Money Diaries: This week, a 38-year-old teacher on €69K living in the south of the country and raising his two sons...
WELCOME TO HOW I Spend My Money, a series on The Journal that looks at how people in Ireland really handle their finances.
Last time around, we heard from a financial analyst on €81K who has recently moved from Ireland to London. This week, a 38-year-old teacher on €69K living in the south of the country. I do not remember the last time I had a day off when I wasn’t dealing with some issue. I haven’t had a foreign holiday since 2010. I set up a property company a number of years ago, mostly on tax advice but I did have ambitions of expanding it. I have put those plans on hold until I figure out what I want to do with my life. It is just about manageable what I have going on at the moment.
7.45 am: Nana arrives. Older boy stays home, at her house for the day. Younger man heads for preschool. 9.20 pm: Put the car charging. I’ve started using low-cost hours, my last electricity bill was high . For reference, I live in a small B3-rated, semi-detached house at the moment.Today’s total: €15.47
7.50 am: Leave for work. Listen to a music playlist. I rarely meet any other cars on my commute to work which is actually great! 8.30 pm: Downstairs and open laptop to get some work done on school jobs, company stuff and a break with the boys at mid-term. Television on in the background and stove is slow-cooking me. Plug in the car and set for low-cost hours charging again and pre-condition.
8.35 am: Grab a tea and clear a few jobs off my list before class starts. On supervision on my break today so working through until 1.15 pm.1.15 pm: Rush home to collect older boy from school. I like to collect him whenever I can on a Wednesday, which isn’t often. 6.00 pm: Neighbour calls with her child and all three watch some YouTube while we chat for a half hour.
9.45 pm: Rain has stopped and I fill up with timber for the stoves and charge the car, I don’t think the electric car will ever become mainstream for a number of reasons, this one is pretty special to drive but the price of electricity has gone through the roof like everything else. Public charging is a pain in the proverbials by the way.11.00 pm: Wrecked, up to bed and asleep within minutes.7.
1.15 pm: Lunchtime consists of the other half of the roll and a cup of tea. I work through lunchtime on a couple of jobs that need doing.3.10 pm: A class that needed cover doesn’t now, so I’m freed up to make a couple of school-related calls and email. 7.30 pm: Boys have a snack of brown bread, ham, strawberries and milk. Changed and upstairs for bed. Couple of stories and a chat before I say goodnight.
Friday 6.45 am: Up and shower but not in peace – I’m joined by my housemates! Get us all dressed in the one go, which turns into a wrestling match. 10.30 am: We all get dressed with the intention of going to the park but the rain makes our decision for us.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Money mentor shares how she cleared €15k debt in one year with money saving tipsIn the midst of the ongoing cost of living crisis, it's unsurprising that many people have ended up with debt - luckily money mentor Santis O'Garro shared her tips to clear it
Read more »
Wellness Diaries: Nicola Connolly, founder of Nunaïa | IMAGE.ieNunaïa founder Nicola Connolly shares her self-care insights, tools and rituals, from getting out in nature to turning off her phone.
Read more »
Holiday costs are on the rise, so how can you save money?Flights and accommodation are getting more expensive, but by booking cleverly you can make savings
Read more »
Northern Ireland energy customers begin to receive £600 paymentsMoney includes £400 payment from UK scheme and additional £200 in recognition of North's dependence on home heating oil
Read more »
Ronan O’Gara’s former teammate rejects claim that he ‘fleeced’ the Munster legend in pub ventureJohn O’Driscoll, a former teammate of Ronan O’Gara who the Munster rugby legend accused of having “fleeced” him, has rejected allegations that he misappropriated money.
Read more »