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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 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 an executive assistant adjusting to being back at work after a serious illness. This week, a marketing freelancer in Co Wicklow who is also studying.
I live with my partner in a village in Co Wicklow. My dad has been staying with us for the last few months while he’s been sick. I’ve been using his car as he’s in hospital at the moment.
I’ve worked in marketing for the last six years. I ended up working full-time through college since classes were not intensive, and that allowed me to just barely make enough to purchase a vacant house last year. The mortgage is very cheap, but there have been quite a few issues that have popped up since moving in.
In my free time, I usually paint, forage for mushrooms and go on runs, but those hobbies have been put on the back burner so I can concentrate on classes.
Normally, my partner and I split the expenses, but since starting college, he usually handles all the bills, and I put most of what I make into our savings. We are currently saving for our own car and a trip to Japan. We have the tickets for Japan bought and half the accommodation sorted, and I have about a third of the car price saved. There’s a bus to the train and my partner only has to be in Dublin half the week, so if the worst comes to the worst, we’d manage without a car for a couple of months.
I usually put away half of whatever I make in the month, which can be between €500 to €1,500. I also do the odd cleaning/gardening for a few neighbours, so I put that cash away too.
Occupation: Student/marketing freelancer
Age: 25
Location: South Co Wicklow
Salary: About €20,000 – €26,000
Monthly pay (net): Varies month to month depending on projects, between €900-€2,100
Transport: €45
Diesel: €40 (A tank will last me two weeks unless we go somewhere for an activity at the weekend)
Rent: N/a
Household bills: Mortgage – €640, mortgage protection – €11, electricity – €250, home insurance – €300 (I pay it as a yearly lump sum)
Wifi: €60
Phone bill: €25
Health insurance: I got rid of it this year since it was costing too much for what I was getting, but will probably start again in a couple of years
Groceries: €100
Pension: €25
Dog/cat food: €120
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8.30 am: I get up, feed the pets and let the dogs out to pee.
8.50 am: I go back to sleep since it’s a bank holiday and there’s no class.
10.00 am: I get up again and have a late breakfast while doing a crossword with my partner.
11.30 am: We take the dogs out on a walk and I pop into the shop for some milk. (€3)
1.00 pm: I have a call with a client then get some work done.
3.00 pm: Have a snack and switch to do some school work.
5.00 pm: I take a break from working to work on a painting.
7.00 pm: We sit down to have dinner then watch some TV.
9.30 pm: I get ready for bed.
Today’s total: €3.00
7.45 am: I get up and feed the dogs and cat, then let the dogs out to do their business. While they’re outside, I get myself dressed. I let the pets in then eat some yoghurt for breakfast and make myself a coffee to go.
8.20 am: Drive to the train station.
8.40 am: I park (€3.50) and get on the train. I bought a ticket the night before so I could reserve a seat (€4.40). If I get the earlier train, there aren’t any seat reservations so I’d pay with my Leap card, and it’s slightly cheaper.
8.50 am: I get on the train and work on an assignment for class during the one hour and 25-minute train ride.
10.15 am: The train arrives.
10.20 am: I avail of the free space at the student union to get some work done for my main client.
11.50 am: Finish up work and head to meet a friend.
12.00 pm: My friend and I stay on campus. I eat leftover dinner for lunch and two clementines. I also get a tea — it’s discounted since I brought my own cup (€1.30).
1.00 pm: I sit down to work on my assignment.
2.00 pm: I head over to Kilkenny Design. I participated in a study last week, so I got a €25 One4all gift voucher, and I’ve decided to spend it on a bowl I’ve been thinking about since December. The bowl cost €32, so I have a few euros left on the voucher (€0.00). I’ll only get myself something if I’m still thinking about it over a couple of weeks. That way, I can avoid any impulse purchases.
2.30 pm: I sit down on campus again to get a bit more of the assignment done… nearly there!
3.00 pm: My one and only lecture of the day starts. It will last for two hours.
5.15 pm: I tag on with my Leap card and get on the train (€3.75). I have a few work emails to send, then I can finish up my assignment (hopefully).
7.10 pm: Drive home from the train station.
7.25 pm: Arrive home.
7.30 pm: My partner was working from home today, so he made dinner, which means I’m able to eat as soon as I get in the door.
8.15 pm: I clean up the kitchen since I didn’t cook. Now I’m trying to finish off the assignment.
8.45 pm: My partner and I sit down to watch a show.
9.30 pm: Brush our teeth and hop in the shower before a much-deserved sleep in bed!
Today’s total: €12.95
6.10 am: I wake up and feed the cat and dogs, then let them out for a runaround and pee. After getting dressed, I eat breakfast, hang the laundry and make coffee to go.
6.45 am: My partner and I drive to the train station.
7.05 am: I purchase parking for the train (€3.50), get us return train tickets (€8.80) and then we tag on (€3.75).
7.15 am: I have to get some work done on the train journey. I’m also preparing for a presentation in my class this afternoon.
9.00 am: Arrive at the hospital and get my dad a coffee (€4.20). We chat for a while.
9.50 am: Catch a bus into college. (€1)
10.25 am: I print a few documents (€0.65) and get myself a coffee (€3.42). Then I call my mom to catch up before class.
11.00 am: Class is starting!
1.00 pm: Class finishes up and I do some work for a client while I eat lunch (leftovers and a clementine again).
2.00 pm: Another class starts and I give my presentation.
3.00 pm: My afternoon class finished an hour early, so I hang out with some classmates while sending out a few work emails.
4.25 pm: I meet my partner at the train station and we board with our pre-bought tickets.
6.10pm: We arrive at the train station and drive home.
6.30 pm: Get home and my partner takes out the dogs while I get our dinner (and the pets’ dinner) ready. I planned the meals for the week in advance, so we’re having burgers tonight since they’re easy after a long day.
7.15 pm: We have dinner while watching a show.
8.30 pm: I clean up the kitchen, make a lunch for tomorrow since there are no leftovers, and I let the dogs out before getting ready for bed.
Today’s total: €25.32
6.10 am: I get up and take care of the animals, get dressed and have breakfast while my parter gets ready for the day.
6.45 am: We leave the house to drive to the train station.
7.05 am: I park (€3.50) and we tag on (€3.75).
7.15 am: I’m doing some work for a client on the train in this morning
9.00 am: I arrive at the hospital and get my dad a coffee (€4.30). I’m only passing by to drop off some clean clothes and take his dirty ones.
9.20 am: I catch the bus into class (€1.00).
10.00 am: Class starts. It’s only an hour today, yay!
11.00 am: I get some non-school work done over a coffee (€3.40).
12.00 pm: A friend meets me at the café to catch up.
1.30 pm: I go back to college and sit down to write a project report for a client. I also get a few readings done for college.
3.50 pm: I meet my partner to walk to the train station to get a bus. Normally, we’d get the 4.30pm train, but it’s been replaced by a bus because of the flooding. I get a sandwich and hot chocolate since I expect this to be an arduous trip (€10.40).
5.50 pm: We finally get on the bus. We went along with the crowd, so I never tapped on anywhere.
7.00 pm: Arrive at Bray only to find out there’s no train, so we get back on the bus and it takes us to Wicklow.
8.00 pm: We arrive at Wicklow and get on the train for 15 mins.
8.30 pm: Finally home! I let the dogs out for a few minutes before feeding the pets.
8.45 pm: My partner gets some takeaway from the chipper, but I have a frozen pizza. We sit down to eat (€15.70).
9.30 pm: Bedtime after an extremely long day.
Today’s total: €42.05
8.30 am: Wake up, feed the pets and let the dogs out to pee.
8.50 am: I go back to sleep.
10.00 am: I get up and have a coffee with my partner. He starts work and I work on a class assignment.
12.00 pm: Eat some lunch while starting some work for a client.
12.30 pm: I take the dogs out back to throw the ball for half an hour before getting back to work with a cup of tea.
2.00 pm: I have to post a few packages. (€20)
3.00 pm: Class today is online because of the weather warning.
5.00 pm: Class finishes and I pop out for a walk before it gets too dark.
5.30 pm: I make dinner and clean up the house a bit (laundry, vacuum, mop, etc.).
9.00 pm: An early bedtime, since I’m tired from the long week.
Today’s total: €20.00
8.20 am: I get up and take care of the animals, then have breakfast.
9.00 am: Someone comes to patch the roof. We discovered some missing slates when the bedroom roof was leaking with the stormy weather (€110).
10.00 am: I’m supposed to meet a friend for a coffee, but the car doesn’t start (the battery is dead).
11.00 am: Getting some work done over coffee.
12.00 pm: I take a break from work to do a crossword and have lunch with my partner.
1.00 pm: Take a nap.
2.00 pm: Play time with the dogs out back.
3.00 pm: I have a presentation to put together for class on Monday, so get to work on that.
6.00 pm: We eat a homemade dinner. Normally, I’d go to the grocery store for the week, but I’ll have to go later in the week when I have time (and after the car is fixed).
7.00 pm: We watch a movie since it’s the weekend.
10.00 pm: Bed time!
Today’s total: €110.00
8.30 am: The pets wake me up to be fed and let out, then I go back to sleep.
10.00 am: I get up and my partner and I sit down with coffee and eggs to do a crossword.
11.00 am: I take the dogs on a walk.
12.00 pm: I have to finish my presentation for tomorrow, but it shouldn’t take that much longer.
2.00 pm: My partner gets a taxi to the nearest town to get a bus to the airport for a work trip and I do the laundry and repot a few plants.
2.45 pm: Someone arrives to take a look at the car battery. It’s completely dead and needs to be replaced. Great! (€270)
3.30 pm: I get some more work done.
6.00 pm: Dinnertime.
9.00 pm: I feel so tired, so it’s bedtime!
Today’s total: €270.00
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What I learned –
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