Money Diaries: A part-time administrator who is a carer for her son, who has a disability

15 Mar 2026, 20:00 by The Journal reader, https://www.thejournal.ie/author/the-journal-reader/ · TheJournal.ie

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

Are you a spender, a saver or a splurger? 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. 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 an Irish man living in Melbourne with his family on $185,000 (€112,000). This week, a part-time administrator who is a carer for her son, who has a disability.

I’m currently a carer to my son, who has a severe disability, and I work part-time. I had two jobs before his arrival, but had to leave one. I only qualified for carer’s benefit this year as a result of the increase to the income limits. This will only last for two more years, and I hope the government stick to their commitment to remove the means test for carer’s allowance because I’ve had to take a loan out to buy a wheelchair-accessible car. If the government breaks their promise, I won’t be able to afford repayments.

My son needs 24/7 care, so we have nurses at night. They arrive at 11pm and leave at 7am, so we can get some sleep. It usually takes me a couple of hours to fall asleep when they arrive because stress doesn’t leave the body that easily.

We decided to build on land my husband already owned before I met him, and we took out loans to fund this. We then got an inheritance, which paid off a good chunk of the loan for the house. We still pay €600 a month, but this is halved between us now.

My husband earns more than I, so to make it equitable, he pays for the internet and ESB.

There are a lot of hidden costs when someone you love has a disability. We spent over €2,000 on parents’ accommodation in CHI in two years. It’s €18 per night to stay in the hospital in a single bed, but if you’re lucky, it’s only €10 a night to stay in the Ronald McDonald house.

It’s a brilliant service, and they prepare fresh, free meals. Nonetheless, between accommodation and parking fees, it all adds up.

I have a stepson as well, my husband pays maintenance for him, and because I want to contribute to his upbringing, I buy clothes when he needs them.

Occupation: Part-time administrator

Age: 36

Location: Leinster

Salary: €1,100 fortnightly

Monthly pay (net): €2,200

Domiciliary care allowance: €360 (monthly)

Carer’s benefit: €270 per week

Monthly expenses

Transport: €150

Rent: Loan to pay off the house – €300 (my half)

Car loan: €600

Household bills: Bins – €150 (my half – annually), oil – €1,000 per year (I pay €500), phone bill: €15

Health insurance: My husband gets this through work

Groceries: €200 every fortnight (I pay €100)

Subscriptions: Netflix – €12, Hayu – €7, meds – €20, gym – €600 p.a. (I got this as a birthday present from my family last year, and I’m kind of hoping they’ll do the same again this year), charity donations - €30

***

Monday

7.00 am: I get the handover from the nurse. My son had a bit of an unsettled night, but is sleeping now, so I let him be. It’s a bank holiday, but I have a dentist’s appointment in the city, so instead of having a chill day I’ll drive up for that. I’ve been diagnosed with PTSD because we nearly lost our son, and his ongoing health issues are obviously distressing. I’ve been to therapy, I’m on meds, and I’m exercising more to help, but I had a bout of panic attacks this weekend, so I’m not feeling the best today.

11.00 am: I’m in the car on the way to the city.

2.00 pm: Out of the dentist. I need new shoes, so I’ll go buy a pair while I’m in the city. There’s a sale on, so I also buy some clothes because I’m feeling sorry for myself
(€150 in total). I stop for some coffee and a crêpe as well (€14).

4.00 pm: Home, and my husband gets us a takeaway.

6.30 pm: We watch the new Game of Thrones spin-off show, which is very good. We also get some Taskmaster in before the nurse arrives at 11pm.

11.30 pm: Bed – I doomscroll for an hour before finally falling asleep.

Today’s total: €164.00

Tuesday

7.00 am: Get the handover from the nurse. I pop the kettle on and have porridge with fruit and seeds.

8.00 am: We get free childcare from Jack and Jill. They are absolute heroes: without their support, I wouldn’t be able to work or have any social life.

9.00 am: I’m out with the dog and buy an Açai bowl and a matcha on our way. I’m obsessed with these and because life is hard, I don’t mind treating myself! (€12.70)

10.00 am: I have to stop at the pharmacy to get some Calpol for my son. I also get some paracetamol, as well as multivitamins for my stepson. (€51.15)

11.00 am: The filling I got yesterday came loose last night, so I have to spend two hours in the car again today travelling to get it fixed. I’m raging! It better be free of charge. (It was).

2.00 pm: The car is empty, so I fill it. (€60)

7.00 pm: Steak and spuds for dinner. Hang out with the hubby and then we watch our shows.

11.00 pm: Head to bed after the nurse arrives, but I don’t sleep until 1am.

Today’s total: €123.85

Wednesday

7.00 am: Get up to leave the nurse off and then get back into bed. I snooze until 9.30am then up again. Have some breakfast and do some laundry.

10.30 am: Have an occupational therapy appointment with my son.

12.00 pm: Jack and Jill nurse arrives. I can only work 18.5 hours while on carer’s benefit, but because we had a bank holiday, that means I have an even shorter work week!

12.30 pm: Grab a coffee, a protein bar, the paper and a beloved Açai bowl (€18.50). This is followed by two meetings back to back

4.30 pm: Get home and start the dinner – roast chicken today.

5.00 pm: Meds. My son needs about seven meds a day, twice a day. I was surprised at the amount of paperwork that comes on top of the physical side of caring. I order more equipment and up-to-date prescriptions.

6.30 pm: Shower my son. Although he’s only four, he will always be completely dependent on us.

7.30 pm: I start to feel sick so go lie down.

11.00 pm: Nurse arrives and I’m off to bed.

Today’s total: €18.50

Thursday

7.00 am: Up and porridge again.

Friday

7.00 am: Up, do some laundry and eat some porridge.

8.30 am: Work, work, work.

12.30 pm: Go for a matcha and a beloved Acai Bowl. (€12.70) Buy birthday balloons and a cake for my step-son. We already bought his present, but I buy him a few more small things. Also pick up some cat food (€60.50)

1.30 pm: Walk the dog.

2.30 pm: More work. I’m lucky to have flexible hours.

6.00 pm: Dinner. Spend some time with the kids afterwards, then do some housework.

7.00 pm: Go and get my hair cut. (€40)

11.00 pm: Bed.

Today’s total: €113.20

Saturday

8.00 am: Not much of a lie-in, but beggars can’t be choosers. Sort breakfast and up with the kids.

3.00 pm: Party time for birthday boy.

6.00 pm: Stop to pick up a few groceries on the way home (€21.50). We ate at the party, so no need for dinner.

11.00 pm: After an evening of decompressing, bedtime.

Today’s total: €21.50

Sunday

11.00 am: Breakfast in bed.

12.00 pm: I have a conference for the next few hours, but it has the option to join online, which I take advantage of. It means I save on travel and lunch (and probably pints!).

3.00 pm: Conference finishes.

5.00 pm: Meet my friend for a walk with the dogs before coming home to a homemade dinner.

11.00 pm: Bed.

Today’s total: €0.00

Weekly subtotal: €441.05

***

What I learned -

This was an unusually expensive week with birthdays, shoes and haircuts, but there’s always something ‘unusual’ that needs to be paid for.

I squirrel money away constantly and swear by this. I have pockets of money for car insurance, bills and savings (that I usually use for Christmas). Spare change goes into the car insurance pocket alongside €10 a month and €15 into bills. If I randomly have a surplus, I’ll top these up some more. I have one for my son as well, which is only for any surprise medical expenses. I put the annual carer’s grant straight into this.

A few months ago, the government decided against giving disabled people and carers a one-off winter payment. This is despite the budget leaving many of us less well-off. We would have used that money to pay our electricity bill, which is now three times higher because my son is on an oxygen concentrator more often. If we had a mortgage, we’d be drowning, so I can only imagine how difficult it is for other carers.

I used to spend €20 a month getting my eyebrows tinted, but I bought a set, and I just do it at home now for free. Look after the pennies and the pounds will mind themselves!

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