A Week In Houston On A $108,000 Salary

The background

I am a 28-year-old engineer living in Houston, Texas. I work in the oil and gas industry, which can be a bit of a roller coaster, but it pays well. My salary is $108,000, and right now, I am the primary breadwinner. My husband is currently in business school, and while he has a significant salary from his previous work that covers his tuition, I take care of our $1,750 mortgage and most of the daily living expenses.

We never combined our finances after getting married, which works for us. We have a "yours, mine, and ours" approach, though "ours" is mostly just a verbal agreement on who picks up the tab. I grew up in a household where money was discussed openly, and that has translated into me being a bit of a stickler for retirement savings. I put over $2,000 a month into my 401(k) and Roth IRA combined. I want to make sure that even if the oil market tanks, my future self is taken care of.

A week of comfort spending

This week was a bit of a blur of holiday relaxation and getting back into the swing of things at the office. Saturday started with a walk to our favorite coffee spot for brisket kolaches ($15.50), followed by a massive $113 grocery haul. I am a big believer in meal prepping. If I don't spend my Sunday roasting chicken and prepping pork curry, I will inevitably spend $15 a day on mediocre office salads.

Sunday was about preparing for our upcoming trip to Peru. We hit up REI for hiking boots and wool socks ($289). It felt like a lot to drop at once, but we are hiking the Inca Trail later this year, and I do not want to be the person with blisters at 14,000 feet. We capped off the night with ice cream ($12) before the latest episode of Game of Thrones. It is our Sunday ritual, and I am not ready to give it up.

The dog and the drinks

If there is one thing you should know about me, it is that I am obsessed with my labradoodle. He is incredibly high-maintenance. On Wednesday, the mobile groomer came by to give him his summer cut ($145 with tip). He ends up looking like a little bobblehead, but it is necessary for the Houston heat. I also dropped $150 on a five-pack of daycare passes. He goes every Friday so I can enjoy a happy hour without feeling guilty about him being home alone.

Speaking of happy hours, this week was a bit heavy on the social drinking. Between a neighborhood Bunco game (where I actually won $20!) and margaritas with a friend who had a rough week ($34), I found myself at the office Starbucks more than once looking for a "hangover cure" latte and coffee cake. Thursday and Friday mornings were a struggle, and I felt a little irresponsible paying $7 for comfort food just because I stayed out too late.

What surprised me

Looking back at the week, I realized how much I rely on small luxuries to get through the corporate grind. Whether it is a $4 latte with a coworker or a $10 "unwich" from Jimmy John's when I run out of meal prep, those small numbers add up. However, I also realized how lucky we are. We picked up 30 pounds of steak from a rodeo charity event on Friday, which we had already paid for months ago. Having a freezer full of high-quality meat feels like the ultimate Texas wealth.

I am happy with where we are financially. Even with the "fun" spending, I am hitting my savings goals and keeping the household running while my husband finishes his degree. Next week, I might try to cut back on the mid-week margaritas, but I make no promises.