r/irishpersonalfinance

I'm in quite a fortunate position and a weird one at that.
I just signed a contract for a role in Europe. It's a 3:1 rotation for Data Center Construction. I'll be taking home little over a grand a week between salary and allowances. Accommodation covered, company car, flights, airport parking and mileage to and from the airport expensed too.

So I'm going to be in a great position to save money, I'm single, nearer to 30 than I'd like and haven't got much else to be at other than working.

But, and maybe more so a single person.. it feels like everything is on hold until I've got the house sorted, from big purchases - I like my cars, my watches.. even big holidays there's always the lingering thought of 'good chunk of a deposit there'..

Maybe I just need to become one of those people who love just seeing the money in their account rather than the things you can buy with money!

If I can stay going with work, I'm on track to earn great money and progress with them, a lot of those roles don't even require me to live in Ireland and I'm starting to question why I'm even considering buying here! But then you realise it's the same everywhere and that goes back to my question; ever get the feeling you're putting life on hold until you can buy a house?

Companies getting sold and owner is giving the staff a cut. I’ll be getting around €20k after tax which is very significant for me! Question is what to do with it? €5k will be used for a holiday and clearing credit card debt, was then thinking €5k into the pension and maybe putting a lump into a longer term savings account, but I’m not a great saver so I’m kinda going in blind here, cheers!

Hi all, I've been looking at this near westport:

https://www.daft.ie/for-sale/rosmoney-westport-co-mayo/6643964

Lovely spot, but I'm struggling to see the value at €295k. It's derelict, the site is only about 0.3 acres right beside the sea, and the hill and boundary are directly behind the house.

I have real doubts about whether a new compliant septic system could ever fit on a site this small and this close to the water?

Has anyone dealt with planning for replacement houses on small coastal sites like this?

Interested in honest opinions on the price too.

Hi all, I’m 18 and am earning 500€ a week /€26000 a year as a first year in my apprenticeship After all expenses I usually have about €400 a week or more left over. I don’t really know what to do with this money. I currently have 10000€ or thereabouts in savings also. I live very simple life. I don’t drive and although I would like a car I think they are the biggest money pits in this country with insurance and the price of diesel. I rarely go out and even if I do I never spend more than €40. I do a lot of farming aswell (not my farm) a family members in exchange for rent. I rarely go abroad ( it’s just not for me).I feel like It would be a waste of time saving for a mortgage cause a I’m too young and b prices will probably go up faster than I can save. Apart from emigrating when I’m finished the apprenticeship does anyone have any idea what to do with my savings before that. Thanks in advance
Edit: I have a full licence I just don’t have a car.
And I’m doing my trade in the manufacturing sector not construction.

Hi all,

I'm 28M on around 50,000 gross per year.

Taking in about 3000 per month after tax. I bought on my own, although I'm living with my partner. Which I am aware is an incredible feat for my age.

Fortunately, I was able to purchase a 2 bed home 5 months ago. Mortgage 221,000, deposit 33500, First home scheme 79,000. Unfortunately I didn't get any help to buy as the LTV was too low.. the crux of this was instead of getting €18,000 in tax back and taking less FHS, I got 0 in support and took out higher FHS.

I intend to make a large redemption of FHS next month, within my 6 month drawdown anniversary. I'm thinking €20000. This means that what I paid for the house will still be regarded as the same for the FHS redemption, lowering the FHS stake from around 24% down to about 16%

I think it a good move to reduce penalties in future (years 6+) and maybe after my term is over in 4 years, I could apply for a mortgage top up to get rid of FHS. I'm not sure if that can be done ?

Another thing is, my partner is contributing to shopping, some bills etc.. but I'm trying to pay for all of mortgage and first home contributions my self even though she wants to help. She has given me a grand or two over time for expenses. I don't want to be anxious or have trust issues, although I have family trauma of raw deals regarding custody of kids and house. Should I refuse help towards the mortgage or FHS ?

Regarding my investing, I have been actively investing in a pie on trading212 in over 30 companies. I think I'm up 43.4% in the pie and over 60% up overall across all investments in under 2 years. I now invest 100 per week into it, but recently considering lowering it to 50€ per week.. I do realise this gain is a past gain and may not be like this in future. My avc contributions at the minute are low, around 2% this could be a lot higher but I tried to maximise my mortgage amount 5 months ago, and I'm thinking of the same in 4 years time if I get a top up to pay the remaining FHS stake. I do realise avcs might be the best option (tax reduction and pension planning) but I don't know if I should stretch my money yet. Outside of the 20000 I'm contributing to FHS in November I would need to work on my emergency fund. I have 3000 in trade republic which I consider my emergency fund and 10000 in state savings earning peanuts (year 6 of 10) but I would leave it there for an extreme emergency. It's my emergency emergency fund.

I'm a very anxious person, recently the job or even myself haven't been kind to me. I'm ruminating about everything. Your advice and overall impressions are welcomed.

Thank you all.

Yesterday it was disclosed that the total cost of bailing out AIB was €8.4 billion when you take into account the interest that had to be paid on the bail out monies. AIB made €2.1 billion profit in 2025 and €2.35 billion in 2024, why are they not required to pay any of this money back. It works out at over €1500 for every man, woman and child in the state.

On 30k and have been working for a company for 2 years with no bonus or raise since. They hired someone who's junior than me and offered him 40k. I want to ask for my salary to go up to 40k to reflect the work I do and the cost of living in Dublin, but not sure what my leverage is. This is my first job after graduating so I have never done this. Any advice? I feel like 30k is not a livable wage and really struggling

A friend asked me recently how rich I want to be. My answer came out without much of a thought.

I want to order the starters and sides without checking the price or wondering if it's worth it for what you get for the price.

Bit of background - Growing up, we couldn't afford them. Whenever we went out for a meal or got a takeaway, it was mains only. No starter, no garlic bread, no side of chips. Just the main and home.
It got me thinking about what "rich" or "financially independent" actually means to people here. For some it's clearing the mortgage, for others it's retiring early, or just not panicking when the car fails the NCT.

Like am 31, and I still look at the prices and the portion sizes, so am not there yet. May be one day I will.

So what's your version of it? What's the small thing that would tell you you've made it?