Job and cost of living

delija_sever029

Heya folks

I am from Serbia,having EU passport and 2 degrees-nurse and radiographer.

I am interested to move to Dublin for some time to work any kind of job,just to get new experience and also for some fun,maybe to save some money too. I am not picky about type of job,i saw minimum wages are about 9 euro and it raises depending on a job. Right now i am not sure how evaluation of degrees is going on and what time it would take thats why i am saying i would work even out of professions but on the other hand i am sure these degrees are enough to get accepted to work as care assistant,support worker or how do you people name medical workers who are providing care. While browsing the net i saw private agencies are paying such jobs 11 euro per hour but state institutions are habing much better payrates from 13 to 16 euro p/h but its pretty hard to get hired there.

Anyway i accept every advice you could have and also you could comment more about living costs but i figured out some values so far and will write down

I dont intend to rent alone so room ensuite or not could be nice,to meet new people too but also to live cheaper

Room 500 euro
Food 350 euro
Transport 125 euro or 90 over taxsaver?
Mobile 50 euro
Random stuff 200

Correct or add smthg more if i missed

If i calculated good on 11 euro per hour salary could be around 1600 euro neto per month,i count on that as minimum i would go for.

January

Moved from Dublin City to Work & Jobs.

delija_sever029

Anyone?:D

dpofloinn

With agency work you are not guaranteed work everyday or every week you may find that you may get 3 or 4 shifts one week,and maybe nothing the next week.If you will be working as a nurse you will have to register with An Bord Altranais which is annual and requires a fee you may also have to do courses to keep keep up your qualifications.you must also remember to get a pps number

Bepolite

delija_sever029 wrote: »

Room 500 euro
Food 350 euro
Transport 125 euro or 90 over taxsaver?
Mobile 50 euro
Random stuff 200

Correct or add smthg more if i missed

If i calculated good on 11 euro per hour salary could be around 1600 euro neto per month,i count on that as minimum i would go for.

All about right but you need to add around another 300 for bills, 200 for disposable income and 10% for savings you can't touch + savings you want for specific purposes.

Obviously you can live cheaper but whats the point in coming here if you're not going to be well off enough to enjoy it. Enjoying Dublin is expensive!

delija_sever029

dpofloinn wrote: »

With agency work you are not guaranteed work everyday or every week you may find that you may get 3 or 4 shifts one week,and maybe nothing the next week.If you will be working as a nurse you will have to register with An Bord Altranais which is annual and requires a fee you may also have to do courses to keep keep up your qualifications.you must also remember to get a pps number

What about being care assistant in HSE?

Gone West

Bepolite wrote: »

All about right but you need to add around another 300 for bills, 200 for disposable income and 10% for savings you can't touch + savings you want for specific purposes.

Obviously you can live cheaper but whats the point in coming here if you're not going to be well off enough to enjoy it. Enjoying Dublin is expensive!

OP already included a 200 for random stuff.
A house or apartment share would never come close to 300... more like 50 per person per month.

Bepolite

Fuzzy wrote: »

OP already included a 200 for random stuff.
A house or apartment share would never come close to 300... more like 50 per person per month.

He's suggesting living in Dublin not Cavan :pac:

Random stuff = unexpected expenses.

The_Conductor

Fuzzy wrote: »

A house or apartment share would never come close to 300... more like 50 per person per month.

This is in Ireland?

April O Neill II

The_Conductor wrote: »

This is in Ireland?

Think he meant it wouldn't be €300 for monthly bills in a houseshare, not rent.

Mrs OBumble

April O Neill II wrote: »

Think he meant it wouldn't be €300 for monthly bills in a houseshare, not rent.

Yup.

And food won't be anything like 350/month either, unless you eat out a lot or have some very specific dietary needs.

I can feed two people for 25/each per week (eating well but shopping carefully). Round it up a bit to take account of the higher costs of feeding one and shift work, to say 40/week = average 180/month.

Bepolite

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Yup.

And food won't be anything like 350/month either, unless you eat out a lot or have some very specific dietary needs.

I can feed two people for 25/each per week (eating well but shopping carefully). Round it up a bit to take account of the higher costs of feeding one and shift work, to say 40/week = average 180/month.

Please post shopping lists!

To be fair we live quite well, but we aren't exactly minted. We would have a good mix of Aldi/Lidl, bit of Tescos, the local green grocer and butchers combined with a bit of M&S. I'd be lucky to get through a week on less than €100 for two of us. Last time I spent 25 or even 40 a week feeding my self it was the early naughties, pounds and in Scotland.

Again on the living front an apartment share with three people total, decent broadband, sky, winter heating bill you're going to be looking at 75 a week bills. Again of course you could pay less, you could run a tighter budget but to my mind it's better to over budget and have extra money for hookers and beer.

April O Neill II

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Yup.

And food won't be anything like 350/month either, unless you eat out a lot or have some very specific dietary needs.

I can feed two people for 25/each per week (eating well but shopping carefully). Round it up a bit to take account of the higher costs of feeding one and shift work, to say 40/week = average 180/month.

25 per person would be very difficult. I could see myself not eating enough on that budget.

Budget 40 per week for food, OP, 50 if you can manage it. Don't scrimp on food.

delija_sever029

Food bills doesnt sound as a problem even with 350 but renting a room for 500 and paying another 300 for bills,wtf?

Bepolite

delija_sever029 wrote: »

Food bills doesnt sound as a problem even with 350 but renting a room for 500 and paying another 300 for bills,wtf?

Depends greatly on what you want. Accomadation in Dublin is expensive. Rent has got out of hand to be frank. A nice 3 bed city centre could be around €500 a month + bills but you could equally get somewhere at less than €100 p/w inc bills. Make sure you know where to avoid if you're living cheap.

I'd also return to the point that if you're coming here do it so you enjoy it. Living out in the suburbs seems a bit like cheating yourself to me but if it's the only way to make it work I suppose it's better than nothing.

Ah_Yeah

€75 p week for bills sounds bonkers, I share a very large apartment with two girls on the ground floor, we have UPC, Gas heating and electricity. Bills cost me about 50-60 a month tops. In winter gas might be a bit extra. That's in a big apartment with hair straighteners, washing, drying, dishwasher and loads of showers!

Bepolite

Ah_Yeah wrote: »

€75 p week for bills sounds bonkers, I share a very large apartment with two girls on the ground floor, we have UPC, Gas heating and electricity. Bills cost me about 50-60 a month tops. In winter gas might be a bit extra. That's in a big apartment with hair straighteners, washing, drying, dishwasher and loads of showers!

Have you included:

health care (Ideally insurance)
contents insurance
buying stuff you need (especially as someone arriving with a suitcase)
water rates
property tax
+ a bit so you've a reserve

While it might be over budgeting, the only thing bonkers to me is living pay cheque to pay cheque.

You might come down a bit from that OP if the feed back is less for bills per month but don't under estimate too much as many people in Ireland rely on cheap (or bloody expensive) credit to see them through the lean months and you may not have access to that.

OP on the subject of health care, do you need a visa and if so is a requirement of the visa health insurance?

delija_sever029

visa?

Bepolite

delija_sever029 wrote: »

visa?

Ah sorry while since I read your OP you're an EU citizen. Health insurance is a matter for yourself then, if you're here short term you can probably not worry about it. Just bear in mind a GP visit is €55 and a hospital visit is €100. Obviously if you get a job in nursing you might have certain perks.

delija_sever029

I wasnt visiting docs for the last 3 years,i hope i wont start in Ireland either,but you never know

mjv2ydratu679c

Bepolite wrote: »

Have you included:

health care (Ideally insurance)
contents insurance
buying stuff you need (especially as someone arriving with a suitcase)
water rates
property tax
+ a bit so you've a reserve

Eh tenants don't pay property tax - its the responsibility of the owner and usually factored into the rent.

Bepolite

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Yup.

And food won't be anything like 350/month either, unless you eat out a lot or have some very specific dietary needs.

I can feed two people for 25/each per week (eating well but shopping carefully). Round it up a bit to take account of the higher costs of feeding one and shift work, to say 40/week = average 180/month.

While my answer to this may have come across as cheeky I'm still interested to know what you. Any tips would be greatly appreciated by me if not the OP also.

ghogie91

Bepolite wrote: »

Please post shopping lists!

To be fair we live quite well, but we aren't exactly minted. We would have a good mix of Aldi/Lidl, bit of Tescos, the local green grocer and butchers combined with a bit of M&S. I'd be lucky to get through a week on less than €100 for two of us. Last time I spent 25 or even 40 a week feeding my self it was the early naughties, pounds and in Scotland.

Again on the living front an apartment share with three people total, decent broadband, sky, winter heating bill you're going to be looking at 75 a week bills. Again of course you could pay less, you could run a tighter budget but to my mind it's better to over budget and have extra money for hookers and beer.

You forgot the blow

beer, hookers and blow

in that order

Ah_Yeah

Bepolite wrote: »

Have you included:

health care (Ideally insurance)
contents insurance
buying stuff you need (especially as someone arriving with a suitcase)
water rates
property tax
+ a bit so you've a reserve

While it might be over budgeting, the only thing bonkers to me is living pay cheque to pay cheque.

You might come down a bit from that OP if the feed back is less for bills per month but don't under estimate too much as many people in Ireland rely on cheap (or bloody expensive) credit to see them through the lean months and you may not have access to that.

OP on the subject of health care, do you need a visa and if so is a requirement of the visa health insurance?

I rent, so I don't pay property tax or water rates. Health insurance is BIK from my employer, and contents insurance is completely optional for the OP. As you mentioned, they are coming from abroad so likely not to have many possessions. Most furniture in apartments is property of the owner so I personally have no interest in insuring that.

How does "buying stuff you need" count as a utility bill? Surely he is not going to be buying a toaster and kettle every month?

delija_sever029

Why Vodafone and O2 are double or triple more expensive for same the offers than virtual ones like Tesco and 48months? where can i find list of all providers in Ireland and under what networks they operate and how come they are so cheaper? I already realised with cable it goes pretty much eaiser coz its just between UPC and Sky

mjv2ydratu679c

Ah_Yeah wrote: »

I rent, so I don't pay property tax or water rates.

Unfortunately from next October onwards every household will be charged for water the same way your currently charged for electricity.

Bepolite

Ah_Yeah wrote: »

I rent, so I don't pay property tax or water rates.

To be fair you do (or will with the water) as above it's factored into the rent, sorry it's been a while for me renting and when I did it was in a country you paid your own. If it's not to personal perhaps you could share what you're rent is and an approximate location for the OP?

Ah_Yeah wrote: »

Health insurance is BIK from my employer...

Fair enough but not everyone's is.

Ah_Yeah wrote: »

...and contents insurance is completely optional for the OP. As you mentioned, they are coming from abroad so likely not to have many possessions. Most furniture in apartments is property of the owner so I personally have no interest in insuring that.

Reasonable point but insuring a laptop and mobile is going to be 15-25 a month on it's own. Again you don't have to do this and depends on how you go about things. I like my gadgets shiny and expensive, the wife prefers nice holiday's so is happy with a laptop that that's worth about €20.

Ah_Yeah wrote: »

How does "buying stuff you need" count as a utility bill? Surely he is not going to be buying a toaster and kettle every month?

No but I would put clothing in here, again I'm not exactly draped in Hugo Boss but I do like a good suit. Again very much lifestyle here, one could probably get away with buying nothing but pants for a year.

Bepolite

delija_sever029 wrote: »

Why Vodafone and O2 are double or triple more expensive for same the offers than virtual ones like Tesco and 48months? where can i find list of all providers in Ireland and under what networks they operate and how come they are so cheaper? I already realised with cable it goes pretty much eaiser coz its just between UPC and Sky

Various offers for mobiles, shop around to find the best one, read the small print. Only issue with Tesco is the cheap reputation of (089) number.

UPC is best for broadband and if you're going to just have something like netflix to avoid the TV license then go with them. Their TV is useless though. Sky's TV is much better but you pay a premium for it and their broadband ranges from okay to utter pants. Ideally UPC for broadband, Sky for TV but that's even more expensive again.

The above is largely academic though as most places will have all this in situ when you arrive. Also everyone will be paying the broadcast tax next year (IIRC), it's not going to be much between 3 of you though.

Mrs OBumble

Ah_Yeah wrote: »

I rent, so I don't pay property tax or water rates. Health insurance is BIK from my employer, and contents insurance is completely optional for the OP. As you mentioned, they are coming from abroad so likely not to have many possessions. Most furniture in apartments is property of the owner so I personally have no interest in insuring that.

How does "buying stuff you need" count as a utility bill? Surely he is not going to be buying a toaster and kettle every month?

I would say that contents insurance is not optional: if there was a fire and all their clothing became unusable, then it would cost a lot to replace, especially all at once.

Granted they will not have to (or be able to) insure the furniture. Even so, I did a count of the value of the stuff I own after coming here a few years back, and very quickly got into the thousands. (Five work suits at an average of E150 each etc)

However it is possible that they will take out travel insurance from their own country while allows them to work while away, and that this will cover both contents and health for the first year.

And, there is a "buying stuff you need" category: all sorts of small bits that you don't think about until you look for a needle and thread to put a button on, envelope to post a letter, folder to store your important documents in. This sort of thing goes on for months and months.

Mrs OBumble

Marlon Scarce Handshake wrote: »

Unfortunately from next October onwards every household will be charged for water the same way your currently charged for electricity.

Link please - I'm expecting that the water will be a landlord charge not a tenant one. But I could be wrong.

mjv2ydratu679c

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Link please - I'm expecting that the water will be a landlord charge not a tenant one. But I could be wrong.

I'm afraid you are very wrong

http://www.thejournal.ie/water-charges-january-2014-report-577245-Aug2012/

Sure why would landlords pay for tenant's water usage?

Form speaking to people i know everyone seems to assume this will be paid by landlords and not renters. People in for a nasty shock next year.

mjv2ydratu679c

Just for good measure

http://www.moneyguideireland.com/category/water-charges

"The water charges will be the responsibility of the occupier of the property. "

Mrs OBumble

Bepolite wrote: »

Please post shopping lists!

To be fair we live quite well, but we aren't exactly minted. We would have a good mix of Aldi/Lidl, bit of Tescos, the local green grocer and butchers combined with a bit of M&S.

Save M&S for Christmas time. Nothing, but nothing is cheaper there than elsewhere.

Porridge oats from Lidl - one bag that did for breakfast for a week was about 80c, from memory. Made more interesting with dried fruits (Lidl again, about E1 for a bag that lasted for ages) and natural yoghurt (both Lidl and Dunnes do it for 55c, even now).

Baking your own scones / muffins saves an enormous amount in lunches. Crackers - both Tesco and Dunnes do these for about 26c/packet, ie 1/4th or less the price of the same thing from McVities.

Cleaning products: Tecos's own-brand are as good as anything else, and vastly cheaper.

Feminine hygiene products - Boots own brand are even cheaper than Tescos.

Know which supermarket is cheapest for what items. Visit at least two of them in every trip.

After that - the secret is to know what you want (eggs, honey, rice, green veggies, red-meat, etc) but not be fussy about brand or specifics (brocolli vs zucchini, clear vs cloudy honey, mince vs stir-fry) and buy the brand that's best value. Know where the cheap meat in the supermarket is, visit often and freeze stuff. Don't buy packet sauces / mixes - you can almost always make your own more cheaply.

At the best, I got us down to E22/week each. It's gone up since, as I've been earning more and slackened off and prices rose a bit, but it's still possible to live very well and cheaply here, IMHO.

Bepolite

Ah now either way water charges - it'll either end up in the rent column or the bills column (which none of can agree what goes in there ) so it doesn't really matter, the bottom line figure is going to be broadly the same.

mjv2ydratu679c

Bepolite wrote: »

Ah now either way - it'll either end up in the rent column or the bills column (which none of can agree what goes in there ) so it doesn't really matter, the bottom line figure is going to be broadly the same.

Water will be another bill paid by tenants - this has been made very clear in media coverage of the issue over the last year.

http://www.moneyguideireland.com/category/water-charges

"The water charges will be the responsibility of the occupier of the property."

Bepolite

Marlon Scarce Handshake wrote: »

Water will be another bill paid by tenants - this has been made very clear in media coverage of the issue over the last year.

http://www.moneyguideireland.com/category/water-charges

"The water charges will be the responsibility of the occupier of the property."

So what part of my above post disputes that, and what part of my post is untrue. Sorry I'm not trying to wind you up but you already posted that. The point I'm making is the bottom line will be the same.

mjv2ydratu679c

Bepolite wrote: »

So what part of my above post disputes that, and what part of my post is untrue. Sorry I'm not trying to wind you up but you already posted that. The point I'm making is the bottom line will be the same.

The part that says it will end up in the rent column - this is completely incorrect. The bottom line may be the same but it will be a separate bill like ESB and Gas in the tenants name and not included in the rent.

Mrs OBumble

If I have to start paying separately for water (which my landlord has provided up til now), then I will be expecting my rent to go down to make up for it. ....

mjv2ydratu679c

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

If I have to start paying separately for water (which my landlord has provided up til now), then I will be expecting my rent to go down to make up for it. ....

Your landlord hasn't provided it up till now - it has been provided for free by the local authority. Unfortunately (and it stinks) it is going to be another bill for all of us next year and I don't think you'll have much luck getting your rent reduced because of it.

Write to your local TDs and to Phil Hogan and complain about it. They've brought it in sneakily and most people won't realise the implications until late next year.

The_Conductor

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

If I have to start paying separately for water (which my landlord has provided up til now), then I will be expecting my rent to go down to make up for it. ....

Your water will either be metered, or unmetered, and will commence from the 1st of October. You won't actually get a bill until Q1 2015- for Q4 2014, in arrears, and every 2 months thereafter. You will have a free allocation (they haven't said what this will amount to, or how it is to be reckoned) and pay for the water consumed over this free amount. Commentators are suggesting average bills will probably be in the 400-500 a year bracket (however this is speculation- as the regulator hasn't approved how the charging is to work yet).

Bandana boy

€25 a week per person for Food is unrealistic
While I am sure it’s possible ,hell Bear Grills can probably survive on €5 a week
The reality is €50-75 per person per week is more realistic
Particularly if your sharing a house/living in flat land without access to large freezers/tieing up the kitchen.
And also cheap meat is cheap for a reason you always get what you pay for on fresh goods.

Mrs OBumble

So I posted on Accommodation and Property, to find out a bit more detail about water charges.

You can read the responses here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057105699

But the short answer is:
No one knows what the charge will be, or how much to budget for it.
No one knows the mechanics of how billing will work. (starting in October, but first bill not 'til Jan - yeah, right, what about the people who've moved in that time)
There's no provision to cut you off if you don't pay your water bill.

Based on that, I'd say that it's too early to be including water charges in the budget.


Re the food budget: obviously people have vastly different standards. I still believe that it is possible to eat well without spending large amounts - even though some people choose differently.

mjv2ydratu679c

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

No one knows the mechanics of how billing will work. (starting in October, but first bill not 'til Jan - yeah, right, what about the people who've moved in that time)

Same way your ESB or Gas Bill works - if your leaving a premises you take a reading and close your account, If your moving to a new premises you have to open a new account and get a meter reading.

Despite the ambiguity be under no illusions - this is another sneaky charge being brought in which will be paid by the end user.

Mark this thread and come back in a years time and we'll see who was correct. I wish I wasn't as I agree with you but the die is cast so unless everyone starts kicking up blue murder about this to every politician they know its going ahead. Unfortunately most people don't realise the implications (i.e. it will be another end user bill) so aren't complaining to anyone about it.

delija_sever029

People this thread went too off,it wasnt suposed to finish as water bill thread :P

mjv2ydratu679c

delija_sever029 wrote: »

People this thread went too off,it wasnt suposed to finish as water bill thread :P

Sorry - apologies on my behalf.

One tip for Dublin is buy a second hand bike and cycle to/from work and into town at weekends. It'll reduce the money you have to spend on transport. Or alternatively join the Dublin bikes scheme.

delija_sever029

No water talk-no posts....damn those ppl really love talking about that water thing,maybe i shouldnt moan about that earlier :P

mjv2ydratu679c

delija_sever029 wrote: »

No water talk-no posts....damn those ppl really love talking about that water thing,maybe i shouldnt moan about that earlier :P

The well has run dry

delija_sever029

Come on folks,keep the talk going:)

The_Conductor

If you flesh out what exactly you're proposing- perhaps we'd be in a better position to debate the pros and cons of the matter?

delija_sever029

I guess i said all in my first post when it comes to living costs and jobs i could search for,more or less you folks answered but not against listening to more comments. If not,where on boards i could ask more about medical jobs in Ireland,sorry for off

Mrs OBumble

OP, it's come to our attention that you've got a similar thread over in Accommodation & Property. These will likely be merged, the mods are just considering where.

In the meantime, you could try the Science > Health Sciences forum for questions specifically about health work. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=392