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Whichever music festival you’re heading to this summer, three things will always be true: You will be on your feet for hours, there will be a distinct lack of shade (or if there is, it’s already spoken for), and you will need to drink more water than you anticipate. From the deserts of Coachella and Stagecoach to the open-air parks and fields of Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo, water is liquid gold. Take it from me — I’ve been camping at music festivals every summer since I was 15 and know that the more hydrated you are, the more dancing you can do, the longer you can last as the sun goes down, and the fresher you’ll feel in the morning (despite all the lukewarm pints you drank and your camp mates’ endless snoring). And so, at the very top of my packing list every year is a reusable water bottle to keep my water fresh for longer, and to limit my plastic usage.

However, not all water bottles are made equally. I am the proud owner of five, but so far, none has proven itself festival-worthy in my eyes — they are either just too big, bulky, and heavy to carry, cause spillages, or have open-air straw tops which I don’t want to risk with the dust, dirt, and grime of festival life. So, recently, when I was introduced to a new brand — one that seemed to tick all my festival needs — my interest was piqued.

That brand is TAL, which is Walmart’s number one water bottle brand. Its latest collection seems designed with festival goers in mind, and every kind of festival goer at that. Consider TAL’s lightweight designs, touch-free, flip-up straws and covered spouts to stop germs getting in, secure, leak-proof lids with double locks, easy carry loops and handles, and fun, funky colorways and patterns. Not to mention, incredibly reasonable prices — most of TAL’s bottles are $15 and under, and the most expensive is $35. Compare this to the eyewatering costs of its competitors, and I’m sold. After all, when shopping for a music festival, I don’t want to be spending more on my water bottle than I do my official festival merch.

Read on to discover my highlights from TAL’s latest collection.

TAL Stainless Steel Ranger Water Bottle with Easy Sip Straw

This is TAL’s classic design, now upgraded for festival season in a range of shimmery shades (along with the OG colors, there are now 15 options to suit every taste). It’s quickly become my go-to, everyday bottle; partly because of how slim it is and therefore how comfortable it is to hold, but also because it’s easy to slide into a packed bag and is totally leak-free (I’ve been testing it out in my work bag and on long weekend hikes to be sure). Not to forget the flip-up, touch-free straw that is locked in place by a silicone flap. This solves the exposed straw and spout situation that often befalls reusable water bottles. The cherry on top is the price: This bottle is only $11 — a bargain!

TAL Stainless Steel Ranger Water Bottle

Now, a big bottle like this may seem counterintuitive when packing for a music festival, but hear me out. This is ideal for festival campers — do away with the thin and flimsy plastic water containers you panic buy every year, and instead invest in a big solid and secure stainless steel bottle like this (it holds 64 oz, btw). Its round spout is perfect for filling up at the water fountain, the large loop makes carrying your precious cargo back through camp a breeze, and it will keep your water fresh and cold for ages, even in a hot tent (top tip: fill up on water before you head out for the day, and that way you don’t have to queue up first thing in the morning). Bonus: The large screw top opening is perfect for adding ice to your water if you’re able to secure some at your festival. Plus, it’s not as heavy as it looks when empty — I would clip it onto my backpack with a carabiner to save space.

TAL Stainless Steel Wine Tumbler

This is for the thrifty festival-goers who love their fun drinks kept ice-cold. Rather than settling for a plastic cup that gets increasingly warmer by the hour, pour your drinks into one of TAL’s wine tumblers (again, with ice if you can find it — I tested mine out on a particularly warm day and my G&T stayed crisp for several hours). Once you’re done, you can take the straw out, slide over the opening cover and throw the tumbler in your bag. (My cherry print tumbler is not yet live, but watch this space for new releases.)

TAL Stainless Steel Hudson Tumbler with Straw

The Hudson Tumbler is one of TAL’s bestsellers, with over 3,000 reviews and a 4.5-star rating on the Walmart website. I can totally see why. TAL has thought of everything, from the sturdy and solid body (which is also surprisingly lightweight) to the grippy base to stop it tipping over, and the auto-closing seal when you take out the straw, which stops any spillages. I reckon this is perfect for those traveling a significant distance to their music festival, whether that’s by plane or car. It’s quickly become my favorite at-home water bottle and now lives on my bedside table.

TAL Stainless Steel Paracord Handle Water Bottle

Thanks to this sturdy, reinforced handle, made with a thick, woven paracord, there’s no chance your water bottle is going to break on you — even when clipped to your day bag and bounced along with all your dancing. Again, TAL wins for its foldaway spout and double lock technology to stop any leaks, no matter how hard you’re headbanging. (Alternatively, it makes for a cute accessory when walking through camp to the water tap.)

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Feel that? Spring is in the air, and so is our wardrobe refresh. Though the season officially starts in late March, this month, we finally shed winter’s brisk clutches and stepped into our truest spring selves. From floral fragrances to pointelle tops to sheer tinted balms, the forecast is fresh; just peep our team’s favorite recent purchases (and the occasional gifted gem we loved so much we’ll repurchase with our own money).

Every month, our professional online shoppers (aka Refinery29 editors) reveal the smartest buys across fashion, beauty, home, and more so you can see — and shop! — what we’re loving right here, right now. Sure, we love splurging on timeless pieces we’ll keep for years, but nothing beats the thrill of a steal under $100. Here are our top picks from last month.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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History has been made. “I yield the floor,” New Jersey Senator Cory Booker concluded after his 25-hour speech protesting the Donald Trump administration on Tuesday, April 1. Booker first announced his extended return to the United States Senate floor in a TikTok video titled “Good Trouble,” referencing the renowned philosophy first introduced by late U.S. Representative and Civil Rights activist John Lewis. In the months since Trump was sworn in as president, he has demolished federal DEI programs, laid off hundreds of government workers, spearheaded unlawful ICE arrests, and tanked the economy. So, why does it seem like barely anyone (Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are notable exceptions) in the Democratic Party is fighting back with the same vigor and passion as Booker? The stakes are incredibly high. It’s no coincidence that the majority of the politicians getting in the most “good trouble” are Black. Aside from Booker, Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett has also used her platform to speak up — loudly and unequivocally — against Trump, his administration, and billionaire Elon Musk. Are Booker’s and Crockett’s protests working? And where do the Democrats go from here?

Reeling from the past two and a half months of the Trump presidency, lethargic voters nationwide were yearning for change within the Democratic Party. According to a recent Harvard Caps Harris poll, only 37 percent of voters approve of the Democratic Party, one of the lowest ratings since March 2018, aside from February 2025. Seventy-one percent of voters called for new political party leaders, with 57 percent of the polled identifying as Democrats. Booker then took to the chamber floor to challenge waning stats only days after the poll was released. In his “Good Trouble” video, Booker commented, “I’ve been hearing from people all over my state and indeed all over the nation calling upon folks in Congress to do more.”

A true test of endurance, the 55-year-old Senator didn’t eat, drink, or use the restroom throughout his speech delivery to prioritize the needs of the American people before his own. In an interview with MSNBC, Booker expressed, “That was really what I was dreaming of is that somehow I can strike a chord that weren’t the normal left/right debates.” In a powerful parallel, the speech that preceded Booker’s record-breaking moment was former South Carolina Governor Strom Thurmond, a white man who aimed to halt the Civil Rights Act of 1957 from being passed. During a 24-hour-long filibuster, Thurmond expressed his disapproval of enacting the Civil Rights bill into law, stating, “No new right is granted by the bill.”

Succeeding the segregationist argument 67 years later, Booker, the first Black Senator of New Jersey, challenged Thurmond’s stance not just through his words but through his mere existence. Mentioning Thurmond’s previous record, Booker acknowledged, “The man [Thurmond] who tried to stop the rights upon which I stand.” He concluded, “I’m here because as powerful as he was, the people were more powerful.” In his speech, Booker used unifying rhetoric that centered on the everyday working-class person. He raised concerns about the heightening rate of inflation, the cost of Trump’s across-the-board tariff wars, and the potential cuts to Medicaid, all topics from a 1,164-page document prepared by Booker and his staff. This is the type of action that people who voted for the Democrats have demanded, especially following the protest of Democratic Congressman Al Green for repeatedly disrupting Trump’s joint address to Congress. “You see how 10 Democrats voted to censure Al Green? There’s no trust,” wrote one frustrated voter on X. As Booker recounted over 200 stories from the American public grappling with an unstable political landscape, he revisited the quote, “The power of the people is greater than the people in power.”

Booker’s address was powerful, and there’s no doubt that it ignited something that the Democrats have been missing: a fighting spirit. But he’s still a politician, not a celebrity, and a stunt is just the beginning. If Booker’s aim is really to embolden the power of the people, he still needs to answer to some of his critics, like the people who oppose his acceptance of money from AIPAC or some of the inconsistencies in his voting record. “Booker’s speech almost got me,” racial, social, and gender justice educator Ericka Hart wrote on Instagram. “I want Cory Booker to denounce the apartheid state of Israel and stop accepting AIPAC money. It’s antithetical to speak against one dictator while accepting money from a lobbying group that supports a dictator.” What Booker did on that Senate floor was necessary, inspiring, and important. But he’s not perfect — no politician is — and in this critical moment of political unrest, as we are rightfully praising Booker’s actions against Trump, we also need to hold him accountable for his own. Two things can be true. Standing up to Trump is the bare minimum, and like Booker, the rest of his party should be following suit.

 Along with Booker and Green, Black congresspeople seem to be the most willing to rise to the occasion and go hard against the Trump administration. In the past few months, Crockett, known for her civic outspokenness, has also been making headlines regarding her social justice stances and vocal disagreements with her Republican political adversaries — some of these interactions have gone viral. Crockett’s usage of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) in publicized debates and refusal to code-switch remains at the core of the criticism against her. Yet, she never fails to speak her mind. “If you are competent, you are not concerned,” Crockett fiercely relayed in an interview on anti-DEI policies. “You know why I don’t feel a way, and you can’t make me doubt who I am? It’s because I know I had to work ten times as hard as they did just to get into the seat,” she said. In a recent House Judiciary meeting, Crockett expressed her disdain for Elon Musk, reinforcing how much she didn’t like him and his leadership in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). “That is somebody that is operating above the law,” she said while calling out U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s “tread very carefully” comments made on Fox News.

Speaking out against the powerful, rich men running the U.S. government is imperative, and the fact that Crockett, a Black woman, is doing so while being unapologetically herself is nothing short of remarkable and radical.

A first-generation lawyer, Crockett served as a Civil Rights attorney for over 15 years, determined to make her voice heard and advocate for the voices who have been suppressed. But choosing to remain a vocal figure in the controversial realm of politics has its consequences. Crockett recently came under fire for referring to Texas Governor Greg Abbott as “Governor Hot Wheels” but denied ableist claims in a series of X posts. “I wasn’t thinking about the governor’s condition- I was thinking about the planes, trains, and automobiles he used to transfer migrants into communities led by Black mayors, deliberately stoking tension and fear among the most vulnerable,” she responded. In an Instagram Live Congressional Culture Convo with Meagan Good, the 44-year-old Congresswoman declared that her recent criticisms were national distractions, stating, “They are expending so much time and energy on me instead of talking about the things that matter. I’m not the President of the United States.” She’s right, but once again, no politician is above reproach. We can applaud Crockett’s stances and still acknowledge when she makes a misstep. We just know the standards are always way higher for Black women, and when she makes mistakes, she’s even more vulnerable to an onslaught of hate.

It’s inspiring that in the face of this pressure and double standards, Crockett continues to speak up. And that  Booker’s trailblazing address came on the heels of a growing movement. On Saturday, April 5, thousands of anti-Trump “Hands Off!” protests erupted across the globe to combat the current administration’s recent policies. “Way to go, US!” a user wrote on social media. After months of relative silence and the depressing notion that the Democrats and their supporters were passively accepting the scary new reality ushered in by the Trump administration, it’s heartening to know that inside Congress — and in the streets — the power seems to be shifting back to the people. The revolution will continue to be televised.

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March has come and gone, bringing a sense of renewal alongside a flurry of irresistible sales. Our readers have been busy snapping up spring deals left and right, from the Ulta 21 Days of Beauty Sale to Nordstrom’s savings event. It’s clear that investing in skincare devices and high-quality makeup are high on our readers’ priority lists as we settle into a new season, eager to refresh our routines and embrace the promise of warmer days.

But this past month wasn’t just about the beauty bargains. Spring has also ushered in a wave of fashion trends, with the cowgirl aesthetic continuing to ride high, thanks in part to Beyoncé’s forthcoming Cowboy Carter tour. Our readers have been quick to embrace this trend, adding rustic cowboy boots and eye-catching leather belts to their carts. Meanwhile, home products also got tons of love, with small-space storage solutions and WFH furniture getting solid traction from our shopping stories. Our readers seemed to be keen to spruce up their living spaces as spring cleaning season hits full speed.

Read ahead as we dive right into the most popular products that captured your attention in March, based on anonymous data gathered from our stories. Whether you’re looking to update your beauty routine, refresh your wardrobe, or revamp your home, these picks are sure to inspire your springtime buys.

All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission.

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For over 25 years, Lululemon has ruled the activewear market, amassing a passionate fanbase as devoted as it is expansive. The Canadian brand has a Subreddit with more than 859k users and 5.2m followers on Instagram. On TikTok, #lululemon has racked up over 11.4m likes — proof that its appeal runs deep.

Whatever’s in its best-selling secret sauce or if it’s just the magic of really great gear, Lululemon has become the go-to for both loyalists and the Lulu-curious. R29 editors are no exceptions: Some of our personal favorites include the Blissfeel Trail Running Sneakers, its ultra-giftable travel accessories, and the Softstreme collection. So, whether you’re upgrading your spring wardrobe or building your ultimate athleisure lineup, we’ve rounded up the top-rated Lululemon essentials to make it easy.

To curate this list, we combed through customer reviews on Lululemon.com, scoured TikTok recommendations, and even dove into the extensive archives at Lululemon Fanatics (a treasure trove for serious fans). Ahead, discover Lululemon’s most beloved styles — from leggings, sports bras, and workout tanks to loungewear, spring accessories, and travel-ready gym bags — and be sure to let us know in the comments below if there are any we missed.

The reviews featured in this story have been edited for length and clarity.

All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission.

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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.

Today: a senior paralegal who has a $294,750 household income and who spends some of her money this week on tickets to an end-of-season hockey banquet.

If you’d like to submit your own Money Diary, you can do so via our online form. We pay $150 for each published diary. Apologies but we’re not able to reply to every email.

Occupation: In-house senior paralegal
Industry: Litigation
Age: 51
Location: Denver
Salary: Me; $129,225 (base) + ($28,525 bonus); partner’s salary: $137,000 on average.
Household Income/Financial Setup: $294,750. My partner, L., is a therapist and also receives oil and gas royalties each month, so her salary can fluctuate. Each month we each put $3,000 into a shared account to pay all the household bills: mortgage, groceries, streaming subscriptions, utilities, trash and internet. We also have a joint credit card we use for any joint expenses like going out to eat. I did not track L.’s purchases this week (unless they were joint).
Assets: Joint savings account: $11,000; my individual savings/checking account: $8,000; L.’s savings account: $28,000; my 401(k): $690,000; L.’s 401(k): $2.3 million; my HYSA $94,000 (this is high because I will need to pay for prep school soon to receive a 5% discount for the next school year for my son); my pension from previous job: $46,000; my Roth IRA: $3,000; my son’s 529: $70,000. House: worth $830,000. L. owns land in Texas worth $2-$3 million (she owns 350 acres and it increases in value every year). Cars: mine: $34,000; L.’s: $72,000.
Debt: Mortgage: $410,000; L.’s car loan is $18,000.
Paycheck Amount (biweekly): Me: $3,075; and a yearly bonus (20-25% so it averages around $28,000). I don’t know L.’s paycheck details.
Pronouns: She/her

Monthly Expenses

Housing Costs: Our mortgage payment is $2,710 for a three-bed, three-bath house purchased in 2020 (but we pay $700 extra each month).
HOA: $295 (L. pays this because I cover the family insurance, but it includes pool and access to lakes in our community as well as lawn maintenance and snow removal).
Loan Payments: $0. My car is paid off and I do not have any student loans. I do not know what L. pays on her car loan.
Utilities: $100-$200 (depending on the season).
Water: $25 (average). 
Trash: $15
Family Health Insurance (Health, Vision, Dental): $109 deducted from each paycheck.
401(k) Contributions: $1492 (15% of my paycheck and a company match at 6%).
Car Insurance: $517 for six months for K. and me (I am not sure how I got such a great deal but I do not drive much and I am charged by the mile and K. just started driving but I will take him off my insurance when he goes away to prep school. L. pays $183 per month.
Netflix: $32 (we share with my mom).
Hulu: $89
Phone: $25 for my son. My work pays for mine, L. pays $108 a month.
Internet: $79
Cleaning Fee: $130 (L. and I take turns paying each month).
Athletic Greens: $170

Yearly Expenses

Sewer/Sanitation Bills: $650
Chase Card: $65
Travel Hockey: $18,000 (which I pay, but can vary) K. plays high-level travel hockey and yes, it is expensive, but this covers an eight month season and 10 trips out of state.

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, I was expected to go to college and grad school like my siblings. I attended a liberal arts undergrad on athletic scholarships and Pell Grants and took out some loans, which I paid off. I then went to paralegal school, landed a job as a paralegal and enrolled in grad school. I paid for my master’s degree while working as a paralegal.

Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent(s)/guardian(s) educate you about finances?
There was always talk from my parents about working hard and saving your money. Both my parents grew up poor and worked very hard to become successful. I had a checking account when I was 8 or 9 years old and I remember going to the bank and balancing my checkbook. We were taught to only use credit cards if you had the money to pay off the purchases at the end of the month. We were also taught to start a 401(k) as soon as we had a real job in order to receive compound interest.

What was your first job and why did you get it?
My first job was at 10 years old and delivering the local paper on my bike in the afternoons. I would collect money from houses at the end of each month. I also mowed lawns in the neighborhood, babysat and worked at a golf course when I was 14 in the summer to make money.

Did you worry about money growing up?
I did not worry about money growing up until my parents divorced when I was in 4th grade. Then I remember my mom saying we could no longer afford certain things. But we were definitely upper middle class, so I don’t think I really worried about money as a kid.

Do you worry about money now?
I worry about having enough money to retire and to make sure my son is covered for his school and college. I know I make decent money, as does my partner, but I do not want to work forever and I want to be able to retire or semi-retire in the next five or six years. I also know my son’s hockey/prep school in the last two years of high school will be expensive, (even though he was awarded a big scholarship this week). L. and I would like to retire in another country and travel so our money can last. L. is very well off financially, but I have really been trying to save as much as possible to ensure I can retire in five years.

At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?
I became financially responsible for myself at the age of 23 when I bought my first house for $97,000 (with my mom’s help). She gifted me $20,000 for the down payment, but from that point on, I had to take care of everything financially. My financial safety net is my emergency savings and also my partner, L.

Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.
Yes, as mentioned, my mom gifted each of her children $20,000 in 1996, but the money had to be used to buy real estate. I expect to receive some money after my parents pass away but I really have no idea how much.

Day One: Sunday

8:30 a.m. — Sleeping in and waking up slowly with coffee is so nice. We bought a Jura coffee maker about a year ago and it may be our best purchase ever. Before we bought the Jura, we bought a ton of coffee outside the house, but now we rarely do. Today is Sunday and we have a free day to catch up and play before the week gets going tomorrow. I make breakfast for my partner, L., and son, K. We have eggs, avocados and hash browns from Trader Joe’s. After breakfast, I check my emails and see I need to contribute to the end-of-season coaches’ gifts for my son’s hockey season. $80

11:15 a.m. — It is such a nice day, we load up three bikes on L.’s bike rack and head down to the path by the river. We had a bunch of snow two days ago, my son had a snow day from school, but today it is sunny and melting and we are ready to get outside and ride. It seems like everyone in Denver had the same idea, as the path is pretty crowded.

1:20 p.m. — We ride almost eight miles on the path and are covered in mud and water from the snow melt. We load up the bikes and decide to head to our favorite hole-in-the-wall drive-thru for burritos. We get home and can only manage about half of each burrito because they are so big, but so good. $37.07

3:45 p.m. — The rest of the day is spent walking the Frenchie, W., washing the sheets and towels, taking a shower to get the mud off, and watching Love Is Blind season 8 (David is a jerk to Lauren. She is way too good for him. Run girl, run).

6:15 p.m. — L. runs to Whole Foods for dinner. She grabs chicken, rice, asparagus, and milk. After dinner, L. and I watch an episode of Prosecuting Evil with Kelly Siegler. Why don’t these men just divorce their wives instead of killing them? What is wrong with people? $23.18

9 p.m. — After a crime drama, we need to unwind with some trash TV and watch an episode of The Kardashians. Lamar comes back to see Khloe with flowers, champagne, and a cake with the date of their wedding written on top. That’s not weird at all. He is SWEATING. It might be the cringiest, most awkward TV I have seen in a while, and I am here for it.

Daily Total: $140.25

Day Two: Monday

6:15 a.m. — I wake up before the house wakes up and make my coffee. I bring my coffee back to bed and check my banking app, emails, and work calendar for the day. Take a shower and get ready since I have an on-camera meeting this morning. K. is up and ready for school, so I make him breakfast to eat on the way. He is a sophomore in high school and gets his license in a few weeks. I am trying to soak up these last few weeks when I drive him to school. We have the best conversations in the car, and I will definitely miss these times. I stop for gas on the way home and fill up for the week. $44.82

8:15 a.m. — I am back home. I grab a quick bite, make my Athletic Greens to drink and get ready for my morning meeting. We have a call with counsel in Singapore regarding a matter in Indonesia. The call goes well, and we will retain this firm to represent us. I continue to work and prepare for another meeting this afternoon for a different matter. We have a hearing in District Court tomorrow and I need to review some documents before this afternoon’s call. I take a break from work and log on to the website to pay the toll bill for the month. The charges are from running back and forth to the airport for my son for his hockey trips last month. He is on a high-level travel team. $47.15

12:05 p.m. — I take a break for lunch, throw a load of laundry in, and make a turkey sandwich with an olive tapenade. L. has gotten me hooked on this lately and it is really good. L. comes back from the gym and has lunch with me. We take the dog on a walk around the neighborhood after lunch and I put the clothes in the dryer. I make a point to step away from my computer over the lunch hour and get some fresh air whenever possible to break up my day. W. basically requires a walk around the block so she can sleep for 20 hours a day. It is 64 degrees outside and another beautiful day in Denver. Three days ago, we had 13 inches of snow and today I am in shorts. You gotta love Denver weather.

1:45 p.m. — The rest of the afternoon is spent in meetings and working. My afternoon meeting lasts 90 minutes and is to prep a witness for the hearing tomorrow and to discuss our position and arguments before the judge. As a paralegal, I am responsible for case documents and keeping things organized. After the meeting, I need to send materials to our outside counsel for tomorrow. L. picks up K. from school and takes him to his math tutor. He has a big test this week and will see his tutor twice before the test. $75

4:10 p.m. — L. and K. are home. L. and I take W. around for another spin and to soak up the last bit of sunlight for the day. K. works on homework, and I wrap up work with a few more emails. L. runs to Whole Foods for pizza dough, sauce, cheese, sausage, mushrooms, and a bagged salad. $17.64

6:25 p.m. — L. makes pizza on the grill and it is really good. She rests then stretches the dough, puts it on the heated grill, flips it and starts building it — olive oil and herbs, sauce, cheese, sausage and mushroom. After dinner, I clean up the kitchen and K. takes the trash and recycling out to the curb for trash pick-up tomorrow.

8:30 p.m. — We watch another episode of Prosecuting Evil, and another man has killed his wife instead of filing for divorce. We watch Ryu Camp on YouTube, which is basically a dude who camps with his cute dog and makes food then packs up and drives home. It is a nice way to unwind before bed. Lights out around 10 p.m.

Daily Total: $184.61

Day Three: Tuesday

6:45 a.m. — I wake up and grab a coffee, careful not to wake up L. or the dog. L. has a heated blanket, and the dog is attached to L. and the blanket at night, so I have been sleeping wonderfully without the 20lb potato lying on me. K. is up and I make him breakfast — four eggs inside a tortilla with shredded cheese and a protein drink — and run him to school. He pretty much eats this every morning on the way to school. Home by 8:15 a.m. and start working.

8:45 a.m. — I toast a waffle with peanut butter and drink my Athletic Greens for breakfast. I drink this every morning but add iced tea to help with the taste, so I don’t feel like I am drinking seaweed. Take a break from work and walk the pup with L. around the block. It is warm but windy today. We have been served with a few new complaints, so I update things, notify the key players and docket the dates for the new matters. Someone is always suing somebody. Job security.

11:45 a.m. — L. leaves to head to the gym after her call with her client and will grab K. this afternoon from school and take him to his tutoring session again. I work on my Money Diary and break for lunch, where I make another turkey and cheese sandwich with veggies chips. I empty the dishwasher, talk with my sister then take a quick shower before my afternoon meeting. $75

2:45 p.m. — The rest of the afternoon is working and one last meeting on setting up a database to track case information with a coworker in Canada. The coworker asks me when I am moving to Canada to escape the political climate in the US, and I tell her to start looking for places for me.

6:30 p.m. — K.’s end-of-season hockey banquet is tonight and lots of awards are given out. Players go free but tickets for others are $30 each. It’s always bittersweet to end the season, but it is a long season after eight months and we are ready to be away from the cold rinks for a bit. We say goodbye to friends and parents and head home and quickly get ready for bed at 10 p.m. $60

Daily Total: $135

Day Four: Wednesday

7:15 a.m. — K. has a late start on Wednesdays, so I get to sleep in a bit. I wake up, drink my coffee, and hop in the shower. K. changes things up and makes eight packets of oatmeal for his breakfast this morning. Teenagers eat a lot, but they eat a lot of the same things. I run him to school and head home to begin work.

9:20 a.m. — Once home, I make my greens and peanut butter waffles. Today is payday. My direct deposit is $3,696. It is higher this time because I had some wellbeing reimbursements in there from my company. I move some money into our joint account since it is almost the end of the month, and the mortgage and house bills will be due soon. I also see that my sale of my David Gray tickets has hit my account for $138.76. L. was sick last week, and we could not go to the concert, which was a bummer. I love David Gray.

1:10 p.m. — L. took W. on a hike in Golden and wants Firehouse subs for lunch. I place an order which she will pick up on her way home. We split a large turkey with chips. $16.63

3:40 p.m. — The afternoon is a complete cluster. A work email goes out to wipe and reset our work phones and install new profiles for new company apps. I have several issues with the install, and it ends up taking over two hours, but the IT helpdesk guy is very helpful, and he gets me back on track. Once things are fixed and my phone is rebooted, I see that I have lost all my apps and my text messages are all from 2022. Ugh. I need wine.

6:15 p.m. — L. makes dinner to try to cheer me up and suggests we watch 1000-lb Sisters — a bit of trashy TV always makes me feel better about things.

Daily Total: $16.63

Day Five: Thursday

5:40 a.m. — Groundhog day. I did not sleep well last night. W. was all over me last night. I finally get up around 6:15 a.m. and grab coffee, make a breakfast burrito for K., drop off at school and go back home. The cleaning lady comes today and it is my turn to pay. I write her a check for $130. She charges us $100 but we tip her because she is amazing. She usually comes once a month.

8:15 a.m. — Home from school drop off and take a quick shower before the cleaning lady comes so I can be out of her way today. I get an email to pay the internet bill which I do. I get an email from a coach in Boston offering K. a spot on his team for next year. They offer him a big scholarship and I am very relieved. This is exciting as this is his first choice for prep schools for hockey! He will have two years of prep school and finish his high school in Massachusetts. He wants to play college hockey and needs to play in prep school to continue to get exposure for juniors then college. I am excited for him, but it will be hard to let him go.

12:15 p.m. — I need to run to my office and pick up a settlement check and overnight it to our local counsel. The dismissal needs to be filed with the court on Monday and the check needs to be received before then. We settled a big case in mediation a few weeks back. I will work from the office for most of the day today. I grab lunch on the way in to eat at my desk. $12.67

3 p.m. — I leave the office and get a quick car wash to remove all the dirt from my ride from last week’s snowstorm. I grab K. from school and tell him about the offer from his first choice. He is very stunned and happy. I think it is all becoming real to him that he will move across the country in the fall to pursue his dream. He wants to see what happens on March 10 when he will hear from the other prep schools he applied to before making his final decision, but he has a smile ear to ear. $12

5;45 p.m. — We go out to celebrate K. getting the offer from the prep school. K. gets to pick the restaurant and of course picks a steakhouse so he can order ribs and mashed potatoes. L. gets filet and I get salmon and it’s all very good. We head home very stuffed but very happy. We all waddle around the block with the Frenchie to walk off our meal. Head to bed around 10:30 p.m. after watching a few shows about tow truck drivers in Las Vegas (highly entertaining). $88.34

Daily Total: $113.01

Day Six: Friday

6:40 a.m. — Morning routine and back home, quick call with my boss. My performance review is today and we briefly chat beforehand about what to expect. There has been a lot of reorganization in the company over the past 15 or so months and lots of high-level positions have been eliminated. My boss isn’t super happy with things and tells me if she decides to leave, she will let me know before anyone else knows. I am not sure I would go, as I know I make a great salary and being able to work from anywhere is such a bonus. I am not sure I would ever go back to an office after being remote these past three years. Also, with K. most likely being in New England next year, L. and I want to spend time in the area so we can watch him play hockey while working remotely.

3 p.m. — I have my performance review with my boss, and it goes well. I won’t know my raise and bonus until next week, but I read the official review, and it is good. We wrap up and I am done with this week. I meet up with two friends for happy hour and we each have a few drinks and apps and catch up over the next few hours. We have known each other since elementary school, and we never run out of things to talk about. I get home and catch up with K. and L. on their days. $45.76

7:15 p.m. — L. and I end up watching Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke on Hulu and it is awful. A big part of me wishes we did not watch it as I really didn’t know the full story. I have a really hard time sleeping and toss and turn most of the night. I will never understand how people can harm children and Kevin failed as a father, whether he knew what was happening or not.

Daily Total: $45.76

Day Seven: Saturday

8:45 a.m. — Ah, Saturday. It is nice to sleep in and wake up slowly this morning. Coffee in bed and discuss what to do today with L and K. over breakfast. No hockey games or travel tournaments means a free day to play. We make eggs, toast, and hash browns for breakfast. We get a few loads of laundry done and continue to be lazy and let it warm up a bit.

11:15 a.m. — K. takes the electric skateboard and rides down to the basketball courts in the neighborhood to meet some friends and L. and I load up the bikes and head to Waterton Canyon. We find a spot to park and ride up to the dam and back (about 12.5 miles in just about an hour and 20 minutes). The way up is most uphill, but you can fly back down. We get back to the car and load up the bikes and pick up Jersey Mike’s for lunch. We call K. and ask if he wants a sandwich, and he does. L. and I split a turkey and get K. a roast beef and we all get chips. We love Jersey Mike’s. $31.40

3:15 p.m. — I get the mail and see we have an annual sewer/storm utility bill that needs to be paid. L. and I. also received our REI membership rewards for the year so we head to the store to look for our upcoming trip to Ireland, but we leave empty handed. Once K. is out of school in May, my entire family (14 of us) is heading to Ireland for 10 days to travel around the Ring of Kerry. I have been to Ireland before, but I am really excited to show L. and K. around a bit.

4:30 p.m. — We leave REI and head to Target (even though we should be boycotting since they removed their DEI program) to pick up some groceries and household goods for the week. We get oatmeal, cereal, bananas, blueberries, milk, creamer, eggs, Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwiches, waffles, butter, two frozen pizzas, hamburgers, buns, lettuce, cheese, tortillas, yogurt, granola, toilet paper, paper towels, ziplock bags, and wipes, plus a few more items. We get home and unload the groceries. L. makes cheeseburgers on the grill and tater tots and we finish out the night playing a few games of Rummikub. $208.12

Daily Total: $239.52

The Breakdown

Conclusion

“I would say this is a pretty typical week for our spending. Our biggest weekly expense is probably food, with a 16-year-old boy. It is good to see all my accounts and spending laid out to get a snapshot of where I am and where I need to be to potentially retire in five or six years. I would say that, ever since COVID-19, we have turned more into homebodies and don’t go out as much. Our entertainment is watching K. play hockey and we try to bike and paddleboard in our neighborhood a lot, so our activity spending isn’t too high. We also try to take one big trip a year and save up for that so it is paid off before we even step foot on the airplane. My goal is to save for prep school hockey for two years and for retirement in five or six years and I feel as though I am on track.”

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