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 data analyst on €48.5K living in Limerick. This week, a follow-up from a senior marketing manager currently going through a divorce and living in Dublin. 

This is a follow-up on my original Money Diaries submission, which was published on 8 September 2024. So, did I meet my financial goals, and what is the state of my finances today?

I had hoped that the divorce would be finalised by now, but it’s been adjourned (again) until November. So it is still hanging over me, but it doesn’t affect how I live day-to-day. It’s just a waiting game now. So far, the divorce proceedings have cost me just over €6,000.

I’m still working for the same company, but I got a big promotion in May which has had a massive positive impact on my financial situation. I spoke to the bank and they agreed that I’m now in a position to take over the mortgage solo. That was a huge relief – it was something I was very anxious about a year ago.

I’m behind on my goal of the three-month emergency fund (currently 75% of the way there). The cost of groceries has gone up remarkably, which has slowed me down on my savings goal. On top of that, I still have DIY projects to fund in the fixer-upper house. And to be prepared for those big winter bills, I’ve already put aside four months’ worth of electricity money into a separate account. In addition, I anticipate having to spend more money on the divorce proceedings.

All things considered, I think I’m doing OK.

Occupation: Senior marketing manager

Age: 37

Location: Dublin

Salary: €85,000

Monthly pay (net): €4,700 (after PRSA contribution)

Monthly expenses

Transport: €50

Mortgage: €1,500

Income protection: €105

Household bills (electricity, wifi, home insurance, mortgage protection, bins, LPT, TV license, pet insurance – no gas or oil): €485

Phone bill: €15

Health insurance: Paid by employer

Groceries + going out: €500

Subscriptions: €30

Dogs (food, vet, medications): €250

Home loan: €295

Savings: €350

Birthdays, weddings, etc: €50

Winter electricity: €100 (set aside separately to the electricity bill payment)

Clothing, shoes, glasses: €100

Travel: €350 (please note that this includes paying for dog sitting)

***

Monday

9.30 am: It’s a Bank Holiday Monday so I have a sleep in. I’m training my young spaniel to sleep through the night downstairs in the living room (he used to have his bed in the bedroom), so it wasn’t the greatest nights’ sleep as he cried quite a bit. But since I don’t have to work, I don’t mind. I make some scrambled eggs and tea and take the morning slowly.

11.00 am: Household chores – vacuuming, mopping, all the usual stuff. I notice I’m running out of carpet cleaner (essential when you’ve got dogs!) so I make a note to order some.

1.00 pm: Lunch time! I make a caprese salad and a toasted ham sandwich (alas, no cheese in the toastie, to stick to the diet). Feeling pretty good because I’ve now lost an additional stone since the last Money Diaries, and am almost at my target weight.

1.30 pm: Take the dogs on a long walk, about 8km.

4.00 pm: I make a batch of hummus to snack on for the next few days. Can’t believe the price the supermarkets charge for those tiny tubs of it, it’s so easy to whip up at home. I also make my spicy low fat mayonnaise (it’s just Hellmann’s lighter than light mixed with Frank’s red hot sauce). A handy guilt-free dip to have to liven up a boring salad or sandwich.

4.30 pm: I’m going to Belfast at the weekend, so I double check my hotel reservation, train ticket, concert ticket, and walking tour reservation. Very much looking forward to a weekend away!

5.30 pm: Put my feet up and watch a movie (I end up watching the entire trilogy during the course of the evening!). The Dark Knight. I’d forgotten how good it was.

9.00 pm: I feed the dogs and make myself a “healthy” spice bag. Oven baked skinny chips, strips of poached chicken, grilled onions and peppers, Chinese Five Spice, salt and pepper. Delicious! Continue my movie marathon with this treat.

12.30 am: Finish the movies and head to bed. A bit late, but no regrets.

Today’s total: €0.00

Tuesday

8.30 am: Feeling completely refreshed after a solid night’s’ sleep. The dog didn’t wake me up this time, so the training is starting to work. I let the dogs out to the garden, feed them, set up my teapot and get to work (I still work from home 100%).

12.00 pm: I heat up some cauliflower chickpea curry, and drizzle some of the spicy mayo on top to liven it up. It’s a “healthy” curry, no cream in it or carbs with it. I also pop down to the local shop with my tin can recycling, and buy cherry tomatoes with the receipt. (€1.39)

1.00 pm – 5.30 pm: Work, preparing for the handover to my manager for when I’m out of office later this week and all of next week.

6.00 pm: Take the dogs on their walk, 6km today.

7.30 pm: It’s my mother’s birthday the weekend after next. I order a Brown Thomas gift card for her. (€50)

8.30 pm: I heat up some lentil dahl and make a tuna sandwich. I then catch up on my YouTube channels (a variety of cooking shows, history, documentaries and personal finance).

10.00 pm: I feed the dogs and hit the hay with a book.

Today’s total: €51.39

Wednesday

8.15 am: Get up, let the dogs out and feed them. Make a pot of tea and stick on the news. I switch over to music pretty quickly as it’s pretty grim out there. No sleep interruptions again, which is good news.

9.00 am: Last day of work before the holidays! My brain has semi-checked out already, but I push through and get everything organised for the team to keep on top of while I’m gone for ten days.

12.30 pm: Lunch time. I make a smash burger, and have carrots and hummus on the side. I throw on a round of laundry as well since I’ll need those clothes for the trip at the weekend.

1.30 pm: Back to the desk for the final few hours.

5.00 pm: Shut down the laptop, feeling delighted! I take the dogs on a long walk and listen to happy music. I haven’t had a full week off since Christmas and I can already feel the stress melt away.

7.00 pm: Head to the pub with my book and have two pints. (€15.60).

9.00 pm: I stop by the ATM on the way home to get the dog sitter money for the weekend (€130). Get home and let the dogs out to the garden while I make a salad and sandwich. I check that the laundry is fully dry and put it away.

9.30 pm: I put the bins out, feed the dogs, then put my feet up and catch up on the news.

11.00 pm: Bed time.

Today’s total: €145.60

Thursday

8.00 am: Lots to do today – a big DIY project that’s still underway. First things first is to drive the dogs to their sitter where they’ll stay for the next four nights. I feed them before dropping them off.

9.30 am: I paint coat #4 onto the new upstairs doors I had installed. This time last year, I didn’t have any upstairs doors! This is why my home loan monthly outgoing has gone up – I took out another loan after paying the last one off in order to get doors, architraves and a staircase and handrail installed. Getting rid of the old woodworm-ridden stairs was worth it. But a massive amount of work for me to do, as I’m sanding and varnishing them myself.

11.00 am: I sand the stairs and handrail (it’s the third staining and so only needs a light sanding this time round).

12.00 pm: I take everything I need from upstairs down to the living room and set up the sofa bed. Once I start varnishing, I can’t go upstairs until the next day. I vacuum and dust the stairs to ensure they’re as clean as possible before starting the next layer of varnish.

1.00 pm: I have a big portion of the chickpea and cauliflower curry, and a Coke Zero.

1.30 pm: Varnishing time.

4.00 pm: Next DIY task is to complete the filler around all the sockets and light switches downstairs. Should have done it weeks ago but I procrastinated. Once the filler is dry, I tidy up the paint around the sockets. It’s a small thing but makes everything look just a little bit nicer.

Related Reads

Money Diaries: Data analyst on €48.5K living in Limerick, but commuting two days to Dublin office

Money Diaries: A marketing manager on €70K living in Co Clare

Money Diaries: A former IT company director on €168K who is being made redundant

5.30 pm: Change out of my paint clothes and grab my phone. The weekend away is with my sister so we text each other with our plans, and she sorts out a restaurant for us for the Saturday night before the concert.

6.30 pm: I’m pretty tired after all the handyman work today, so I put on a movie.

8.30 pm: Even though I’d LOVE a lazy takeaway, since I’m away for the weekend, I make myself eat what’s in the fridge so nothing goes to waste. A portion of lentils, a ham sandwich, and a glass of orange juice.

9.30 pm: Settle into my sofa bed with a glass of wine, and eventually doze off.

Today’s total: €0.00

Friday

8.30 am: The sofa bed is fine but I wouldn’t want to sleep on it more than two nights in a row! I pack it up and put everything back where it belongs. Pleased with how my stairs varnish has turned out. Never, ever doing that again. Make a pot of tea and start to pack for Belfast.

10.30 am: The suitcase is packed. I then have a wild notion of rearranging all of my living room furniture.

12.30 pm: A smash burger with a side of lentils. Weird combo, but that’s what’s left. Living solo means you end up with these meals sometimes!

1.30 pm: I get a notification from the bank that the hotel has charged my card for the stay. €365 for two nights. An eye-watering amount, but that’s August prices for you. I don’t usually travel during the summer months since it’s much cheaper outside of June/July/August, but it’s for a concert I really wanted to go to, so I just saved up for it.

2.00 pm: Pop down to the pharmacy for my monthly prescriptions. (€14.80)

2.30 pm: Cut my elderly neighbour’s grass, front and back.

4.00 pm: Weed my own backyard. I run out of strimmer spools so I order replacements on Amazon. (€13.26)

6.00 pm: After a long shower, and given that I’m in vacation mode, I grab my book and head to the pub for a couple of cold ones to unwind. (€15.50)

9.00 pm: Get home, have some tea, and watch YouTube until I doze off.

Today’s total: €408.56

Saturday

9.00 am: Get up, tea and shower. Excited for the concert tonight! I double-check my suitcase and tickets.

11.00 am: Head to Connolly Station to get the train to Belfast.

3.30 pm: Check into the hotel and am happy I treated myself to the more expensive one. It’s a really cool place with a great vibe.

5.00 pm: Meet my sister and go for dinner. (€40)

7.00 pm: Get to the venue – it’s a perfect summer’s evening for an outdoor gig! I buy an outrageously expensive t-shirt for £35/€40.55. Get a round of drinks and bottles of water for us. (£28/€32.40)

11.00 pm: After a brilliant gig, we go for a nightcap at a nearby pub. (£16/€18.50).

12.30 am: Back to the hotel and buy a XL bag of Taytos. (€3)

Today’s total: €134.45

Sunday

10.00 am: Wake up with a slightly sore head and throat. Head to Gregg’s for a cheap breakfast of ham and cheese toastie, chocolate cookie, water and Coke Zero. (£8/€9.27)

11.00 am: I join the walking tour. It’s a free tour, but you directly tip the guide at the end. The guide is super so I give her £10/€11.58.

3.00 pm: Because I’m old, and after last night’s capers, I have a nap at the hotel.

5.00 pm: Go to the iconic Crown Saloon Bar and marvel at the gorgeous original glasswork. Unfortunately there isn’t a seat to be had, so I take my book to a nearby pub and have a couple of jars. (£13.60/€15.80)

7.30 pm: I go to a restaurant for bruschetta and pizza. It hits the spot, pretty delicious. (£19.50/€22.60)

9.00 pm: Back at the hotel. I have one more pint in the bar before heading to bed. (£7.20/€8.34)

Today’s total: €67.59

Weekly subtotal: €807.59

***

What I learned –

• Staycations are so expensive!!! If it wasn’t for that concert, I’d have gotten more bang for my buck by travelling abroad.
• Doing DIY is hard, and risky, but saves thousands. If you have the wherewithal to do some of the work, give it a try. But don’t mess with anything like electricity or plumbing, of course – leave that to the professionals.
• My habits around not wasting food have become really good, but given the increased cost of groceries, I’m not feeling like I’ve really “saved” additional money with these habits – just breaking even at best.
• I feel much more financially secure today than this time last year. Putting my head down, working hard, and getting the promotion was a great step for me. I was scared that I was going to be denied taking over the mortgage due to having insufficient income. Now, I’m in a stronger financial position and the relief is indescribable.
• Contested divorces are so, so expensive – and slow. If there’s any way at all that family mediation is an option for you, make the effort to stick with it.
• Weaning myself off using the credit card for paying for holidays was a good thing. Yes, I still use it for items but previously, I’d used it to pay for an entire holiday and then spend months paying it off, with interest. Saving up and paying on the spot is much better.