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

Are you a spender, a saver or a splurger? We’re looking for readers who will keep a money diary for a 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 fintech worker on €55k living in Dublin. This week, a part-time customer assistant living in Munster with her family. 

We’re a family of four living in Munster. After a few years of saving and the generosity of our closest family and friends when we got married, we were able to buy a house at the start of the year. We had one major job to do and that pretty much drained the rest of our savings. We’re starting from scratch, €200 each a month for now as there are still bits we need/want to get for the house. In the next couple of years, we would like to do up the garden and put a decent shed in it. All the big expenses come out of my husband’s account while I cover the car loan, petrol for my car and groceries.

Occupation: Husband is a hotel manager and works an average of 45-50 hours a week, I work in retail as a part-time customer assistant doing about 25-35 hours a week

Age: Late 30s

Location: Munster

Salary: Husband – €55,000, me – €25,000

Monthly pay (net): My husband is paid €3,700, I get paid weekly, an average of €450, child benefit €280

Transport: All expenses are for two cars: insurance – €1,000 a year, tax – €400 a year, petrol – €400 monthly, car loan – €360 monthly (3.5 years left), tyres, services etc are roughly about €700 a year

Rent: Mortgage and protection – €1,350

Household bills: Home insurance – €400 for the year, electricity – €110 a month, bins – €35, gas – €38 bottle refill (so far, two full months on the one bottle – hob only, electric oven)

Phone bill: €64 for two phones

Health insurance: Husband’s covered by employer, I don’t have any

Pension: Only just signed up for the basic 3% 3% with the company works out at just over 10 per week, need to look into AVC, didn’t get much info at work just a form to sign, husband’s 195 monthly, employer matches that

Groceries: Roughly €600-€800

Subscriptions: Broadband – €30, Netflix – €15, Spotify – €20, Xbox – €15, YouTube – €12

Kids’ activities: €40 a month, €180 per school year for the older child, €8.80 a week for school lunch, pocket money could be anywhere between €0 to €40 depending on how much they want to help out at the........

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