bills, bills, bills #29

A week in the life and wallet of a freelance stage manager & designer on the West Coast

Oct 02, 2024

editor’s note

If the theater lives of West Coasters are generally a mystery to you (as they often are to me), I hope you will enjoy this month’s money diary. Our contributor is a recent transfer to the freelance hustle after being on staff and it’s always a delicate dance, as evidenced by the third sentence in this diary. While there is significant support from a partner who works in tech, I think this columnist also illustrates some aspirational work-life balance. So grab a snack, pull up a chair, and enjoy the first use of the word “cannabis” in a Bill, Bills, Bills column.

This month’s columnist opted to donate their honorarium to Planned Parenthood.

Job/Position: Freelance stage manager and lighting designer. I went freelance a year ago this summer after spending three and a half years on staff at a midsize theater. Over the past year, I have primarily worked at that theater, stage managing on an Equity contract. (I am not union.) I've learned that working at a theater where you used to be on staff has its downsides; if they don’t replace you, you end up doing some of your old job along with stage managing. My goal for the next year of freelancing is to start stage managing at other midsize or larger theaters in town and to push myself as a lighting designer.

Age: 37

Location: West Coast

Yearly Income: My partner and I share all income and expenses. Last year we made $157,301; most of that came from my partner (they work in tech). This year, most of my income has been from Equity contracts with a handful of 1099 freelance jobs and some hourly overhire gigs. We have found that me bringing in $500 a week works for us. (My partner’s paychecks after taxes and other deductions [health insurance, retirement] are $3,496 bi-weekly.) So far, when not on a contract, I’ve been able to collect unemployment, which is usually $437. When I’m unable to collect unemployment, I transfer money from my theater income savings account. I deposit all contract gig money into this account, as well as anything above $500 a week from Equity contracts.

Checking: $5,009.15. My partner is paid every other week and my current contract pays me weekly.

Debt:

I have $41,061.27 in student loans. I went back to school to finish my undergraduate degree at age 26. I received Pell Grants, scholarships, and in-state tuition to a state university, which I paid for with federal loans. While a student, I lived off my student loan disbursements and collected SNAP benefits, sharing rent and some bills with my partner. After graduation, I got a deferment on my payments due to my income level. My first payment was due in February 2020, but then of course COVID hit and I stopped making payments. I chose not to make payments again last year to take advantage of the on-ramp and instead put aside the $400 a month I anticipated my payments would be. In hindsight, I wouldn’t have done this because I likely accrued more interest on my loans than I earned on that money in my savings account. A few months ago, my loans were put on administrative forbearance by my loan servicer, so I haven’t had any payments due.
My partner is working on their undergraduate degree and their employer is reimbursing the cost of school.
We both pay off our credit cards every month. My partner was in significant credit card debt and worked hard to pay it off a few years ago. We’ve mostly paid off all of our credit cards every month since then.
Both of our vehicles are paid off.

Savings:

Savings Accounts (including many sub-accounts such as my student loan ‘payments’, clothing funds, theater income, and theater taxes): $50,203.62
My partner has an employee-matched retirement account but I do not know the amount in it.
I have about $1,500 in a non-employee-matched retirement account from a previous job.
I have about $775 invested via STASH investments ($10 a month)
We save $1,500 a month at the moment: $1,000 into savings, $100 into clothing savings ($50 each), and $400 into my student loan savings.

Monthly Bills:

Rent: $1,900 (2-bedroom/2-bath in a triplex with off-street parking, a shared backyard, and in-unit laundry)
Health Insurance: Deducted from my partner's pay
Car Insurance: $141.20 (full coverage on two 10+ year-old vehicles)
Cellphones: $170.37 (I’m on my parent’s plan with a huge discount and a paid-off phone; my partner has a smaller work discount and is paying off a phone)
City Utilities: Billed every other month. June’s bill was $186.74, but the average so far this year is $229.90.
Internet: $66
TV: Free antenna cable
Streaming: $25.91 (we pay for Netflix and share it with my brother-in-law, who pays for Hulu that we share; during the Olympics, we have Peacock)
News: $20 (NYTimes digital subscription; I also share a WaPost digital subscription with my mom, which she pays for)
Gym Memberships: ~$364.32 ($11.04 gym, $353.28 for an 8-class pass to a Pilates studio)
Massage: $117 (monthly membership massage)
Donations: $34.15 (to two local outdoor organizations, PBS/NPR, Wikipedia, Planned Parenthood)

Large Yearly Expenses:

Renters insurance: $114
Car tags (two vehicles): $166.50
USITT membership: $126

Relevant Context:

We would love to buy a house, but the average home price in our area is $850,000, which is not feasible for us right now. The houses in that price range are much more than we want or will ever need, but the cute house just listed on Zillow that is mostly exactly what we want is $599,000. My dad mentioned that when we start looking seriously at buying a house, he has some money he’d like to give us to help with the down payment, but I have no idea how much it might be. Money was not a topic in my house growing up and I don’t have the faintest idea how much my parents made, but it was enough that we lived in houses my parents owned for most of my life and I attended a private high school (on partial scholarship). My partner is mostly estranged from their dad and their mom passed away, so there has never been financial support from their side of the family. We are not going to have kids, but one day we would like to become a two-dog and at least one-cat household.

I feel so very lucky and blessed to live this life. I know the reason I am able to work freelance and not have to budget or think about my spending is that my partner makes enough money to support us. I am so thankful we are in a position that we can “vote with our wallet” and support local businesses and local farmers. We avoid buying from Amazon as much as we can and are working on shopping less at big-chain grocery stores. We are both slowly upgrading our wardrobe to be primarily “slow fashion” items. I think I’ll feel like we’ve “made it” when we can own a home and I can create a small scholarship for a student at my alma mater.

Thursday

I got up around 9:30 and immediately checked my email, expecting there to be issues at work (surprisingly, there were none at the moment). I saw that my paycheck was significantly larger than expected and considered going out for breakfast but ultimately wasn’t interested in getting dressed yet. At home, iced coffee and a freezer breakfast sandwich came to the rescue. I did some personal computer work (made a $1,138 credit card payment, paying it off for the month) and then took my dog on a 30-minute walk.

Around noon, I sat down to handle all the emails and texts required to put two understudies into the show tonight. Before going to the theater, I cleaned up the kitchen and cleaned out the fridge. Thankfully, I didn’t have to compost too much food (a few dregs of leftovers that got lost and, sadly, a bit of produce that pre-Tech Week Me thought Tech Week Me would have time to cook). I stopped at the grocery store on the way to work to grab a frozen meal to supplement some leftovers ($3.99).

I drive about five miles to work (my car gets around 28 miles per gallon and gas is ~$4.50 per gallon) and eventually found street parking. (I never pay for parking at work.) When I got to the theater, I found out someone for whom I purchased a ticket needed to cancel and our box office kindly refunded me the money. The two understudies did absolutely phenomenal jobs! I heard a patron say, “I can’t tell who the understudies are” during intermission, and frankly, it was hard for me to tell too! Bless understudies and swings for being the true heroes of theater.

Income: $973 = $928 (weekly paycheck; $500 into checking, $428 into theater income savings account), $45 (ticket refund to credit card)

Spending: $1,141.99 = $1,138 (checking; credit card payment), $3.99 (checking; grocery store)

Friday

Got up around 9:30 and watered our garden. When I got back inside, my partner suggested bagels and burritos as a Friday treat, so we went out for breakfast ($47.45). We came home and I lounged in my hammock, reflecting that I went freelance a year ago and today was the kind of day I dreamt of last year. Went to a Pilates class ($40, prepaid on a class card). Brought leftovers for dinner at work. Another great show with two understudies. My partner bought some drinks and cannabis before I got home. Stayed up until about 1 AM hanging out and watching The X-Files.

A few additional payments: NYT digital subscription ($20), annual rental insurance ($144), and an ATM withdrawal ($103).

Spending: $314.45 + $40 prepaid

Saturday

Got up at 9:30 and took a shower. I think I knew how the day was going to turn, because I didn’t get dressed for work, even though I had a matinee. Needless to say, both shows for the day were canceled and my years of being a COVID safety manager has me preparing to be closed for a week. (We closed for 12 days/canceled seven performances after two-thirds of our core cast and understudies tested positive.) Sigh. My parents are in town and we had planned on getting lunch between shows before they saw the evening performances. They came over for dinner instead and we watched a movie. (I walked to the store to buy ingredients for a bacon, corn, and Brussels sprouts pasta: $31.96.)

Spending: $31.96

Sunday

Got up and ate breakfast at home before meeting my parents at a park and ride. We carpooled to the baseball stadium and parked for free a couple blocks away at my dad’s old job. Tickets to the game were free (and the best seats we’ve ever had!) Got fries and ice cream on my parents’ tab before the game and then I bought a hot dog near the end of the game ($9.69). After, my parents hit the road for home and I took public transit ($2.75 prepaid metro card). Once home, there was some napping, showering, and self-caring via painting my nails before making dinner from pantry staples with my partner (taco and hot dog mac & cheese). My Netflix auto-payment also hit ($17.09).

Spending: $26.78 + $2.75 prepaid

Monday

Got up at 9:30, took my pup out, and brought in our dairy delivery. ($10.76 for a dozen local eggs, two half-pints of milk, and delivery fee. Because they were out of the pints of half & half — we usually get two for a total of $5.98 — they gave us a free quart this week.) Bought myself a little treat (iced coffee and a pastry; $11.92 prepaid card) on my way in to work to take a COVID test (I’m out at home), then I went to the gym. Later I walked to the grocery store to buy a couple of ingredients needed for dinner ($12.68). I made pizza then watched The X-Files with my partner and colored.

Spending: $23.44 + $11.92 prepaid

Tuesday

Got up and immediately got dressed so I could go to a chiropractor appointment ($50 on my credit card that will be reimbursed from our FSA). Made the mistake of checking my email in the car and saw disappointing news about Wednesday’s show. Stopped at a coffee shop for an iced latte, bagel to make a sandwich at home, and a donut (free latte with points, $7.17 prepaid card). Stopped at the library on my way home and traded books. A book I’m very excited about comes out soon (Accidental Demons by Clare Edge), so I pre-ordered a copy ($27.38). Sent emails about the understudy rehearsal scheduled for this evening and the canceled show Wednesday. Distracted myself from being sad by reading an entire book. My partner stopped at the store on the way home to buy ingredients for dinner: salmon tacos with mango salsa.

Spending: $77.38 + $7.17 prepaid

Wednesday

Woke up and almost immediately had to start sending emails about rehearsal this evening. My partner made us breakfast. By the time I was done eating, I had to send emails canceling Thursday and Friday’s shows. Sigh. Was nearly late to my Pilates class, but made it and was able to turn off work for an hour ($40 prepaid class card). Made biscuit topped chicken “pot pie” entirely from pantry and freezer items for dinner, which always feels like a win.

Spending: $40 prepaid

Total Weekly Spending: $1,616

A guest post by

Jenna Clark Embrey

JCE (she/her/hers) is the Literary Manager/Dramaturg at Lincoln Center Theater.

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