Her Money Diaries: A 35-year-old HR Admin in Derry on €26,000

I'm a 35-year-old in HR, earning €26k, and this was my biggest financial mistake

Because who hasn’t wondered, ‘Am I the only one buying coffee EVERY single day?’ Or questioned how someone is affording the expensive car or designer bag? Are we all just quietly “girl-mathing” our way through the week and hoping, in the words of Ross Geller, that we’re fiiiiiiine?

That curiosity is exactly why Her Money Diaries is here: to offer a candid peek into someone else’s financial life, from the small habits to bigger goals.

Welcome to this week’s Money Diary, where we’re taking a look at Shanise’s real-life relationship with money.

First Name: Shanise (pseudonym)

Age: 35

Location: Derry

Job: HR Administrator

Industry: Human Resources

Annual Salary: €26,000

Debt: €890

Savings/Investments: €0

Monthly Expenses

Shanise’s fixed monthly expenses include:

Rent

Gas

Electricity

Broadband

Mobile phone

Bank insurance

Her additional spending typically goes on days out and smaller day-to-day purchases.

Relationship & Finances

Shanise has a partner who earns more than she does, so they split expenses in a way that reflects the difference in income, rather than strictly dividing everything equally.

A Week in Spending

Shanise describes her weekly spending as fairly routine and made up of smaller purchases:

Coffee around 3 to 4 times per week

Occasional stops in Marks & Spencer’s for food or bits

Snacks from vending machines

She doesn’t follow a formal budget or track spending closely; instead, she manages things more casually as she goes.

Wins or Regrets

Worth it:

Denim shorts from Marks & Spencer.

Regrets  or Overspending:

None this week.

Money Mindset

Shanise says she was taught very little about finances growing up and became financially independent at 18.

Her biggest financial mistake was allowing others to take out credit in her name, which is something that has contributed to her current debt.

Despite that, she’s close to clearing it. With €890 remaining, she expects to be debt-free in the next few months.

Goals & Habits

Her main financial goal is straightforward: to become debt-free.

She doesn’t currently budget or track her money, but she has adopted a practical mindset in some areas. For example, she recognises that own-brand products in the shops aren’t necessarily worse than more expensive branded alternatives.

There’s also one habit she knows isn’t ideal but isn’t willing to give up, and that’s buying coffee regularly.

The Honest Bits

If her bank statement were made public, Shanise believes people would be most surprised by how little money she has.

She admits she tends to judge people who spend on expensive items, like playstations and the like, and prefers a more practical approach to money.

When out with friends, bills are usually split evenly, depending on the group she’s with.

Final Bits

Shanise’s financial situation reflects a common reality, which is balancing everyday costs while working toward clearing debt, without a strict system in place.

With her remaining €890 nearly paid off, she’s coming to a point where she can start thinking about what comes next, whether that’s saving, planning, or simply having a bit more breathing room with her finances.