A PR agency millennial’s weekly spending

This week on Money Diaries, we follow a millennial over a seven-day period as she shares how she spends her hard-earned money.

A PR agency millennial’s weekly spending

By Moolah Team May 16, 2025

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Occupation: Writer and Editor
Industry: PR and Communication
Age: 38
Location: Nairobi

Do you have a monthly budget? Most of the elements in my monthly budget are usually constant, unless there’s an unforeseen circumstance.

Rent: KSh 22,500, electricity: KSh 6,000, school fees: KSh 20,000 (I save for it every month rather than wait to have the whole amount at the beginning of the term), internet: KSh 3,000, garbage and security: KSh 800, swimming lessons for my daughter: KSh 8,000 and fare KSh 6,000.

Loan Payments: Currently servicing a loan with a monthly repayment of KSh 28,477.

Insurance Payments: My employer provides coverage for my medical insurance.

What you spend most of your cash on: Food, bills, a few impulse purchases

Savings: I have Sacco savings, which is a salary deduction of KSh 10,000, and Chama savings, which I contribute KSh 4,000 monthly.

Monday

  1. I spent KSh 110 on fares from home to town (KSh 70) and from town to work (KSh 40).
  2. I had two sausages for breakfast, which cost me KSh100.
  3. There was an offer for milk at Carrefour Supermarket, at KSh49 per packet, so I bought six packets and a small shopping bag for KSh26.
  4. I saw these beautiful Crocs in downtown CBD as I was making my way to the bus stop. I bought two pairs for the kids at KSh 300 each. It was an impulse buy, but in my defence, the little ones were outgrowing the ones they had – they really were.
  5. I spent KSh100 on the fare home. It could have been KSh70 had I boarded the old matatus, but they take forever to fill up.

Total KSh1,230

Tuesday

  1. Spent KSh 110 (KSh 70 to town and KSh 40 to work) on fare in the morning.
  2. I carried bread for breakfast and lunch from home, so I didn’t spend on meals at work.
  3. Took a walk to the supermarket and bought bread for the family for the next day. I also picked a bottle of mousse for my hair – KSh840, bobby pins – KSh 192, gum – KSh 70, and watermelon KSh 80
  4. My fare home was KSh 120 – KSh 50 to town and KSh 70 to home.

Total KSh 1,412

Wednesday

  1. The fare to and from work was KSh 240.
  2. I sent a friend KSh 200, and my younger brother KSh 100. He said he would reimburse me, but we all know how that goes. I’m still waiting for all the money he owes me since I started working.
  3. A walk to the supermarket left me with KSh 916 less in my wallet. Carrefour had an offer on potatoes, which cost me KSh 123. I also got Mala at KSh 95 as part of my lunch. Milk for the next two days cost KSh 342 for six packets. I added the kids’ toothpaste, KSh 215, to my shopping basket and the small Aquafresh for adults, KSh 115. As usual, I forgot to carry a shopping bag, so I had to buy one for KSh 26.

Total KSh 1,456

Thursday

  1. I packed lunch and two slices of bread for breakfast. But when I got to work, I didn’t feel like eating the bread, so I bought one samosa for KSh 50 and a boiled egg for KSh 30.
  2. Fare to work was KSh110 (to town KSh 70, to work KSh 40) and KSh 120 back home (KSh 50 to town and KSh 70 home).
  3. I was feeling a bit generous and treated a friend to a kebab for KSh 120
  4. Later that day, I felt like snacking, so I bought biscuits for KSh 30 and groundnuts for KSh 59. I also picked up a loaf of bread for Ksh 100.

Total KSh 619

Friday

  1. I caught a ride with my husband halfway to town, then took a bus to town for KSh 30. I spent KSh 40 to work.
  2. Got a call from home to buy drinking water, which cost me KSh 500 for two 20-litre bottles.
  3. Caught up with my dad on the phone, and he mentioned he could only watch KBC on his TV. So I checked his account and renewed his GOTV subscription for KSh 550.
  4. I carried lunch from home and had all the intention of eating it. However, being a Friday, my colleagues decided to go out for lunch, and I felt a serious case of FOMO. So, I stashed my food in the fridge and spent KSh 1800 on lunch.
  5. The fare back home was KSh130. (KSh 50 to town and KSh 80 home)

Total KSh3,050

Saturday

  1. We travelled upcountry to visit the folks and came back the same day. I was what Gen Z call a “passenger princess” on this trip, right down to (most of) the expenses for the journey, including fuel and shopping for the folks.
  2. I spent KSh 260 on yoghurt for the kids.
  3. Purchased milk and bread for KSh 450.
  4. We were all tired from the trip to ushago, and nobody felt like cooking. So we bought fries for supper, KSh 700.

Total KSh 1,410

Sunday

  1.  We woke up late and were late for the Sunday mid-morning church service. Being a (lazy) Sunday, we ordered fries for lunch for KSh 420 and cooked supper. I didn’t spend any money on supper since all the ingredients were in the house.

Total KSh 420

Total amount for the week: KSh 9,597

Conclusion: Sticking to a budget is not as easy as it sounds, especially with all my impulse purchases, making it even harder. However, I need to plan better, which means:

-Eating the meals I carry to avoid unnecessary additional costs for meals

-Planning for unforeseen expenses so I don’t have to dip into my monthly fare.

-Creating a sinking fund for stuff the kids will need.

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