Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
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 part-time writer in Co Cork. This week, a 28-year-old advertising account manager who recently made the move to Australia.
This a follow-up on my original Money Diaries submission which was published in February 2025. I previously wrote about my plans to move to Australia and saving for that journey. So how has it all gone?
I’m now 28 years old, and I’m living in Perth after moving from Dublin in September. I have been here for just over four months now and am loving it. Moving abroad can seem daunting with an endless list of things to sort out, but once you’re there, that’s when the fun begins.
Perth is a lovely sprawling city, with incredible beaches, friendly people and a lifestyle that most dream of. It has its drawbacks in terms of remoteness and a less vibrant city life than other major cities, but this is a worthwhile sacrifice. We plan to stay here for our first year.
Living in Perth allows my girlfriend and me to live together in a beautiful three-bed ground-floor furnished apartment in a small complex of units. We are a 15-minute walk from the beach in Cottesloe, five minutes away from our local supermarket, restaurants and pub, along with being two minutes away from the train station.
We were fortunate to secure the place before arriving – we’re not sure why we were chosen, but we suspect previous Irish tenants may have helped our case. Our salaries go further out here, as there’s no way that this perfect housing mix could be afforded in Dublin by a part-time barista and someone in a standard marketing role. We do not live very frugally and get to enjoy life to the fullest for our time here.
Living in Australia is genuinely great, and for anyone on the fence thinking of it, I urge them to go – even if it’s just for the year. I am lucky that I have a few friends out here, but the people in general are very friendly and welcoming. There’s a great Irish diaspora in Perth without you running into an Irish person on every street corner.
There’s also a reasonable sense of safety in public places and noted lack of rowdiness amongst youths as opposed to in Ireland. The distance from family and friends back home can be tough, especially as it’s my first long stint living abroad, but I keep up contact regularly – with FaceTime and WhatsApp always coming in handy.
In Perth particularly, it’s necessary to buy a car and thus enter into the wild west of the second-hand car market. There is no NCT and the only necessary payment on the car is your vehicle registration, which covers third-party insurance, and your car’s licence, which is usually $50 (€29) per month. This means cars are bought and sold in all sorts of conditions and you can get unlucky at times with vehicles breaking down, etc. We bought our car from a registered second-hand dealer but issues such as a broken air conditioning unit still came up a few weeks after.
I am working on a maternity leave contract here in Australia. On my working holiday visa, you can usually stay with an employer for up to one year before you have to do regional work for your visa to be renewed. Being on a maternity leave contract has quite a transient feel to it and the roles in my industry are slightly different out here. As a result, I don’t think this role will greatly help or hinder my prospects upon returning to Ireland, but it is great to get a different perspective on how the work is done.
That being said, there is plenty of Aussie slang that takes some getting used to, such as ‘servo’, ‘stubbies’ and ‘thongs’ amongst others. I work five days per week in the office out here. Remote work is not really a thing, as Covid never hit Australia very hard, and my hybrid working in Ireland is definitely something I took for granted.
I get paid monthly here, which is a rarity, as most jobs are paid bi-weekly, as is our rent. Superannuation is Australia’s version of the pension and is paid at 12% of your earnings by your employer, separately from your salary, into a specified fund. It’s a great tool for Australians, but the killer blow for the non-Australians is that there is a 65% penalty when you withdraw from it upon leaving the country.
My girlfriend and I split our rent 60/40, along with some larger bills and expenses. The day-to-day expenses, including smaller household bills, are split 50/50. We find this system works best for us, and especially as I am earning more, I find it’s only fair to make it equitable and help out where I can. Our monthly savings are less here than in Ireland, as we had saved hard for the year in the lead up to our time abroad and wanted to enjoy ourselves out here.
Occupation: Advertising account manager
Age: 28
Location: Perth
Annual Salary: $80,000 (€45,960) + $9,600 (€5,515) superannuation
Monthly pay (net): $5666 (€3,251)
Transport: $100 (€58) on SmartRider
Rent (my share): $1850 (€1,062)
Wifi (my share): $31 (€18)
Gas (my share): $20 (€11.50)
Elec (my share): $40 (€23)
Phone bill: $30 (€17)
Health insurance: Travel insurance taken out before travel
Groceries: $400 (€231)
Spotify: €11.99
Express VPN: $5.50 (€3)
Netflix: €10.99
Apple TV: $16 (€9.20)
Car rego: $41 (€24)
Gym: $50 (€29)
Emergency/rainy day pocket on Revolut: €100
Savings: At the moment, I am trying to put away between $1,200 (€690) per month into savings, but this varies significantly.
***
6.00 am: The morning starts bright and early as I’m heading to the gym before work. My gym is a 20-minute walk away and located in a local life saving club right on the beach which makes the journey there very pleasant. Perth doesn’t have as extreme of a morning culture as Sydney for example, but the paths are still moderately busy with those on their morning routine.
7.40 am: Back from the gym, I shower and get ready for work. The five days per week in the office takes some getting used to and given that I am still working 9-5 this week (will move to 8-4 from next week onwards), I try to make use of the morning when the motivation is there.
8.15 am: I hop on the train and begin my journey into work. My commute for work is very reasonable as we live two mins from the train station and the journey usually takes about 30 minutes, plus a ten-minute walk on the other end. I tag on my SmartRider card (their version of Leap card) and $2.80 (€1.60) is deducted . Public transport prices in Western Australia decreased by around 33% in January which was very helpful and saved me roughly $17 (€10) per week. I usually read my Kindle on the train as its a nicer start to the morning and I’m currently reading The Maidens by Alex Michaelides.
9.00 am: I arrive at work and the day begins. I have a few meetings planned so the day should run by quite quickly.
12.30 pm: A few of my colleagues head on our daily lunch time walk. Usually someone needs to buy lunch and the weather is usually nice, so we all go out for a walk for our half-hour lunch break.
5.00 pm: I log off work for the day and jump on my train home. I usually get home by about 5.40pm which is nice to still have some time in the evening to utilise.
6.30 pm: While my girlfriend is in Bali this week with friends, I meet a few of my friends down in Cottesloe and we go for a sunset swim. The water is choppy enough but it’s still 25 degrees outside so there’s no complaints from us.
7.20 pm: I get back from the swim and make a simple chicken and rice dish. I also make my lunch for tomorrow which is usually a sandwich and a protein bar. I then sit down to watch a few episodes of Stick on Apple TV. It’s distinctly average but I’m in the limbo of trying to find a new show and this is tonight’s choice.
11.30 pm: I call it a night and head to sleep.
Today’s total: $0.00 (€0.00)
7.45 am: I start my day slightly later as I have football this evening, and I’m not quite ready for two workouts a day. Wake up, shower and out the door to catch my train to work.
8.15 am: I hop on the train and begin my journey to work. Back to my Kindle and the voyage passes by peacefully.
9.00 am: I arrive at work and the day begins. Fewer meetings today, but work still to be done, so I’m kept busy. My tax back from Revenue has landed in my account, which is a handy €2,600. This is due to paying tax in Ireland for the eight months that I was there in 2025. The service is easy to understand and a necessary tool to recoup forgotten money.
12.00 pm: We head on our lunchtime walk. It’s warmer today at 29 degrees, and it’s only going to pick up during the week. No sea breeze when working in the city, so you certainly feel the heat. I pick up a pack of Sourpatch Kids sweets for $3.50 (€2) as I want a quick carb hit to eat later before football.
5.00 pm: I finish my work and head out. My football is actually only across the road from my work so I hang around the area after work and decide to call family as the times line up today. It usually takes a bit of planning with the 8 hour time difference but we make it work.
6.30 pm: Football begins and the temperature has eased off a bit. Myself and one of my Irish friends play each week at this time in a social 6-a side match. It’s good fun and the standard is usually competitive whilst still being fun. I transfer $12 (€7) to the organiser after our hour long game finishes.
8.00 pm: I grab a lift home from my friend after football. I make a tuna-rice sushi bowl for dinner along with making my lunch for work tomorrow and then flick on Netflix for a bit and watch Tom Segura’s new special. It’s pretty good and passes the evening.
11.30 pm: Lights out and fast asleep.
Today’s total: $15.50 (€9.00)
7.10 am: I’m up early and the routine stays the same. Teeth, shower, changed and out the door onto the train with my Kindle in tow. I’m working slightly earlier today as I have to pick up a package from the post office after work. It closes at 5.30 pm, so I should make it just before.
8.30 am: Seems like a quieter day in the office today, so I plan my various tasks to keep myself occupied, which may be a stretch on my third day in a row in the office when work is quiet.
12.00 pm: The lunchtime walks continue at a pace with fewer walkers today as it’s 32 degrees. There is a certain monotony and rigidity to my work day-to-day, but that’s just life. The busyness of work varies significantly, which can affect the routine. AI has flown into my workplace recently, and while it has its uses, I still try to refrain from overusing it on a day-to-day basis, as it’s still prone to making costly errors.
4.30 pm: I log off work and head for the train home. Finishing work slightly earlier is always nice, and I’m looking forward to working 8-4 from next week onwards.
5.15 pm: I just miss the post office as their closing time is listed wrongly on their website. Typical. Whilst there, I head into the nearby supermarket as I need to get a few bits for lunch for the rest of the week, along with other miscellaneous items. I spend $27.95 (€16).
6.00 pm: I cook dinner of home-made pizza and notice the sunset will be particularly nice tonight. I decide to head to the beach for a swim as it’s still warm and try to catch it. The beach is predictably thronged with those with a similar idea for tonight, but the water is lovely and clear. The walk to the beach takes me past some incredible houses. Planning permission seems to work slightly differently over here. Each house is designed uniquely, and neighbouring homes can have valuations that vary by millions of dollars, which always makes for an intriguing walk.
7.45 pm: The sunset is picturesque, when isn’t it, and I head home to wind down for the evening.
8.00 pm: Back home. I watch an episode or two of Stick. It’s an easy watch, and I was slightly harsh on it initially. After some scrolling on the phone, I’m asleep by 11 pm.
Today’s total: $27.95 (€16)
6.00 am: The alarm goes off, and I’m up, slightly bleary-eyed, as I head to the gym before work. The walk there is lovely as the sun has just risen. It’s busier on the paths this morning as the warm weather has brought out cyclists, runners and walkers alike. I get in a good workout as my gym is quieter this morning and leave feeling energised.
8.15 am: I hop on the train and begin my journey to work. The reading on the Kindle continues, and my SmartRider card auto tops by $20 (€11.50). It typically costs me $25 (€14) to commute in and out of work five days a week. It’s a serious driving culture here, and despite the fact that some of my colleagues live along the train line, I’m the only one who takes public transport for work.
9.00 am: Laptop is opened, and the work grind continues. It’s a slightly relaxed morning as we have breakfast for the maternity leave colleague that I am taking over from. Today is also payday, and $5,666 (€3,251) lands into my account. I transfer $1250 (€717) into savings. I leave the rest in my current account as my girlfriend and I are going to Melbourne next week for the Australian Open, and we want to enjoy ourselves.
12.30 pm: Today’s lunch walk is a solo one as it’s 37 degrees out, which puts my colleagues off, but I forgot to bring lunch. Returning to the office slightly more sun-kissed than when I left, I am back with eight pieces of tuna sushi from a lovely spot down the road. The sushi cost $9 (€5).
5.00 pm: The laptop is closed, and I head for my train home. One more day to go.
6.00 pm: I meet one of my friends for a swim down at the nearby beach. As you can see, this is a bit of a staple of the Australian weekday evening. We have a good catch-up and a very enjoyable swim.
7.15 pm: Back home, and I cook my dinner of steak, potatoes and veg. I stick on the PlayStation for the evening and unwind. Technology is significantly cheaper here, I believe, due to a lower GST compared to a higher VAT rate back home. Anyway, as a result, my PS5 was half the price that it is in Ireland during the recent Black Friday sale.
11.00 pm: The evening passes by quietly enough, and after a brief walk and putting the washing out, I head to sleep.
Today’s total: $29 (€16.50)
9.15 am: It’s been one of those mornings. The power randomly went out during the night, in turn killing the air conditioning and making it a very warm sleep. The train is then delayed by 35 minutes, which I realise when I arrive at the train station. Maybe my colleagues were right about driving being better. I arrive at work apologetic and 15 minutes late.
12.30 pm: Myself and my colleagues head out on our walk. The Friday feeling has certainly made its way into the office with everyone in high spirits.
5.00 pm: The afternoon is comically quiet, so I spend my time catching up on various training courses and certifications. The laptop is finally shut, the weekend is here, and I head for my train home.
5.40 pm: I jump off the train and stop off at my local chemist to grab antihistamines as the midges have been out the last few nights. The tablets come to $11 (€6.35). I head down to the beach to get a mini workout in. I try to get two or three lengths in the sea. The nearby beach that we usually swim in has a shark net in it, as we have to be careful of the finned creatures over here. The shark net is attached to the end of the groyne and covers roughly 140 metres in length from the shore and 170 metres in width. It sits in the water for six months and provides a good barometer for swimming as I try to get my metres in when the tides allow.
7.20 pm: Home from my swim, and I heat up leftovers from the night before. I grab a ginger ale on the way home that was on discount $1.65 (€1).
8.00 pm: I watch the movie The Gentlemen on Netflix. It’s a comfort watch and always delivers.
11.00 pm: I call it a night and head to sleep.
Today’s total: $12.65 (€7.35)
9.00 am: I’m up early as I’m getting my haircut this morning, just around the corner from the apartment. The total comes to $65 (€37.50). I grab a Pastel de Nata from the nearby bakery on the way home for $4 (€2.30).
11.00 am: I head to the gym for a quick workout and run there as I’m slowly easing back into the running. This is my first foray back into running for months, as I am slowly getting back into the swing of things.
1.15 pm: I come for a spot of lunch and arrange to meet some friends down at the beach for a swim and tan.
2.30 pm: We arrive at the local beach. It’s predictably nice and sunny. We spend a few hours chatting whilst soaking in the sun’s rays. No one is that keen to go drinking tonight, which works for me as I have Melbourne next weekend. We spend a few hours on the beach before going our separate ways.
6.00 pm: I arrive home, cook dinner for myself and settle in for an evening of watching the sport. With the eight-hour time difference, it proves very tricky to follow the rugby and football whilst over here. It is definitely something I took for granted when home, so I am thankful that it finally lines up nicely tonight.
11.30 pm: Predictably, my beloved Liverpool Football Club draw an easy game, and it’s time for bed to try and erase the match from my memory.
Today’s total: $69 (€39.80)
9.00 am: Up and awake as I have a few bits to do this morning. I drop off the recyclable containers at the local depot near the supermarket (yes, we still do that over here). The only positive is that there are depots to drop off refuse bags of multiple cans rather than the single can machines. I also fill the car with petrol on my drive home as we are running low. Our car is 2.4l and it costs $82 (€47) to fill the tank from empty to full.
11.30 am: I head to our local Cole’s supermarket to do the weekly shop (Cole’s would be the equivalent of Tesco back home). Annoyingly, supermarkets only open from 11 am to 5 pm on Sunday, so you’re limited in your time to visit them. The shop comes to $140 (€80). This should cover the two of us for the five days we are here before we head to Melbourne.
1.30 pm: After lunch, I head to the gym, then on to the beach. It’s UV 12, so sun cream and re-application are a must. It is very nice to be able to go to the beach solo and to leave your stuff on the nearby grass or sand and not have to worry about it being stolen or anything. The beach is busy, but it’s not a rowdy crowd in this area, and we have yet to see any trouble in the four months we have been here.
2.00 pm: I bump into a few friends on the beach, so we have a nice swim with them. I read my Kindle on the beach before heading home.
5.30 pm: I video call my mum, and we catch up on all the goings on at home and in London, where my sister is.
7.30 pm: My girlfriend arrives home from Bali. She and her friends are going out for dinner tonight locally. I give them a lift there and grab a Sunday settler pint with them as the sun is setting. I opt for a Matso’s ginger beer with ice and lime, which is my favourite. There’s a great selection in Australia, with most pubs/restaurants having three or four ginger beers on draft. I pay for the round of drinks as they have been spending enough money in Bali for the past week. The total comes to $89 (€59) for ginger beer, four glasses of wine and an Aperol, which, laughably, is more expensive than my tank of petrol this morning. This is in part due to the Sunday surcharge applied by bars and restaurants of roughly 5%-10%.
9.00 pm: After catching up with one of the boyfriends, I head home and heat up my late dinner of sausage pasta. I make my lunch for the next day and head to bed.
11.00 pm: Lights out.
Today’s total: $311 (€186)
***
What I learned –
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say