A Week In Chicago, IL, On Sabbatical

The background

I am a 34-year-old IT Project Manager currently living in Chicago. A few months ago, I decided to take a sabbatical from my $154,000-a-year job in software. I was burnt out and needed to prioritize my health, specifically a nagging case of plantar fasciitis that has made walking a chore. My husband, F., still works and earns $105,000. We have always been a "split everything" couple, using Splitwise to track our joint life. To fund my half of the mortgage and our lifestyle during this break, I am drawing from an $85,000 equity payout I received in 2021.

Growing up, my parents were frugal but stable. They taught me the value of a high-yield savings account and a maxed-out 401(k), which is why my net worth sits at a comfortable $509,763 today. Even without a paycheck coming in, I do not feel panicked, though I am much more conscious of where every dollar goes.

A week of maintenance

Monday starts with a trip to the doctor. My foot has been killing me, so I get an X-ray to rule out a fracture. It would have been $85, but it is fully covered by F.’s HSA. Later, I head to the grocery store to stock up for the week. The total is $157.68, so I add $78.84 to Splitwise.

By Wednesday, the physical toll of my foot injury is making my whole body feel tight. F. and I decide to get a couples massage at our fitness club. It is a $162 splurge for my half, but my therapist spends the entire hour working on my legs and hamstrings to compensate for my gait. We follow it up with sushi at my favorite spot in the city ($46.50). It is the kind of mid-week reset that makes the sabbatical feel like a true recovery period rather than just "not working."

The cost of home and friendship

Thursday is a "boring" money day. I spend $5 on parking at the library to pick up some books and then drop $500 on our Home Depot credit card. We recently did a kitchen remodel, and we are aggressive about paying down the debt. It is not a fun way to spend half a grand, but seeing that balance drop is its own kind of dopamine hit.

The weekend is all about social obligations. On Friday, I visit a spring flower show. It is technically free, but I give a $10 donation because the display is beautiful and worth supporting. Later, we meet friends at a brewery. I am not drinking right now, but I still chip in $60 for my share of the crawfish dip, pizza, and chicken we all shared.

Saturday involves a $50 gift card for a friend’s bridal shower. I am at the age where the "wedding circuit" is a line item in my budget. I am not a fan of the parties themselves, so I sent the gift and stayed home. On Sunday, I play designated driver for a group of friends. While they get drinks, I order a round of appetizers for the table ($50) to make sure everyone has some food in their system.

What the week revealed

Total spending for the week came to $962.84. A large chunk of that was the kitchen debt and the massage, which are not weekly occurrences. Being on sabbatical has taught me that I do not actually need much to be happy (books, the sauna, a good walk), but maintaining a home and a social life in a big city still requires a steady hand on the checkbook. I feel grateful that my younger self saved so diligently, allowing my current self the space to heal.