Living in Dublin on Minimum Wage ???

EggShellSkull

I have been offered a job with a company in Dublin city centre. The starting salary is €20,000 per annum, which works out close enough to the minimum hourly rate of pay.

I'm wondering will this actually be tenable. I'm not adverse to scrimping and saving but while I continue to hear the horror stories of Dublin rents being drastically high I'm wondering would I actually be able to afford the cost of living in Dublin city centre?

SuperSean11

What happens if the job falls through after a month, have you savings to fall back on

EggShellSkull

SuperSean11 wrote: »

What happens if the job falls through after a mont, have you savings to fall back on

The job is secure, a three-year contract. I'm actually moving out of home so if everything goes south I can return home (Cork) to mammy and daddy.

muminpajamas

Does this job offer career progression and benefits? Are you using your qualifications? Sounds like you have a plan if it falls through so no need to stress too much.

EggShellSkull

muminpajamas wrote: »

Does this job offer career progression and benefits? Are you using your qualifications? Sounds like you have a plan if it falls through so no need to stress too much.

Yes, the prospects are very good and this is a position I want. However, the initial salary is quite low in comparison to potential future earnings. My main concern is handing over a huge percentage of my monthly salary for rent and not being able to get by adequately on what's left over.

My net income after tax would be €1,500 per month, but looking at rental options I could end up being left with somewhere in the region of €180 per week (if rent is €750 per month). Could I actually get by on this?

al87987

I'm not on much more and in a similar situation to yourself. 3 year trainee contract.

I had to move back in with my da and am still just about scraping by, you can manage but it will be tough. Say goodbye to luxuries like new clothes or two-ply toilet paper.

737max

a three year contract is not a three year contract.

A friend of mine was recruited for a relatively low paying contracted job in Dublin from overseas. They were let go after 6 months. The employer turned their life on end. The only reason the friend accepted the job was to get experience, instead they got a 6 month hole in their CV and were left thousands out of pocket after moving expenses.

GypsyByName

What part of Dublin is the job in?

mickdw

737max wrote: »

a three year contract is not a three year contract.

A friend of mine was recruited for a relatively low paying contracted job in Dublin from overseas. They were let go after 6 months. The employer turned their life on end. The only reason the friend accepted the job was to get experience, instead they got a 6 month hole in their CV and were left thousands out of pocket after moving expenses.

Ya but sure you have to jump in somewhere.
It's small money. I remember I started as a graduate in 2001 in Dublin on 25k punts and I had nothing left although I was running a car.
20k today is crazy tight.

MayoSalmon

Do it for a year and then try to move up or move on would be my advice. Frugal living but will be worth it in the long run

GypsyByName

EggShellSkull wrote: »

Yes, the prospects are very good and this is a position I want. However, the initial salary is quite low in comparison to potential future earnings. My main concern is handing over a huge percentage of my monthly salary for rent and not being able to get by adequately on what's left over.

My net income after tax would be €1,500 per month, but looking at rental options I could end up being left with somewhere in the region of €180 per week (if rent is €750 per month). Could I actually get by on this?

You can easily rent places in a house share with a single room in Dublin for around €400pm and less in many cases.

If you do it try and wangle yourself a par time a job in a bar or a bit of waiting one or two evenings or maybe people don't do things like that anymore.

737max

GypsyByName wrote: »

You can easily rent places in a house share with a single room in Dublin for around €400pm and less in many cases.

600 to 700 is closer to the mark.

GypsyByName

737max wrote: »

600 to 700 is closer to the mark.

Loads like this one!

http://www.daft.ie/dublin/house-share/clonsilla/8-allendale-glen-clonsilla-dublin-978972/

737max

GypsyByName wrote: »

Loads like this one!

http://www.daft.ie/dublin/house-share/clonsilla/8-allendale-glen-clonsilla-dublin-978972/

kill me, kill me now.

GypsyByName

737max wrote: »

kill me, kill me now.

Sorry?

737max

you show us a box room in the ar5e end of Clonsilla. What sort of bare sorry existence do you wish to foist upon the OP.

La_Gordy

It wouldn't be much craic but doable!

GypsyByName

737max wrote: »

you show us a box room in the ar5e end of Clonsilla. What sort of bare sorry existence do you wish to foist upon the OP.

Well how about do some research before challenging me. There are numerous ones. Im sure the Op would rather live within his/her means.

EggShellSkull

GypsyByName wrote: »

Loads like this one!

That looks grim.

mickdw

737max wrote: »

you show us a box room in the ar5e end of Clonsilla. What sort of bare sorry existence do you wish to foist upon the OP.

To be honest, there is little wrong with that provided it's a safe area to walk between there and the train station.
Too many people seem to think they are entitled to stay in city centre, even people on welfare.
I lived in similar in Lucan. Suited me fine.

GypsyByName

EggShellSkull wrote: »

That looks grim.

They always do will be totally different when OP moves in with his/her bits and pieces or whatever.

MayoSalmon

737max wrote: »

you show us a box room in the ar5e end of Clonsilla. What sort of bare sorry existence do you wish to foist upon the OP.

Were you expecting a penthouse in Spencer's dock?

737max

If the position has prospects then ask relations to support you for a while so that you can maintain a quality of life, otherwise pass.

I'm not going to tiptoe around the topic like I did with my Friend trying not to be Mr. Negativity.
You'll have a miserable life in Dublin on 20k and the only other suggestions you are getting on this thread are to work a 60 to 80 hour week and to live in a 6ft by 6ft box room.

737max

MayoSalmon wrote: »

Were you expecting a penthouse in Spencer's dock?

That is my idea of hell. It speaks volumes that people think that when you are living in an expensive apartment in a run down part of the inner city of a paroachial town that you have "arrived".

Pelvis

No it's not possible, no one in Dublin earns minimum wage.

GypsyByName

EggShellSkull wrote: »

That looks grim.

http://www.daft.ie/dublin/house-share/killiney/brackenbush-park-watson-estate-killiney-dublin-977966/

Ya wont get much posher than Killiney.

Sight808

EggShellSkull wrote: »

I have been offered a job with a company in Dublin city centre. The starting salary is €20,000 per annum, which works out close enough to the minimum hourly rate of pay.

I'm wondering will this actually be tenable. I'm not adverse to scrimping and saving but while I continue to hear the horror stories of Dublin rents being drastically high I'm wondering would I actually be able to afford the cost of living in Dublin city centre?

I did it for a while as I upskilling by studying part-time in the evening. It's really hard going - Rent is the obvious killer. If you can try and stay with mature students, PhDs or similar in a shared house it's can be grand, particularly PhD students as they will be busy most of the time and less inclined to be partying. It will still cost a fortune though. Another downside is you're living a good distance from the city so the commute is the other money drainer - taking the luas/bus or both across different zones adds up each day. Food shopping in places like Lidl & Aldi will save you a fortune. Then the rest is pretty standard.

737max

GypsyByName wrote: »

http://www.daft.ie/dublin/house-share/killiney/brackenbush-park-watson-estate-killiney-dublin-977966/

Ya wont get much posher than Killiney.

What is an estate agent doing letting out a house by the room rather than in its entiriety. That house will be appearing for sale in coming months and they'll all be thrown out on their ear.

GypsyByName

737max wrote: »

What is an estate agent doing letting out a house by the room rather than in its entiriety. That house will be appearing for sale in coming months and they'll all be thrown out on their ear.

Do you just come on here to POO-POO peoples suggestions?

SuperSean11

EggShellSkull wrote: »

The job is secure, a three-year contract. I'm actually moving out of home so if everything goes south I can return home (Cork) to mammy and daddy.

Grand then go for it, and have a ball in the city. I’d recommend somewhere you can commute from as the city Centre is ridiculous price.

SuperSean11

GypsyByName wrote: »

Do you just come on here to POO-POO peoples suggestions?

They can’t just be thrown out even if it’s sold the new landlord would have to honor the lease

737max

If I had done it for my friend they would have been in a better position now. I'm doing the OP a favour. The rest of you are leading them down a merry path.
I started out on a wage before minimum wage and it was a slog but it looks so much harder now than it was even then. I was on a cheap secondhand motorbike in house shares but the outlook now is so much worse.

I point out a house that is clearly being lined up for sale because I found myself in a house that was lined up for sale.
I didn't even mention that the other house is owner occupied and they'll be confined to their 6x6 room.

My advice is that if the OP can get some financial help and the job has got tangible "great" prospects or helps to flesh out a CV then go for it otherwise skip.

737max

SuperSean11 wrote: »

They can’t just be thrown out even if it’s sold the new landlord would have to honor the lease

They'll have no lease. They'll be told they are licensees. They are looking for naive lodgers here, not people au fait with their rights.

GypsyByName

737max wrote: »

If I had done it for my friend they would have been in a better position now. I'm doing the OP a favour. The rest of you are leading them down a merry path.
I started out on a wage before minimum wage and it was a slog but it looks so much harder now than it was even then. I was on a cheap secondhand motorbike in house shares but the outlook now is so much worse.

I point out a house that is clearly being lined up for sale because I found myself in a house that was lined up for sale.
I didn't even mention that the other house is owner occupied and they'll be confined to their 6x6 room.

My advice is that if the OP can get some financial help and the job has got tangible "great" prospects or helps to flesh out a CV then go for it otherwise skip.

OK, I will bow out of this now. All I did was point out there are much cheaper places to rent than originally suggested by the OP.

It is doable but very tight money wise as well as rent they will have pay bills and get a weekly commute ticket, feed themselves at the very minimum. If they did not need to buy much clothes or socialise much they will be grand.

SuperSean11

737max wrote: »

They'll have no lease. They'll be told they are licensees. They are looking for naive lodgers here, not people au fait with their rights.

Thats why I would suggest they sign a lease

woodsc3

I'm studying in Dublin and working about 27 hours a week at minimum wage. You can definitely live just fine as long as you find an apartment you can share. I'm living in Smithfield and walk to work/college in Dublin 2 so I have no travel expenses. It's not extremely easy but it definitely is not difficult to live Dublin on minimum wage, especially if you can work 40 hours a week
***edit***
You probably would not be able to save very much at minimum wage anywhere in the city, I live month to month essentially

MayoSalmon

737max wrote:

That is my idea of hell. It speaks volumes that people think that when you are living in an expensive apartment in a run down part of the inner city of a paroachial town that you have "arrived".

Ah yes real run down with a LUAS, convention center, Irish Rail station, reems of global multinationals among other things in that god awful kip!

737max

3 year contract.
what is a contract?
I can see it from their side. It guarantees a source of labour for 3 years at minimum wage levels with a signed contract that will hopefully excuse their obligations to their full time employee at the end of the three years.
What does it offer the employee? minimum wage which is what every other job is offering and a vague promise of relevant work experience but the catch is that they are tied working at minimum wage for three years with no reference forthcoming if they breach the contract.
This contract is offered at a time of near full employment in Ireland.

At the very least I would recommend that the OP look at Glassdoor and see if there is any positive feedback about their prospective employer. I held my tongue when my friend took their position despite seeing what Glasdoor reviews had to say about the company all because I didn't want to be seen as Mr Negativity.

737max

MayoSalmon wrote: »

Ah yes real run down with a LUAS, convention center, Irish Rail station, reems of global multinationals among other things in that god awful kip!

Wouldn't swap it for where I am.

MayoSalmon

737max wrote:

Wouldn't swap it for where I am.

Nobody asked you to and good luck to ya

J Mysterio

EggShellSkull wrote: »

Yes, the prospects are very good and this is a position I want. However, the initial salary is quite low in comparison to potential future earnings. My main concern is handing over a huge percentage of my monthly salary for rent and not being able to get by adequately on what's left over.

My net income after tax would be €1,500 per month, but looking at rental options I could end up being left with somewhere in the region of €180 per week (if rent is €750 per month). Could I actually get by on this?

Basically, no. Rent will be around €1k p/m most places. That leaves you with €500 p/m or €120 a week which is less than the dole at €188. You will have bills, food to buy, nights out, clothing needs etc.

737max

MayoSalmon wrote: »

Nobody asked you to and good luck to ya

Sorry, I misunderstood. I thought the sole purpose of your post was to convince me that it's a great place.

Alkers

You should get back to the employer and explain that while the position sounds great etc and you'd love to accept their offer, that you genuinely don't think you could afford to make ends meet and see if they can make you a better offer.

I took up a position for the same money in June 13, my money has since doubled but I managed at the time. Shared accommodation is the only way of doing it.

737max

3 year contract is unreasonable.
minimum wage is unreasonable in a country with full employment. I'm assuming the position requires certain skills and qualifications otherwise they would have filled it with Joe Bloggs who was sent to them from the FAS Office around the corner.

dudara

SuperSean11 wrote: »

Thats why I would suggest they sign a lease

If they are sharing with the owner, then they’ll still be a licensee. A lease won’t really matter.

positron

Curious to know what job is this that requires a three year contract offering 20k. Sounds bad, unless you stand to benefit from on job training, I am thinking like airlines recruiting folks to train up as pilots etc (I know that doesn't happen anymore, but as an example). Otherwise it sounds wrong, especially the three year contract part.

brick tamland

Not going to get details of houses and jobs like others but.......Yep it's do-able.

Might not be a whole lot of craic but you should get by. Get a cheapish house share. Bring your on lunch to work. Stick with public transport ect. If it's a job you really want to go for. Give it a bash.

gctest50

737max wrote: »

That is my idea of hell. It speaks volumes that people think that when you are living in an expensive apartment in a run down part of the inner city of a paroachial town that you have "arrived".

For sure - the whole thing is upside-down

Costs about €100,000 per year to keep a prisoner in Mountjoy

You could release most of them and pay them €100,000 to stay out of any trouble

If they offend, they get sent here :

- at a call centre desk, listening to kids whine about their internet all day

Then just give the cells a bit of a refurb and rent them out at 500/mo


Rooms @ The Mount

GerardKeating

SuperSean11 wrote: »

They can’t just be thrown out even if it’s sold the new landlord would have to honor the lease

Not if they are renting a room, with the landlord living in the place.