Age: 29
Spouse’s/Partner's age: 30
Annual gross income from employment or profession: 45k
Annual gross income of spouse: 39k
Monthly take-home pay: 3,700 (we get paid fortnightly so this is for two fortnights)
Type of employment: e.g. Civil Servant, self-employed: Both public sector workers
In general are you:
(a) spending more than you earn, or
(b) saving?
We had been spending way above and beyond our means. Have recently been cutting back everywhere and just starting to try to save.
Rough estimate of value of home: 150,000
Amount outstanding on your mortgage: 190,000
What interest rate are you paying? Unsure. Our monthly payment is €900
Other borrowings – car loans/personal loans etc
Loan 1- 17,000 (credit union) paying €400 p/m
Loan 2- 17,000 (credit union) paying €400p/m
Loan 3- 6,000 (bank loan) paying €80p/m
Loan 4- 1,500 (store credit) paying €58 p/m
Loan 5- 500 (payday loan) paying €145 p/m
Credit card- 1,500 paying approx €50 p/m
Car- 3,000 paying €190 p/m
Do you pay off your full credit card balance each month? No
If not, what is the balance on your credit card? 1,500. Paying a little over minimum payment each month. Had fallen behind but have been paying religiously for past 6 months. Have cut up card.
Savings and investments: none
Do you have a pension scheme? Yes through work
Do you own any investment or other property? No
Ages of children: . Pay €200 maintenance per month
Life insurance: through mortgage
Extra monthly outgoings not including loans:
13.33 tv licence
15.50 bins
50.00 phones/internet
33.55 house insurance
7.50 house tax
50.00 car insurance
20.00 UPC
7.99 netflix
50.00 esb
80.00 gas
150.00 petrol
25.00 car tax
120.00 food
Then after that we have car payments, mortgage, loan payments, credit card etc that are listed above.
What specific question do you have or what issues are of concern to you?
We had fallen into huge debt a few years back due to a number of personal factors. We are now trying to get our lives back together and get on top of this debt we have built up but find we are still living pay check to pay check. Have made cuts where possible, cheaper phone package, UPC, insurance, shopping in aldi, etc but still can't manage to get on top of our finances and start saving. Over the past couple of months we have been trying to save €200 per month but had to dip into this for Xmas for children. We can also never seem to budget for doctor/dentist/car service etc. Anyone have any ideas for us. I feel like we have been tryin so hard for the past year or so but only hitting the tip of the iceberg. Please be gentle...
Spouse’s/Partner's age: 30
Annual gross income from employment or profession: 45k
Annual gross income of spouse: 39k
Monthly take-home pay: 3,700 (we get paid fortnightly so this is for two fortnights)
Type of employment: e.g. Civil Servant, self-employed: Both public sector workers
In general are you:
(a) spending more than you earn, or
(b) saving?
We had been spending way above and beyond our means. Have recently been cutting back everywhere and just starting to try to save.
Rough estimate of value of home: 150,000
Amount outstanding on your mortgage: 190,000
What interest rate are you paying? Unsure. Our monthly payment is €900
Other borrowings – car loans/personal loans etc
Loan 1- 17,000 (credit union) paying €400 p/m
Loan 2- 17,000 (credit union) paying €400p/m
Loan 3- 6,000 (bank loan) paying €80p/m
Loan 4- 1,500 (store credit) paying €58 p/m
Loan 5- 500 (payday loan) paying €145 p/m
Credit card- 1,500 paying approx €50 p/m
Car- 3,000 paying €190 p/m
Do you pay off your full credit card balance each month? No
If not, what is the balance on your credit card? 1,500. Paying a little over minimum payment each month. Had fallen behind but have been paying religiously for past 6 months. Have cut up card.
Savings and investments: none
Do you have a pension scheme? Yes through work
Do you own any investment or other property? No
Ages of children: . Pay €200 maintenance per month
Life insurance: through mortgage
Extra monthly outgoings not including loans:
13.33 tv licence
15.50 bins
50.00 phones/internet
33.55 house insurance
7.50 house tax
50.00 car insurance
20.00 UPC
7.99 netflix
50.00 esb
80.00 gas
150.00 petrol
25.00 car tax
120.00 food
Then after that we have car payments, mortgage, loan payments, credit card etc that are listed above.
What specific question do you have or what issues are of concern to you?
We had fallen into huge debt a few years back due to a number of personal factors. We are now trying to get our lives back together and get on top of this debt we have built up but find we are still living pay check to pay check. Have made cuts where possible, cheaper phone package, UPC, insurance, shopping in aldi, etc but still can't manage to get on top of our finances and start saving. Over the past couple of months we have been trying to save €200 per month but had to dip into this for Xmas for children. We can also never seem to budget for doctor/dentist/car service etc. Anyone have any ideas for us. I feel like we have been tryin so hard for the past year or so but only hitting the tip of the iceberg. Please be gentle...