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WELCOME TO HOW I Spend My Money, a series on The Journal that looks at how people in Ireland really handle their finances.
We’re asking readers to keep a record of how much they earn, what they save if anything, and what they’re spending their money on over the course of one week.
Are you a spender, a saver or a splurger? We’re looking for readers who will keep a money diary for a week. If you’re interested send a mail to money@thejournal.ie. We would love to hear from you.
Each money diary is submitted by readers just like you. When reading and commenting, bear in mind that their situation will not be relatable for everyone, it is simply an account of a week in their shoes, so let’s be kind.
Last time around, we heard from a quality assurance analyst in biopharmaceuticals on €99K living in Dublin. This week, a civil servant on €42K currently on maternity leave living in Dublin.
I am a 33-year-old civil servant, on maternity leave living in Dublin with my husband and two children. We bought our house back in 2014 when house prices were very reasonable compared to now and we released some equity into our house in 2019 to do an extension and add a downstairs bathroom, etc.
I am currently saving to take 16 weeks of unpaid maternity leave and will save enough to cover my share of bills during this period. It will be very tight for me during this time off, but I will never have this time with my young children again so it’s worth the sacrifice.
My mam is our childcare as I work a three-day week, which makes such a difference to our income. I genuinely don’t know how people can afford childcare, especially in Dublin. It’s outrageous.
We haven’t been abroad since the pandemic started, so we have booked to go away at the end of May and my other half is saving separately to cover our holiday.
My husband pays the mortgage, which comes out of a separate account. We switched mortgages in 2020 and the repayment was slightly reduced but we kept our original payment of €1,300. It’s a small overpayment, but we’ll look to increase it when we’re comfortable. I lodge €1,000 per month to our joint household account to cover bills. We would like to put in place some long-term savings/investments for our kids, but we just haven’t sat down and looked at the options available yet.
Occupation: Civil servant
Age: 33
Location: Dublin
Salary: €42,000 approx
Monthly pay (net): €2,592.30 paid fortnightly
Transport: Husband uses the car primarily and diesel is taken from the household expenses
Mortgage: €1,300 (husband pays)
Household bills: €300
Health insurance: €137 for me and the two kids
Groceries: €600
Gym: €32.99
Phone: €28.91
Subscriptions: Netflix – €12.99, husband covers Spotify
***
7.45 am: I wake up. Toddler is still asleep, so I enjoy 15 minutes scrolling aimlessly before they wake up.
8.30 am: Time for breakfast – porridge with raisins, honey banana and glass of milk. Tea for me.
9.00 am: Bathe baby as we have an appointment this morning. Other half has the car today so set out at 10am for appointment. A 25 minute walk. We have a Ride on Board attached to the pram for our toddler and it’s the best money we’ve ever spent.
12.00 pm: We arrive home and I make lunch of cheese and spinach quesadilla and some mango.
1.00 pm: Nap time for toddler. Two hours of peace so I watch the last episode of season two of Bridgerton as I binged at the weekend and have some tea and cuddles with baby.
3.00 pm: Toddler is awake so make a quick snack of apple slices, crackers and nut butter.
3.30 pm: Tesco delivery arrives with the weekly shop (€147.23, which comes from household account). Only toddler nappies this week. We try to buy each on alternate weeks and don’t use formula so that saves a bit. It takes about half an hour to put it away with the help of toddler.
4.00 pm: Spend afternoon in the garden playing with bubbles and generally upending the place.
6.00 pm: Husband arrives home and we have dinner of mixed veg omelette with sweet potato wedges.
7.00 pm: Toddler goes for a bath while I tidy up downstairs and get baby ready for bed.
8.00 pm: Toddler to bed and I have a quick cup of tea with husband and take baby to bed at 8.30 pm.
Today’s total: €147.23
8.00 am: Same breakfast as morning above.
10.00 am: My mam collects toddler. She does this a few times a week to give me a break with the baby and I catch up on jobs from the weekend as we had a family party in our house on Saturday, so everything piled up.
12.00 pm: Make toast and scrambled eggs for lunch and scroll on my phone while baby naps.
3.30 pm: Toddler arrives home and mam stays with both kids. I’ve a meeting with toddler’s playschool as he’s starting part-time soon. Fees are only €35 for two half days from 9 am to 12 pm per week.
5.00 pm: Pop into Tesco on the way home and grab some mash and chicken slices for my mam. (€3.60)
6.00 pm: Dinner of mash, peas and veggie nuggets for dinner, most of which end up on the floor.
7.00 pm: Bring toddler up for a bath and then we watch some Cocomelon before bedtime. They don’t get much TV but it’s a way to wind down before bedtime and it works for us.
8.00 pm: Toddler into bed and I give downstairs a quick clean up before baby and I head to bed.
9.00 pm: The playschool toddler will be going to has a uniform so I purchase it online – €42.90 for the jumper, bottoms and polo shirt. I’m happy that there is a uniform as it takes the hassle out of choosing outfits every day.
10.00 pm: Just as I nod off, baby wakes and so the night feed cycle begins.
Today’s total: €46.50
8.00 am: Same morning routine – consistency is key with young kids.
9.00 am: Our washing machine broke last week and the new one is delivered. Husband paid for this. I have a mini meltdown when the guy who delivers it says husband didn’t pay the installation fee.
9.40 am: Out the door for toddler group which is €3 at our local centre. I find these groups great as toddler missed out on a lot with Covid, so it’s great for them to socialise. The €3 covers refreshments and it’s lovely to have a nice cup of tea and chat with other parents.
12.00 pm: Arrive home and make a quick lunch of a cream cheese bagel, yoghurt and strawberries. I sneak a small Dairy Milk while toddler isn’t looking.
1.00 pm: Toddler and baby both asleep so I book a hair and makeup appointment for an upcoming wedding (€3 deposit to book). Make a batch of soup and a wholemeal bread mix while both sleep and listen to Newstalk.
3.00 pm: Toddler wakes up and husband arrives home from a work event away.
3.30 pm: Husband fits the new washing machine. Installation charge was €50, so we saved on that, so he tells me.
5.00 pm: Have soup and bread for dinner. Toddler only eats the butter off the bread. We’re in the not liking food phase.
8.00 pm: Same evening routine and toddler to bed. I head to bed after a cup of tea with my husband and I look on ASOS for a dress for wedding. Eventually find one which costs €90.80 with husband’s student discount.
Today’s total: €93.80
7.00 am: Payday today. €1,068 into my account as €200 is deducted at source into Credit Union. €500 to household account for bills and €300 to my unpaid leave savings.
7.30 am: Toddler wakes up. We’re out early this morning as baby has a GP appointment, so a quick breakfast of porridge, raspberries and yoghurt is had before we head out the door.
11.00 am: Toddler is gone to nana’s for a few hours today, which I’m thankful for as I had a long, sleepless night with baby.
12.00 pm: Baby is napping, so I look online and see I can set up Credit Union accounts for the kids. I get all the documents I need to upload and have both applications submitted within ten minutes. Half an hour later, both accounts are approved. I’m really impressed!
12.30 pm: Make a quick lunch of scrambled eggs and toast, do some housework and play with baby for the rest of the afternoon.
4.00 pm: Toddler arrives home and we spend the afternoon in the garden.
6.00 pm: Husband arrives home and we have dinner of chicken breasts with potatoes and veg.
8.00 pm: Same bedtime routine for myself, toddler and baby.
Today’s total: €0.00
6.30 am: Last night was rough, so I doze with baby until toddler wakes at 7.30 am. Same breakfast routine again.
9.30 am: Out the door and head to the local Credit Union to lodge €50 into each child’s account in order to activate them.
10.00 am: Walk to the local playground and spend some time there and take a walk around the park. Pop into Mr Price on the way home to buy toddler some sticker books and paint supplies for this afternoon. I also buy a small digger toy that toddler took a shine to. I’m terrible for picking up random toys for the kids, but sometimes it’s not worth the battle (€36.42). Also grab some fresh rolls, falafel, raspberries and biscuits in Lidl for €9.49.
12.00 pm: Home and make lunch, wholemeal rolls with tomato, lettuce and cheese, raspberries and a mandarin. Roll gets launched onto floor so I hit the biscuits.
1.00 pm: Toddler gone for a nap, so I catch up on some jobs and have a quiet cup of tea.
3.00 pm: Toddler awake, so quick snack of strawberry and spinach smoothie and hit the sticker books for the afternoon.
6.00 pm: Husband arrives home and we have dinner together – pasta with hidden veg sauce and salmon.
7.30 pm: Scrolling online while toddler watches Cocomelon and book a visit to a local pet farm that’s doing an Easter trail next weekend. €17 for two adults as under 3s are free.
8.00 pm: Toddler is in bed. I’d normally have a glass of wine on a Friday evening, but baby isn’t in good form and I can sense a long night ahead, so just tea for me.
10.00 pm: Bed for me and baby.
Today’s total: €62.91
9.00 am: Wake up with baby beside me. Other half woke up with toddler at 8 am. Funny how 9 am feels like a lie in these days.
9.30 am: Have a quick breakfast of bran flakes and tea. The weather doesn’t look the best, so we head to the local play centre to burn off some of toddler’s energy. (€7)
11.30 am: Pop into the local Spar on the way home for some rashers and bread and make eggs rashers and toast for lunch. (€6.34)
12.00 pm: Other half gone to Smyths. We had a few vouchers from Christmas so decided to get a trampoline with them (€160 but vouchers cover this). Also, buy a new mattress for baby’s cot as they’ll be moving to their own room in a few months (€100 from household account for the mattress).
1.00 pm: Toddler gone for a nap and other half arrives home. Trampoline assembly begins but I’m taking a supervisory role in the whole thing.
3.00 pm: Toddler wakes up and we spend the afternoon on the trampoline.
5.00 pm: Easy supper of veg and cheese puff pastry tart.
8.00 pm: Toddler to bed after bath and a movie, so I have a glass of wine and watch Netflix with husband.
11.00 pm: Time for bed.
Today’s total: €113.34
8.30 am: Wake up with baby, have some tea and toast. It’s a gorgeous morning so we get ready to go for a walk on the beach. Toddler brings half their toy collection and we spend some time playing in the sand.
11.00 am: Pop into the local SuperValu on the way home from the beach to grab some pancakes. I normally make them every Sunday but forgot to get the mix. No pancakes, so pick up some hot cross buns, rolls, KitKats and coleslaw. (€9.50 from household)
11.30 am: Have some hot cross buns with fruit, yoghurt and tea.
12.30 pm: Tesco delivery arrives (€120.90). We didn’t need to buy any nappies this week, although Tesco normally has a two for €20 offer, so we stock up when they do. We also buy water wipes in bulk from Amazon as they’re so expensive.
1.15 pm: Toddler goes for a nap, so I start to prep Sunday dinner. The cold weather has given me a notion to do a roast.
3.00 pm: Toddler wakes and we spend the afternoon on the trampoline and playing together.
5.00 pm: We enjoy a lovely roast chicken dinner with all the trimmings and watch a Disney movie together afterwards.
8.00 pm: Both kids bathed and into bed. I head to bed too as other half is staying up to watch Peaky Blinders and I never got into it.
9.00 pm: Scroll on Zalando and spot a dress I like that’s on sale for €30. We’re going on holiday in a few months, so I think it’s justified.
Today’s total: €160.40
***
What I learned -
While family carers are means tested for carers allowance.
@Úna O Connor Barrett: you can say that again
@Úna O Connor Barrett: The funds are there Una, they just do not care… Let them know in the next election..
@Úna O Connor Barrett: think rich people should be subsidised by poorer taxpayers? That’s reason for a means test.
By all means question the threshold but if you are saying a millionaire should automatically qualify then I disagree.
The war is confined to a small part of the country now. You would imagine many of those that came here would be able to return.
@Munster1: Emphasis on for now. Things can change drastically not to mention many of these Ukrainians have not just lost their homes and family members, but their entire towns and cities too.
@Munster1: I think you can thank your lucky stars that you live in Ireland. What a dreadful comment. You have no idea of the horrors nor of the current and future situation of the country . Ukraine is a war zone, all of it currently. Perhaps you should devote some of your free time to helping the Irish disadvantaged and or the Ukrainian refugees. And yes, many of them want nothing more than to return to their homeland
@Dave Phelan: have you been there, have you witnessed first hand these so called atrocities, no, you sit at home in front of your PC and type idiotic statements. find some real information from real people, on the front line, and watch ho most of the cities are in fact, as everyday normal. what has happened to the people of ireland, now we just watch as our leader propose to be the “good boys ” of europe, while they neglect the needs of everyone in this country, unless you are rich of course and there is something in it for them.
@Darren Murphy: They were voted in because they were well able to ignore the needs of others. That happened long beforehand and it’s on us.
While family carers are means tested for carers allowance and have to fight for medical cards
@Úna O Connor Barrett: Absolutely true Una
In the first instance for many people reading this the initial gut response will probably be…
What about the homeless in Ireland? And why isnt the government funding support for them?
To put this in context the total of Public Expenditure on Homeless Service Provision in the Dublin Region in 2021 was €148,142,145 million.
So its not a case of help being made available for Ukrainian refugees, that has not been available to homeless people in Ireland or that this will somehow take funding away from currently homeless people, its two separate issues and both are being addressed.
The reason for continuing homelessness in ireland is not a lack of funding, its a lack of successive governments willingness, to build permanent social housing to replace current temporary accommodation.
@David Van-Standen: stop talking sense… It’s not appreciated on the journal..
@David Van-Standen: What I can’t fathom is why on earth any TD can’t simply make the call and build permanent housing with EU help. They could then be used later for social housing. All these subsidies are going to hotels while tourists can’t get to or from the airport.
@Aileen Lawlor: They will house whoever is next on the list freeing up emergency shelter for the next people.
Hotels cancelling reservations left, right, and centre because they’re getting 4 grand a week per room off the government to house Ukrainians. Twice in 2 weeks it’s happened at last notice to me, and then you’re paying through the teeth for another hotel.
@Ciarán O’ Donoghue: 4 grand a week, €570 a night…. per room. Whichnof your arses did you pull that figure out of?
@Ciarán O’ Donoghue: 100%. If a hotel has a stragety getting rack rates from the government it has to show 1st that they exist. The vast majority of hotels would love to go down this route hense medium hotels charging 350/400 per night when they were 140 average. They cant get staff so managing 50 rooms at 400 is better than 100 rooms at 140. And again no words from the IHF & Bord Failte. Very very quite.
What’s the Government’s fixation with the City West Hotel, first of all they block booked it as a Covid 19 Base, and now they are going to do the same for the Refugees. Who owns this place, and was these transactions done through Open Procurement, or could there be some Brown Envelopes involved.
@Owen G Mc Ginley: a quick Linkedin search shows the Chairman of Tetrarch who own the Citywest to be Paul Donnolly who is currently also a Senior Advisor to Digicel and was previously a non-exec board member of Digicel… never too far from Denis O’Brien in this country.
@Owen G Mc Ginley: It’s the largest hotel in Ireland, nearly 800 rooms, 2 convention centres and a leisure centre. That’s not including the golf hotel
@Owen G Mc Ginley: not whitstanding the other points made above its also extremely accessible from a transport point of view being only minutes from the M50/N7. No matter what the Govt do you can be guaranteed someone is making a tidy wedge from it.
@Owen G Mc Ginley: , down to all the political contacts made by Jim Mansfield over the years, starting with Liam Lawor, there still there
Current Government remind me of the FF/Green Government towards the end of 2020, a total shambles. Minsters have no control of their departments and the recent fiasco in Dublin Airport, to name one of many, proves this point. A General Election is badly needed as soon as possible.
While family carers are means tested for carers allowance and have to fight for medical cards.
@Úna O Connor Barrett: Yawn
And yet 10 000 irish residents are homeless. I completely agree with helping Ukraine, but look after people who reside in the country first. You cant bring in people into the country in order to inflate this figure next year. 10 000 homeless people, 10 000!!!
Money is the currency of power for this government. They love to have large scale expenditures that they use to curry favour for individual party members or for the party themselves. No money going out equals no votes, favours and LBE’s coming back in. They also don’t care, as can be plainly seen here for years and years, on whether they get value for that money spent, that is besides the point. Or to put it simply, CORRUPTION – alive and well for 50+ years and we just watch it slowly destroy the place.
While family carers are means tested for carers allowance and have to fight for medical cards
@Úna O Connor Barrett: One more time.. that will be 5.
Which government minister, TD or senior civil servant owns, part owns or has a financial interest in the Citywest…..in other words who’s pockets are they lining now
They think the war will Last Two years …???? As soon as things are right in Ukraine They should go back…and let the government sort out the homeless problem for a change
Move refugees out of Greater Dublin Area as use the rest of the country that has excess capacity.
Wow bought just before Covid for peanuts, two handy contracts from state that covers that cost more than once. Lucky deal or just lucky
So what happens if there is another scandemic and they need the hotel again for covid ?
@Ken Bramley: Dafuq is a scandemic? Braindead comment!
It’s a disgrace we need to deal with irelands own homeless I can wait till the next genral election fffg are f##ked
A good decision
Considering? This has been known the last 3 months, not Considering, done.
For god sake people of ireland stand up 10000 on the street family’s struggling children going hungry and the government look the other way I’m all for helping any one who needs help these people have been trough hell but many irish have been in hell for a long time bring on the election
Will they get free use of the golf course ?
Is the darts cancelled so?
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