brother educated me on starting an investment account when I was in college, which I’m very grateful for. 

What was your first job and why did you get it?
I was an ice cream server at age 16 because I wanted to buy my own clothes and fund weekend outings with friends.

Did you worry about money growing up?
No, I grew up in an affluent household and it was a privilege to not worry about money.

Do you worry about money now?
Yes and no. Yes — because I’m unemployed for the first time in my adult life for a long stretch of time (it’s been seven months now) due to an unexpected termination. While I saved somewhat aggressively when I was employed, I’m no longer able to save and invest at the same pace, meaning I feel very behind when it comes to my personal financial goals. However, I moved back home once I lost my job, so I no longer have to worry about rent and groceries, for the most part. This was the biggest blessing I could’ve imagined as I was considering signing a lease shortly before the termination occurred. 

At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?
I would say age 23 — but I’m 25 and I rely on my parents as a financial safety net now. I’m forever grateful for them.

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

Day One: Monday

6:30 a.m. — I have a final interview today — a surprise in-person round that I’d been anticipating pretty much all of last week. I pray in bed before groggily getting up to throw on some workout clothes and dash to the gym.

7:00 a.m. — It’s glute day. I feel like giving up halfway through — oh, man — but I don’t. My body will thank me later (I hope). 

9:00 a.m. — I log into my first job (it’s a temporary role that’s mostly remote) and make a cal block for a three-hour ‘appointment’. I answer a few calls and eat breakfast: coffee, overnight oats with my homemade Greek yogurt (a life-changing staple, if you ask me). I make a cup of coffee before putting on some business casual clothes (for the first time in forever!) Then I drive to the interview.

12:00 p.m. — Interview complete and I’m relieved. The conversation with the hiring manager was nice, but I couldn’t fight the feeling that this job feels like a bit of a demotion compared to the scale and scope of work I did at my previous company. I think the hiring manager picked up on this because they curiously asked me if I hated it, I think in some attempt to understand why I ‘left’. So, I guess, the ‘org change’ answer wasn’t enough. Anywho, I try to remind myself that I want to make a career pivot, so this next step may not be as glamorous, but it will be an opportunity for me. I sure hope the price is right, though! The salary is still an enigma, but I won’t worry about negotiations unless there’s even an offer on the table.  

1:15 p.m. — I’m back home and back to work. I answer calls I missed and do some paperwork. I then make some smoked salmon on toasted ciabatta with cottage cheese and a bit of kimchi (weird combo, but tasty). I switch between a meeting with a developer for my second job and a coffee chat with a girl who works in the department of the second company I’m interviewing with. Funnily enough, right after the interview, I find out I’ve made it to the third round — eek! However, the call left me with reservations on the scope and power of my work at the other company too (sigh). 

4:15 p.m. — I finish out the ‘work’ day with a coaching call (ironically, I coach for my past role and help people get into the company that let me go). It’s a prescreen and the candidate wanted to book for a future session. 

6:45 p.m. — I have a bit of time before my scheduled social event of the day: a meet-up with college friends since one is in town for the week. I meal prep banana muffins for the gym and a bulgogi-flavored ground turkey and Korean sweet potato salad. It only takes like 35 mins total to make! I finish meal prep right before GRE class [Graduate Record Examination]. My plan, before my life blew up, was to go back to school next year. Nonetheless, I’m committed to knocking out my testing this year for good. Since I double-booked myself today, I listen to the class like a podcast as I hit the road. 

10:00 p.m. — Had a splendid time catching up with friends, and it makes me feel more like myself. Chatting about my life, or the mess that it feels like it is currently, with people who don’t shame or judge me, is so completely freeing. I eat my meal prep and snack on some carrots I’d brought from home.

10:30 p.m. — I’m back home, so I make some hot cocoa (this is part of my daily routine), chew some nuts, and resume interview prep. I have a very important interview coming up this week, so I have to create multiple ‘stories’ and memorize them each night. It’s annoying but I’m determined to make this work pay off.

12:00 a.m. — I snack on popcorn as I prep. Finally, I get an email confirmation for said ‘important interview, ‘ and it’s sooner than I expected — eek! I’m going to have to move around my work schedule to accommodate it (and possibly my sleep). 

Daily Total: $0

Day Two: Tuesday

6:30 a.m. — Today is usually spin day at the gym BUT because I have a big interview tomorrow and I have to go to an event tonight, so I’m devoting all the time that I have to preparation. I skip class, catch a few more Zzzs, get up to pray, and then start cranking out my story examples for the interview. I take a break to apply to more jobs and get started on work emails from my first job. I finally take a break from multi-tasking between story prep, job hunting, and emails to shower.

8:45 a.m. — I have a couple mins before my long team meeting starts, so I make the quickest meal known to man: smoked salmon on toasted ciabatta with mashed avocado and cottage cheese. I sprinkle nutritional yeast flakes and sriracha on top, and toss it in the air fryer for a few minutes.

10:30 a.m. — I finish up a coffee chat and end up getting a referral for a role so I quickly finish that application. I plan on front-loading today’s tasks, so I can spend the rest of my hours job hunting and prepping for tomorrow’s interview. All the while, I try to fight my own intrusive thoughts since it will be seven months of unemployment for me tomorrow. Wowzers.

1:00 p.m. — I’m on an application rampage. I reach out to three friends for referrals and get responses pretty quickly — people are so nice. I intermittently check work emails and request payment from job number two (since that’s overdue). I will restart interview prep tomorrow.  

2:00 p.m. — Food break — it’s the same Korean bulgogi-inspired salad with some carrots. I do interview prep with Claude so it can take on an interviewer’s persona and I can get feedback. I actually end up running out of credits and purchase extra tokens *wow*. Like most people, I have a moral dilemma when it comes to AI, especially due to my current situation, but what can I say? It’s cheaper than a career coach (which TBH I might need). $20

5:00 p.m. — I have a session with my therapist, which allows me to vent about my frustrations and confusion with the current state of my life. She’s very helpful in reframing my outlook on life and the pressures I impose on myself out of anger. I’m definitely going to work on being less self-focused and instead, pour my time into meaningfully contributing to others. I made a note to sign up for a volunteer opportunity I’ve been eyeing but de-prioritizing due to job hunting.

6:30 p.m. — I have an event to go to, specifically to support a friend’s performance. I somehow managed to eat my meal-prepped dinner in the car: tofu stir-fry with black rice and beans with a fried egg. The event is fun, insightful, and a good opportunity to step out of my head and hang out with old friends. I leave feeling a bit lighter.

10:45 p.m. — I get home and have a catch-up session with my mom after not seeing her for two days. It turns into a post-therapy vent about how I’m feeling, and she does a great job of encouraging me through some tough love. I make some low-sugar hot cocoa and a cup of yogurt with peanut butter and a sprinkle of nuts. It’s time to resume interview prepping.

12:30 a.m. — Halfway through prep, I realize I’m actually still hungry, so I make cheese on toast and power through another Claude session. I’m tired but also feel hopeful and remind myself that my future will be bright. Positive reinforcement, babes! I hit the hay around 1:45 after a 20-minute scroll on TikTok.

Daily Total: $20

Day Three: Wednesday

7:00 a.m. — Rise and shine! I slept in a lil’ bit today due to last night’s late-night prep session. I’m meant to do another one this morning, but gym first.

7:30 p.m. — I hit arms and run into an old college friend — we’re both surprised to see each other since we live in the ‘burbs.

9:00 a.m. — Start part-time job number one quite promptly. Part-time job number two sends me incorrect payment info, in addition to some unrealistic project expectations, so I level-set and plan to work on what I can on Thursday.  

11:00 a.m. — I run a mock interview with a stranger through this coaching website for jobseekers. It’s my first experience, and I find it incredibly helpful, especially given my AI interview coach agent has been a little too sycophantic these days. It also helps to expose some blind spots before my hour-long interview later this afternoon. 

1:00 p.m. — I begrudgingly end up paying for another sesh with a career coach. I did a few last year when I was beginning my job pivot, but clearly, I think I need to readjust my approach with someone on a more consistent basis. For a 15 min consultation, I spend damn near $50! I feel robbed, but yet again, I’m willing to do whatever I have to do to secure a full-time offer (within reason). I eat the same bulgogi meal prep for lunch. $48.52

4:00 p.m. — My hour-long interview leaves me feeling exhausted. I also fear I didn’t use the best, applicable examples. Nonetheless, I’m grateful for the opportunity and optimistic for more to come (where I can hopefully leverage MORE diverse examples).

6:00 p.m. — I take a break from worrying about my job hunt to make homemade yogurt in the Instant Pot. I also snack on some carrots, pretzel sticks, and oatmeal with some peanut butter (random, but we’re an ingredients household). I start reviewing my last GRE class (the one that I passively listened to on my way to a friend outing). I don’t finish the video but tune into the latest class.

8:20 p.m. — Wow, I actually fell asleep during a bit of class today. It was on Zoom and my face wasn’t on camera, but my instructor yelled, “Stay strong!” I’ve signed up for another mock interview sesh at 9 p.m., but I’m so tired, so I nap after class instead and stay in bed for an hour. 

9:30 p.m. — The medley of snacks reduced my appetite for a proper dinner, so I eat a bit of leftover black rice with scrambled eggs and bits of smoked salmon. I add some kimchi and avocado for good measure. I’m so sleepy so I stay in bed and watch the latest episode of Euphoria. At this point, I’m watching to critique its current direction. This is the first time I’ve watched TV in a while; it feels nice to relax a bit. I do an abbreviated TikTok scroll before my eyes glaze over around 11.

Daily Total: $48.52

Day Four: Thursday

5:00 a.m. — It’s spin class time! The music is so good today, and I smile the whole time. The energy of the class is just so high — it definitely helps to improve my mood. 

9:00 a.m. — Back online — I have to do some fieldwork for job number one today. I make a smoked salmon sandwich with avocado and cottage cheese spread on ciabatta. I also make some of my instant Colombian coffee; it’s so yummy.

11:00 a.m. — I have an onsite appointment with a client. It goes well and I snack on a mini popcorn bag on my way back home, where I’ll finish up my work.

1:00 p.m. — I’m home. I air fry my bulgogi salad and it tastes like an egg roll in a bowl, definitely bookmarking for next time! I do another mock interview, and it’s super helpful. I also finish up client calls and notes from job number one.

4:00 p.m. — I have a career coaching call and ponder setting up another session, given my desire to secure an offer from one of the companies I’m currently interviewing with. Also, I hear back from the big interview from yesterday, and I’ve moved on to a Power Day interview (think: five-plus hours of interviewing). 

5:00 p.m. — I need to catch up on GRE studying but I’m starting to feel super tired. I was supposed to go to a startup event in the city, but given I have a third-round interview tomorrow, I decide it would be best to nap and then schedule another mock interview later tonight.  

7:30 p.m. — Dang, I’m still tired and I sincerely don’t know why lol. Anywho, I eat some kimchi stir-fry and egg meal prep with black rice. I then feel super nauseous (I’m unsure why) but I keep a nausea band around so all good.

9:00 p.m. — I do a mock interview with a peer who’s been unemployed for a year. I pray my fate is not the same and that she finds success in her latest interview. I practice a few targeted questions for tomorrow’s interview and get on the phone with a friend to discuss the upcoming Power Day and how I can best prepare. (If you can’t tell, my whole day revolves around interview prep). 

11:45 p.m. — I stop prepping and watch a few YouTube videos while enjoying my homemade yogurt with some peanut butter and fruit. I also buy a party ticket for Saturday. I fall asleep pretty quickly after that (following a typical TikTok scroll). $11.99

Daily Total: $11.99

Day Five: Friday

7:30 a.m. — I struggle to get up — it’s been a struggle the past week and I think it has something to do with my nighttime scrolling. I skip the gym today to prioritize prayer and then interview prep. I eat some coffee overnight oats with peanut butter for brekkie. 

10:00 a.m. — I have a coaching call for a separate program that I’m in, and I decide that, given the changes in my employment, I would likely defer my participation in the program. It’s a hard decision to make, and I genuinely feel tears stinging my eyes. (I’m very Type A so it pains me when life doesn’t go according to plan). But I’m practicing surrendering my plans and letting things be, with the knowledge that they will work out in the end as they should.

11:00 a.m. — Time for the interview. While I performed well, I was stumped and discouraged by the question of my employment gap and felt myself spiralling into anxiety about the quality of my response. I text a friend for some reassurance and try to calm myself down. Today, I receive two additional interview requests. Next week will be very busy, and I have to ensure the same mistakes do not repeat themselves.

12:00 p.m. — I’m moving my scheduled test exam to a later date. With interview prep, I’ve had no time to prepare the way I should be preparing. Like most things in America, there’s a fee associated. I also book an hour sesh with my job coach so double whammy on my CC. $212.52

2:30 p.m. — I have a meeting and eat lunch: ciabatta with scrambled eggs, cottage cheese and smoked salmon with avocado. My boss for job number two is going out of the country next week without providing the resources I needed to finish a project. I’m annoyed but going to use his absence to focus on interview prep. I’m seeing a movie with a friend tomorrow so I buy tickets online. $18.38

4:00 p.m. — I’m having a mini breakdown over my interview performance earlier today since I was really interested in the role I was applying for, but I know that my employment gap was the elephant in the room I didn’t directly address. I also haven’t heard back from my final round interview so that only amplifies my anxiety. I take a break from my mental anguish to pay an outstanding fine at my library. I also pick up gum and an e.l.f. brow gel on the way home. $14

7:00 p.m. — I play pickleball with a friend and go out to dinner. I end up covering their meal since they paid for the court reservation, which was way more expensive than I expected. I leave the outing not sure if this turned into a date or not. He starts asking if I’m currently dating, which I’d tried and failed to do, mainly because at times, I feel like I don’t have much to offer without the identity and security that comes with a FTJ (dumb, I know). He doesn’t seem to care, though, and the conversation becomes less serious — TBD where things go, I guess! $25

11:30 p.m. — I help my mom with her hair for an event tomorrow and make a Ninja CREAMi ice cream while I catch up on the latest episode of Euphoria.  

Daily Total: $269.90

Day Six: Saturday

9:00 a.m. — I sleep in and take some time to pray about some important decisions I have to make. My legs are very sore from pickleball, which I later discover during my morning leg day workout. I think I’ve pulled something in my knee. I make an egg salad sandwich with carrots.

1:00 p.m. — I clean my room and then go to the movies with a friend. We see Obsession, and we’re both unsure if the movie was as good as the TikTok reviews said it was, but I did enjoy the underlying messaging. After leaving the theater, my car battery dies unexpectedly. Luckily, I get a jump-start by a kind stranger at my friend’s apartment complex. I snack on some mini popcorn bags on the ride home and stop by an auto shop to make sure my car is okay. 

5:00 p.m. — I work on a presentation for an upcoming trip (mission trip) that I’m going on in the summer. I also start interview prep for next week, but I fall asleep. After my nap, I make a bowl of leftover kabob chicken, rice, kimchi, and avocado.

9:00 p.m. — I’m going to the club with friends but stop by a kava shop first to get a drink since I want to try a non-alcoholic alternative. I get a drink to split with a friend. $7.13

12:00 a.m. — We get to the club and our $12 tickets are no longer valid, so now we have to buy $25 tickets to enter the event. Yeah, not happening. I’m able to make a new friend who ‘sponsors’ my ticket and he generously pays for my friends as well. We all dance the night away, and I get home at 5 a.m

Daily Total: $7.13

Day Seven: Sunday

12:00 p.m. — I have a very late start to the day. Due to a rainy weekend forecast, a friend’s picnic event has been cancelled. In anticipation of better weather to come tomorrow, I decide to focus on interview prep and finishing some items on my to-do list. But first, I watch church service online. It was good, as usual, and so I give my weekly tithe. $50

2:30 p.m. — I make avocado toast with smoked salmon, kimchi, and a small purple potato, sprinkled with nutritional yeast. The perks of living at home and with an immigrant family is I don’t have to buy most of my groceries. I recognize this is a privilege that I’m extremely grateful for (job or no job). That being said, I still go to the store to buy things that my family wouldn’t normally eat or purchase — I buy a tub of cottage cheese, protein cereal, gum, a small container of Greek yogurt, which serves as a starter for my homemade batch, and extra firm tofu for meal prep. We’re an ingredients household so we always have rice and frozen vegetables on hand. $22

7:00 p.m. — I finish my presentation and start interview prep work, which is essentially building several different STAR [Situation, Task, Action, and Result] stories. I take a break to catch up with my long-distance bestie. Our chats always lift my spirits a lil’. I eat my tofu and kimchi stir-fry meal prep for dinner.

11:00 p.m. — I call it quits on interview prep — I still need to create four more detailed stories for an upcoming multi-hour interview. I start doing GRE homework but abruptly realize I need a refresher, as it’s been way too long since I visited the topic. I make my pre-Memorial Day calendar intending to finish my interview prep stories so I can get back into GRE prep, and then start working on job number two items. I finish my remaining homemade yogurt with peanut butter and protein cereal (it tastes like ice cream!)

12:10 a.m. — Bedtime! I needed to make a decision by the end of today, as well as a few financial choices, given there are a couple of trips that my friends want to go on. Since my unemployment journey began, I’ve been the bottleneck to group travel, but I’m trying to not let my current circumstance always dictate my response and be optimistic for the future, instead of anxious over it.

Daily Total: $72

The Breakdown

Conclusion:
I think that my discretionary spending was way higher than usual. I typically don’t plan for three ‘fun’ outings per week, but I had a friend visit town. I also wanted to take advantage of the Memorial Day holiday, hence the party tickets. Recording my spending has also made me hyper-aware of the investments (both financial and mental) that I put into the job hunt. Now, I don’t think I necessarily NEED a coach to achieve my goals, but I want to ensure I’m putting 100% of my efforts into this search given the state of the economy and my future ambitions of going to grad school. In the future, I hope that I can make fun purchases without the anxiety and regret that accompany frivolous spending.

Update:
Needless to say, my life STILL feels like a work in progress and damn is it EXHAUSTING. I’m actively interviewing for my (theoretical) dream role while working my current full-time job. I’m also exploring what it means to find fulfillment outside of my 9-5 through social impact and creative writing. Although I still complain a lot about feeling stagnant and frankly uncertain about where my life will go, I’m grateful and blessed to be where I’m today. The journey continues.

Final side note: A lesson that I’m still learning is the importance of decoupling my worth from a role. Regardless of their title, the odd jobs that I held throughout my unemployment season played a pivotal role in my personal and professional growth. A career shouldn’t be defined by what you bring into a 9-5; it’s what you pour into your community through your curiosity, intelligence, and wit. 

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