How are you saving money/budgetting?

Bafucin

lmimmfn wrote: »

Arrgh I need to do this very soon, outside of stuff I have to soend like lunch money, its 70% of my weekly spend. That along with weekend beer treats at home, I would be down to 60 euro a week from 125 euro a week, ex mortgage, bills, lunch,car fuel. The Mrs takes care of leccy and gas bills.
My long term plan is pay off the mortgage, Mrs quits work and I spend 1600euro a month for all 3 of us( ex car tax, insurance, nct and other yearly bills )

People complain about being too tight etc. But I don't get any buzz from spending money, neither does the Mrs. We have loads of luxuries like a 105" projector. I've a mega gaming PC which is my hobby, Mrs has her hobbies funded so its basically just removing all crap expenditures from our lives.

I did it. I still bum a few ..rarely... or bum a pipe even rarer ..which is worse for you..but rarely maybe once in a couple of months....need to totally stop it though...

Jamsiek

Inspector Coptoor wrote: »

It's safe to assume planet Earth I reckon.

I'd be the same.
If a sibling of mine were to get married, I'd be giving them a 4 figure sum.
That's just my way of thinking and I can/could afford to do it.

I'd imagine the overwhelming majority of people couldn't afford to give away anywhere close to kind of money

Tarzana

Fat Christy wrote: »

I would always give enough to cover my meal and a bit extra.

What I don't understand about this is, do you give more to couples who spend more per head?

Tarzana

Nathan Nutritious Weevil wrote: »

The last wedding I was at I knew a awful lot of people and no one I spoke to was giving less than 100 or 200 as a couple

You stood around at a wedding discussing what the presents ye all gave?

Either you're telling porkies or that is really tacky.

Jamsiek

Jamsiek wrote: »

I'd imagine the overwhelming majority of people couldn't afford to give away anywhere close to kind of money

It hardly a surprise that the wedding is happening so putting a bit of money aside in the lead up to it would be the way to to do it. I have spoken to a number of people who have given figures up around that to their siblings so its not as rare as you would think.

Tarzana wrote: »

You stood around at a wedding discussing what the presents ye all gave?

Either you're telling porkies or that is really tacky.

No I didn't stand around discussing it, I know the people well so it was discussed in the lead up to the wedding. I also know know from different people and different weddings that these are the figures people give (200+ for a couple) and also I've always seen my parents give these figure (and often more) at weddings they attend and giving a good present in these situations is obviously something I've been brought up to do also.

Tarzana

Nathan Nutritious Weevil wrote: »

No I didn't stand around discussing it, I know the people well so it was discussed in the lead up to the wedding.

I can't believe you'd discuss it at all!

Well, all I can say, if you get married, don't be disappointed if you don't receive €200 from each couple, €100 from each single. Not everyone can afford it, and there is no going rate, despite what you might think. Don't budget a wedding based on what you think you'll get in presents.

Tarzana

Tarzana wrote: »

I can't believe you'd discuss it at all!

I really don't see why discussing it is anything out of the ordinary.

Tarzana wrote: »

Well, all I can say, if you get married, don't be disappointed if you don't receive €200 from each couple, €100 from each single. Not everyone can afford it, and there is no going rate, despite what you might think. Don't budget a wedding based on what you think you'll get in presents.

Id expect presents at a wedding to average out around that, some will give less others more.

Ush1

Can we please get over this wedding sh*te and back to the thread?

Seve OB

ulinbac wrote: »

Took a year to get out of €12,000 debt, on top of cashflowing bros wedding €1,500 and about €2,000 in medical bills. Paid off the last of it on Wednesday, DEBT FREE!!

Found the only was to do this was to save using a strict budget and any wage increases and bonuses went straight on debt. Having nothing each month and maxing out my credit cards scared me too much.

To save during the last 12 months I:

- Cut drinking to every 4 weeks sometimes every 6 and didn't drink too much
- Stopped buying more rounds then I should and rounds of shots randomly
- Went out and didn't drink at times
- Had to learn to say NO when going places
- Reduced amount I spent on Xmas and birthday presents
- Reduced going out to meals with GF. We cooked indoors instead
- Stopped buying very expensive clothes
- And lastly, SAYING NO NO NO, delaying pleasure now so I can have it in the future. I am not going on 2 weekends away with my mates because I don't want to put it on the credit card. The lads know that I was trying to get my finances in order and know that from October i will be able to go on any weekends away from then on.

Some of the above will change now that the debt is gone, like buying nicer clothes and more expensive holidays. That said I have found it invaluable to have an Emergency Fund (small at the start like €500) in case something unplanned happens like car needing repair. My Emergency Fund is now just under €5k and the pressure is off. I'm cashflowing ALL of my holiday next month and never plan on being in debt again unless its for a Mortgage.

Fair play to ya... so you paid off the last of your Debt last Wednesday and since then have managed to squirrel away €5k of an emergency fund. WOW... how the hell did you manage that????

irish gent

I nearly raided the piggy bank this morning lol.

Tarzana

Nathan Nutritious Weevil wrote: »

Id expect presents at a wedding to average out around that, some will give less others more.

OK, good luck with that!

Red Pepper

George Fancy Beneath wrote: »

I really don't see why discussing it is anything out of the ordinary.

Id expect presents at a wedding to average out around that, some will give less others more.

You married yet?

Lia_lia

Nathan Nutritious Weevil wrote: »

Id expect presents at a wedding to average out around that, some will give less others more.

Aren't you the same guy who thought it was strange to give money to your parents for living at home as an adult? But you have no problem giving people 100s of euro for a wedding gift?

I hate the attitude to weddings over here. Money money money! And they are so boring.

Red Pepper

Red Pepper wrote: »

You married yet?

No I'm not.

Lia_lia wrote: »

Aren't you the same guy who thought it was strange to give money to your parents for living at home as an adult? But you have no problem giving people 100s of euro for a wedding gift?

I said paying set rent every month to live at home is a ridiculous concept yes. Giving some money towards bills or food fair enough.

NewCorkLad

Lia_lia wrote: »

Aren't you the same guy who thought it was strange to give money to your parents for living at home as an adult? But you have no problem giving people 100s of euro for a wedding gift?

I hate the attitude to weddings over here. Money money money! And they are so boring.

Can I ask where you have been where weddinngs are any better.

Everywhere around the world people give gifts for weddings. This was traditionally household gifts as people would be trying to set up a home afterwards. Now with many people living together before getting married househoold gifts are pointless and the only sensible gift is cash.

I think €200 is a fair gift to give someone as a wedding gift as a couple but thats because I can afford it. If I was not earning as much I would be comfortable giving less and I beleive most couples would understand that and if not feck them.

Seve OB

NewCorkLad wrote: »

Can I ask where you have been where weddinngs are any better.

Everywhere around the world people give gifts for weddings. This was traditionally household gifts as people would be trying to set up a home afterwards. Now with many people living together before getting married househoold gifts are pointless and the only sensible gift is cash.

I think €200 is a fair gift to give someone as a wedding gift as a couple but thats because I can afford it. If I was not earning as much I would be comfortable giving less and I beleive most couples would understand that and if not feck them.

people should just sell tickets to their weddings!!

NewCorkLad

NewCorkLad wrote: »

I think €200 is a fair gift to give someone as a wedding gift as a couple but thats because I can afford it. If I was not earning as much I would be comfortable giving less and I beleive most couples would understand that and if not feck them.

Its a fair enough point really if you cant afford it then less would be ok its more the attitude some have against giving a decent gift. Also 200 was more an average as I was saying, attending a wedding of a person I didnt know that well I might give under that maybe 150 or something (as a couple).

NewCorkLad

NewCorkLad wrote: »

Can I ask where you have been where weddinngs are any better.

Everywhere around the world people give gifts for weddings. This was traditionally household gifts as people would be trying to set up a home afterwards. Now with many people living together before getting married househoold gifts are pointless and the only sensible gift is cash.

I think €200 is a fair gift to give someone as a wedding gift as a couple but thats because I can afford it. If I was not earning as much I would be comfortable giving less and I beleive most couples would understand that and if not feck them.

This has gone way off point, you are right about giving a present and it the same in all cultures and I would consider anyone who goes to a wedding with out giving a gift ( and in Ireland its mostly cash ) to be mean and frankly peculiar, however until recently say the last 20 years a wedding consisted of a wedding breakfast in a hotel with both families, and while friends came it was only very close friends, not lots of friends guests did not stay the night in the hotel, nor were the weddings 2 or 3 days affairs with optional all day and night drinking. In other words there have always been wedding but not of the kind that have developed in Ireland.

My daughter has been to wedding both in Ireland and in the UK and she has comments on the different, in the uk It was a country pub with a marque stuck on to the back of it, low key and tasteful, here it was the usually 2 day Americanised affair.

Nathan Nutritious Weevil

Nathan Nutritious Weevil wrote: »

Its a fair enough point really if you cant afford it then less would be ok its more the attitude some have against giving a decent gift. Also 200 was more an average as I was saying, attending a wedding of a person I didnt know that well I might give under that maybe 150 or something (as a couple).

People don't have a problem with giving decent gifts.

People have a problem with couples soliciting hand-outs as admission to what's supposed to be a celebration, not a shake down.

Asking people for money is always crass, it being commonplace among some circles doesn't make it less crass.

Red Pepper

Nathan Nutritious Weevil wrote: »

No I'm not.

You getting married soon?

Birroc

This is the way Irish weddings are going now...go to 1:40

jimgoose

Candie wrote: »

People don't have a problem with giving decent gifts.

People have a problem with couples soliciting hand-outs as admission to what's supposed to be a celebration, not a shake down.

Asking people for money is always crass, it being commonplace among some circles doesn't make it less crass.

I'll just add, if you must invite me to your wedding do not expect me to spend two days cooped up in some bloody awful hotel in Ballydung with your asshole family. I'll only get bored and organise a Wet T-Shirt competition or something. You don't want Auntie Bridie mixed up in dat shiz-nit.

jimgoose

jimgoose wrote: »

I'll just add, if you must invite me to your wedding do not expect me to spend two days cooped up in some bloody awful hotel in Ballydung with your asshole family. I'll only get bored and organise a Wet T-Shirt competition or something. You don't want Auntie Bridie mixed up in dat shiz-nit.

If I ever get married, I'll consider the day a huge failure if anyone feels they have to either stump up a set amount, or put themselves through 48 hours of compulsory 'craic' to make me feel like they've put in enough effort to make me feel special.

Guests of the couple aren't meant to be a captive audience herded together for a shakedown.

NewCorkLad

Candie wrote: »

People don't have a problem with giving decent gifts.

People have a problem with couples soliciting hand-outs as admission to what's supposed to be a celebration, not a shake down.

Asking people for money is always crass, it being commonplace among some circles doesn't make it less crass.

I completely agree it is crass, but I think that they are still in the minority thank god, Ive yet to receive a wedding invite that makes any mention of gifts. Two weddings I was at recently had notices on the tables letting people know all gifts were being donated to charity which was nice.

Backto budgeting Im s**t at it, I like going away too much. However I am paying down my debts about €800 a month which is a kind of saving

NewCorkLad

jimgoose wrote: »

I'll just add, if you must invite me to your wedding do not expect me to spend two days cooped up in some bloody awful hotel in Ballydung with your asshole family. I'll only get bored and organise a Wet T-Shirt competition or something. You don't want Auntie Bridie mixed up in dat shiz-nit.

You just got yourself an invite to my wedding gifts are a minimum of €300 FYI

jimgoose

NewCorkLad wrote: »

You just got yourself an invite to my wedding gifts are a minimum of €300 FYI

Good, that should just about cover my expenses. See you there. :cool:

TheBeardedLady

I spray my underwear with perfume and wear them again to save on costly washing expenses.

mariaalice

mariaalice wrote: »

T, however until recently say the last 20 years a wedding consisted of a wedding breakfast with both families and while friends came it was only very close friends, not lots of friends people .

I've never heard of this wedding breakfast. My parents got married 30 years ago, my aunt 35 years ago and all their generation had receptions in hotels similar to what happens now. Even my grandparents as far as I know had a similar style wedding 70 years ago. Naturally things are bigger now than years ago but so are most things as they evolve.

I'm obviously different to posters here as I really enjoy weddings they are always a great session and great craic. You talk about an excuse for a two day drinking session like its a bad thing :pac:!

Candie wrote: »

Asking people for money is always crass, it being commonplace among some circles doesn't make it less crass.

I agree asking for money is not the way to go but I never suggested it was. I said its what people should give.

Red Pepper wrote: »

You getting married soon?

No.

Enough of the wedding talk I think at this stage.

brooke 2

whirlpool wrote: »

I've found myself in a situation where I've been living on verrrry low income for the past eight months.

I haven't had a night out in over six months, which is grand, but it's new to me because I used to go out up to twice a week.

Adapting to the new much-lower budget has felt unpleasant a lot of the time, but I am glad it's happened because it has forced me to go without quite a lot of things that I used to have, and the less I have, the less things have a hold over me.

Like a previous poster suggested, I feel like I'm being freed - from the strong grip that consumerism used to have on me.

I used to "need" to have at least one night out per week. I used to "need" to have lunch out a few times per week. I used to "need" to have one or two substantial meals every day. And now I don't need any of that stuff. Now, I only eat when I'm really hungry, and it's always a vegetable-heavy meal and ironically my energy and wellbeing have shot up.

I can't remember the last time I bought anything that wasn't just necessary food or toiletries. And now, there's rarely anything else that I ever crave.

Knowing that there are people who have to live on much much much less than me is also on my mind.

One thing that will make you spend lots of money on "luxuries" like eating out, nights out and other things to cheer yourself up, is if you're in a job that you're not happy in. Of course you're going to crave stuff that will cheer you up after spending 40 hours a week in that type of environment. It's better than being poor, but it's still a **** way to live, and most of us are doing it.

Very good post!

During the past few years I, like many, have been forced to economise. I hate to
think of all the money I frittered away in 'better times'!!

brooke 2

brooke 2 wrote: »

I hate tothink of all the money I frittered away in 'better times'!!

What good is money though if you don't spend it and enjoy it.

irish gent

I enjoy spending my money on the bills ..

brooke 2

sebcity wrote: »

People who live within their means suffer from a lack of imagination

Keep spending! The economy needs people like you!!

brooke 2

Mollyd90 wrote: »

I think I remember something from a law class years ago about when you go to a wedding the present you give is payment for your meal and legally the wedding couple don't have to feed you if don't give one.

Are you sure you did not attend this law class in New York??
I was shocked when a NY native informed me that this is the case in
the States! Seemed so mercenary to my mind.

brooke 2

Nathan Nutritious Weevil wrote: »

What good is money though if you don't spend it and enjoy it.

I do enjoy spending money! But it is more fun to do so within my means!!
A lot less stress!!

Tarzana

Lia_lia wrote: »

I hate the attitude to weddings over here. Money money money! And they are so boring.

+1, especially the bolded bit. My BF and I have discussed what we would do if we did get married. We toyed with idea of just the two of us, but both our mothers would be heartbroken and we both realised we wouldn't want them not to be there.

So the plan will be, parents and siblings (so around 10 people), a suit and a frock of some description, civil ceremony wherever you go in Dublin to do that, then to a restaurant for a nice meal. After that, some of the party will likely go home, and some of us will maybe go on to a pub after, maybe. Agus sin é.

Lia_lia

NewCorkLad wrote: »

Can I ask where you have been where weddinngs are any better.

.

Yes. I've been to quite a few weddings in England and they have all been completely different. I have also been to 2 weddings in France (french weddings) that were great craic. One was in an old farmhouse, the ceremony was in a forest. The bride came in on a horse and there was a bbq all night, was great. The other one was in a town hall and local pub with about 20 people, was also loads of fun. I can't imagine them costing much money.

Irish weddings are generally all the same. I worked in one of the busiest hotels in ireland for weddings so have witnessed loads of them. They are all the same. And cost way too much. And I don't understand why so many people get invited....often 3rd cousins that you met once in your life. Not always the case of course! But they seem to be this way.

brooke 2

brooke 2 wrote: »

Are you sure you did not attend this law class in New York??
I was shocked when a NY native informed me that this is the case in
the States! Seemed so mercenary to my mind.

I'm pretty sure this is some kind of myth/joke.

Unless your guests sign terms and conditions and send back the invite after accepting a contract, then an invitation has no legal obligations attached. I don't think there's an accepted admission price to a wedding in the USA, and I've been to a few. Registries are common, cash is common, but no one is legally obliged to do anything.

When was the last time you heard of someone going to prison for not giving enough money as a wedding gift?

I've done a google to see if there's anything online about it that makes any sense and come up with nada.

Birroc

Tarzana wrote: »

+1, especially the bolded bit. My BF and I have discussed what we would do if we did get married. We toyed with idea of just the two of us, but both our mothers would be heartbroken and we both realised we wouldn't want them not to be there.

So the plan will be, parents and siblings (so around 10 people), a suit and a frock of some description, civil ceremony wherever you go in Dublin to do that, then to a restaurant for a nice meal. After that, some of the party will likely go home, and some of us will maybe go on to a pub after, maybe. Agus sin é.

No sex? C'mon, go for it, you've waiting long enough, twould be rude not to...

lazeedaisy

Tarzana wrote: »

+1, especially the bolded bit. My BF and I have discussed what we would do if we did get married. We toyed with idea of just the two of us, but both our mothers would be heartbroken and we both realised we wouldn't want them not to be there.

So the plan will be, parents and siblings (so around 10 people), a suit and a frock of some description, civil ceremony wherever you go in Dublin to do that, then to a restaurant for a nice meal. After that, some of the party will likely go home, and some of us will maybe go on to a pub after, maybe. Agus sin é.

That's how we did it in Kilkenny. Meal was about 30 people, some went hme after, we went to the pub and went on to stay in a B & B

lazeedaisy

Candie wrote: »

I'm pretty sure this is some kind of myth/joke.

Unless your guests sign terms and conditions and send back the invite after accepting a contract, then an invitation has no legal obligations attached. I don't think there's an accepted admission price to a wedding in the USA, and I've been to a few. Registries are common, cash is common, but no one is legally obliged to do anything.

When was the last time you heard of someone going to prison for not giving enough money as a wedding gift?

I've done a google to see if there's anything online about it that makes any sense and come up with nada.

Sounds like someone from Irish water went to the class.... LOL

Tarzana

Birroc wrote: »

No sex? C'mon, go for it, you've waiting long enough, twould be rude not to...

This is really hard to tell you, Birroc, but I'm not a virgin. DON'T HATE ME!


:pac:

robbiezero

Lia_lia wrote: »

Yes. I've been to quite a few weddings in England and they have all been completely different. I have also been to 2 weddings in France (french weddings) that were great craic. One was in an old farmhouse, the ceremony was in a forest. The bride came in on a horse and there was a bbq all night, was great. The other one was in a town hall and local pub with about 20 people, was also loads of fun. I can't imagine them costing much money.

Irish weddings are generally all the same. I worked in one of the busiest hotels in ireland for weddings so have witnessed loads of them. They are all the same. And cost way too much. And I don't understand why so many people get invited....often 3rd cousins that you met once in your life. Not always the case of course! But they seem to be this way.

Bout 6/7 years ago I'd say I went to ~12 Irish weddings in about 3 years, I actually struggle to differentiate between them now when I look back on them. All on in the same type of wedding-factory hotel. Been to a few abroad which were brilliant, but probably because they were something different and it was a holiday wedding.

Shenshen

Nathan Nutritious Weevil wrote: »

What good is money though if you don't spend it and enjoy it.

Spend it, don't waste it.

As I said previously, we had to scale down from 2 incomes to one income for most of the last year. After drawing up a simple budget, I was surprised that we were living pretty much exactly the same as before, we hardly missed a thing.
My conclusion is that if you're not watching your money, you'll spend it on things you not only don't need, but which you never even notice or remember. I honestly couldn't say what we used to spend that second income on for years beforehand - and that's quite a sobering thought.

We're still living with the budget I drew up last year, I'm saving some of my salary and my husband is saving almost all of his. We're now actually spending that extra money on things that are worth it - holidays, replacing the car, doing up the house. Things that actually matter to us.

Bafucin

Crap.

cena

It's a secert

brooke 2

brooke 2 wrote: »

I do enjoy spending money! But it is more fun to do so within my means!!
A lot less stress!!

Of course you should spend within your means but as I mentioned earlier within your means has a different meaning to different people. For example some would say it's only buying things you can afford outright etc where as I would be of the opinion that if you buy something you can't afford upfront but can easily maybe the loan repayments then you are living within your means.

Shenshen wrote: »

Spend it, don't waste it.

My conclusion is that if you're not watching your money, you'll spend it on things you not only don't need, but which you never even notice or remember.

I might not budget in advance but I pretty much know were every penny I spend goes every month by keeping track of my bank a/c online. For sure some would class some of my spending as "waste" for instance I spend a decent amount of money every month on nights out and also eat out a couple of times a week. To me it's not waste though as I thoroughly enjoy it.

quadrifoglio verde

Tarzana wrote: »

+1, especially the bolded bit. My BF and I have discussed what we would do if we did get married. We toyed with idea of just the two of us, but both our mothers would be heartbroken and we both realised we wouldn't want them not to be there.

So the plan will be, parents and siblings (so around 10 people), a suit and a frock of some description, civil ceremony wherever you go in Dublin to do that, then to a restaurant for a nice meal. After that, some of the party will likely go home, and some of us will maybe go on to a pub after, maybe. Agus sin é.

No friends at the wedding? Jesus I'd be inviting friends to mine if I ever have one before the mother :pac:

Red Pepper

robbiezero wrote: »

Bout 6/7 years ago I'd say I went to ~12 Irish weddings in about 3 years, I actually struggle to differentiate between them now when I look back on them. All on in the same type of wedding-factory hotel. Been to a few abroad which were brilliant, but probably because they were something different and it was a holiday wedding.

I have been to a lot of weddings down the years, too many really in retrospect, but yes you are right - they have all merged into one wedding experience. One bad wedding experience to be honest. It is very very hard to differentiate between them. The best wedding I was ever at was a non formulaic one: Registry office in later afternoon to start then we went to a large seafood restaurant and then back to a great pub for the evening/night. About 50 people. Perfect.

I do think though that Irish people are waking up to the traditional Irish wedding nonsense. Slowly.

Shenshen

Regarding all the posts about bank fees :

I know a few banks offer a fee-free account based on a certain minimum value of lodgings each months (which should be fine for anyone getting their salary straight to their bank account).
But I would advise to have a chat with your employer, too. Banks will work with companies and some of them offer free accounts that way.
My employer has around 50 people in their Irish offices, and we have 2 banks we can choose from who offer us accounting without any fees - no administration, no charges for withdrawals, no fees on the debit card.

This might not work for everyone, obviously, it'll depend on who you work for and the size of the company, but it might be worth a try.

ulinbac

One think I left out is to pay with cash instead of card. I used to take out about 200 a time from atm and when you physically feel the money leave yout hands then using a card you notice more the amount you spend.