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 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? We’re looking for readers who will keep a money diary for a week. In particular, we’re looking for people who fall into one of these categories:
- People who don’t usually track their spending and would consider themselves to be not great with money
- Students
- People working for minimum wage
- People aged over 65
If you’re interested, please send a mail to money@thejournal.ie.
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.
Last time, a 29-year-old data analyst from Waterford detailed his spending in a week. This week, we hear from a 23-year-old clerical officer from Louth earning €23,352, having left a better-paid job she wasn’t happy in, in order to take up this role.
Last year I graduated from college with a degree in English and History. I worked in retail for 4 years while doing my degree. Earlier this year I left a well paid, but mind-numbingly boring job for a less well-paid job with the HSE. I love my job but just wish the pay was higher. However, I know that in the long run, the pay will increase.
I pay my car insurance and tax in one go in April. This generally comes from my personal savings and this year cost €1,300 and €200. Saving is something I’ve always been good at, but since I’ve taken out a car loan, and spent a good portion of my savings on it, I feel like I struggle to make it from one pay packet to another – I worry a lot about money. On expensive weeks my rainy day fund takes the hit as it is the only payment not set up as a standing order to my savings account.
Occupation: Clerical Officer
Age: 23
Location: Louth
Salary: €23,352
Monthly pay (net): €1,578
Monthly expenses
Rent: €200
Transport (Petrol): €60
Phone bill: €5. I have a prepay phone and only spend €5 on data a month. I use wifi most of the time.
Health insurance: I don’t have health insurance. At the minute it’s just not something I can afford.
Groceries: €60 (I use the basics in my house and then buy whatever I specifically need).
Gym membership: €39
Subscriptions: Spotify Premium Student €5
Car loan: €210
Savings: €100 to a personal savings account, €200 to joint savings account with my boyfriend, €50 to rainy day fund.
Total overheads: €929
***
7am I get up to get breakfast and walk to work.
7.45am I’m in and ready to start my day.
12 noon: I’m covering an area that isn’t mine and it’s very busy so I have lunch at my desk.
4pm I walk home from work. I get a cup of tea and visit my granny on my way to the gym.
7pm After the gym I’m treated to a takeaway as it’s my birthday (counterproductive I know).
10.30pm I relax for a bit before heading to bed.
Today’s total: €0
7am Same as Monday; up, breakfast and walk to work. I love the walk to work but I have to admit it, it’s not as enjoyable on the dark mornings!
1pm Lunchtime. I have leftover lasagne that I made on Sunday. The hospital has a well-subsidised canteen but I prefer to bring my own and save the €10 or €15 that I’d end up spending in it.
4pm I finish work early today as I’m going to a concert tonight. One of the great benefits of my job is flexible working hours. I can start any time before 10, but I usually come in early to get home early.
4:30pm I get the bus to Dublin – this costs me €15 for a return ticket
5:30pm We go and get something to eat. My share costs €20. I bought the concert tickets last March so the money spent on them is a distant memory.
8pm I buy me and my brother a bottle of Coke each for €6.50 in total.
11pm We get the bus home and I’m home by 12:30am.
Today’s total: €41.50
9.30am I have a bit of a lie-in as I’m off work today as I have a good few days holidays left to take.
10.30am I meet my friend for breakfast, €12
1pm I do some Christmas shopping. I buy a Chromecast as a family present (€39), a present for my boyfriend’s family (€13) and some storage boxes for my room (€5).
4pm I pick up some things for dinner (€4.50). I head home and make dinner.
7pm I’m really not feeling well today so I skip the gym and head to bed.
Today’s total: €73.50
7am Up, breakfast and out to work.
8am It’s payday so I stop by the ATM on my way to work to withdraw the money for my essential planned expenses e.g. rent. I do this straight away every time I get paid so I don’t feel like I’m missing the money.
5pm I head to the gym. I haven’t gone as much as I usually do this week.
7pm I skip dinner as I’m still not feeling great and I do some late-night Christmas shopping with my boyfriend but don’t buy anything.
Today’s total: €0
7am I’m up and in to work by 8:10. The dark mornings are getting depressing at this stage.
4.30pm I head home from work, and surprise, surprise it’s pitch black outside, again!
6pm I head out with my friends for our Christmas/my birthday night out. We have food first which costs me €12.50 including a bottle of beer.
2am I’m home and calculate that I’ve spent €20 on drinks over the evening. I enjoy going out but usually only have 3 or 4 drinks as I hate wasting my days off hungover and I see it as money down the drain. I don’t need a drink to have a good time anyway so it doesn’t really affect me.
Today’s total: €32.50
9.30am I’m up to get some breakfast and head down to the gym.
11am I get home and head downtown with my mam to finish some Christmas shopping. I spend €44 on gifts for my mam and sister. I spend the rest of the day chilling out.
7pm I make dinner with the food we have in the house and then head out with my sister and her friend.
3am I’m home and have spent €30 on drinks this evening.
Today’s total: €74
10am I get up and get breakfast. I head to my boyfriend’s house where we’ll watch the football before heading into town to hopefully finish our Christmas shopping.
4pm I pick up the last present for my dad €22 and some ingredients to make a spaghetti bolognese later (€6.40).
6pm I make dinner and we relax for the evening.
10pm Off to bed delighted that I only have a day and a half left at work before I’m off for Christmas!
Today’s total: €28.40
What I’ve learned:
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
He looks like Rolf Harris
Ha ha, never eating KFC again,
And one more thing, IMO why they don’t sell curry sauce is beyond me, that gravy is a poor substitute for curry with ur chicken
Paul, You beautiful man, you’re completely correct.
Their food is nasty anyway like, but the lack of curry sauce is unforgivable.
Their gravy was often the only reason for going there. I recall many the time going to KFC and coming out with fingers burned like they were in a hot bath full of chicken, half cooked fries and MSG…. mmm…
I only tell you one time. Don’t fcuk me Eric……. don’t you ever try to fcuk me!
Buzz off bozo the kfc gravy is nice !
Denis o brien wins again, and gets a gagging order against any reporting of his corruption……….discusss
No. But do you like kfc?
DojiFone Denis has more spicy state secrets up his sleeves than Colonel Rolf has had chicken dinners!!
Looks a bit like Rolf Harris
Id consider going to KFC again if they place was clean & the chicken was hot!
Or if they started having nice food
A fella was telling me that his son had his head wrecked to take him to McDonalds so he told him “if you can spell McDonalds ill take ye” so the young fella said ” ah fu.k it we’ll go to KFC
Hillbillys in Cork after a feed of pints.Nothing KFC has to offer even comes close.
I’ve been to the Hillbillys in Fairview a few times. Decent stuff.
And they have curry sauce.
If I want to wrap my mouth around breasts, legs & thighs, I’ll have a night in. Cheers Colonel.
So how you getting on since ya moved back in with your ma?
Good now. Your sis feels right at home too.
I dont have any sisters… but I have a fat brother, could be him?
Eat it in bray a few years ago and never again it was awful
Have to agree…absolutely revolting it was.However,you should try the one in blanch,it’s a bit better.
I hate parking in the retail carpark beside kfc. The smell is nice for about 2 seconds and then fell sick from the smell.
Hope you didn’t hit your head when you fell .
Anytime I go to McDonald’s its packed dont see it slowing down
Its nigella they need not a Rolf Harris lookalike.
The food gives you ebola side effects
No taco fries, no business.
I genuinely read that headline as “KFC is bringing back chicken” haha then I thought, that will never happen
That’s definitely Ronan Collins…….
Tiny little chickens killed, plucked, covered in spicy batter and crumbs and deliciously gobbled up.
Or chickens with no eyes or feathers being genetically processed in a lab, there’s a few documentaries about it. Horrid stuff
Is it really wise to use someone who looks like a white plantation owner from over a century ago to promote chicken in a basket (or is modern alternative)?
All that’s missing is the salty melon balls!
Best of them, all unhealthy but KFC is the best tasting, some of their outlets need a good cleaning, the operators need to be better supervised by KVC, I walked out of Bundoron last year because it was not near clean, I have always found Athlone great
The one in Carrick-on-Shannon is the best I’ve seen. Spotless, and the girl there remembered my order as I passed though (for work) every few days.
They kept him alive with 11 secret herbs and spices
Everythg in bray Is shttttt mc Donald’s Eddie spocrketts it’s un believable shtt
Go to Dundrum taste like the ritz
He’s looking alright for a man that was on ice for 20 years
They can resurrect the messiah for all I care. I still will never eat in that kip
Hillbillys pisses all over KFC… All der missing from der menu is the hot wings an unlike KFC they’re nearly too generous with the chips.. New one on Walkinstown roundabout is tops
He won’t be around long with a cough like that
HACCP comes to mind then, extra flavouring?
That’s one of the worst ads I’ve ever seen, worse than McD’s new Hamburglar. That eejit playing the Colonel gave me the creeps.
Looks like a creepy Rolf Harris
Eric fail KFC
Wasn’t he an awful racist?
have your say