IF YOU’VE EVER sat across the table from a financial adviser, you’ve probably heard some version of the phrase “cut the fat.”

In my work with clients, it’s something I come back to again and again. Whether it’s switching your mortgage, cancelling subscriptions you don’t use, or applying the “Rule of 72” mindset to avoid impulse spending, the idea is simple: make your money work harder for you, not for the banks.

That’s why the recent political focus on the Digital Euro matters more than most people realise.

With Ireland set to take on the EU Presidency in July, Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Robert Troy, has already signalled that progress on the Digital Euro will be a major priority.

To many people, that probably sounds like another piece of Brussels jargon, the sort of technical policy debate that never really affects your daily life.

However, after 25 years working in financial services, I can tell you that the Digital Euro could fundamentally change how Irish consumers interact with money.

And it’s not as complicated as it sounds.

Digital cash, not crypto

The first thing to understand is that the Digital Euro is not cryptocurrency. It isn’t Bitcoin or some speculative digital punt in the dark that swings wildly in value.

Instead, think of it as digital cash.

Right now, when you tap your debit card in a café or pay for groceries with your phone, you’re using what’s called........

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