How I Navigate London on a Low Wage—with a Monzo Card and a Bit of Pot Magic…..
Let’s face it: London is EXPENSIVE. Like, “Why-is-this-flat-the-size-of-a-cereal-box-and-still-costing-£1,300-a-month?” expensive. If you’re on a low wage in this city, you’ve got two choices: cry into your oat milk latte… or get clever with your money. I picked option two. And Monzo? That little coral card? It’s my secret weapon.
Let me spill the tea on how I turned my chaotic spending habits into a well-oiled, budgeted machine using Monzo Pots. And no, I’m not a financial advisor—just a London girl trying to survive without eating instant noodles for every meal (although, respect to the noodle life).
Step One: Bills, Baby!
As soon as I get paid (which, let’s be honest, feels like a round of applause for surviving another month), I pay all my bills straight away. Rent, phone, travel, subscriptions—get them OUT of my way. I don’t want to be side eyeing my bank account later wondering if I paid for my Wi-Fi or not.
Then, I stash a little into savings—even if it’s a tenner. I call this my “safety net for when life decides to be dramatic” fund.
Step Two: Enter the Holding Pot
Now comes the Monzo magic. I transfer everything that’s left of my wage into a pot I lovingly call “Holding Pot” (yes, like cows. Or money cows). This is where I separate my emotional spending self from my responsible budget queen.
Step Three: The Math Bit (Don’t Worry, It’s Easy)
So, say I’ve got £280 left and I don’t get paid again for 28 days (hello, classic 9-5 monthly payday struggle). I divide £280 by 28. That gives me £10 per day. That’s my daily spend limit, aka how much I’m allowed to be the “treat yourself” version of me.
Step Four: 7 Pots, 7 Days
Here’s where things get real. I create 7 pots in Monzo—one for each day of the week. Monday through Sunday. Then I do a little Sunday ritual where I transfer the next 7 days’ worth of daily spend into those pots. So in our example: £10 x 7 = £70. Boom. Divided evenly.
Now I’ve got a little pot for each day and I know exactly what I’m allowed to spend. And if I don’t use it all? I roll it over or give Friday-me a little treat (because Friday-me deserves it).
Why This Works (and Makes You Feel Like a Boss)
- It turns your budget into a game.
- You see your limits—so no surprise “how did I spend £40 at Pret?!” moments.
- It creates mindful spending. You actually think before you tap.
- You stop feeling guilty, because you’re in control.
- You get weirdly excited about seeing a £3.40 leftover on Wednesday’s pot like it’s some kind of mini jackpot.
So yes, I may be living in a flat with suspiciously thin walls and drinking Aldi coffee instead of Starbucks, but guess what?
I’m thriving, I’m budgeting like a badass, and Monzo is 100% my co-pilot.
Try it. Make it fun. Call your pots dumb names if it helps (mine are called things like “Spendy Wendy” and “Don’t You Dare”).
Low income doesn’t mean low control. London’s wild—but with a little planning and a lot of pots, you’ve got this.
Monzo Pot Magic Infographic
