Money Diaries: A psychologist on €140K living in the east of the country

22 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 a part-time administrator who is a carer for her son, who has a disability. This week, a psychologist on €140k living in the east of the country.

I’m a psychologist in my early 40s, working in private practice and living in the east of the county. I’m also a single mother with three young children. We fled domestic violence, so I don’t receive income from my ex. As part of my job, I take research trips to Zurich once a fortnight. As it’s for work, all expenses are paid.

Occupation: Psychologist

Age: 40s

Location: East of the country

Salary: €140,000

Monthly pay (net): I pay taxes through my limited company, so it usually works out around €8,000 after expenses, etc.

Monthly expenses

Childcare: €0. I rely on my parents (very lucky, I know)

Petrol: €350 per month

Food shopping: €900 per month

Credit union loan: €320 per month

Phone: €55 per month

Kids clubs and activities: €450 per month

Clothes for myself: €20-€30 per month

Kids’ clothes and shoes: €200 per month

Household bills: €300 per month

Gym/pool membership: €120 per month

Mortgage: Don’t have one – built the house four years ago on family land and used savings and money from shares I sold through work

Savings: I put approx. €2,000 per month into the credit union for my kids

Car: €0 – I paid it off last year to my absolute joy

Pension: Currently €0 – I need to get this sorted

Health insurance: Paid by work

***

Monday

6.00 am: Start the day. I get a quick run in with the two dogs and let the hens out. Shower and change once I’m back in the house then get to work on the laptop.

8.00 am: Wake the kids up and get some breakfast. We have fresh pancakes each morning (I’m not a great cook, but I do do a decent breakfast!).

9.00 am: Drop the kids to school.

9.30 am: Back to the laptop. I’m reading over a report and a presentation for work tomorrow.

12.00 pm: Zoom calls aplenty this afternoon. I keep the head down as I have a work trip tomorrow. Sadly, this means I didn’t get lunch.

3.00 pm: Pick the kids up from school. Their grandmother is over today, so she’s able to get snacks and food sorted while I finish a work project.

6.00 pm: Laptop off. I bring the kids to the park for a quick trip and stop off at the shop on the way back for some dinner bits (€38).

7.00 pm: Dinner is a stir fry.

8.00 pm: Baths are had by all followed by bedtime for all, including me. So tired.

Today’s total: €38.00

Tuesday

4.00 am: Early start this morning as I’m heading off to Zurich. This is my second year of flying over quite often, so I kind of don’t mind the early starts. I’m fortunate in that I get to carry out research at a university in the city, all paid for by them. My mother comes to stay at mine once a fortnight when I fly over.

5.00 am: Get to the airport. I manage to get a good car parking space, which I’m so glad about as it is lashing.

8.00 am: Time to fly.

11.00 am: Get to the office and it is a full-on day.

1.00 pm: Quick break for soup and sandwiches.

6.00 pm: After I long day, I head out for drinks with work mates.

8.00 pm: Pizza followed by an early night.

Today’s total: €0.00 (covered by work – phew)

Wednesday

5.00 am: Another early start. Today it’s to finish a report. I’m never away from this laptop, sadly.

8.00 am: I have some breakfast followed by an hour at the gym.

9.00 am: Into the office for a full day of meetings.

2.00 pm: Quick stop for a sandwich before I’m back at it.

6.00 pm: Close the laptop and say my goodbyes. I head off for a swim at the hotel. I already know it will be an early night and room service in bed for me today.

7.00 pm: Room service costs €68. Wow. I cover this.

8.30 pm: I’m asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow so quickly

Today’s total: €68.00

Thursday

9.00 am: Have a lie-in to make up for those early starts. Eventually get up and start getting ready to head to the airport. I’m so glad to be heading home.

2.00 pm: I’m finally home. I remember I have lasagna in the freezer, along with some chips and garlic bread. Piece of heaven.

3.30 pm: Pick up the kids.

4.00 pm: We fit in a quick park trip.

5.00 pm: Do some shopping for a party this weekend. (€112)

7.00 pm: Lasagna for us all with loads of salad and veg. We were all starving.

8.30 pm: Quick baths for all and bed at 9pm, which is a bit of a late one for us.

Today’s total: €112.00

Friday

5.00 am: Get up and head out for a run. I needed this badly. The dogs were over the moon too.

Saturday

5.00 am: Another early-morning run to start the day. So happy I didn’t press snooze today.

9.00 am: The kids slept in as they were exhausted. I Revolut my mom to pick up a few bits for us in the shop (€30). Breakfast of pancakes follows.

11.00 am: I drop the kids to the party.

1.00 pm: Meet some friends for lunch (€28). It was lovely catching up, just what I needed. I head home to lie down for an hour (I should be finishing a report, but I just lie on my bed in peace).

4.00 pm: Kids all arrive home from their party with granny. She took them out for a few treats, the lucky ducks.

6.00 pm: Pizza order again. We are too tired to make dinner tonight. (€60)

7.00 pm: We do some colouring and reading together.

9.00 pm: All in bed, knackered as always

Today’s total: €118.00

Sunday

6.00 am: My alarm goes off, and it’s time to clean out hens. I do this every Sunday. Job done, I go for a run with the dogs – and of course, now it starts lashing.

8.00 am: Time for breakfast. Pancakes for the kids and a smoothie for me.

12.00 pm: Have a shower and get ready to head to my best friend’s for Sunday lunch. I grab two bottles of wine and some desserts on the way. (€55)

4.00 pm: Back home, and get the swimming gear for us all.

5.00 pm: Swimming. We do this for an hour every Sunday and it’s utter bliss. It’s €120 per month for the gym and the pool.

6.00 pm: Time to head home.

7.00 pm: We have stir fry for dinner and I help the kids with a bit of homework afterwards. I have to open my laptop then for my own homework: two reports I need to send tonight. I could cry.

9.00 pm: I got through it. It’s a late bath again tonight followed by and bed for all.

Today’s total: €55.00

Weekly subtotal:

***

What I learned -

Room service was a splurge, but it was so worth it.
The jeep already had petrol in it this week, but I normally do spend quite a lot filling it up each week.
Takeways are a big expense, but also worth it.
I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to spend more on myself (I rarely do!).
Why is going to the cinema so dear?!
I’m so glad to have such good support from my parents. Without that, I would be so lost.

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