WELCOME TO HOW I Spend My Money, a series on The Journal that looks at how people in Ireland really handle their finances. 

Are you a spender, a saver or a splurger? 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. 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 28-year-old advertising account manager who has just moved to Australia. This week, a civil technician on €60K living in Leinster.

I’m currently living in a rural area in a county in the east of the country. We’re a one-income household consisting of myself, my partner and our two children – one in primary school and one in secondary school.

We don’t have much spare cash to save in any given month, but I try to put away about €30 a week towards emergency funds. I have a few pockets set up in a banking app to try to get enough together for things like car insurance and annual membership costs for the kids in GAA and football.

I run them daily, so it doesn’t feel like a pinch every week or month – they work out at about €60 a month. Most large outgoings (like a family holiday or vehicle repairs) usually have to be paid for with loans.

Extracurricular activities for the two kids add to the living costs, but they include all sports, so they are really important. Our vehicles are 16 years and 12 years old, and we don’t have any great hope of upgrading anytime in the immediate future. That generally means more repairs, though.

Occupation: Civil technician in a local authority

Age: 46

Location: East of the country

Salary: €60,200

Monthly pay (net): €3,326

Transport: €250 on two vehicles (or more if I have to travel for work/sports activities)

School transport: €120

Rent: We are co-living with my parents after returning to live in a family flat extension

Phone bill: Some paid for by work, additional phones are €40 per month

Health insurance: €90 but covers almost nothing. Have no health insurance for partner or kids yet

House insurance: €45 per month

Appliance insurance: €15 per month

Groceries: At least €650

Subscriptions: TV and broadband- €68; Amazon Prime – €11; Amazon Music – €6

Sports: €75 (GAA, football, swimming)

Music: €88

Homework club: €28

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Loans/Credit cards: €350-€1000 (this varies depending on whether or not we’ve used the credit cards)

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6.45 am: Get up and get the secondary school goer up and out. Breakfast at home. Get the younger one up, out and dropped to school at 9 am, then on to work.

11.00 am: Tea break. I brought fruit today and make tea at the tea station so no coffee for me!

1.00 pm: Lunchtime. I brought my own today, but forgot water and needed a snack for later so go to the shop. (€5)

5.00 pm: Finishing time, but have to catch up on files, so don’t get leaving till nearly 20 past. Traffic........

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