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How I Spend My Money A logistics manager on €37,000 on maternity leave who dreads the thought of going back to work

She doesn’t want to miss out on the experience to raise her kids.

WELCOME TO HOW I Spend My Money, a series on TheJournal.ie that runs on Wednesdays and Sundays and looks at what people in Ireland really do with their cash.

We’re asking readers to keep a record of how much they earn, how much they save, if anything, and what they spend their money on over the course of one week. Want to take part? Details on how to do it are at the bottom of the piece.

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.  

On Sunday, a call centre worker living in Meath walked us through her week, which involved some costly medical expenses. Today, a mother on maternity leave talks about her spending over the course of a week. 

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Occupation: Customer logistics manager
Age: 31
Location: Wicklow
Salary: €37,000
Monthly pay (net): €2,400

Monthly expenses
Mortgage: €600 (total €1,200) – this also covers general household bills.
Home loan: €360 (the house was a shell when we bought it and had to be completely rewired, replumbed, floored, etc.)
Transport: Petrol (€240) – I pay €320 when in work. Car tax (€40) and insurance (€55). Car loan (€200). I needed a new car because of the expanding family – to be fair my loan is finished in a few months as I had most of it saved already.
Phone bill: €80 (I cover my own and my husband’s bill).
Health insurance: €100 (this covers myself, my eight-year-old and my baby until he is one). The army covers my husband’s medical needs. The army used to look after the medical care and prescriptions of a soldier’s family – now they don’t.
Life insurance: €55 (this is an absolute pain to pay. Makes me so sick when I see it come out. I know it’s a necessity for the mortgage, but ugh.)
Groceries: €800 (between two of us) is sectioned off for any groceries. This is a big Aldi shop and a smaller Tesco shop. I do a cleaning shop to get washing powders, fabric softeners, etc every two months (€40).
Broadband: €30 
Savings: I’m a great saver. I’m that person who has the Christmas presents bought in June and wrapped to go. I planned to save €1,000 a month while on maternity leave, however I haven’t managed this every month.

Subscriptions:

  • Netflix (€10.99) – I toyed with getting rid of this when my maternity pay stops, but realistically my husband and I never go out. I’ll keep it for another while at least.
  • Birchbox (€14) – This I love, love, love. Since on maternity leave, it has been coming to the house and there’s only so much, “Oh my god, they still keep sending me stuff for free” I can get away with. Sadly, this was my last month. It was my guilty pleasure and I felt upset cancelling this – probably more upset than I should be.
  • Kids Activities (€140) – My daughter’s ballet is €120 every eight weeks and drama classes are €200 every 10 weeks. She loves it and we love her in it – she is gas altogether. This is probably the only area I refuse to cut spending in. Activities are super important for social skills and her general happiness. I would clean toilets with a toothbrush for a living to pay for this.

I’m a 31-year-old woman currently on maternity leave after having my second child. My husband and I finally got married last year after 12 years together and bought a house – we saved for a long time. It’s smaller than I would have liked, but we wanted a specific location.

My husband is in the army, so his work hours can be unpredictable at times, but mostly it’s grand. I’m loving life on maternity leave. It’s killing me to think about going back to work and having someone raise my kids, but in order to pay bills we both need to work. The army isn’t what it used to be for families, so it is what it is.

I have two months left on my maternity pay and then I have opted to take 16 weeks unpaid. For this I’ve been saving as much as I can. I’m used to sacrificing my life having saved forever for a house and wedding, it’s like second nature to me.

It’s true that some friends drop by the wayside because of this, but I needed a house for my family and I love being a mam. So at this stage of my life, I’m happy to have the good ones still with me.

***

Monday

7:30am – My baby is finally sleeping through night, so he’s looking for his bottle now. It’s my husband’s turn so I get up to make brekkie for my daughter and pack her lunch. We’re in the car and off to school for 9:00am. I go for a quick 2km walk and get back home at 10:00am. In my younger days I played GAA, soccer and basketball. I don’t have the time now and I’m about four-times the size I was then, but I need to bring my weight down again.

10:30am – My husband is unwell so he’s in bed resting. I feed the baby some porridge as we are at the weaning stage and we have a little dance around the kitchen. I missed all this with my eight-year-old as I had to go back to work earlier for financial reasons, so I cherish every bit of this. I do a few loads of washing.

12:15pm – Another bottle and change – we’re off to visit my parents. My husband feels better so he decides to come. We fill up our travel mugs before we go (saves us a fortune on coffee). We need petrol on the way (€30).

2:00pm – I leave my parents house and decide to go Tesco as I need to get special baby food and I pick up a few other items that you can’t get in Aldi (€24.85).

3:30pm – Collect my kid from school. Homework is done and lunch made for next day. I start dinner and my eight-year-old does her jobs – hanging up her uniform and making her juice bottle for lunch the next day. We eat dinner together every evening when my husband is not away with work and the baby has another bottle at 4:00pm. I clean up and help with a school project. My husband takes the lead on this while I bake cookies – I’ve been promising to make some since before Christmas.

7:00pm – Himself heads off to meet friends for coffee and brings a voucher I got him for Christmas. I look up some degree courses – I’m thinking about doing one. My husband completed one last year and it has spurred me on.

8:00pm – Fold clothes, make bottles, take out meat to defrost for dinner tomorrow, bathe baby, and give him his last bottle before bed.

9:00pm – Watch telly with my husband who has come back without something from the shops. I have a little sulk about it then I try do a budget for our eight-year-old’s communion this year. Dreading it as it lands in middle of my unpaid leave. Hubbie and I argue over this week’s communion mass. Our baby refuses to be quiet anytime close to bottle time so one of us has to stay home. I won the argument because, to be fair, I’ve done all the masses so far.

11:00pm – Bedtime. 

Today’s total: €54.85

Tuesday

7:30am – Up to feed the baby. Same routine as yesterday. I need a hot brekkie as it’s so cold out. Everyone is saying it will snow, I hope it doesn’t as that means my hubbie will be called out to help like last year. I need to go shopping as well, so off we go drop herself to school and head to the shops.

9:30am – Get to shops and have to order prescriptions. While there, I order a face cream my mum loves and it’s on offer, so l get her two (€36.99). My husband can’t resist the Flying Tiger shop, so I buy €7 worth of shite.

10:30am – With all these projects for the child and my husband in college part-time again, I have to buy a printer. It’s an investment, I tell myself – it’s a pain to keep going to the library to print. We get a really good Canon on sale (€29). However, the salesman tells me the ink isn’t included, so that’s another €15, unbelievable! On the way, I fill up my husband’s car with petrol. I also grab a bottle of water and a croissant (€23).

11:00am – I drop my husband to a hospital appointment. I sit in the car with my baby and resist the urge to online shop. We sing songs and he cries at Baby Shark, thank god. I let him stare at himself on the camera for a good 20 minutes. He is fascinated by himself – boys eh?

12:40pm – Finally finished in the hospital. We head home, feed the baby really quick and I’m straight back out the door. Over to my parents to give my mum her cream. She hides the money in my pocket, she is a divil. I pop into Lidl on way home for some more essentials (€9.80). I don’t like Lidl, I always feel like I’m cheating on Aldi – does anyone else get this? I collect my eight-year-old on the way home.

4:50pm – Usual routine. Home, work, lunch prep for tomorrow, dinner made and eaten. Also made a shepherd’s pie as I have to fly to UK tomorrow for an event. I want to make sure the child gets a decent meal as my hubbie will make eggy bread, or worse.

8:00pm – Off out to badminton. It keeps me sane and I love it. For two hours it’s only €5. I didn’t play last year what with the pregnancy, so I’m delighted to be back now.

10:30pm – Home and time for a cuppa and a biscuit. Quick shower to get ready for tomorrow as I’m up for an early flight.

Today’s total: €110.79

Wednesday

6:30am – Up to catch a flight to the UK. It takes two hours to get to the airport in what would normally be 40 minutes. I raced through security and treated myself and a friend to coffee and pastry (€10.50).

11:00am – Finally here – it took forever. Ryanair is so cheap, but a nightmare. I booked the flight before Christmas so my friend brought the sterling as we are only here for six hours. I’m already thinking about my McDonald’s on the drive home.

4:00pm – Back at airport. I bought a puzzle book to keep me sane €3 and the is flight delayed – there’s a shocker. Someone had to be removed from the plane. We finally land at 8:30pm.

10:00pm – Finally home after dropping my friend off and it’s too late for McDonald’s. My babies are fast asleep, they are so lovely. I make some noodles, but I’m not really feeling it so I give the rest to my hubbie. I put a load of washing on and also the dishwasher and give the house a quick hoover before bed. 

Today’s total: €13.50

Thursday

6:30am – Up having the chats with my little man – I love morning giggles. He has a bottle and I make brekkie for the other one. We all have a little dance to some Queen and then it’s off to school.

10:30am – I make baby porridge for the little man, hoover and mop floors. He needs toys now. He’s sitting up wanting to eat everything, so we browse online for age appropriate stuff. Nothing takes my fancy. He just wants to watch himself on the camera again. I hand him to the hubbie while I fold towels and when I come back in, the two of them are staring at themselves in the camera. Is it a man thing? I dunno. We have to go shopping today for the week so he’ll be having a bottle soon.

12:30pm – We go to Aldi and spend €98 (€49 each) on loads of shopping and also go to Tesco (€10 each). Last stop is the butchers (€5 each). I stop at the chemist for some nicotine products for the husband as well (€17).

3:00pm – I collect my eight-year-old and then head home to make dinner. We eat it whilst listening to herself telling us all about Little Mix. She got an annual for Christmas and every day we get another fact about the lovely ladies of Little Mix. I don’t care, but I pretend I do – my husband does not. We managed to get her tickets for them later in the year and he tells me after dinner that I’m going with her. He’s gas!

6:00pm – Bath and bottle time. My husband puts on Guns N’ Roses and soon all of them are dancing around the kitchen. He puts the baby down to sleep and makes me some tea.

8:00pm – All the little people are in bed and I have another cuppa while eating my weight in chocolate. My husband goes in to have his chats with herself – who adores him – and they are soon talking about aliens. I get a bit upset listening because it just makes me think of having to go back to work and all the time I’m gonna lose with them both. I have really loved collecting her from school and listening to her every day.

9:00pm – Bed. I know, I’m THAT boring, but I don’t care.

Today’s total: €81

Friday

8:00am – Usual morning routine. I have to drop paperwork into my dad so I do that and have a tea. I popped into Lidl to get fresh pastries €3.80 for him because my daddy is my number one and even though he is not supposed to eat sweets, I will happily spoil him when I can.

11:30am – Back home and I deep clean the house – I’m talking cupboards, windows, oven, the lot. It means I can relax over the weekend. I got paid today from work (I get paid a portion of my actual wage, which is topped up by the government). I know a lot of people don’t have this and I didn’t have it for my first baby, so I’m extremely grateful for this. All the money is transferred to various accounts to pay bills, mortgage and savings. I have about €385 left in the account. It would depress you but it’s life and we need to make sacrifices to get what we want. I’m also sick because I found an account on Instagram called ‘the postman hates me’ and it’s a mecca for shoppers.

3:00pm – Off to collect my eight-year-old. I didn’t make a dinner today because we have a show to go to tonight – the tickets were bought last year. We’ll have fried eggs on toast (her fav) at home before we go and will treat her to some nice food later. When we get home, she does her chores. She puts on her own wash, changes her clothes and since it’s Friday, we change the bed sheets together. I think it’s super important to teach the children household jobs because I hope it will become second nature to them when they’re older. I don’t want adult babies. I’ve met a lot over the years and it’s not nice.

6:00pm – Off to the show. She has gotten her €5 pocket money. This will be €2 saved and €3 for the tuck shop. She doesn’t get it every week, but has done all her chores this week.

10:00pm – Show is over – it went on longer than I expected. I bought a Chinese takeaway (€23) for the three of us and didn’t really enjoy it. But I ate every bit of it, which tells you everything you need to know really. I put herself to bed and hubbie puts on Aquaman. What a load of crap. DC should be ashamed. To think we were gonna go see it in cinema, thank god we didn’t.

1:13am – Bed. Sweet, sweet bed.

Today’s total: €31.80

Saturday

9:00am – My baby is only awake now – I can’t believe it. Time for his bottle and a dance and then a sing-song in bed with my eight-year-old. My hubbie is snoring beside us but the baby wakes him up by pulling his hair.

11:30am – Off to ballet. I have to pick up some stuff as well, like a toy to help my baby practice sitting up (€50) and a small toy for the other child (€6). I get two coffees (€7.50) as well and needed a weighing scales (€10) for baking. I also get a few essentials in Aldi (€11) where I got asked for ID, so I’m only delighted with life.

1:30 pm – Race home for the baby’s bottle – we’re a bit late and the little man has no problem telling us he’s unimpressed. I put together his toy, he loved it. Time to bake some cakes for tomorrow – chocolate Guinness cake and peach cobbler. I love baking, it’s so relaxing, I’m piling on the weight though – I have zero willpower.

4:30pm – Time for drama class and I’ll swing back at 5:30pm for herself. I pop €20 into my husband’s car – he has a head like a sieve and drives on fumes.

6:30pm – Hubbie collects her instead. I suspect the dirty nappy that’s currently happening is the reason for this offer. Don’t know what to make for dinner – I didn’t defrost any meat. I doubt I can justify takeaway again and because we live in the middle of nowhere we always collect. On the rare times we did get a delivery, it usually means 40 minutes of: “Yeah, do you know the road after the bush, no not the one at the gate. Can you see a barn?” I just don’t have the head for it tonight.

7:00pm – Didn’t get a takeaway, instead I made a big batch of home cut chips, rashers, tomatoes, scallions, cheese sauce and garlic mayo. It was fab, much better than chipper.

8:30pm – Bottle time, bathtime and bedtime for the kiddies. My eldest played on the tablet for half an hour. My husband set up parental controls and it’s great – we have to approve her apps and we can shut her tablet off at a certain time. We decide to watch the Ted Bundy Tapes on Netflix – we were both depressed off our faces after it. My eight-year-old won’t be allowed out when she gets to 13 if my husband has anything to do with it. I filled up my basket thanks to that Instagram page, but managed to stop myself from going through with the purchase. I’m in cold sweats here.

12:05am – The electricity goes, so bedtime I suppose.

Today’s total: €104.50

Sunday

10:45am – Delighted with life after a savage lie-in. I got up and hubbie goes back to bed. My eight-year-old comes into me saying she’s starving and got no breakfast, so I make tea and toast.

2:00pm – We have dinner at my parents, so I bring the cakes. It was nice and relaxing. On the way home, my hubbie needs more nicotine (€7), so I stop at the chemist and run into shop and buy lotto and scratch card as well (€13). I dream of an extension to my house, but I don’t win anything – what a shocker. No extension for me yet, ragin’.

6:00pm – Time for baby baths, showers, hair plaits and supper. We have a quick game on the Wii and then it’s bedtime

9:00pm – I’m starving. I rustle up some home cut chips, gherkins and mayonnaise – don’t judge me until you try it. My husband gives out while I’m cooking, says he is too full from dinner, but manages to eat a bowl of it followed by some tart, custard and ice cream.

11:30pm – Bedtime.

Today’s total: €20

Weekly subtotal: €416.44

What I’ve learned:

  • I thought I was a great one saving money on the coffees, but I seem to have just transferred my urge to spend to other things. I keep convincing myself I need this and that, so I buy it. Right now I’m thinking I need a panini press, but I know I don’t. Hopefully by the time you read this I won’t have bought one.
  • I’m glad my hubbie and I are both on same page with the likes of eating out and dates. We both want to have our house sorted and the kids OK so we put luxuries aside. To be honest, just spending time with him in the evening when the kids are in bed is lovely.
  • Ideally I would love to bring my kids on holidays this year, so I will try trim more spending to save for this – I’d love to have a small family holiday.

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. 

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41 Comments
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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Congress Tart
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    Jan 12th 2017, 7:08 PM

    If I was going to investigate international hacking, I’d definitely get an old guy who can’t use a computer to head the team.

    82
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    Mute Beachmaster
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    Jan 12th 2017, 7:52 PM

    Can Michael O’Leary fly a plane?

    36
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    Mute Peedur Dante
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    Jan 12th 2017, 9:21 PM

    O’Leary would certainly be a better choice to head the team.

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    Mute Congress Tart
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    Jan 12th 2017, 9:42 PM

    You suck at analogies. He knows more than most about the aviation industry & business. I’d bet Rudy can barely use a computer, let alone lead a team of hacking investigators.

    20
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    Mute Stephen murphy
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    Jan 12th 2017, 10:28 PM

    @Congress Tart: Rudi is a Yes man, put in there to dumb down the staff.

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    Mute Ross Stewart
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    Jan 12th 2017, 11:36 PM

    It was between rudi and a 10 year old..

    ” So we had to get very, very tough on cyber and cyber warfare. It is a huge problem. I have a son—he’s 10 years old. He has computers. He is so good with these computers. It’s unbelievable. The security aspect of cyber is very, very tough. And maybe, it’s hardly doable. But I will say, we are not doing the job we should be doing. But that’s true throughout our whole governmental society. We have so many things that we have to do better, Lester. And certainly cyber is one of them.”
    Trump

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    Mute Bridget O'Hanlon
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    Jan 13th 2017, 12:05 AM

    Congress Tart. Old and not computer literate go hand in hand in your little ageist world do they?

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    Mute Congress Tart
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    Jan 13th 2017, 12:10 AM

    @Bridget O’Hanlon: yes, from experience. It’s not “ageist” – it’s true. Stop being overly PC for no reason.

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    Mute Bridget O'Hanlon
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    Jan 13th 2017, 3:00 AM

    Your experience is very limited then. No need to throw around the pc football. It’s got nothing to do with being pc. It’s to do with you being ageist and wrong

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jan 12th 2017, 5:55 PM

    Doesn’t he have business ties to the Russian government? And the Qataris? And the Iranians?

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    Mute Jason Fallon
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    Jan 12th 2017, 5:58 PM

    It’s like asking Fred Flintstone to advise on Nuclear Physics

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    Mute D H
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    Jan 12th 2017, 6:00 PM

    So who better to look into these improprieties?

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    Mute Jason Fallon
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    Jan 12th 2017, 6:09 PM

    Hmmm I dunno…..maybe….someone with expertise in cyber crime….

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    Mute Mikhail Valtazar
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    Jan 12th 2017, 6:13 PM

    I don’t know dave usually an honest person would cite evidence when making accusations like that.

    20
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    Mute Pádraig Ó Raghaill
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    Jan 12th 2017, 6:15 PM

    We are in a post-truth world, evidence should never be allowed to get in the way of spurious allegations.

    Or was that never let the truth get in the way of a good story

    20
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    Mute SomeRandomIrishGuy
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    Jan 12th 2017, 6:16 PM

    @Jason Fallon We could say the same thing about a lot of members of our current government.. but we don’t

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    Mute Mikhail Valtazar
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    Jan 12th 2017, 6:16 PM

    @Jason, how misinformed you are, he has been dealing with cyber security issues for years through his private security firm. He has plenty of expertise in the area.

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    Mute Tensing Norgay
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    Jan 12th 2017, 6:29 PM

    So he has a confict of interest ?

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jan 12th 2017, 6:37 PM

    Or you could just have a memory. Remember all the reasons why he couldn’t be secretary of state? https://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/11/16/us/politics/donald-trump-cabinet-rudy-giuliani.html

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jan 12th 2017, 6:40 PM

    “Records show Mr. Giuliani has had ties dating to at least 2004 to TriGlobal, a company that has provided image consulting to Russian oligarchs and clients with deep Kremlin ties. They have included Transneft, Russia’s state-owned oil pipeline giant”

    32
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    Mute OpenBorders
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    Jan 12th 2017, 6:42 PM

    @Siegheil Valtazar: So cute the way you jump to Papa Donald’s defence every time, bless your cotton socks! *ruffles hair*

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    Mute Mikhail Valtazar
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    Jan 12th 2017, 7:01 PM

    Dave O’Keefe the journals premier Clinton propagandist now super concerned about potential conflicts of interest.

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    Mute Pádraig Ó Raghaill
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    Jan 12th 2017, 7:03 PM

    Oh the shock of it all, business people with ties to Russian business, quick run and tell the Guards. Even better just call Joe Biden, I am sure his some will be right up to speed with that sphere of influence. Or maybe Soros, he has some great long-term ties to Russia.

    Run away, run away now, the Russians are coming.

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    Mute Pádraig Ó Raghaill
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    Jan 12th 2017, 7:06 PM

    Meanwhile in real news, Obama makes the Ministry of Truth a reality.

    Obama Quietly Signs The “Countering Disinformation And Propaganda Act” Into Law

    Late on Friday, with the US population embracing the upcoming holidays and oblivious of most news emerging from the administration, Obama quietly signed into law the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which authorizes $611 billion for the military in 2017.

    Recall that as we reported in early June, “a bill to implement the U.S.’ very own de facto Ministry of Truth had been quietly introduced in Congress. As with any legislation attempting to dodge the public spotlight the Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act of 2016 marks a further curtailment of press freedom and another avenue to stultify avenues of accurate information. Introduced by Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Ted Lieu, H.R. 5181 seeks a “whole-government approach without the bureaucratic restrictions” to counter “foreign disinformation and manipulation,” which they believe threaten the world’s “security and stability.”

    http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-12-24/obama-signs-countering-disinformation-and-propaganda-act-law

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jan 12th 2017, 7:16 PM

    Mikhail, interesting how you and Pádraig change tactics once I produce the article. Both before it saying nah, no way, liar. Now Pádraig has decided that every business man has links to Russia (even though he previously said I was lying about Rudy) and your new tactic is to tie me to a (unt who was in my opinion the best of a bad lot at the last election. If you haven’t noticed I have not been talking about her at all.

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    Mute Pádraig Ó Raghaill
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    Jan 12th 2017, 7:21 PM

    They say unnamed statements are like a Cinderella shoe, they only fit those that have the right feet. Others just walk on by knowing the shoe did not fit.

    Funny old world

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jan 12th 2017, 7:21 PM

    Pádraig, how on earth did that make it through a Republican house and Senate? You almost make it seem like he wrote it and signed it without approval from anywhere else. Also, it may have been news when “Tyler Durden” wrote the article 3 weeks ago.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jan 12th 2017, 7:23 PM

    Pádraig, it was a section of the article I posted a link to which provides the sources. Why ask for proof and then not read it when it’s provided?

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    Mute Pádraig Ó Raghaill
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    Jan 12th 2017, 7:26 PM

    @Mikhail Valtazar:

    “I don’t know dave usually an honest person would cite evidence when making accusations like that.”

    You wrote that did you not? One of the posters seems to have some confusion.

    Maybe he left his glasses at home, not sure. Seems to mix up statements with questions to people.

    Funny old fellow

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    Mute Mikhail Valtazar
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    Jan 12th 2017, 7:32 PM

    Dave all you’ve done is provide an article that proves Mr Giuliani has private business interests like so many other successful people, your bias is then allowing you to draw all kinds of imaginary links.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jan 12th 2017, 7:38 PM

    Mikhail, the bit you’re missing is that’s also all I claimed, that he has business ties to the Russian government and the Qataris and the Iranians. There’s a real link. Where is the part that I imagined?

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jan 12th 2017, 7:42 PM

    Pádraig, you do know people can just scroll and see what else he and you said right? You’re some man for editing after the fact.

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    Mute Pádraig Ó Raghaill
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    Jan 12th 2017, 7:45 PM

    New edit tools, I must have the wrong version of the app installed.

    Scans about, nope no edit tools here.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jan 12th 2017, 7:50 PM

    Pádraig, for a well read individual sometimes it does look as if you can’t read.

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    Mute Pádraig Ó Raghaill
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    Jan 12th 2017, 7:50 PM

    “But Mr. Giuliani’s business ties are a major red flag. He built a lucrative consulting and speechmaking career after leaving City Hall. His firm, Giuliani Partners, has had contracts with the government of Qatar and the Canadian company that is building the Keystone XL oil pipeline, and Mr. Giuliani has given paid speeches to a shadowy Iranian opposition group that until 2012 was on the State Department’s list of foreign terrorist organizations.”

    Wonder if it is anything like Hillary that sat on the board fo directors to the company working with ISIS. Or the Sadi connection or indeed many of the other, it’s just out foundation getting the coin.

    We would not be running double standards, would we?

    No, never, that would be hypocritical –

    http://www.mintpressnews.com/hillary-clinton-served-on-the-board-of-a-company-who-funds-is/219060/

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jan 12th 2017, 7:58 PM

    Newsflash: Hillary didn’t win, Trump did. I don’t think you’re quite seeing the difference between the judgement of a private citizen and that of a person heading an investigation potentially into actions of his former business partners.

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    Mute Pádraig Ó Raghaill
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    Jan 12th 2017, 8:05 PM

    If it was fine during campaign time it would have been fine during office. There are ties to all kinds of weird and smelly places in the current office, the previous office, and the next office. It is all straws, writ large because some people have their nose out of joint.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jan 12th 2017, 8:20 PM

    You say that as if I said it was OK, I didn’t. So your stance is that it’s OK because it’s happened before? I’m saying surely there’s someone with less “sensitive” connections that can do just as good a job.

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    Mute Jason Fallon
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    Jan 12th 2017, 9:14 PM

    Anyone can start a company in any given field and come up with a shoddy website to boot. Doesn’t mean that they’re in any way an expert in that field.

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    Mute Pádraig Ó Raghaill
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    Jan 12th 2017, 9:30 PM

    Some might say ‘sensitive’ other might say understands the business and cultural environment better. Unless, of course, you cast aspersions on his character due to third party connections and speeches. Now that would be some underhanded sentiments.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jan 12th 2017, 10:06 PM

    There’s plenty of factual evidence out there about Giuliani’s character if you’d care to look. But you’re to blinkered to see it. You claim not to be a Trump supporter but you’re here every day defending his every move. Are you really saying that a guy with friends in the Kremlin is the best person to investigate hacks that his boss believes were ordered by the Kremlin and other countries?

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    Mute Avina Laaf
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    Jan 12th 2017, 11:44 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe:
    Of course Padraig supports Trump – Padraig is the Kremlin’s man on the Journal, and Trump is the Kremlin’s man in the US.

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    Mute Pádraig Ó Raghaill
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    Jan 13th 2017, 1:37 AM

    Feel free anytime to highlight where I have supported Trump – and don’t forget that pesky content you all hate so much that again highlights how wrong you are. But sure, spurious is the player’s card of so many of the soundbite pundits.

    Funny enough the narrative your ilk push some say is just giving wind to his sails.

    The Deep State Goes to War with President-Elect, Using Unverified Claims, as Democrats Cheer

    IN JANUARY, 1961, Dwight Eisenhower delivered his farewell address after serving two terms as U.S. president; the five-star general chose to warn Americans of this specific threat to democracy: “In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.” That warning was issued prior to the decadelong escalation of the Vietnam War, three more decades of Cold War mania, and the post-9/11 era, all of which radically expanded that unelected faction’s power even further.

    This is the faction that is now engaged in open warfare against the duly elected and already widely disliked president-elect, Donald Trump. They are using classic Cold War dirty tactics and the defining ingredients of what has until recently been denounced as “Fake News.”

    https://theintercept.com/2017/01/11/the-deep-state-goes-to-war-with-president-elect-using-unverified-claims-as-dems-cheer/

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jan 13th 2017, 10:54 AM

    Pádraig, your comments on this article are you supporting him and his choices. Even going as far as to use deception to do so. So, hey, I found you supporting Trump, scroll to see it. Yesterday you edited a quote of his so as to actually change the meaning of it so you could use it to prove he didn’t say what he did say. I’d also like to point out that “my ilk” I questioned his business ties. Then you questioned the business ties of a private citizen. So you might want to take notice of yourself being of similar ilk.

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    Mute HOTBank
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    Jan 12th 2017, 7:00 PM

    So cyber terrorism and foreign governments hacking US organisations is a thing now? I thought it was all Fake. Donald… Donald… Donald were you lying?

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    Mute Mikhail Valtazar
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    Jan 12th 2017, 7:03 PM

    Strawman argument. Sad!

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    Mute HOTBank
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    Jan 12th 2017, 7:57 PM

    Mikhail: Kek! Happy!

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    Mute QhpFny3o
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    Jan 12th 2017, 7:13 PM

    He also hasn’t a clue whatsoever how to tackle cyber terrorism/hacking. clown

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    Mute Mikhail Valtazar
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    Jan 12th 2017, 7:38 PM

    Giulianai has been dealing with cyber security issues for years through his private security firm. He has plenty of expertise in the field.

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    Mute Francis Mc Carthy
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    Jan 12th 2017, 8:02 PM

    @Mikhail Valtazar: You seem to be the person that seems to know a thing or two..Can you provide exactly what his company does? Thanks in advance.

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    Mute Ross Stewart
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    Jan 12th 2017, 11:40 PM

    He’s spending too much time out in that field when he should be inside, learning how to use a computer.

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    Mute Avina Laaf
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    Jan 12th 2017, 11:52 PM

    @Francis Mc Carthy:
    No mention of cyber security services on Giuliani’s website. Still, I’m sure Mikhail knows best…..
    http://www.giulianisecurity.com/index.php/us/services

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    Mute Francis Mc Carthy
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    Jan 13th 2017, 7:01 AM

    @Avina Laaf:

    I was hoping that I could pass some great news onto this Zak guy,but alas, it looks like Mikhail vanished into the night
    I’ll leave your mans details on here… just in case..

    https://medium.com/@zackwhittaker/how-to-contact-me-securely-38dc5c5bc756#.m0dhzjf6i

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    Mute Kieran Stafford
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    Jan 12th 2017, 6:16 PM

    Watch the documentary called “zero days” cyberterrorism is scary stuff

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    Mute OpenBorders
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    Jan 12th 2017, 6:46 PM
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    Mute Shawn O'Ceallaghan
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    Jan 12th 2017, 6:50 PM

    I heard Hilary likes to watch

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    Mute Philip Gerard
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    Jan 12th 2017, 7:30 PM

    Giuliani – LOL & OMFG – This is the same wizard that moved the emergency command center to the Twin Towers AFTER the first terror attack in ’93.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jan 12th 2017, 7:51 PM

    Family mob ties, first wife was his second cousin, allowed his mistress to use the nypd as a taxi service, the list goes on

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    Mute Gerry Fallon
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    Jan 12th 2017, 8:08 PM

    Call in the geriatric swat team. Headed up by the high tech minded Rudy!…..Eh,I think not.He dosent even know how to turn on a computer

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    Mute The Descolada
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    Jan 12th 2017, 6:12 PM

    Old grey ‘mare he ain’t what he used to be

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    Mute Max Johnson Powers
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    Jan 13th 2017, 6:00 AM

    The same Rudi who claimed there wasn’t a terrorist attack on united states soil until Obama took office?

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    Mute Val Martin
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    Jan 12th 2017, 10:40 PM

    The wind industry are hacking my phone trying to find out about planning law. If I could help it I would have nothing private on the internet, but I have to do a lot of stuff there. Some fine day hackets will get into the bank accounts and then there will be mayhem

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jan 13th 2017, 12:18 AM

    What on earth are you on about?

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    Mute Val Martin
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    Jan 13th 2017, 1:17 AM

    I posted there now, but it does not appear to have loaded for some reason.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jan 13th 2017, 1:24 AM

    Call, on a serious note, is everything OK?

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jan 13th 2017, 1:24 AM

    *Val

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    Mute Niall Conneely
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    Jan 13th 2017, 2:10 AM

    Anyone see the add where Trump is flogging a ‘perfume’ and Gulianni is dressed as a transvestite? Trump nuzzles his/her ‘breasts’. Really weird.

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