A single mother's financial journey: Navigating life in Kildare, Ireland.
The Story:
This week, we delve into the life of a 35-year-old medical administrator, a single mom to a two-year-old girl, who resides in Co Kildare. She works part-time, approximately 24 hours a week, and manages her finances meticulously. She saves €50 weekly, allocating €40 to her credit union and €10 for her daughter's future. Her financial strategy involves using Revolut's 'pockets' feature to allocate funds for various expenses, ensuring she stays on track.
The Challenge:
Childcare and housing are her biggest expenses, but she's determined to save. She acknowledges her privilege in receiving support from the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and social welfare, but still faces financial challenges. This diary provides a snapshot of her week, offering insights into her spending and saving habits.
Monday:
Her day starts with porridge for her daughter and coffee for herself. She drops her daughter at crèche for half a day, costing €175.50 per month, and meets a friend for brunch (€20.45). After tidying up, she collects her daughter and prepares a freezer meal for dinner.
Tuesday:
Breakfast is porridge with a Nutella twist. She listens to a podcast while tidying, then scrolls through TikTok, noticing subscription charges for Spotify, Netflix, and Clear Mobile. She makes homemade soup for lunch and plays with her daughter. Dinner is chicken curry, and she ends the day with some TV time.
Wednesday:
A busy work day begins with no breakfast. She brings lunch from home and buys medication and toiletries (€18.33). After work, she collects her daughter, gets petrol (€20), and pays for heating (€60). Dinner is leftover chicken curry, followed by TV and an early bedtime.
Thursday:
Another work day, followed by picking up her daughter and buying a parking ticket (€15). Dinner is spaghetti bolognese. She transfers €200 to Revolut, allocating funds for car insurance, Christmas, holidays, and a rainy-day fund. Her savings strategy keeps her organized.
Friday:
The boss treats the team to coffee and pastries. She grabs lunch with a colleague (€11.14) and heads home to heat up dinner. She pays her HAP contribution (€120) and saves €40 for herself and €10 for her daughter. She stays up late to watch Grey's Anatomy.
Saturday:
A lazy morning turns into a cinema trip (€1 for kids' screening). They enjoy scrambled eggs and toast, and she prepares a slow-cooker meal. They shop at Aldi (€53.62) and Lidl (€11.14) for groceries and snacks. After a family visit, they have pizza for dinner and an early bedtime.
Sunday:
A late breakfast leads to a play center visit (€10.50). She meets a friend, enjoys coffee (€3.40), and juice for her daughter (€1.80). Lunch is a toastie for her and scrambled eggs for her daughter. They play and clean, then try a TikTok kebab recipe for dinner. The day ends with bath time and an early night.
Weekly Reflection:
She feels proud of her savings, despite childcare and housing costs. Revolut helps her stay organized, and she considers switching Wi-Fi providers to save on Netflix. She's open to improving her money management skills, inviting readers to share their thoughts on her financial journey.
