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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 stay-at-home mother in the South East who has left work after maternity leave. This week, a medical student on €20K living in Munster.
I’m a 28-year-old medical student. I’m renting a house share with no saving goals. It’s been a huge adjustment from having a permanent full-time job to being back to the books, and I appreciate many might consider this a backwards step, but the experience so far has been challenging and incredibly rewarding and I’m very happy with my decision so far.
Obviously I don’t have the disposable income I once had and financial security has gone out the window, but I consider myself very fortunate that I can work part-time with my previous qualification and that gives me a bit more financial independence. Spare time is a luxury at the moment, but down time involves running, hiking, reading and meeting up with friends when I can!
Occupation: Medical student
Age: 28
Location: Munster
Salary: ~20,000
Monthly pay (net): Variable ~€650 this month (have some savings from working full time to supplement this for rent + loan)
Transport: €150 (petrol and Leap card)
Rent: €550
Household bills: ~€100
University fees: ~€15,500 annually (student loan pays for this)
Student loan: €340/month
Phone bill: €12 month – my mum pays for this and I pay for her Spotify
Health insurance: €70 (paid upfront)
Counselling: €140 a month but paid weekly
Groceries: ~€200/month
Subscriptions: iCloud storage – €2.99/month, gym membership – €295 for academic year (~€36 per month paid upfront), Spotify – €10/month (on a family plan and I pay my share and mum’s)
***
6.30 am: The alarm goes off. Make tea in my to-go cup and walk to campus.
7.10 am: Arrive in the library and get started with learning and doing presentation prep. Update the calendar and remember that it’s Valentine’s Day on Friday. I order a card online for my partner (€5.49 including delivery). I reasoned my purchase that it’s a lovely Irish company – plus the card is hilarious, so I know we’ll both get a laugh!
1.00 pm: Lunch (from home). Fruit and a sandwich and yogurt keeps me going. I spend the rest of the afternoon between lectures, doing a presentation and group learning.
5.00 pm: Class booked in the gym (it’s free to book classes when you have a membership). Do the HIIT class for 45 minutes. Afterwards, run into the shop to get a bottle of water and a cup of tea (€5.70). I forgot my water bottle and it pains me to buy single-use plastic.
6.00 pm: Meet my friend to review some material for an upcoming exam.
7.00 pm: Walk home and cook some dinner. I prep breakfast and lunch for tomorrow as well.
8.00 pm: Study for a few hours.
10.15 pm: Grab a shower, do my skincare and head to bed.
10.30 pm: Finish my book - ’The Bee Sting’ by Paul Murray. The story is told by four different narrators so it took me a while to get into. I thought it was excellent overall though and glad I stuck with it!
Today’s total: €11.19
7.00 am: Get up and get ready for the day tea in to go cup and walk to college work for a few hours learning/revising!
1.00 pm: Lunch at the desk – rice salad I made last night. The grocery shop tomorrow means I have to use up what I can!
2.00 pm: Get started on what will be a long day of study and practicals.
7.00 pm: Finish up my studies and go for a run with a friend. 10km on the cards which was a nice chatty pace!
8.15 pm: Call my partner on the walk home and catch up on our day. Get some dinner and a shower afterwards. Make a shopping list for tomorrow. I have to use the car tomorrow so I will get the groceries while I’m out.
10.15 pm: I’m wrecked. Treat myself to hot chocolate and settle down with a book in bed – ‘Kala’ by Colin Walsh.
Today’s total: €0.00
7.30 am: Alarm gets me up and I get ready for the day.
8.30 am: Meet up with a friend for an Americano (€3.60). The coffee is delicious and we walk to college together. Do some studying for a bit.
11.00 am: Appointment (paid in advance). €2 parking charge.
3.00 pm: Counselling session (€35). Initially, paying for this felt like a splurge but I know in the long term it is worth the investment. Have a good session and walk back to campus for lectures feeling better!
5.00 pm: Do the grocery shop on the way home. I’m a slave to the Dunnes vouchers, so €10 off brings it to €49.56. I pick up enough to do some meal prep over weekend and freeze a few dinners to have on standby.
5.30 pm: I cook dinner and prepare my breakfast and lunch for tomorrow. Do some laundry as well and call my parents for a catch up.
6.30 pm: Catch up on study.
11.30 pm: Late finishing up, so no time for reading tonight. Straight to sleep!
Today’s total: €90.16
7.30 am: Alarm goes off. I slept terrible so I resort to making a coffee larger than my head. Do some more revision for an upcoming exam and teaching sessions today.
12.00 pm: Spend the day attending lectures and revising with friends.
5.00 pm: Head back to the house to eat a super late lunch of salad, yogurt and overnight oats.
8.15 pm: Run a 7km speed session.
9.00 pm: Head to the gym for a spin class. Super late but felt very sedentary today (aside from the run of course!). I reluctantly pay €2 for bottle of water in the gym.
9.45 pm: Walk home, get a shower and cook a quick dinner.
11.00 pm: Bedtime.
Today’s total: €2.00
7.30 am: Alarm goes off and the usual morning routine ensues.
8.30 am: Head to the shop and pick up some vegetables for dinner (€4.11).
9.00 am: Lectures for the rest of the morning.
1.00 pm: Finished for the weekend!
2.00 pm: Head to work. I try to avoid working during the week but I’m grateful to have some extra hours banked!
6.15 pm: Drive home to see my partner, which is the highlight of my week! I stop for fuel on the way (€91.61). The car was running on fumes at this stage.
8.30 pm: Home at last! We make a quick pasta dish for dinner and watch ‘Apple Cider Vinegar’ on Netflix (partner has a subscription). I fall asleep so might have to rewatch.
Today’s total: €93.78
7.00 am: Alarm sounds, shower is had, breakfast is eaten.
7.45 am: Leave for work.
8.20 am: Go to Lidl for some fruit, cereal bars and a wrap for my lunch later. I was too tired to prepare a anything last night! (€9.31)
8.30 am: Get started on my 12-hour shift at work. It’s a busy day, but a busy day means no time to spend!
9.30 pm: Get home. I make a quick dinner and chill on the sofa.
10.30 pm: Call it a day and head to bed.
Today’s total: €9.31
10.00 am: I didn’t sleep great so I had a little lie in.
10.30 am: We go to a local coffee shop for a quick caffeine hit. My partner kindly pays.
11.00 am: Return home and we do some chores around the house – cleaning, hang some artwork and meal prep for lunches and dinners for the week. I always aim to have a dinner or two in the freezer for the busy days/when we’re too tired to cook!
2.00 pm: I drive back to my university accommodation and spend the rest of my afternoon and evening studying.
Today’s total: €0.00
***
What I learned –
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Oh great!!! Up those rents and property prices fast. The price of living in cool should not be under priced
A once proud working class area now populated with weirdos with skintight jeans with no socks, eating avocado and drinking soy lattees, what has working class Dublin become.. Sad to see
@Jonny: It’s called getting older, Jonny.
@Jonny: I can imagine someone from the 60s describing the 70s or 80s like that ha
@Jonny: get with the programme grandad
Jaysus, if they found a cure for cancer the comments section here would be full of people moaning that it’s putting doctors out of business, what about AIDS, that money could have gone towards the homeless etc. etc. etc.
@Kem Trayle: I know that positive nature of our fellow islanders can be a little overwhelming.
Isnt this where there is a prison housing the lowest of the low?? Lol
@Thomas: yeah but in fairness they’re not exactly hangin’ out with the locals
@Liam Carlin: I bet they are on their release days. Every other weekend like!!!
Just here for the positive comments where we graciously recieve a nice accolade, even if a bit subjective
@LynchTrea: that’s what’s so great about being Irish. The almost sickening positivity of the people. Say something nice, we’ll graciously receive the comment and return one. Not look for any possible way to detract from it or cheapen it’s worth.
That’s what’s so great about being Irish.
Lagos???!
Surely Birr is cooler. I’ll get my coat!
@Ciarán Mac Cormaic: I think a lot of them missed that one Ciaran
@Ciarán Mac Cormaic: and Crinkle Crisps an added bonus!!!!
It is true though that it’s still affordable: even the poorest millionaires can still buy houses there.
So hell holes are cool?
There is nothing authentic or original about hipster clones with beards and skinny jeans sitting outside overpriced cafes offering virtue signaling opinions for all to hear. In fact, its very uncool and boring.
Who makes up this shite? Seriously
@David Gannon: Absolutely right David. Did you ever hear such Bollox
@David Gannon:
Estate Agents.
@David Gannon: Conor McCave. It’s right there at the end of the article.
Stay positive dude.
I must be the only one who thinks the area in and around stoneybatter is a kip!
@Stevie Doran: no Stevie, you’re not alone there!
I live there , and within a year since the DIT and student accommodation came in the yuppies arrived. All the old style pubs converted for the new kids in town.
have your say