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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.
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.
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 23-year-old legal secretary on €36K living and working in Dublin. This week, a data centre IT technician on €55K living in Dublin.
I’m a 27-year-old working full-time as an IT technician in a data centre for a tech company. I am currently studying part-time for a Bachelor’s degree in computer science at the Dublin Institute of Technology. I live at home with my parents and two golden retrievers, which I’m very lucky to be able to do.
I’m saving at the moment and I transfer €2,000 to a savings account every month. I am saving for a mortgage, but it’s unlikely that I will buy anything in the near future as the house prices are crazy and my girlfriend and I are planning to move abroad, potentially to London or even Sydney at least for a few years once my college degree is finished next year.
Occupation: Data centre IT technician
Age: 27
Location: Dublin
Salary: €55,000
Monthly pay(net): €3,200
Transport: €200
Rent: €250
Phone bill: €10
Health insurance: €0 (covered by employer)
Subscriptions: €8.99 PlayStation, I leech off the parents’ Netflix account.
***
6.30 am: I wake up for work and I’m out the door by 7 am. It takes me an hour to drive to work from South Dublin to North Dublin. I sometimes take the M50 but the distance is twice that of going through the city centre and my old car burns through fuel so I opt to go through the city most of the time.
8.00 am: I arrive at work and have some cereal and toast with jam before our morning team call.
12.00 am: Busy morning at work. I head to the fridge and grab some ham and cheese for a toasted sandwich and a pack of crisps. We are supplied with food at work but it’s simple stuff – no on-site hot food canteen.
5.00 pm: I grab one of my microwave meals that I get from my subscription to Preppy foods which is a fresh meals company. It’s penne bolognese today, which is one of my favourites. (€5)
8.00 pm: I head home from work. Traffic is a bit lighter at this time but not by much.
9.00 pm: I arrive home and watch some Netflix, but I feel very tired, so I head to bed.
11.00 pm: Bedtime.
Today’s total: €5.00
6.30 am: Same story as yesterday. Out the door by 7 am and arrive at work an hour later.
8.00 am: I opt for porridge today as I won’t be as hungry in the run-up to lunch. This is provided by work.
1.00 pm: Myself and a colleague go for a chicken fillet roll around the corner from work for lunch and get a vitamin drink too. (€7)
5.00 pm: Chilli con carne with rice on the menu today from the meal prep company I order from. Costs €5 again. Their meals are tasty and the food is always fresh.
8.00 pm: I leave work and I’m home by 9pm. Small bit of Netflix before bed again.
11.00 pm: Bed time.
Today’s total: €12.00
8.30 am: I have a day off today from work. My parents are out of town for a couple of days so it’s nice having the place to myself. I buy some items in the shop for a fry up. (€12)
10.30 am: After breakfast and some YouTube, I head out for a walk with the dogs.
11.30 am: I sit down at my desk to work on my assignment for college. I’m doing a bachelor’s degree part-time, so I have to make good use of my days off as I can’t get much done during work days due to the 12-hour shifts.
2.30 pm: I have a quick snack – pot noodles to keep me going. I took this home from work so it cost me nothing.
5.00 pm: I spend some time cleaning out stuff at home. I don’t pay much in rent so I try to make sure I give a hand around the house.
6.00 pm: I head off to the cinema with the girlfriend. I have a voucher I got for Christmas which I use, so this costs us nothing. We grab a Mcdonald’s on the way. (€10)
9.00 pm: We grab a drink on the way home from the cinema and chat in the pub for a bit. (€13)
Today’s total: €35.00
8.30 am: Another day off today. I make use of the remaining food I got yesterday and have another fry up. I need to start eating healthier.
10.30 am: Time to walk the dogs.
11.30 am: Back at the desk for more studying.
1.30 pm: I have a light lunch of some fruit and crackers.
5.00 pm: Head out with the girlfriend to an Italian restaurant. I get a pizza and she has a pasta dish. We split our meals so we both get to try each dish. She’s a real foodie and doing this keeps her happy. I cover the meal as she got it the last time. (€55)
7.00 pm: We leave the restaurant and meet a few of our friends in a pub nearby for drinks. I get a round in which costs €35.
11.00 pm: Home and in bed with some Netflix.
Today’s total: €90.00
9.00 am: Wake up with a slight hangover. I’m starting my night shift rotation tonight so I get out for a walk with the dogs and have some avocado, toast and an egg for breakfast.
10.00 am: At the desk for some studying. I’m building a gaming computer at the moment and have been saving for some parts. I order these online. (€150)
1.00 pm: I make a carbonara for lunch and I’ll bring some to work with me for later. (€9)
3.00 pm: I head back to bed and try to get some sleep before work. The first night of the night shift rotation is the hardest.
7.00 pm: I’m off to work and my shift begins at 8pm.
Today’s total: €159.00
2.00 am: Busy night at work with a lot of tasks coming from the team in Seattle. I grab some carbonara from the fridge and some fruit.
6.00 am: I opt for simple cereal at this time as it goes down easy.
8.00 am: I leave work. Traffic is quieter today which I’m thankful for. It can be a real pain sitting in an hour of traffic on a weekday after a night shift.
8.30 am: Arrive home and straight to bed.
3.00 pm: I wake up and make some eggs and toast.
3.30 pm: Walk with the dogs over to the park.
4.30 pm: I sit at my desk and try to do college work but I can’t seem to concentrate, so I play some PlayStation for a bit.
6.00 pm: The mother has a lovely curry cooked (the perks of living at home). I take some to work with me.
8.00 pm: Arrive at work and get stuck into some high priority tickets.
Today’s total: €0.00
1.00 am: I have some curry and a bit of fruit and relax on my break.
6.00 am: I have some cereal and toast.
8.30 am: I stop for fuel on the way home. (€50)
4.00 pm: I wake up and watch some TV.
5.00 pm: Sunday roast is prepared by my lovely Irish mammy. It can’t be beaten.
8.00 pm: I arrive at work.
Today’s total: €0.00
1.00 am: I grab a microwave curry and caesar salad from the fridge.
6.00 am: Cereal and some fruit for breakfast.
8.00 am: Short trip home today on a Monday morning.
8.30 am: I stop for a breakfast roll in my local. (€5)
9.30 am: Bedtime.
3.30 pm: Wake up and take the dogs out. I make some pancakes and chill on the PlayStation for a bit.
5.00 pm: Catch up on some lectures from college before heading to work for another night shift. I’m off for five days next week which is the plus side of working long hours and at the weekend. This is usually when I get the bulk of my college work done.
8.00 pm: I grab a Boojum on the way to work. (€8)
Today’s total: €13.00
***
What I learned-
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Just give it back. It’s not yours! Your Empire days are over!
@Blackwater: It’s not Britain’s to give back, it belongs to the people of Gibraltar who overwhelmingly wish to remain as part of the UK. Are you suggesting that they should be forced to join Spain against their will? I take it you also support Spain returning Melilla and Cueta to Morocco, or are you just an Anglophobe?
@Blackwater: try telling the locals that
And Spain should return Ceuta and Melilla.
I’d say the majority of Spanish people living there in the 18th century when the brits were gifted the territory overwhelmingly wished to remain a part of Spain. What do you think happened to them once the brits came to town. So don’t give me the poor people of Gibraltar crap
@Blackwater: rubbish, who are you to say this! Gib will always remain British UNLESS the residents vote otherwise! Same thing applies to Northern Ireland and get that anti British chip off your shoulder buddy.
@Richard Keogh: Blackwater lives in their own little world
@Peter Dwyer:
Oh dear. You are aware that the world’s borders in the 1700′s were nothing like what they are now ya? European Nationalities and ethnic groups have been pushed and pulled from empire to empire, country to country with the stroke of a pen…forever.
@Piotrek Król: That’s no kind of refutation. Point is if it would be unfair on the Brits there now to give it back, it was unfair on the Spanish there when it was taken.
@Blackwater: and give America and Australia back to the natives while you’re on a roll.
@Peter Dwyer: thats 200 years ago what?
And in a couple of weeks, the same people telling Britain to “give back” Gibraltar will be just as loudly arguing for self determination for Catalunya.
@Richard Keogh: they overwhelmingly want to remain in the EU 96% voted remain.
@Mark Gearey:
Of course it was unfair on the Spanish, but it was 300 years ago so it’s completely irrelevant as 90+% of the current people of Gibraltar associate with Britain, not Spain. Do you get it?
@Piotrek Król: 96% want to stay in the EU there lies the problem
@brian magee:
If there was a vote in the morning, Gibraltarians would have to choose whether to stay with Britain, or to leave and go with the EU. Yes, 96% voted to stay (in the Brexit referendum), but in 2002, 98% rejected shared sovereignty with Spain. They might shortly find out if they can keep their cake or if they will have to eat it.
The REAL problem is the Brits want Gibraltar and the Spanish want Gibraltar, not what the people of Gibraltar want.
@Richard Keogh: Not to mention the Canary Islands !
If Spain don’t get Gibraltar back will they go looking for Portugal next?
@Richard Keogh: Did you read the article at all?
“Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU by a margin of 96%.”
Let the Spaniards remove free medical from the 100,000 brits living in Spain and reimpose passport controls on the millions of Brits holidaying there. They won’t be long throwing Gib under the bus. Hilarious Tory willy waving!
@paddy: That won’t be good news for EU citizens living in the UK. Theresa May won’t take that lying down.
@Simon: more of us. More spending power. And those numptys in Tyrone and Armagh haven’t gone away. And already, a senior Tory is sabre rattling. Wtf? They haven’t a clue what they’re doing. Seriously. Their heads are full of past glories.
@Simon: Yes she will, she will lie down and take it. She needs those Europeans so much more than Europe needs those Brits.
@paddy: sorry buddy as much as you would love that to happen the Spanish would never do that, expats both British and IRISH too
bring millions into their basketcase economy.
@paddy: dont forget the Spaniards who work in the UK too. They send money home to keep their relatives from poverty. . One thing for sure is that the British will never give up Gib.
@Gus Sheridan: but it’s not a tricolour flying over the Rock and all I’m saying is that Spain has skin in this game too. There was a time when it took at least 5 hours to cross from Spain into the Rock. My issue is really with stupid Tories
@paddy: It is typical that Spain has a say about what Britain does about Gibraltar and here in Ireland will have our European masters decide what goes on here. Disgraceful. Government we have been stuck with, no moral fibre in any of them but after Brian Cowan allowed them to dictate after we voted against their great plan all hope for us was lost.
The border with Gibraltar is easily enforceable. It won’t be a big deal either way. Problem will be that many people live in Spain as Gibraltar is a kip of the highest order.
@lavbeer: That was true 20 years ago, it was a sihthole. Millions have been pumped in to the economy in recent times and Gibralter is now a prosperous place with virtually no crime.
I used to work with an ex British navy guy who was stationed on a nuclear submarine. Apparently that rock is largely hollow inside with all sorts of secret government sh!t going on. Anymore info than that was “classified” and he always refused to give us further details no matter how drunk we got him. He was a real diligent army bore but intriguing all the same when you see how badly they want to keep it.
@Tweed Cap: he’s also full of crap!
Dunno Pa
Many interesting people do have a bizarre ‘inside story ‘ which often turns out to be BS.
@Tweed Cap: If it was true what he told you then he already said enough to get himself hanged. If he didnt tell you more it was a lie.
@Anthony Byrne:
Especially where drink is involved!
@Tweed Cap: Sounds like the thunderbirds.
@Tweed Cap: Not sure about largely hollow but I have been there and there are certainly tunnels and rooms built into it, it’s even part of a tourist attraction.
@Declan O’Neill: Operation Tracer.
@Tweed Cap: The tunnels are everywhere. I had the pleasure to spend 3 hours rummaging in the closed off WW2 tunnels and the restricted part is where munitions are stored to this day before being transported to conflict zones. Apparently, the low humidity and temperate climate is perfect for storing munitions. Most of the tunnels are open to the public as are some of the caves but getting access to the others is fascinating !
Great breakfast synopsis Sean cheers!
They voted for Brexit and people now want to exit- from the UK!
@Rathminder: Gibraltar actually voted against Brexit as they live mostly on tax fraud so it will be harder for them when off EU…
How is this news, one old fuddy duddy says something stupid and daft news outlets take it as government policy. This is a prime example of why there is a sector of our society has developed into state it is in, welcome to generation outraged.
My guess is that absolutely nothing will change in the way Gibraltar ans conduct their business. At worse they may need to add a new field or two to a database screen at their passport control booth at the border.
@Anthony Byrne: Everything will be more expensive. They have to import everything, and when free trade is over they will have to pay taxes.
@Andy K: things getting more expensive is a given, Everywhere.
@Andy K: no they will be subsidised by the UK. Look guys, Britain will NEVER give the Rock back to the Spanish, get over it.
One word for Gibraltar: KIP
How did you manage to write this “explainer” without mentioning the Spanish incursion yesterday? You barely mention Spain at all. You don’t mention that Spain only got serious about moaning about Gib under Franco even. Perhaps you should write it again. Properly.
Storm in a Teapot!
Britain PAID Spain for Gibraltar and it was signed over to the British- by the same logic Russia should be able to get Alaska back From the US!
Spain are in the wrong here!
If Spain forced 300,000 British pensioners to leave the frail Spanish economy would totally collapse , a boycott of Spain by British tourists would see Spain continuing to spiral towards chaos – the contagion could also see Deutsche Bank fall as it is barely keeping it’s head above water as it is!
British tourism keeps Spain afloat, only an imbecile would do anything to destabilise this!
@David Grey: Do you really think our economy is exclusively based on your British tourism? I am agree is a good thing for Spanish economy but so faaarr pal of be our salvation. Really, I love England, such a big nation. I think a part of you (leave voters) are reeeeally wrong. I think you all (that half peasant part of UK) are addressing the country towards a cliff.
@David Grey: Do you really think our economy is exclusively based on your British tourism? I am agree is a good thing for Spanish economy but so faaarr pal of be our salvation. Really, I love England, such a big nation. I think a part of you (leave voters) are reeeeally wrong. I think you all (that peasant part of UK) are addressing the country towards a cliff.
@Manuel Mancilla Hurtado:
No I don’t think the Spanish economy is solely based on Tourism -but I do know the Spanish economy is not capable of taking a huge hit such as the property market collapse and lack of tourist revenue that would ensue!
My opinion is not based on bias (I can’t stand the Tories)- it is based on economics!
Conflict with Britain would push the Spanish economy over the top & over the fiscal cliff- the contagion effect would also affect Europe and Britain as a whole!
This is all just posturing & rather stupid by both the Spanish and the British!
Hopefully Scotland & Northern Ireland will gain Independence sometime because of the Brexit madness!
Why not let them have a vote on it? If they have a Parliament then they probably will before brexit is complete.
It was never yours to keep give it back to Spain and try looking after your own messed up Country.
@Donal Carey: My country is not messed anymore, what is messed is your country from several flanks. From Scotland which want to leave you (something normal as you lately behave as peasants), Belfast same way, and maybe even Welsh hahahh really shut up u all a bit, ok? Have that part of UK that vote to leave and is insulting Spain read a book? Is a nice thing to do, you can learn all kind of stuff. Try pal! read! live! lol
The biggest factor here, which has gone unnoticed is that Gibraltar is a defacto tax haven which currently operates with an open border with Spain, thanks to its UK connection. This will have far more bearing on negotiations than a 200 year old treaty and the naval dockyard.
If Gibraltar doesn’t stay separate from Spain, where will Spaniards drive to in order to bank their black money?
Now isn’t it time that the Queen of England and King Felipe of Spain, sat down over a nice cup of tea and some cucumber sandwiches, and sorted out this whole Gibraltar debacle, before someone does something stupid.
@Blind Faith: The last time there was a King Philip and a Queen Elizabeth, it didn’t go well. Best tell Dingle to get ready for some more visitors.
@Blind Faith: No such thing as ‘the Queen of England’. There hasn’t been a Kingdom of England in over 300 years.
Let the British fleet and the Spanish Armada fight it out. I just want all Spanish and English boats out of our valuable fishing waters!
The Brexit Monkeys clearly have a fondness for Gibraltar’s monkeys.
Gibraltar should become its own country within the EU.
@Leitrim303: Of course, we can make of every region a country, or better of every city, no please wait, we could make a nation of every quarter in the city! lmao
The British will leave when the monkeys leave the rock!
Stupid wars are triggered by jingoistic sabre rattling.
Howard is a buffoon but it takes buffoons to light the fuses for wars.
For god’s sake, this is getting ridiculous. Michael Howard – aka Tory has-been, figure of ridicule (look up Rory Bremner’s impersonations of him), somebody who nobody takes seriously anymore – gobbed off because the EU have behaved like hypocrites. That’s all that has happened. Yes, really.
Yet people are acting as though Michael Howard’s braindarts are official announcements from HM Government. It’s an absolutely hysterical overreaction. The Journal’s getting as bad as the Grauniad – every brainfart from any rightwing crackpot put there (Melanie Philips, Katie Hopkins, etc) is being judged as though it represents the voice of the UK, and every Anglophobe out there is leaping aboard the bandwagon.
have your say