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How a 39-year-old engineer spends her $169,000 paycheck: Xbox, therapy, coffee,...

 1 year ago
source link: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/39-old-engineer-spends-her-125220438.html
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How a 39-year-old engineer spends her $169,000 paycheck: Xbox, therapy, coffee, and skincare

Vartika Puranik
Sun, June 11, 2023, 9:52 PM GMT+9·5 min read
Elissa Voris headshot
"My 6-figure job offers me enough income to pay all of my bills and have extra money for things I enjoy, but I also set aside money and follow a budget," says Elissa Voris.Courtesy of Elissa Voris
  • Elissa Voris is a senior manager of cloud media solutions engineering at Dolby.

  • Voris earns enough income to pay her bills and have extra money for things she enjoys.

  • She said her video game subscription is one thing she'd never cut back on — even during a recession.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Elissa Voris, a 39-year-old senior manager at Dolby, from Enumclaw, Washington. It has been edited for length and clarity.

My career kicked off 17 years ago at a Los Angeles startup and I've been working as an engineer ever since. In 2021, Dolby hired me as a full-time contract solutions engineer then I got promoted to senior manager of cloud media solutions engineering in 2022. Now, I have a $169,000 salary.

My 6-figure job offers me enough income to pay all of my bills and have extra money for things I enjoy, but I also set aside money and follow a budget. Since recessions are uncontrollable, I tend not to stress about the possibility of one, but there are things I'll always spend money on no matter what.

1. Therapy

Therapy is a non-negotiable for me to tackle my ADHD.

My professional life was unmanageable in 2021 and I was struggling mentally. Therapy helps me understand how to maneuver everything in my professional life smoothly and favorably. I spend about $124 a month on therapy.

I was diagnosed with ADHD in 2022 and within a year I've witnessed significant positive changes in my work and personal life because of therapy. It makes it easier to achieve and sustain goals, and consequently advances my career.

2. Grocery app and grocery store subscription

Instacart and my Costco membership helps me save lots of money each month. Instacart costs me about $110 a year and the Costco membership costs $120 a year.

Buying a home together with my husband made me realize the importance of spending consciously. I used to spend a lot on DoorDash and UberEats every month so I decided to opt for an Instacart subscription and Costco membership.

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