A Week in Jersey City as a Freelancer

I loved reading Refinery29's Money Diaries as a college student who had to do mental gymnastics on a basic iced coffee order. These entries gave me insight into the lives of working professionals that I yearned to be, especially those with the financial freedom to buy whatever they pleased.

The different relationships to money were truly eye-opening. Some spent money with reckless abandon, which was a stark contrast to the way I was living with my packed lunches, juggling a job on campus as a peer tutor and unpaid internships.

As an homage to my love for Money Diary, I wanted to write my own version for the last week of November. Some preliminary information:

• Job Title: Freelance trend researcher and writer
• Industry: Digital marketing and the creator economy
• Location: Jersey City, New Jersey, USA
• Debt: $0
• Paycheck: As a freelancer, this varies from month to month. I'm currently paid a flat rate per report, which ranges from $336 - $405. Each month, I may work on anywhere from 1 to 3 reports.

Monday

I decided to sleep in today since I didn't sleep well over the weekend. One of the many luxuries of being a freelancer is the ability to work according to your own time. To relieve some stiffness from a deep sleep, I started my day with yoga, pilates, and physical therapy exercises, before diving into work.

For my last report of the month, I reviewed the feedback from the editor and assessed the necessary changes. Thankfully, the edits weren't too substantial, so I was able to complete everything under three hours. The most time-consuming portion was researching additional case studies that aligned with the trends for the month.

Once I finalized the report, I logged off and took a much-needed screen break by coloring. It's been a pretty uneventful day. The only thing left before I went to bed was my 10 p.m. therapy session. I'm grateful that my therapist back in Malaysia offers virtual calls, so I'm able to keep my sessions with her even though the calls take place late at night. It was an especially cathartic session today.

Total expenses: $86.90

• Phone bill: $26.40
• Therapy: $60.50 (converted from MYR)

Tuesday

My priority for the day was to write my blog post about my downtime favorites, which was such a treat. I'm hoping to make this a monthly series, because it's nice to look back on what I was consuming and enjoying each month. It's only December 1st, but I know my downtime diaries for December will look very different from those of November.

Spent some time today sourcing images for my report, reading, writing, and doing some chores. The highlight of the day was going to Marshalls and Michaels to pick up some ornaments for our Christmas tree that arrived today! This is the first year my partner and I are celebrating Christmas in a home of our own as a married couple, so we want it to be extra cozy and special.

I couldn't go to Marshalls without picking up some skincare and body care. They offer the best prices for this category. My partner picked up a Santa to pair with our tree, whereas I picked up a Santa for our cat's tree. She deserves some festivity too! My partner paid for our Marshalls haul, and I paid for our Michaels haul. I also picked up some yarn to crochet with! My goal is to make a cat hat by the end of winter. I got $5 off at Michaels with a coupon, plus there were additional sales ongoing for Black Friday.

Before heading home, I picked up dinner at Dave's Hot Chicken, where I left a Google review to redeem a free drink.

Total expenses: $58.15

• Christmas ornaments and yarn: $42.81
• Dave's Hot Chicken: $15.34

Wednesday

I've completed all my freelance work for the month, which means I finally have the time and energy to focus on job hunting. Unfortunately, it's slim pickings due to the holiday season. The listings aren't as populated as the past weeks, and I didn't see anything that fit my experiences or my desired role. Maybe this is a sign to take a break.

Since I no longer had a deadline, I decided to tag along with my partner to renew his driver's license for a change of scenery. Drinking an iced matcha latte before a 30-minute car ride wasn't the best idea, because by the time we got to the center, I had to use the bathroom ASAP. I speed-walked to a Dunkin' nearby to use their bathroom. They had an unusual system where they had to buzz you into the bathroom that had no manual lock. I couldn't help but worry over someone being buzzed in while I was in there, but thankfully, that didn't happen. While waiting for my partner, I ate a breakfast sandwich, journaled, and read Scythe.

Once we were back home, I had the energy to do laundry. Going to the laundromat is always a chore that lasts a couple of hours. I didn't have to change cash for quarters this trip since we already had the quarters, so I have no idea how much I spent on laundry. Once I was done folding and putting away my clothes, it was dark out.

Our Christmas tree adds such a festive vibe to our space. For an extra cozy vibe, we turned off all the lights and ended the night with Oh, Hi! on Netflix. I love how unhinged the main character is, although they could have really taken it to the extreme. She reminded me of Ingrid from Ingrid Goes West.

Total expenses: $6.07

• Laundry: undetermined
• Dunkin': $6.07

Thursday

It's Turkey Day! My partner committed to cooking a full Thanksgiving meal for us. On the menu was baked mac and cheese, fried chicken, jerk chicken, collard greens, and candied yams. I was more than happy to sit back and let him take the reins on this. My only contribution was a strawberry pie from the farmer's market.

During the day, we went for a walk to soak up some sun. There's a peacefulness to the neighborhood as most people are probably out of town or at home preparing their meals. We picked up a nice bottle of prosecco to pair with dinner. As my partner chefs it up in the kitchen, I fell down the Black Friday rabbit hole. It's nearly impossible to avoid with an avalanche of emails every hour that are too tempting to click away. I ended up buying things I needed, such as a new planner for 2026, pen refills, undergarments, and a turtleneck for the winter. I also got a tea sampler to make my own Advent calendar for December.

Dinner was absolutely delicious. I started watching I Love LA, which really delivered, featuring Rachel Sennott as an aspiring manager at a talent agency. I binged all 3 episodes before shifting gears to introduce my partner to The Hunger Games. It's his first time watching it, and I wish I had recorded his reaction to Rue's fate.

Total expenses: $129.40

• Tokyo Pen Shop: $37
• Quince: $84.70
• Tea: $7.70

Friday

I decided today will be a fun day. It's been a minute since I played Sims 4, so my main priority of the day is to indulge in play. The last time I played, I built a new home for Generation 4 of my legacy challenge. This time, I get to see if everything functions as it should. I clocked a couple of hours playing Sims.

We had plenty of leftovers, so I made a plate of mac and cheese, fried chicken, collard greens, and candied yams for lunch. I paired this with episode 4 of I Love LA. The show has already been renewed for a second season, as it gained a significant amount of views in the first 4 episodes. It's not too late to catch up!

Now that Thanksgiving is over, we're officially in the Christmas mood. I watched Christmas with the Kranks for the first time, which, in my opinion, is a horror movie of having to conform to societal norms and expectations. When a middle-aged couple decides to go for a cruise instead of celebrating Christmas at home, they are shamed for their decision to do so. Let them live!

Total expenses: $0

Saturday

It's the season of holiday markets, and I was determined to check out Montclair Flea. Before the drive, I made a quick trip to the grocery store to pick up some milk and sugar for our matcha latte. Once we were well-caffeinated, we hit the road to the town of Montclair.

The first order of business was lunch at Sukhumvit Thai Eatery. Based on the name, I had a feeling it was legit, and I was right. The food was delicious, the service was amazing, and the sweet chili sauce was a taste of Southeast Asia. Across the street from the restaurant was Montclair Brewery, so we popped in for an afternoon drink. I thoroughly enjoyed their lavender ale; it was so refreshing and fruity. Since my partner paid for lunch, I got us the round of beers.

Montclair Flea is held at the revamped Lackawanna Station. It was much bigger than I anticipated, but I'm not complaining. One thing that makes or breaks a holiday market is the range of items on sale. Montclair Flea delivered because they had vendors selling all sorts of wares. From artisanal cheese to handmade Christmas ornaments, there was something for everyone. I picked up some clothes for the colder weather, Christmas cards, pre-loved books, and stickers. Even though my wallet feels lighter, my heart feels full.

Total expenses: $151.08

• Milk and sugar: $13.67
• Beer at Montclair Brewery: $20
• Parking: $4.50
• Vintage top $30
• Christmas cards: $25.59
• Books and stickers: $37.32
• Jacket: $20

Sunday

Back in Kuala Lumpur, the KL Art Book Fair has wrapped up. My sister did me a favor and picked up some merch from the New Naratif booth that I was eyeing on Instagram. Most of the merch was sold out by Sunday, but she secured a zine and the postcards for me.

It's the last day of November, which means I have to prep my planner for December. As I note down days of importance, it feels bittersweet that 2025 is coming to a close. 2025 has been a transformative year for me. I entered my 30s, got married, had a wedding, moved halfway across the world to a new city, and left my job of 4+ years.

I don't know what life would look like this time next year, but I'm excited for what's to come.

Total expenses: $19.36

KLABF NN merch: $19.36 (converted from MYR)

I spent a total of $450.96 this week. It's definitely on the higher range of what I would spend in a week due to the shopping I did, but I shall not feel an ounce of regret because life is too short.

If any of my friends reading this is interested in sharing their money diaries, please let me know! I would love to feature your money diary, especially with so many of you based in different cities around the world.