{"id":629117,"date":"2026-08-09T20:48:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T20:48:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/629117\/"},"modified":"2026-08-09T20:48:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T20:48:14","slug":"money-diaries-a-receptionist-on-e30k-living-in-dublin-and-planning-to-move-to-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/629117\/","title":{"rendered":"Money Diaries: A receptionist on \u20ac30K living in Dublin and planning to move to Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"

WELCOME TO HOW I Spend My Money, a series on The Journal<\/a> that looks at how people in Ireland really handle their finances.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Are you a spender, a saver or a splurger? We\u2019re asking readers to keep a record of how much they earn, what they save if anything, and what they\u2019re spending their money on over the course of one week. If you\u2019re interested, send a mail to money@thejournal.ie. We would love to hear from you.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s be kind.<\/p>\n

Last time around, we heard from a financial administrator<\/a> in the west of the country. This week, a receptionist on \u20ac30k saving to move to Australia.<\/p>\n

\"download\"<\/p>\n

I\u2019m 27 years old and I live in Dublin. I work as a receptionist and I live in my dad\u2019s house, which saves me a lot of money in rent. My job is within walking distance to my house, which is handy, and I don\u2019t drive so I don\u2019t have big transport expenses. I\u2019m currently saving to emigrate to Australia with my boyfriend. I aim to save \u20ac100 to \u20ac150 a week, but that changes depending on whether I have expenses that I wasn\u2019t expecting, etc.<\/p>\n

I work full-time Monday to Friday, and I don\u2019t do much in my spare time during the week while I\u2019m trying to save as much as I can. After work, I usually relax and watch Netflix at home or go to the gym. I like to meet up with friends and my boyfriend at the weekends.<\/p>\n

Occupation:<\/strong> Receptionist<\/p>\n

Age:<\/strong> 27<\/p>\n

Location:<\/strong> Dublin<\/p>\n

Salary:<\/strong> \u20ac30,000<\/p>\n

Monthly Pay:<\/strong> \u20ac2,000<\/p>\n

Monthly expenses<\/p>\n

Rent:<\/strong> \u20ac350<\/p>\n

Groceries:<\/strong> \u20ac570<\/p>\n

Gym:<\/strong> \u20ac40<\/p>\n

Phone bill:<\/strong> \u20ac20<\/p>\n

Shopping:<\/strong> \u20ac150<\/p>\n

Entertainment:<\/strong> \u20ac50<\/p>\n

Savings:<\/strong> \u20ac450<\/p>\n

Netflix:<\/strong> \u20ac12<\/p>\n

SoundCloud:<\/strong> \u20ac8<\/p>\n

Transport:<\/strong> \u20ac30<\/p>\n

Eating out:<\/strong> \u20ac120<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Monday<\/p>\n

7.30am:<\/strong> I get up, have a shower and get ready for work. I tend to skip breakfast but I have some toast before walking to work. It usually takes me about 25-30 minutes.<\/p>\n

1.30pm:<\/strong>\u00a0Lunchtime. I brought some leftover stir fry with me, but I still went out to get a much-needed coffee. (\u20ac5.50<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

5.30pm:<\/strong>\u00a0Finish up for the day and head to the shop on my way home to buy groceries for today\u2019s dinner. (\u20ac21<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

6.00pm:<\/strong> I make myself some chicken curry and eat it while scrolling and texting my boyfriend.\u00a0<\/p>\n

7.00pm:<\/strong> Time for the gym. Sometimes it\u2019s hard to motivate myself to go in the evenings after working, but it\u2019s always worth it in the end.\u00a0<\/p>\n

8.00pm:<\/strong> Get home, have a shower and get ready for bed.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s total:<\/strong> \u20ac26.50<\/p>\n

Tuesday<\/p>\n

7.30am:<\/strong> Get up and do the same as yesterday before heading out the door.\u00a0<\/p>\n

1.00pm:<\/strong>\u00a0Didn\u2019t make anything, so I buy a sandwich and coffee on my break (\u20ac11.50<\/strong>). Remember the days when this cost less than a tenner?<\/p>\n

5.30pm:<\/strong> I go shopping after work again because I need a few things. First, groceries for the next few days cost \u20ac34.20<\/strong>. I also go to the chemist to buy some skincare that I ran out of. (\u20ac25<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

6.30pm:<\/strong> I come home, make dinner and chill out for the rest of the evening.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s total:<\/strong> \u20ac70.70<\/p>\n

Wednesday<\/p>\n

8.20am:<\/strong> I may have snoozed my alarm earlier. Get ready for work quickly and end up getting a taxi as I\u2019m running late. (\u20ac10.50<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

1.15pm:<\/strong> I brought lunch but buy a coffee on my break (\u20ac5.50<\/strong>). I see my gym membership came out of my bank account as well. (\u20ac40<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

5.30pm:<\/strong> Walk home. I debate whether to go to the gym this evening on my way but by the time I get to the door, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s going to happen.<\/p>\n

7.00pm:<\/strong> I make dinner with the groceries I bought yesterday and relax for the night.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s total:<\/strong> \u20ac56.00<\/p>\n

Thursday<\/p>\n

7.00am:<\/strong>\u00a0The usual routine. I make breakfast at home this morning then walk to work.\u00a0<\/p>\n

1.00pm:<\/strong> I spent \u20ac5.50<\/strong> on a coffee on my break, but I brought a wrap with me today for lunch.<\/p>\n

5.45pm:<\/strong> Pick up some groceries after work. This will last me for the weekend (\u20ac42.99<\/strong>). I got paid today so I put \u20ac100 into savings. I make some chicken pesto pasta for dinner, and I make extra so I have enough to bring with me for lunch tomorrow.<\/p>\n

7.30pm:<\/strong> Head to the cinema with my boyfriend. He\u2019s paying this time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

10.15pm:<\/strong> We saw the new Spiderman, which was pretty good. I felt pretty tired by the time it finished, though. Head home and fall into bed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s total:<\/strong> \u20ac148.49<\/p>\n

Friday<\/p>\n

8.40am:<\/strong> I\u2019m running late again this morning so, annoyingly, I have to get a taxi again. (\u20ac11.20<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

1.30pm:<\/strong> I brought the pasta I made yesterday with me for lunch, but I can\u2019t resist getting my usual coffee. (\u20ac5.50<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

5.30pm:<\/strong> I get home from work and start getting ready to go out again.<\/p>\n

7.45pm:<\/strong>\u00a0My boyfriend and I go out for dinner and drinks, which is a nice way to end the week. I spent \u20ac55<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

10.00pm:<\/strong>\u00a0We think about going on somewhere else for drinks, but neither of us is up for staying out late this evening so we split a taxi home, which costs me \u20ac15<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s total:<\/strong> \u20ac86.70<\/p>\n

Saturday<\/p>\n

8.30am:<\/strong> I get up and make breakfast and coffee for my boyfriend and I. We have a lazy morning.<\/p>\n

12.30pm:<\/strong> I head out for lunch and a nice catch-up with my friend. (\u20ac18.20<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

3.00pm:<\/strong> While I\u2019m in the mood, I put a wash on, hoover and mop, put clothes away and tidy up in general.<\/p>\n

7.00pm:<\/strong> I\u2019m not in the humour to cook, so takeaway it is. (\u20ac27.30<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s total:<\/strong> \u20ac45.50<\/p>\n

Sunday<\/p>\n

11.00am:<\/strong> I head out shopping for painting supplies to paint my room. It\u2019s something I\u2019ve needed to get around to doing for a while so finally bite the bullet. (\u20ac58<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

12.30pm:<\/strong> Get home and after making myself a wrap for lunch, I spend pretty much the rest of the day painting, waiting for it to dry and going over it again.<\/p>\n

5.00pm:<\/strong> I make chicken stir fry for dinner from the groceries I got in from the other day. Chat to my mam on the phone.\u00a0<\/p>\n

8.30pm:<\/strong> Finish painting and have a shower before laying out my clothes for the morning. Head to bed and scroll on my phone for a while until I fall asleep.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s total:<\/strong> \u20ac58.00<\/p>\n

Weekly subtotal:<\/strong> \u20ac491.89<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

What I learned –\u00a0<\/p>\n