Welcome to Spending Notes, where we do a weekly deep dive into how our readers spend their cash.
Today: a sous-chef who makes $65,000
Occupation: sous-chef
Age: 37
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Salary: $65,000 (approx. $2,000 per pay period)
Day One
Indianapolis is home to plenty of great restaurants, and I have the pleasure of working as a sous-chef at a higher-scale establishment. Not only do I support the head chef while we work in the kitchen, but I also serve as the person in between the head chef and the rest of the staff. Whenever the head chef isn’t around, I take over their responsibilities. Just like the head chef, I keep track of any kitchen supplies we need and make sure that everything is running in tip-top shape. I got off work late, so I grabbed some snacks from the 24-hour convenience store.
Total: $12
Day Two
The restaurant doesn’t open until later today, so I went to an early doctor’s appointment. We went over the results of an allergy panel I did on my last visit, and it turns out I have a ragweed allergy. My allergic reaction to ragweed tends to result in itchy eyes, a runny nose, and sneezing. Ragweed plants tend to release pollen in the late summer months like August and September, but in warmer climates, it can be year-round. There was a small copay for my doctor’s appointment.
Total: $10
Day Three
As a sous-chef, I spend a lot of my time making sure the kitchen is running smoothly and up to sanitation standards. The best part about my job is the rush. Anytime there’s a rush for lunch or dinner, I like the ability to work fast and know that I’m helping speed up the process. When we’re missing someone in line, I can do anything from entrees to soups and salads. And I’m really proud of having worked on my skill set. I had all my meals at work and went home late. I tend to work long hours.
Total: $0
Day Four
My best friend L. stopped by for dinner service today, and we went out for drinks after closing. He told me about investing in Alamos Gold Inc., which is a miner based in Canada. Alamos has mines in three areas and produces ounces of gold. If I invest in AGI, I can get investor alerts and really get my money’s worth in the long term. Q4 results for Alamos Gold should be available soon now that we’re nearing the end of the year and in the fourth quarter. L. loves to talk to me about finance topics, and I enjoy his company.
Total: $9
Day Five
It’s my day off today! These tend to be random because it depends on when the restaurant is closed or when they can run well enough without a few people. Even in the fine dining industry, we’ve been experiencing a staff shortage, so it really depends on the week. L. picked me up from my apartment so we could do some shopping at the local mall. I got a new pair of jeans.
Total: $82
Day Six
Another day at work, another crazy rush in the kitchen. One of my favorite dishes to prepare on the menu is French Pork Rillettes. It’s a dish that requires longer cook times, so we tend to start prep earlier in the day and serve it for dinner service. I’ll find any excuse to work with pork belly because I think it’s absolutely delicious.
Total: $0
Day Seven
I get off early today, which is a nice change of pace. My mom and sister came over to see me, and we went out for a late lunch. The restaurant had an outdoor seating area, where we enjoyed some fresh air and watched the sunset.
Total: $23
Total for the week: $136
