£40 for nails and brows for an upcoming wedding and lots of cups of coffee: The first of our weekly Manc money diaries
07:15, 28 Mar 2026Updated 18:24, 28 Mar 2026
Manc Money Diaries
Welcome to the Manchester Evening News’ Manc Money Diaries, where we explore the true cost of living in Greater Manchester for one week.
From the high-rises of Spinningfields to the creative hubs of MediaCity and the suburbs of Stockport, Greater Manchester is where people from a wide range of professions call home. But while we see the growth of the “Northern Powerhouse” in headlines, we rarely see the reality of the bank balances behind it.
With rising living costs and an ever-changing job market, financial transparency is increasingly important. Whether you are starting your career, managing a household, or balancing multiple jobs, we want you to share your experience.
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We are looking for volunteers from all backgrounds and income levels to share a seven-day record of their spending. Getting involved will not only help you understand your own finances and spending habits, but will also help us get a sense of how Greater Manchester residents manage their money in 2026.
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This week, a 26-year-old executive assistant from Bolton shares an honest account of their financial situation and future aspirations.
Executive Assistant, 26
“I’m from Bolton and I’ve lived in the area all my life. I was very fortunate to be able to move out from my parents into my own place in Horwich in November 2024. Owning my flat gives me a massive sense of pride. I love living where I do too – it’s convenient and near all the stuff I could possibly need.
“My life goal, like many people my age, is just to live a comfortable life – a nice home (one day, preferably by the sea), a decent car and a fulfilling social life. I started working at age 18 as a business administration apprentice, and it was drilled into me to be financially responsible – to that end, I’ve got no debt besides the mortgage, and I make a conscious effort to save money and keep aside what I need for emergencies.
“I didn’t go to uni either, but I would like to complete another apprenticeship with my current employer. When I’m not at work, I’ve taken up swimming and running to keep fit. I have friends and family right across Greater Manchester due to where I grew up and went to school/college, so I spend a lot of time at the weekends in the car or on the train.”
Occupation: Executive AssistantAge: 26Location: Horwich, BoltonSalary: £37.4k; £2,380 pmHousing Situation: Sole owner-occupierNumber of People in Household: 1Your Financial Goal: Saving for home improvements, then to move upwards in 3-5 years’ time.Monthly ExpensesRent/Mortgage: £450Council Tax: £95Utilities (Gas/Elec/Water): £140Phone/Wi-Fi: £32Transport: £45 which covers fuel only, as commute is paid for by work and I pay car insurance annuallySubscriptions: (Netflix, Spotify, Gym, etc.) £95Debt Repayments: £0Savings: £9kDescribe your typical week
“It’s been a bit of a disjointed week for me. I’m normally in the office Monday to Thursday, but I ended up working from home on Tuesday due to train problems. I spent a little more on Saturday than normal due to my nails and brows – a rare treat for me in preparation for attending a wedding next weekend. My spending is broadly in line with what I was expecting though. I tend to spend more money at the weekend rather than during the week when I’m at work.
Biggest ‘guilty pleasure’ spend
“A definite guilty pleasure for me is shopping local. My local area is full of loads of brilliant small independent businesses and shops, so the chance to boost them and get myself some good stuff at the same time is a win-win to me. My current favourite local buy is a ‘Real Housewives of Horwich’ mug from Sentiments on Winter Hey Lane in Horwich.”
How do you feel about your financial situation?
“I feel particularly lucky – most people my age seem to either be deep in a financial hole due to bad financial habits, or struggling against the cost of living. Rents all over Greater Manchester are extortionate, and I couldn’t keep what I consider as a fairly modest standard of living if I was paying £1000 per month for the same home as a rental.
“Living alone, I’m definitely feeling the crunch of the cost of living. One income has to stretch to cover everything, and the thought of being out of work or off sick for any length of time does make me nervous. On top of that, living alone for the first time, I’ve had to learn how much everything costs as I go – nobody can tell you what you’ll spend on things like gas and electric until you’re actually in and figuring out what you need. That being said, I keep a good amount saved for my emergency fund, and I am fortunate that I know my family would be able to support me if things were particularly dire.”
One thing you would change about the cost of living if you could?
“Just one thing? Damn. I think my biggest thing is the ongoing squeeze of council services and my council tax bill. I have the utmost respect for local authorities who are constantly under pressure to slash spending and raise income to meet some pretty gnarly deficits inherited under nearly two decades of austerity.
“That being said, seeing how much I spend as a single person with a property in the lowest band is eye-watering, and I definitely think the valuation bands/calculations could be a bit fairer across Greater Manchester and across the UK as a whole. We’re just about to hit April too, which means my council tax is going up by 5.9%, plus United Utilities and Virgin Media will both be putting up the bill by over 7% too; that’s all while my salary has only gone up by 3.2% in the same period.”
Seven day diaryDay One: Monday, March 1612:40am (direct debit): UNISON membership subs £23.631:27am (direct debit): Nationwide mortgage repayment £449.01Daily Total: £472.64Day Two: Tuesday, March 17Day Three: Wednesday March 188:08am: Starbucks – oat flat white (if you’re offering) £4.30Daily Total: £4.30Day Four: Thursday March 196:46pm: Amazon – new number stickers for my outside bins £2.79Daily Total: £2.79Day Five: Friday March 2012:51am (direct debit): EDF Energy payment for gas and electricity £106.751:22am (direct debit): United Utilities payment for water £32.486:27pm: Blanco Lounge for my half of the bill for a meal with my boyfriend £21.50Daily Total: £160.73Day Six: Saturday March 2111:01am: Jay’s Nailed It (in Bury) for nails and brows for an upcoming wedding £4011:43am: Bob & Berts for lunch and a coffee… £16.8012:34pm: …and another coffee for me and my friend at Bob & Berts £9.901:57pm: Parking at The Rock in Bury £2.507:33pm: Lidl for weekly shop part 1 £37.838:01pm: Tesco for weekly shop part 2 £38.72Daily Total: £145.75Day Seven: Sunday March 229:09am: App Store annual subscription to NutraCheck £27.993:46pm: Matalan for some clothes for that wedding £43.003:51pm: IMO car wash £11.889:44pm: Moonpig for a birthday card for my mum £5.79Daily Total: £88.66
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