Hello! I was feeling very much on the brink of burnout at work so decided to take some time off before that happened. I just bought a house with my partner B and it was a long, stressful process. There is a massive housing crisis in Ireland right now and I feel beyond privileged that we’ve managed to get here.
Assets and Debt
Retirement Balance (and how you got there) I have €20k saved in a PRSA that I started when I was in my mid 20s, now focusing on my work pension where I save 7% of my gross pay and work match up to 4%. This is now at €31k
Equity if you're a homeowner (and how much you put down and how you accumulated that payment) We just bought a house so are now paying off a mortgage of €420k plus interest. In Ireland you need to put down 10% of the price - we essentially used the money we were saving for our postponed wedding plus we were able to save really aggressively over the last year.
Savings account balance €16,313 in house savings account (using this for house purchases like new appliances, paint job, any other tasks. B has a similar account so will cover some purchases from his account. €1,561 in our wedding savings account (trying to build this back up, once the painting job has been done, more than likely will move the balance into our wedding account as that’s the last BIG house job that needs to be done)
Checking account balance €924 in my bank and €87 in my revolut (used to be just small purchases but slowly becoming my regular account)
Credit card debt (and how you accumulated it) None, I have one for emergencies but tempted to cancel it.
Student loan debt (for what degree) College in Ireland is technically free and I came from a very privileged place in that my parents paid for my accommodation and main expenses while I was in college. I worked part time and used that money for social expenses.
Section Two: Income
Income Progression: I've been working in my field for 10 years, my starting salary was €25,0000 I think? It’s been a while and I was just happy after a long stint of unpaid internships to be getting paid at all.
Have you changed careers? Did you recently have a breakthrough in your career? Here is where you can tell us about your salary/job progression.
I became a manager in my mid twenties and was being paid really well (55k), I then moved cities and when I moved back to Dublin found it really hard to get a job that matched the level I was at. I took a job for 50k and was miserable. I lasted 6 months before taking a pay cut at another company (40k).The only way to get pay increases was to get promoted and I think it’s safe to say I worked my arse off to get an increase of 5k.
I started at my current job over two years ago at a salary of 65k, they have a more structured pay scale and review wages every year based on your performance which is why in the two years since I’ve started I’m now at 72k plus a 30% bonus based on revenue performance. I feel really lucky that I’m in this company and I know there’s no way we could have bought a house if I was still in my last role.
Main Job Monthly Take Home:
Net pay - €3,453
Deductions:
€1,390.60 Tax
€249.30 Universal Social Charge
€255.86 Employee PRSI
€720 Pension
€55.75 Bike To Work Scheme
Expenses
Mortgage - €900 (our full mortgage is €1,445 but I pay more as I earn more, the rest of the expense below we split 50:50)
Internet - €85
Life & Mortgage Insurance - €122
Home Insurance - €39
Electricity/Gas usually between €100-150 depending on time of year
Solo Expenses
Netflix - €12.99
Cinema Membership - €15
Patreon - €3
Now TV - €36
Spanish Tutor - €25 (per lesson and I buy a block of 5 lessons at time)
Saturday
8am I wake up and process the fact that I dreamt about moving. Move downstairs (still a novelty after living in an apartment!) to make a coffee and play some xbox.
9am B heads to the shops to get yogurt, I see The Guardian is doing a cute christmas food gift supplement so ask him to pick it up for me. He returns with the Guardian but the supplement is missing. Sad.
10.30am I put on a wash and make myself some porridge. Get a call from a painter to push out the job to next week. I'm a bit annoyed but feel like I have no other options here. Remember to drink some water. Spend some time cleaning up some plants in the garden
11.30am hang out the washing and head inside to change. I have a hairdresser appointment that’s about half an hour away by bus. I would usually walk as it’s a lovely day out but I hurt my ankle during the week so bus it is!
12pm Catch the bus, I’m still getting to know my new area and the new bus routes but make it in time for my hair appointment with a few minutes to spare. They sit me down with a coffee plus a biscuit and they get to work. Just a wash and a cut today so expect it won’t take too long.
1.30pm I emerge €55 lighter (I paid a deposit already of €20) and discover the day has turned grey and rainy. My new hair turns fuzzy and I take a bus back in the direction I just came from. I plan to meet a friend for brunch in an hour. To kill time, I take a look for some new house things in town but get a bit overwhelmed at how busy the shops are. Escape to the food hall to buy a few bits (€3.17). I head to the brunch place, stopping by at Marks and Spencer to collect a free loaf of bread via their reward app (not an ad).
2.30pm Meet at a place for brunch, they check our covid passes and take our contact details. I order fried chicken and waffles plus sparkling water. With tip it comes to €21. The food is delicious and we have a really nice catch up.
4.30pm We leave the restaurant, can’t believe it’s starting to get dark already! I top up my leap card (€10) and get on the luas which is super packed and not my ideal trip.
5pm I stop at a supermarket on the way home to get dinner ingredients €19.18. I’m not hungry due to the late lunch but I want to make a pasta sauce that’s a bit time intensive so I start prepping and cooking. I leave the sauce to simmer for 2 hours and also grill some chicken to make chicken wraps for B. At one point I put the washing into the dryer and fold it. I also drink a beer and read the paper from earlier.
9pm. It's a bit late but I eat my pasta, it was worth the wait. B heads onto a zoom with friends. I clean up a little but decide to call my mum and see how she’s doing. She’s a bit freaked out that a few of her friends have covid but she’s feeling fine so that calms her nerves a bit.
10pm Make tea and eat some chocolate truffles. Start to clean the kitchen but decide it can wait till tomorrow. Play some more xbox, I’m playing the re-released GTA Vice City which reminds me of being a teenager.
12pm I decide to go up to bed but start watching Tick Tick Boom on Netflix. Fall asleep at some stage, woken up by B coming to bed a few hours late.
Total Expenses: €108.35
Sunday
8am Woken up by B going downstairs, he wants to get going on an errand early. I get up and resume watching Tick Tick Boom, really enjoying it but feel watching it in bits and pieces is not how it’s intended to be viewed. Clean up the kitchen and put on Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip while I do this. There’s a lot to process in this show.
9.30am I have a piece of toast with butter and homemade blackcurrant jam (made by my dad). B arrives home with a doughnut for me. I'll save it for later. I have a quick body shower, make a coffee and decide to finally tackle the remaining boxes in our bedroom. I also organise my wardrobe properly and clean up the bedroom. Feels very productive and great to get a sense of what our bedroom is like. For the last few weeks, it’s felt like we’ve been staying in someone else’s house - we lived in our last place for 6 years so it feels strange to be somewhere else never mind OUR OWN (well the bank’s) place. I feel a familiar pang of stomach cramps, my period is here. The first day is usually the worst so I feel thankful that I don’t have any major plans today.
12.30pm Feeling hungry and tempted to venture out to somewhere nearby for brunch. Decide that yesterday was decadent enough and I should use what I have at home. Scramble an egg and eat it on toast with some red pepper hummus. Decide that the bedroom is tidy enough for my standards. I put on another wash and my cramps are getting worse. I take some paracetamol, make a hot water bottle and lie down for a while. B heads out for a walk.
2.30pm I emerge to hang out the clothes. I make another cup of coffee to go with my donut and continue to watch real housewives. I blog for a little bit and work on this money diary. B calls me from town to say he’s picked up a few bits on our house shopping list. Feeling blessed.
4pm B is home with a new dirty clothes basket for us plus some more hangers. I am feeling like a bit of a lazy potato so I decide to go for a walk. I ask B does he need anything, out of politeness more than anything else and he asks for ice cream. At least now I have a reason for my walk. I take the longer way to the shop as my foot is feeling better! I get ice cream for us both and a few other things for the freezer. €17.69. I walk home and put away the shopping.
5.30pm I take in the washing and put it into the dryer as it’s still a little damp. I put the oven on and prep brussel sprouts for roasting. As the oven is already on and I have three brown bananas that need to be used, I make baked oats. Put both the sprouts and oats in the oven to cook. Check on them after 20 mins (still getting used to the new oven) and wind up burning my hand. Ouch. I ice it.
6.30pm I take out the sprouts as they’re done, the oats seem not far away but I switch off the oven to let them finish in the residual heat of the oven. I put on water to boil for pasta. B has gone for a nap, the early start has clearly been too much.
I’m scrolling on instagram and notice a podcast I love who just released a book have a few copies left and are selling signed copies. I buy one €21.67
7.30pm I eat pasta with the magic sauce and some roasted brussels followed by some ice cream. B & I watch the latest season of Big Mouth but my cramps get the better of me and I head up to bed early with a hot water bottle. I finish Tick Tick Boom. I love it.
Total Expenses: €39.36
Monday
7am Wake up, I’m off this week so roll over and fall back asleep.
8.30am Decide to get up and clean up the kitchen. I usually leave for B but as I’m off I feel like being nice. I heat up baked oats for breakfast and eat with vanilla yogurt and some coffee. Watch Real Housewives of Melbourne while I eat. I’m so glad this franchise is back. I bring in our milk delivery.
10am I decide to walk into town as it’s a nice sunny day. I bring my empty sodastream canisters to the chemist to exchange for full ones. I exchange 4 and get 4 back, l also buy a dressing for my burn I stop in a pharmacy cause the burn on my finger looks a bit gross, they say it’s healing okay and recommend a dressing to put on it along with a plaster total comes to €73.30
11am I go to TK Maxx to see if I can pick up some bits for the house that we’re missing: I find a grater, palette knife, sieve, duster and I try to buy a knife but they won’t sell it to me as I don’t have ID. Going to have to go back as it’s a really nice knife. €30.95. I go to another shop to get a bathroom bin, a little basket to hold toilet paper, cake tins and an ice cream scoop. €28 - I will take these from my house savings account. I go to the food hall to pick up lunch bits. €8.99
1pm Arrive home and make myself a turkey sandwich for lunch with a cup of tea. I wrap up my finger and put away all our new house bits. I make another coffee and have a look through some recipe books. I want to find a good recipe to test out my new cake pans.
3pm I decide to make some chocolate chip cookies. I make the cookie dough and leave it to rest for a few hours, and will bake later.
4.30pm I decide to take another walk purely so I can continue to listen to a new podcast called Sweet Bobby.
5.30pm Arrive home to B heading into town to pick up a PS5 that he’s been waiting months for. I wash up my baking mess and play some more xbox.
7.30pm B arrives home with his new toy and starts to set-up. I get started on making dinner - beef stir fry and rice.
8.30pm We eat dinner and I put on a couple of cookies to bake. We settle in to watch the latest episode of Succession. The cookies are really delicious. After Succession, I convince B to watch the start of Tick Tick Boom, he agrees it’s good and that he will watch the rest….some day
10pm I head up to bed and read my book Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates.
Total Expenses: €141.24
Tuesday
7am Woken up by bins, roll over to try and fall back asleep but end up getting up anyway. I make coffee and eat baked oats and yogurt.
11am I’m not sure how I spent my morning to be honest. At one stage, I do shower but don’t wash my hair as I’m heading for a massage later and I know oil will get into my hair. I also update my budget spreadsheet and make a start on my gift list for Christmas in the hope that I will start to feel inspired. I am not.
12.30pm I make a turkey sandwich for lunch and another coffee. Try to then hydrate as I feel I’ve drank no water today. The eternal struggle
2.30pm I leave the house for my massage, it’s not till 4pm but I will get to use the pool and the like beforehand. On the way, a painter I’ve gotten a quote from confirms they’ll be at the house tomorrow morning which means once I get home we’ll need to move the furniture around to prepare for the walls to be painted.
3pm Arrive at the spa, spend a while in the pool and steam room before a massage and facial. Feeling extremely pampered. Also make use of the nice toiletries in the showers before I leave. €175 for my treatments
6.30pm Head home, feeling like a new woman.
7pm That feeling has disappeared because we’re trying to figure out how to move the furniture around to allow for enough space for the painters.
8.30pm Job somewhat done, I make a quick beef stir fry for dinner. I put some leftover curry sauce on mine. We finished off the latest series of Big Mouth and I enjoy it.
10pm I’m feeling very wiped, head up to bed but fall down a black hole on YouTube of SNL videos. B comes up to bed about an hour later.
Total Expenses: €175
Wednesday
7.30am Alarm goes off, we get up and move the bed out so the painters can access all the walls. We are grumpy. The weekly milkman bill comes out €7.
8am Painters arrive and get to work upstairs, B logs into work and I browse the internet while drinking a coffee. We got a quote from these guys a few weeks ago, they do seem to be expensive but they were able to get the job done before Christmas and they show up when they say they would. This seems to be rare for the people who were being recommended to us so we went with them. I know that people shared their advice with us out of goodness but I was getting really irritated especially as there’s so many variables (e.g. who supplied the paint, did they have to patch up the walls etc.). It reminded me of when we were planning our wedding and how people suddenly feel very free to share their thoughts and advice.
10am I call the furniture shop where we ordered our couch for a delivery update. No answer. Try again and this time I’m put through to voicemail so I leave a message. Decide to go out for a coffee and a sausage roll at the local coffee shop. They have no sausage rolls so end up going for a ham and cheese toastie €10.80 with tip.
10.30am I try to get more life admin done, contacting insurance brokers to make sure our new address is on file. They insist on getting us writing a letter asking for our address to be updated, this seems very archaic.
11.30am Painters seem to be getting on well upstairs, I’m looking forward to having this done. Think about walking into town but it starts lashing rain. I work on this diary plus read other money diaries. I have more period cramps so I take two nurofen.
12.30pm I take the luas into town to meet my uncle for lunch. The day has turned a little bit rainy. I meet him at an Italian place in town, I haven’t seen him since last Christmas. I have the minestrone soup and a tiramisu for dessert. Food is tasty but small portions, my uncle pays as a treat (I paid for our lunch once before and he got very very annoyed, it’s not worth it!) and as we say goodbye he gives me a housewarming gift of €250 euro. He’s far far too generous.
2pm I buy a thank you card for my uncle along with some birthday cards. €8.75. I also pick up a nice bracelet for my friend as it’s her birthday and I’m seeing her on Friday. €20
3pm Pick up another cake tin and a wooden spoon plus a new kitchen knife and a nice jumper that I think my sister will like for Christmas €47.
4pm I get the bus home to discover that the painters have finished up for the day, they will be back on Monday to continue and maybe even finish the job?! I am loving the colour and can’t wait for the whole house to be finished. I head back out to the shop to buy cake ingredients and pick up some bits for dinner €40.
5.30pm The newest season of Selling Sunset is out!! I settle in to watch it, B goes for a run. Fair play.
7.30pm I put some chicken into the oven and some readymade stuffing. We eat dinner, afterwards we watch the first episode of Hawkeye. Feels a bit meh.
10pm B plays playstation and I go upstairs to watch Selling Sunset. I realise there’s a hole in my leggings so I go onto Marks & Spencer’s site and buy two pairs of regular leggings and one pair of thermal leggings. €49
Total Expenses: €182.55
Thursday
9am I fear I’m getting too used to waking up without an alarm. I have a coffee but no breakfast as I'm not feeling very hungry and having an early lunch.
11am I take a walk into town to have lunch at one of my favourite places, I order scallion pancakes and dumplings. Sadly, it’s not as good as I remember €22 (didn’t give me an option to tip with a card). I have a walk around town, I pick up another birthday card that I forgot to get yesterday €4.75. I have a bit of a look for Christmas presents but still not feeling very inspired.
3pm I stop at a small coffee shop near us for a gingerbread latte as a treat for €4. Arrive home and write the cards that I bought.
5pm B heads out for a walk and I tackle some Spanish homework. I started to learn this during lockdown in March, I have a tutor that I do classes with every two weeks.
7pm I make a quick dinner of pasta and chicken and after we’re done, we watch some episodes of The Shrink beside me. Paul Rudd just keeps looking better and better!!
10pm Head to bed as I have a busy day tomorrow.
Total Expenses: €30.75
26th Nov
7am I’m up early to start making a cake for people coming over later. The recipe seemed a bit complex but is easy enough and I manage to get the cakes baked before my lesson at 8am.
9am I’ll finish the cake later, I’m visiting a friend at her new house out in Greystones. It’s a while away so I should leave now. I top up my leap card for the train and luas €20. I also pick up some pastries on the way so I’m not heading out empty handed €17.
12pm I’m pretty taken away by how pretty this train journey and Greystones is! My friend meets me at the station and we go to her house. I have a birthday present for her (bought during this week) and her little boy (bought last week) and spend a lovely afternoon with them.
4.30pm Head back to the city, managed to make it just before the real rush hour begins but drivers are definitely being a bit aggressive this evening! My transport there and back has been covered by my earlier top-up.
6pm Home via a stop off at the shop to get some bits for tonight, snacks plus some toilet paper €19.26 We’re having some friends over to watch the Late Late Toy Show which is an Irish tradition. It’s a bit of a “if you know, you know” scenario. B is cleaning the place and I make the icing for the cake. Manage to make it look vaguely presentable. I order us a takeaway so we don’t have to worry about cooking tonight €22.39. We wolf it down before our guests get here.
8pm Our friends arrive! It’s their first time seeing the house so we give them the grand tour.
8.05pm It is a very small house. We get drinks and start to catch up.
9.30pm Time for the Toy Show! It’s a nice night of drinking boozy hot chocolates, eating cake and shouting at the TV. Plus checking Twitter for memes.
12.30am Our friends head home, we try to clean up but decide it can wait for the morning.
Total Expenses: €175
Weekly Expense Total: €852.25
Food & Drink: €212.48
Clothes & Beauty: €279
Transport: €30
Other: €330.77
Reflection:
This was very much not a typical week for me, with the new house I’ve been a lot more spendy and the week off meant I was in very much a TREAT YOURSELF mode. I was worried that taking this week off would be a waste of my annual leave but it’s actually been so lovely to not have an agenda and to reconnect with myself.
Looking at my diary, I think I need to do some better meal planning as I went to the shop lots and lots of times.
Submitted by losingitness | #Specialdealer Special Offer Online Shopping Store 2016
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