TheJournal.ie reader 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.
My husband and I earn similar amounts but are only now trying to start saving properly by putting away around €1,000 per month split between my savings account and his credit union account. We've been struggling to save over the last couple of months though as we’re paying off a hefty credit card bill from a trip to Japan in September, and have had some unexpected costs including new tires for the car and a roof repair, plus general Christmas spending.
7:00pm: I take a spin up to Aldi for goodies after a hard day and come home with a packet of white chocolate and cranberry cookies and some fancy cheese which came to €4.20 altogether. I run on the treadmill for 25 minutes in the house, then have a dinner of a tortilla wrap pizza and some Quorn 'chicken' nuggets.Today's total: €7.15
5:35pm: Train is delayed so I jump on another, longer one that gets me in later than if I’d left work at normal time – commuter life. 1:15pm: We head back to the office after paying for brunch on the corporate card and get a FreeNow taxi back to the office for some meetings. 8:40am: We arrive into town on the Luas and pick up Starbucks coffee and Offbeat donuts for the film and into the cinema . The movie is ok - I’m not a SW fan and it was definitely a bit loud for me in my delicate state, but still glad I made it.
3:15pm: We jump back in the car for a look in Kildare Village. We’re not doing big presents this year, but I’m vaguely looking for a coat and a new pair of runners. I see a coat I sort of like but they don’t have it in my size, and it’s too much to pay for something that doesn’t fit perfectly. Leave it for now.
Friday 6:30am: I don’t know what day it is having been off yesterday, but I'm up and showered and out the door for the 7:20am train, with the dog fed and ready. We don’t have a dog walker today, but my in-laws will call in to take him out for a quick walk at some point. 5:00pm: I leave the office to get my nails done – they’re super fast but I realise they don’t accept credit card so I have to run to the ATM in the Spar next door. I have basically no money in my current account as I’ve moved it all to savings, so end up having to take €20 from my bank and €20 from my Revolut card. The nails come to €25 + €5 tip.
A talent acquisition manager? €70k +15% bonus and health insurance and pension. I regret going to college to become a dentist