Welcome to Spending Notes, where we do a weekly deep dive into how our readers spend their cash.

Today, a thrift shop owner explains just how she handles her weekly expenses with a $35,000 salary in the charming city of Baltimore, MD.

Occupation: Thrift Shop Owner

Age: 27

Location: Baltimore, MD

Salary: $35,000 (approx. $1,300 per pay period)

Day One

Just like every other Monday on my way to work, I drop by at my friend's coffee shop, Coffee Land, and buy a Ripken sandwich (smoked turkey and melted provolone) with a Gingerbread Latte and eat it on the way. Then, after work, I stop at my PO Box to pick up only the best mousepad in the market, the Razer Sphex V2. I love playing MMOs like World Of Warcraft and The Elder Scrolls after work for hours, so this gamepad will give me the right amount of glide and a stable rubber base so I can play all night long. In addition, it has a durable polycarbonate surface, so it's resistant to wear and tear, meaning I won't have to buy a mouse pad in a long while.

Total: $22.52

Day Two

Today I feel grungy—I think I need a change in my life, but I'm not sure what it is. So I'm looking for a female therapist near me as I feel more comfortable speaking to a woman about my mental health. I stumbled upon Baltimore Therapy Group, and they offer telehealth. I think I'll make an appointment for this week. I'm still not sure if CBT or psychotherapy will be good for me, but I definitely need counseling. I think my self-esteem is taking a toll and triggering some of my mood disorders again. It's already late at night, so I will make an appointment using their robot chat on their webpage. I finish making the appointment and slip into eBay to buy a lovely blouse. My mood is spiked!

Total: $13.54

Day Three

It's Wednesday noon, and the Baltimore Therapy Group just messaged me saying they have a spot at 4 p.m. today, so I accept and head home after work for teletherapy. I just got off my first session Facetime call with my new counselor N., and she was the nicest lady. She explained I was going to go through a couple of sessions before she can tell me for sure what I'm going through. I'm proud that I took the first step towards recovery and that I can get the counseling I need for my mental health care.

Total: $79.00

Day Four

It's Thursday, and I'm headed to the Historic Ships in Baltimore Museum with my good friend P. because she wants to get inspiration for her next piece of artwork. P. has been getting a lot of commissions lately for oil paintings about sea life and maritime artifacts, so she invited me to her inspiration walk. I enjoy antique and rugged aesthetics—I guess this is why I run a thrift store.

Total: $18.00

Day Five

Friday is here, and again I met with P. to eat some nachos at another friend's (L.) local bar, DogWatch Tavern. I'm buying a beer, and my friend L. just gave me one on the house. I'm here chatting with P. about a possible art business we might work on in the future. We've had this idea for a long time—we want to make custom wall art for local businesses. I never had the time because of the shop, but I think I might get into it now.

Total: $13.56

Day Six

It's Saturday, and we just closed down the shop at noon. I'm headed to the Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum because I had meant to go for a while but never got to it. The exhibition was great, but I'm exhausted, so I head home to make myself some chicken and veggie spring rolls and play some World of Warcraft with my new Razer mouse pad.

Total: $10.00

Day Seven

It's Sunday, and I stop at my shop to get some paperwork for accounting and head back home. Then, I stop at the supermarket to buy more meats and veggies to cook this new week and head home afterward.

Total: $34.55

Total for the week: $191.17