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 production manager on €78K living and working in Co Meath. This week our reader is extending her maternity leave for a little longer.

I’m currently enjoying time out of the workforce to stay at home with my son. I considered going back to my marketing job when he turned one, but unfortunately, my employer wouldn’t allow a part-time role, and with my husband running his own farm and my workplace an hour’s commute away, we decided it would suit our family best for me to stay at home. 

We are extremely lucky that we own our small house having saved ferociously to buy it mortgage-free. We spent years living with family to save money, and Covid lockdowns were of significant help to my savings account especially! My husband is very money-conscious, much more than I am, but I have managed to adjust to just the odd splurge so that I can have this precious time at home with my boy.

You don’t have to do much to entertain a toddler: we like to go to the park, beach, or simply potter around on the farm. A lot of people are surprised at my decision to stay at home instead of going back to work, but the break from working life is honestly refreshing and I know I’m really lucky that we can afford to do this.

Being a stay-at-home mam has its own challenges, but it’s so worth getting to be the one who watches him learn and grow every day and I’m really enjoying it (with the exception of our sleep troubles – which you’ll read more about!).

Occupation: Stay-at-home mother

Age: 36

Location: South East

Salary: None

Monthly pay (net): My husband puts €1,700 into an account for me to pay for groceries and household expenditures and anything I might need for myself and our son. 

Children’s allowance: €140 per month

Transport: €80 approx on diesel for my car

Household bills: Husband pays for the electricity and home heating, I pay for the broadband €53. We bring our rubbish to the local recycling centre as needed, a boot load is just €5

Phone bill: €35 – I need to shop around for a better deal as I think I can get better value 

Health insurance: None

Groceries: €650 approx

Subscriptions: Netflix – €8.99, Spotify – €11.99

Gym membership: €300 for six months – paid in October

Hair and eyebrows: I get these done every two months, €160 

If there’s any big expenditure like car repairs/insurance/a holiday my husband will generally take care of those unless I have a surplus in my account. 

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7.30 am: Up after a terrible night’s sleep. Our toddler goes through bouts of not sleeping and we are currently in the midst of sleepless nights yet again. He woke at 3 am and refused to go back to sleep – something I don’t discover until I take out my earplugs and emerge from the spare room in the morning. Delirious husband hands him over and heads to work. I make a coffee in my new Sage coffee machine that I was gifted at Christmas (highlight of my mornings!) and after an hour, the little man finally caves in to sleep. Usually on Mondays, I give the house a decent clean, but I’m sucked into a book and decide to make the most of this unexpected long nap time by reading for an hour while eating breakfast of egg and toast and fruit.

10.00 am: Reality hits so I get........

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