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 an Irish man living in Melbourne with his family on $185,000 (€112,000). This week, a part-time administrator who is a carer for her son, who has a disability.

I’m currently a carer to my son, who has a severe disability, and I work part-time. I had two jobs before his arrival, but had to leave one. I only qualified for carer’s benefit this year as a result of the increase to the income limits. This will only last for two more years, and I hope the government stick to their commitment to remove the means test for carer’s allowance because I’ve had to take a loan out to buy a wheelchair-accessible car. If the government breaks their promise, I won’t be able to afford repayments.

My son needs 24/7 care, so we have nurses at night. They arrive at 11pm and leave at 7am, so we can get some sleep. It usually takes me a couple of hours to fall asleep when they arrive because stress doesn’t leave the body that easily.

We decided to build on land my husband already owned before I met him, and we took out loans to fund this. We then got an inheritance, which paid off a good chunk of the loan for the house. We still pay €600 a month, but this is halved between us now.

My husband earns more than I, so to make it equitable, he pays for the internet and ESB.

There are a lot of hidden costs when someone you love has a disability. We spent over €2,000 on parents’ accommodation in CHI in two years. It’s €18 per night to stay in the hospital in a single bed, but if you’re lucky, it’s only €10 a night to stay in the Ronald McDonald house.

It’s a brilliant service, and they prepare fresh, free meals. Nonetheless, between........

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