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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.
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 fintech worker on €55k living in Dublin. This week, a clerical officer on €31K living in Dublin
I’m currently living in South Dublin with my parents. I was living in rural Japan for a few years teaching English, but I’ve been back in Ireland about two years now. I recently started my first permanent job in the civil service (I was in a temporary position for about nine months). I generally think I’m good with savings, but I don’t really keep track of what I’m spending or budget so I’d like to see whether I’m as good as I think I am. I also have recently had some big splurges (I travelled to Asia in June and recently bought a new laptop).
I’m hoping to move out of Dublin and buy a house in a few years so I’d like to see how much I could save and then work out what my savings may look then. My hobbies are crochet, sewing and reading. Luckily, my mom is also into sewing and knitting so we have lots of fabric, sewing supplies and yarn for crocheting. For reading, I mainly read things online or get books from the library, which helps keep my costs down.
Occupation: Clerical officer
Age: 32
Location: South Dublin
Salary: Roughly €31,000
Monthly pay (net): Roughly €2,000
Transport: €60
Rent: €100 (paid to parents – I have tried to increase that amount but they have refused)
Household bills: Included in above
Phone bill: €20
Health insurance: I currently don’t have any
Groceries: €100 (a bit of a guess as I mainly eat what’s in the fridge)
Subscriptions: I pay €8 for YouTube Music (I started the subscription when I still lived in Japan so I pay the Japanese price converted to Euro, otherwise it would be double the amount), €5.50 for Patreon, €2.60 for Dropout (I have an annual subscription and also pay the Japanese price, converted). I also have an annual subscription to Beacon ($59.99/€51.65, which works out at €4.30 per month)
Other: I started going to counselling again recently which is €80 per session, so that is about €320 a month
Union dues: I recently joined Fórsa so that is roughly €20 a month – the amount deducted is based on my income
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7.20 am: I wake up, look at my phone for a bit, have breakfast and then am out the door. It’s a short walk to the Luas and when I get off, there is a free shuttle bus that goes from the stop to my office. I’m usually in the office by 8.40am.
11.10 am: Break time. There is a coffee shop nearby but I mainly bring my own tea/coffee to work and keep it in my desk. I’ve been drinking a vanilla chai latte drink that my parents brought back from Germany (it’s in a sachet so you just add hot water to it). I like to read or listen to D&D (Dungeons & Dragons) podcasts on my break. Today however, there are two new people who have joined our team so I decide to be friendly and chat with them.
1.30 pm: Lunch. I have some soup that I bought from Lidl last week and some bread I swiped from the kitchen table. There is a vending machine in the canteen that I have got chocolate from a few times but I try not to as I know it will become a habit. I sit with one of the new people. She was on a different team but has moved to ours. I was first in this morning so she has been shadowing me all day. I have only been in the role six weeks and I’m still not sure of everything so I hope I haven’t told her too much misinformation! Regardless, she seems very friendly. After eating we go for a quick walk, mainly to check out a coffee shop nearby but also to just get out and about.
4.25 pm: I clock out and leave the office. I get a shuttle bus to the Luas, take the Luas and then walk home. I stop by the library on the way to drop off some books I’d finished reading. I use the library a lot. Otherwise I’d be spending a lot of money of books and graphic novels. I do still buy books occasionally, but only if I’m sure I’ll read it more than once. I get home around 5pm usually, which I appreciate.
6.30 pm: My parents are looking to get rid of some stuff but they insist we should try to sell things so I spend the some time setting up a Vinted account (my brother moved out last year and I am the only “child” at home, so it falls to me). I also play some games on my Nintendo Switch as a way to unwind. I’m fond of puzzle games and recently finished one called ‘Is This Seat Taken?’. I really enjoyed it. I considered buying a new game but then recalled all the games I have bought and not yet finished… So I play one of them instead.
9.30 pm: I have dinner with my dad (burgers with chips). I prefer to eat earlier but he doesn’t like to eat alone. Usually that means he waits for my mom but she helps care for my grandmother four days a week and sometimes isn’t home until after 11pm. He gets cranky when he hasn’t eaten so I eat with him. To clarify, he is the one who usually buys and cooks the dinner. I would like to buy my own food more often but he buys too much food and also gets annoyed when I say I don’t want dinner… The things you do to keep the peace.
10.05 pm: I remembered I owe some money for a pair of rugby tickets for the Ireland – Japan game in November. I pay for them online. (€150)
Today’s total: €150.00
7.20 am: Wake up, get ready, have breakfast and head out. I am slightly earlier leaving than usual so I swing by the shop to pick up some a soup and a ready-made meal for lunch later in the week (€6.44). I realise on the way down that I’ve forgotten my lanyard with my access card, but it’s too late to go back for it. Get the Luas and the shuttle bus and pick up a visitor badge from the reception.
11.10 am: Break. I have a chai latte sachet. I’ve been considering applying for an annual travel pass. I can apply through work but I will have to sacrifice €960 out of my salary (for the Dublin city Multi Modal one). However, due to tax stuff, it will only cost me just under €700 so it may be worth it… I’ll think about it for a bit before applying.
1.10 pm: Lunch. I did end up applying for one. I should be able to use it outside of work so it should be well worth the money… hopefully. I have a cold burrito bowl thing my dad bought along with some cold chicken thighs. I didn’t really want to take it but he insisted and if I don’t, no one else will. I don’t have a book/Kindle with me so I watch some YouTube.
3.00 pm: I get a call from my old line manager about a potential job opportunity. She has been very nice about sending me stuff and encouraging me to apply for things. I did enjoy my previous job even though it was only temporary (they said they would have kept me if they could). I let her know we should meet for coffee in the next few weeks, and I absolutely intend on following through. I’d love to chat and I also have stuff to give them.
4.45 pm: I meet my mom on the Luas and we head into the city for some dinner and a show. Calamity Jane is playing at the Bord Gáis and I got tickets for it almost two months ago. It was €99 for two tickets in the stalls near the back (including fees and a €5 concession for my mom). I used to follow the lead actress on social media and have always wanted to see her live. It’s only playing from tonight until Saturday and is apparently completely sold out. We get some food at Ka Shing on Wicklow Street. They do very good Dim Sum and have an extensive menu. It’s a very nice meal, although we are a bit stressed. My grandmother has been taken to hospital because she fell and hit her head. She has dementia and shingles, the poor thing. My uncle went with her and they are going to keep her overnight for assessment. My mom kindly pays for the bill (was around €45 for the two of us). I take home some leftover dumplings and pop into Boots on Grafton Street for some Imodium (€12.89). We get the bus from Fleet Street to the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre.
10.00 pm: My dad kindly picks us up from outside the Bord Gáis after the show. It was completely packed and really good. The whole cast was amazing and I loved the music. They even did a dance at curtain call. I got into musicals during the pandemic when I was living in Japan. This was annoying as a) it was a pandemic, and b) even if there were any musicals performing near me, they would be in Japanese (which I understand some of but not a lot). Since I came back to Ireland, I have made an effort to go to shows. I saw four in the Bord Gáis last year and this is the sixth musical/play I’ve seen this year (I’ve seen three in London, one in Belfast and two in Dublin). This is not including concerts and other gigs/live shows. Also, I am going on a long weekend to London in a few weeks to see a friend and we have tickets to one of the Proms in the Royal Albert Hall. I’ll probably see at least one other show while I’m there, I just need to decide what one.
I realise that live shows/events are an aspect where I may need to look at my budgeting…
Today’s total: €19.33
7.20 am: Wake up and get ready. I have a small piece of fruit for breakfast as my stomach is still a bit unsettled from the night before. I check my bag to make sure I have my key card and the Imodium. I top up my Luas card by €20 (I spend around €15 – €20 a week on travel at the moment).
11.15 am: Break. I have a peppermint tea. I love peppermint, used to drink it exclusively. I read some of my book. I’m currently halfway through Bookshops and Bonedust which is the prequel to Legends and Lattes, which I read a few weeks ago. I’ve been trying to read more traditionally published books and the library has been a great help with that. I like to read and I read a good bit, but most of it unpublished works you can find online (fan-fiction and comics/graphic novels). I also play Pokémon Friends which is a new app that has puzzles and plushies. It’s free to start but I ended up paying €10 for the basic package. There is DLC available, but I’m going to hold off on getting that as it’s very pricey. I also use Pokémon Sleep, which is like Pokémon Go, except it tracks sleep instead of walking.
1.20 pm: Lunch. I have a noodle thing I got in Lidl last week. It has yesterday’s date on it but I don’t want it to go to waste so I eat it. I read some more of the book. I get a text from my mom saying Grandma is in a ward in hospital and that she let my brother know. I hope she’s getting good care.
4.30 pm: I leave the office and head home. I stop by the library on the way to grab another book that has come in. Mom is just back from visiting my grandma. I reheat some of the dumplings I brought back yesterday and have a shower.
8.00 pm: I have some leftover chicken from yesterday with some sourdough toast for dinner. Mom and I watch this week’s episode of Sewing Bee. We really enjoy watching it.
Today’s total: €20.00
7.20 am: I wake up tired and am slow to get out of bed. There is a longer wait for the Luas than usual, so I’m a bit worried I won’t make the shuttle bus – but I just make it. I’m clocked in by 8.40am. The post has not come in yet so other than letters, there is not much to do. I use the time to organise my diary and book some tickets for London. I spend €70.19 (price converted to euro) on a ticket for My Neighbour Totoro. I then get to do some actual work.
11.00 am: Break. I have a latte, some dried mango and read more of the book. I’m more than halfway through it and really enjoying it. Plus it’s an easy read. I google it and apparently there’s a third book in the series coming out in November. I shall reserve it once it’s on the library system.
12.30 pm: Ice cream. The company that manages the building where my office is often has stuff on. Today it’s free ice cream, so the team head out and get some. I get strawberry and we chill for a bit. There is also some mini golf set up, but I do not play so I just watch others attempt it. I get lunch afterwards which is a salad my dad bought yesterday in Dunnes Stores, along with some sourdough bread (I love sourdough).
4.30 pm: Leave office and head home. I have counselling online at 5.15pm on Thursdays. I started seeing a therapist a few weeks ago (I had been seeing someone previously for a while in Japan). It’s €80 per session and the policy to pay for the next session at the time of booking, so I send the payment after my session is finished. I realise it is my biggest monthly expense at the moment but it is very important to me. There is a social club thing on at work in one of the local pubs but I don’t end up going to it. I was also considering joining my mother in visiting my grandma but she leaves while I’m in my session.
9.00 pm: Mom returns from the hospital. My brother also went to visit Grandma so he drops Mom home. I remind him he still hasn’t given me a birthday present or card (my birthday was seven weeks ago…). He maintains he has it in his apartment, though I’m not sure I believe him at this stage!
Today’s total: €150.19
7.20 am: I get up and get ready as usual. I have a dentist appointment at 8.30am so I leave around the same time as it’s only a 10-minute walk to the dentist. It’s just a check-up but I end up getting an x-ray and a cleaning so it’s more expensive (€136). The appointment is only 20 minutes, so I end up getting to the office only 30 minutes later than I normally do.
11.10 am: It’s one of my colleagues last day on our team, so we have a team breakfast at the local place. He sits next to me so I will miss him a bit, but he’s only going to a different floor so I’ll see him all the time. I get a chai latte with avocado toast (€13.84). The toast was cold so I’m not sure I’d get it again.
1.40 pm: I go for lunch a bit later because of the food I ate earlier. It’s a lot quieter in the building on Fridays which I enjoy. I eat the pasta thing I got in Lidl on Tuesday. I also progress further in the book. I may finish it over the weekend.
3.25 pm: Sometimes they let us go early on Fridays, which is very kind. I could never do that in my old position (due to the nature of the work). I have a nice walk to the Luas and head home. I stop by the post office to pick up one of those gift envelopes (€6). I want to put together some stuff for a friend in Taiwan who’s birthday was last week.
6.00 pm: Get a phone call from my dad, who is retired but works some Fridays on a self-employed basis. He seems in good form, but he won’t be home until late. Mom arrives home as I’m on the phone. She got the bus to and from the hospital.
8.00 pm: One of the places they are looking at for my grandmother requires a letter be written to the Mother Superior (it’s run by nuns). The letter was finally finished so I go with my mom to drop it off. We order and pick up a takeaway on the way back. It’s Leaving Cert results night, so there are many young people out and about. I pay for the takeaway (€23.49) and mom ends up giving me €20. We have dinner and watch some TV.
Today’s total: €159.33
9.20 am: Wake up and laze around, looking at my phone. I’d like to sleep some more but apparently the neighbours are having some work done. Would have been great if they’d given us a heads up…
12.00 pm: Have some croissants for brunch (Dad likes to get the frozen ones from Lidl and do them in the oven). There is also a bucket of oysters in the fridge that he brought back from work (he has a job at a venue that does events).
2.00 pm: I go with my mom to visit Grandma in hospital. We stop by her house on the way to pick up some stuff for her. The visiting hours are 2pm-4pm but we end up getting there just before 3pm. She seems much more lucid than when I saw her a week ago. More chatty and asking questions, which is a relief. It is good to see her. We leave after 4pm (the two hours of parking is €5 that Mom pays.)
5.00 pm: Get home. I have a sandwich and shuck some oysters. They are really nice, we’ll have some more later with some lemon juice. I laze around and read. Said I would shower but I can’t bring myself to get in it.
9.30 pm: Mom returns from visiting a friend so we have some toast and some more of the oysters. I’ve gotten decent at shucking them. I eventually do go for a shower, but I don’t wash my hair. Better than nothing. We watch another episode of the Great British Sewing Bee.
Today’s total: €0.00
9.15 am: I get up and get ready as I’m meeting some people from my art group (I did an art class last Autumn and we have a WhatsApp group where we go to art exhibitions). We’re meeting at the IMMA for 11.30am so I head out. The city is busy, there was an American College Football Game on yesterday so there are a lot of Americans about. I get a peach iced tea while I’m waiting for the others (€4.80).
12.00 pm: We head into the museum. It used to be a military hospital. I’ve actually never been here, but it looks impressive.
3.00 pm: After looking at some of the art, we head down to the museum cafe. I have a bowl of soup with bread (€9.70). It is very nice. Afterwards I head back home. Town is still busy but I manage to get a seat on the way back.
6.00 pm: I chill at home. Mom goes out to visit Grandma and I do some reading. I have some books that will be due next week. I have a feeling I won’t be able to renew some of them (as someone else would have a hold on them).
9.30 pm: Dinner. Dad cooks beef with potatoes but it isn’t ready until after 9pm, which is very late. I end up going to bed after 11pm (which I would prefer not to do, but I need to give myself time to digest dinner).
Today’s total: €14.50
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What I learned –
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