WELCOME TO HOW I Spend My Money, a series on The Journal that looks at how people in Ireland really handle their finances.
Are you a spender, a saver or a splurger? 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. 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 software engineer on €100K living in Dublin. This week, a digital journalist on €35K living and working in South Dublin.
I’m a recently graduated digital journalist/sub-editor in my early 20s, working in the private sector and living in South Dublin. I earn €35,000 a year, but I’m also extremely lucky to have help from my parents, who live abroad. I don’t travel for work, and spend my week either working from home or in the office.
Occupation: Digital journalist/subeditor
Age: 20s
Location: South Dublin
Salary: €35,000
Monthly take-home: €2,495
Monthly expenses
Rent: €1,100
Petrol: €200 per month approx
Food: €100 per month approx
Phone: €0 (still on family plan)
Household bills: €100 per month approx
Car: €158 per month (paying back credit union loan on a second-hand car)
Pension: €100 per month
Savings: €100 per month into credit union
***
Monday
6.45am: I’m working from home today. I’ve been back and forth to the hospital and doctors for the last two weeks for a number of things. I’ve been down the country at my parents’ place since the weekend – they live abroad, but they’re home for a couple of weeks. I log on and get started. Hoping for a quiet Monday!
10.00am: Mum and Dad pop out for some shopping. They pick up some bits for me too, meaning I won’t need to do a full shop this week. Result! Work is busy. I skip breakfast and have a banana and some water. I’m in pain, so it’s hard to concentrate at work.
12.00pm: I take my lunch break. I have a shower and hop into the car. Drive to the local town for some painkillers (€30). I head back home and log back on for 12.45pm. I have a good bit to do, so maybe easier not to take the full hour!
3.40pm: I finish up for the day. Pop back into town with Mum to run errands and get the car washed while I’m there (€10). I grab a few bits in Super Valu to add to what I already have for the week (€15). I head back to Dublin – stop to put €30 into the tank, and continue onwards.
7.00pm: Back in Dublin. Put my washing away and chill for the evening. I live with my brother, but he’s away for the night. House to myself… bliss!
Today’s total: €85.00
Tuesday
6.00am: I’m up. Still in pain, but I have an appointment tomorrow, so push on. Shower, shave and out the door in 35 minutes. I drive to the office (usually I get the Dart), but I’m heading back to Mum and Dad’s tonight.
10.00am: Another busy day! One meeting and a list as long as my arm. I skip a hot beverage and grab a banana and some water. I get back to work.
12.00pm: Off to lunch. Coworker is going to the shop, so I ask them to bring me back mine. I Revolut them €5. I have my lunch at my desk while sorting a couple of things out.
3.00pm: Finish work on time! I’m starving, so I head and grab a burrito and some water (€12.50). I chill out for a bit and then head back into the office. Few drinks tonight, but I’m driving, so I stick to Coke Zero.
5.00pm: Meet my coworkers. Have a few fizzy drinks and catch up after the weekend. It’s good to finally sit outside after months of freezing weather. (€15)
8.00pm: Time to go. Drop one of my coworkers back home and hit the road. Stop to grab a snack on the way back down the motorway (€6). I get home around 10.15pm and collapse into bed. I’m exhausted!
Today’s total: €38.50
Wednesday
6.50am: I’m up a bit later this morning. Grab my laptop and get moving. I usually spend at least five days in Dublin, but I’m back in my mum and dad’s for a couple of days. It’s nice to spend time with them.
9.00am: Dad’s been to the deli, so breakfast is on him. Grab some wedges while I’m working and head back to work. They pop out again, so it’s house to myself.
12.15pm: Break time. I have some pasta for lunch and have a quick shower. Chill on the couch for a bit and catch up with Mum.
3.20pm: Finish up work and head for the GP. I’m petrified of everything medical, so it’s a nerve-wracking 15-minute wait for the nurse. I pay €20 for the appointment and am out by 5.15pm. Head to the shops with Mum and buy us a sweet treat. (€8)
7.00pm: Head to Aldi for a couple of things. Pick up a few bits for dinner (€10) and then pop in and buy myself a Lotto ticket (€6) before heading home to relax for the evening.
10.00pm: Log back on for 40 minutes to get ahead. Quick tidy of my room and it’s into bed for me!
Today’s total: €44.00
Thursday
6.30am: Woken up by someone revving their car outside. Great. Head down for a drink and get sorted for the day. Working from home this week has been a real treat.
11.00am: I take a lunch break, grab a shower and head into the town to treat myself to lunch (€10). I head home and get logged back on. On the home stretch now!
2.00pm: Mum and Dad are home! Both are exhausted and fall asleep on the sofa. I pop the headphones in and get back to work!
4.00pm: I finish up. A couple of things in the fridge need to be used, so I have a ‘little bit of everything’ dinner. The heavens open while we’re eating… I think we’re in for the evening.
8.00pm: Rain finally stops. Go for a short stroll and get back just before it rains again. Where is the summer?!
10.00pm: Into bed. Can’t keep my eyes open.
Today’s total: €10.00
Friday
6.50am: Friday, thankfully! Busy day today. Get straight to work and hit my to-do list head on so that I can get away as early as possible. No breakfast again, but I do drink about two litres of water in the first hour.
9.00am: Quick chat with my boss about a couple of things. Phone consultation with the GP to confirm what I thought Wednesday’s appointment might reveal. Still in pain, but relieved to know what’s causing it.
1.00pm: Take my break late. Have a bowl of cereal and chat to my mum, who’s just home from town. Back to work at 1.45pm… sacrificing 15 minutes as it’s nearly the weekend!
3.00pm: I have one thing left on my list, but the boss says to head on… it can wait until Monday. I get into the car and drive 40 minutes to pick up my dad.
4.40pm: Petrol light comes on. I’ve recently changed my car. Got rid of my PCP agreement on a 2022 car, meaning it’s €480 extra in my pocket each month. Buy a pre-loved German car, a luxury car if you will. Only €158 per month (that comes out today) but by God, does it drink petrol! Dad kindly fills the car up for me (€97) and refuses to take any money.
8.00pm: To repay the favour, I treat everyone to ice creams (€15). I drop them off at home and pop out to meet a friend. We go for milkshakes… good thing I didn’t have an ice cream! (€5). We sit and chat for hours, and then it’s time to head home to bed.
Today’s total: €178.00 (could have been a lot more)
Saturday
9.00am: I had a lie-in this morning. Get up, shower and head into the town. It’s nice to be away from the city for a few days. I’m taking it easy today… last weekend involved a lot of drinking!
10.00am: I win €10 on my Lotto ticket and take the cash – that’ll be used later to wash the car! I pop down to the garage, grab some breakfast (€10) and then keep the petrol topped up (€20). I treat my brother to some bits in the shop too. He’s so lucky to have me! (€9)
12.00pm: I go for a stroll; the painkillers are helping big time, so it’s nice to get some fresh air. I stop in a shop and buy a candle for my room (€11).
3.00pm: I drop some gifts off at a friend’s house. We chat for about an hour and make plans for the bank holiday weekend next month. On the way back home, I grab a salad (€6).
8.00pm: After chilling for the evening, we decide to get a takeaway. Mum and Dad are heading back out of the country tomorrow, so they insist on paying. Afterwards, I wash the car (€6) at the self-service car wash and head home.
10.00pm: Early night for me!
Today’s total: €62.00
Sunday
7.15am: Early start as I have to do an airport run. 50 minutes in the car, but it’s a glorious morning.
9.00am: Meet a close friend for a much-needed catch-up. We put the world right in Costa for about two hours. It was so lovely to see her… it’s been weeks! We agree to split the bill, so it’s only €7.50 for me.
11.30am: Off to IKEA to get myself a new bed and mattress. I’m in the area so I thought it easier to sort this today. I pick out which ones suit my room in Dublin and settle up. €475… it’s nearly payday, I tell myself.
1.00pm: I stop at The Range on the way home and pick up a few bits for the house (€58) then get moving again.
4.00pm: After being in the countryside all weekend, I have no food in, so it’s off to Aldi with me. Spend €30 on food for the week – although I have some plans after work next week, so this food might do me for ten days.
6.30pm: I settle down for the evening, but remember there’s ironing to do. I sort that out, put my washing away and clean the kitchen for the new week ahead.
10.00pm: An early night for me after an early start. Another week over!
Today’s total: €570.50
Weekly subtotal: €988.00
***
What I learned –
- I’m so lucky that my parents jump in sometimes to pay for things! They know that renting in the capital can be hard and are happy to help when they can.
- I spend a lot on petrol – I probably should’ve checked out how economical the car was before buying it, but it’s considerably less a month than my PCP.
- The odd €10 here or €15 there really does add up… and you don’t usually notice until it’s too late.
- I should put more into my savings. It would be great to be disciplined to put whatever is left in my account the night before payday into the credit union.