Ladies, we are at the point of the month when we seriously wonder how we are going to feed ourselves for the next few days.
Too much online shopping, too many gin and tonics, too frequent takeaways; whatever got us into this position, we have to make the most of the few quid left in our bank account, and still put something decent in our stomachs.
To help you survive until pay day without existing solely on stodgy crackers and depressing cans of tuna, we have gathered some delicious and super cheap ideas that won't even feel like you are trying to not spend money.
It’s the month of new beginnings, healthy resolutions and a whole lot of penny-pinching.
If you’re anything like us, the post-Christmas period has left you with a serious case of the back-to-work blues and a very deep hole in your pocket.
The end of the month seems like a lifetime away when your one take-away order away from an overdraft, but never fear, there are plenty of ways to keep your finances ticking over.
Here’s some simple and achievable ways to stretch you paycheck this January.
1. Prepare food at home
Clean out the oven and dust off the cookbooks because January is the perfect time to put your culinary skills to the test.
Make the time to prepare nutritious meals and save the leftovers for lunch the next day. Or, if you can’t fathom the idea of slaving away in the kitchen after a hard day’s work, set aside a few hours during the weekend and freeze your meals for the week.
You’ll save a decent sum of money, and hey, you might even feel healthier too.
2. Sell unwanted clothing online
We’d be lying if we said that our wardrobes weren’t full of garments that have never seen the light of day.
Maybe it was an impulse sales buy, or maybe it was a one-off outfit for a special event – either way, it you haven’t worn it in the last six months, chances are you never will.
Clear out any unwanted clothing items and divide them into three categories – 1. Fit for the bin, 2. Donate to charity, 3. Sell online.
De-clutter and earn some extra cash? It’s win-win!
3. Use public transport
OK, so this one is a bit of a no-brainer, but an effective way to save some pennies nonetheless.
Whether it’s the bus, Luas or DART, most transport companies offer discounted rates on monthly tickets. You’ll save on petrol and parking, and who knows, you might even be able to use the commute to get some extra work done. If public transport doesn’t suit you, fuel cards are a valid option for commuters. Check out this beginners guide to fuel cards for more information.
4. Leave your debit card at home
We’re all guilty of it.
You withdraw enough money to keep you going for a night out, but of course the card needs to come along as well – you know, for emergencies.
However, when that ’emergency’ turns out to be a final trip to the bar before last orders, it’s safe to say the plastic would have been better off left at home.
5. Ditch the fancy coffee
Say bye-bye to double shot lattés and hello to reusable cups.
While a €3 coffee might not seem like the biggest strain on your finances, you could rack up a hefty bill by the end of the month.
Let’s do the maths – €3 a day, five days a week = €60 per month – or a flight to London and back to put it inperspective.
6. Entertain at home
Let’s be honest, at this point we’re pretty sick of the sight of pubs and clubs, and a cosy night in with a bottle of wine sounds more appealing than ever.
Suggest that you and your friends give town a skip and dig out the old boardgames and leftover Christmas booze.
It’s a lot easier on your pocket, and let’s face it, you’ll probably have more fun!
Research from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) has presented results on the graduates who are most likely to find a job after college.
Naturally, we were curious and had to check out the scores. Unsurprisingly, creative work seems fairly sparse *sighs*.
As it turns out, teachers are the most likely to find a job after they graduate, with over 93 percent of recent education grads finding employment within nine months of finishing their course.
The HEA's research found that graduates in areas such as health and welfare (87 percent), ICT (82 percent) and engineering (82 percent) had especially high employment outcomes.
Nearly 80 percent of third-level students secured work within nine months of graduating, which is good news.
The HEA found that students who studied subjects like philosophy and literature were the LEAST likely to be employed…sorry to all those deep thinkers and bookworms out there.
Anyone who completed their arts and humanities studies were actually among the highest percentages who embarked on further study, at 24 percent.
The study involved 29,000 participants who graduated back in 2017, and found that teaching grads are one of the best paid. Their starting salaries mostly came in at €30-€35,000.
The average salary of full-time graduates in employment was €33,574. The HEA's Valerie Harvey said that those who complete further study are the most employable.
She commented on the research, saying that; "The overwhelming majority of all graduates are working and as you move through the levels of educational attainment higher numbers are in employment."
She continued, "So we found that 75 percent of honours degree, 86 percent of post-graduate taught and 91 percent of postgraduate research graduates are in employment."
78 percent of those participants surveyed are working or due to begin a job, and 14 percent of those surveyed are in training or further education.
A further five percent are searching for work, and the remainder are in "further activities", like travelling the world or saving the turtles. Apparently, 90 percent of those who graduate find a job in Ireland. That one surprised us, alright.
According to The Mirror, Tommy Fury is charging fans £30 to take pictures with him at meet and greets in Blackpool this week, while girlfriend Molly-Mae Hague is requesting just £4.
The expensive package gives Love Island fans the opportunity to grab a photo with Tommy and get his autograph at a shopping centre tomorrow.
Tommy is said to be earning roughly £5,000-an-hour for his appearances, which could allow him to rake in over £100,000 by the end of 2019.
Tommy's girlfriend Molly-Mae is doing a PA at Loft nightclub in Perth tomorrow night and fans can pay just £4 for a meet-and-greet as well as a selfie with her.
They can also enjoy £2 drinks all night after free club entry. The reality show couple have been visiting clubs for lucrative personal appearances all over the UK and Ireland.
Tommy was in Scotland, Chester and Norwich for PAs last week, and Molly-Mae even took a private jet to Longford for one trip.
The pair, who met on the show and were runners up in the final, have spent a lot of time apart since leaving the villa.
Molly-Mae headed off to Los Angeles for a week as part of a £500,000 deal with with PrettyLittleThing, and Tommy was in Scotland when she returned.
The pair lost the £50,000 cash prize to Greg O'Shea and Amber Gill, with many fans arguing that they should have nabbed the prize considering they're the only official couple.
Looks like this brilliant Irish beauty brand has yet another celebrity fan to add to it's list: None other than the legendary American rapper Cardi B.
Carter Beauty by Marissa Carter may only be less than a year old, but the burgeoning company has raised the bar when it comes to gaining noteworthy fans.
Their growing portfolio of friends in high places now includes Cardi B, who wore Carter Beauty by Marissa Carter’s €4.95 'On the Lash' false lashes in style 'Glamour' on stage at a sell out performance this week.
All eyes were on one of the most successful rappers in the world as she donned the false lashes, which are a shockingly affordable price.
The lashes were expertly applied by Cardi’s go-to celebrity make-up artist Erika La Pearl who called the Irish brand her new obsession. Wow, the compliments just keep on flowing in.
Cardi B isn't the first famous face to be seen sporting Carter Beauty. Grammy-award winning singer Ariana Grande wore the brand's €4.95 Supreme Gel liner in her music video this year.
Her make up artist, Rokael Beauty, took to Instagram to share all the behind the scenes secrets, writing,
"Still obsessed with this dazzling look from the #breakupwithyourgirlfriend music video."
"For all the #Arianators asking I used @carterbeautycosmetics @marissacarter Supreme Gel Liner so in love with the way the tip is super fine and its jet black and smudge-proof."
Kourtney Kardashian's make-up artist also announced that their €9.95 Full Measure HD Foundation was his go-to for filming, and Love Island star Olivia Buckland emphasised her adoration for the entire collection of Carter Beauty products.
There's no stopping this brand. Team CB is officially Team Cardi B, we have it in writing. The ink is dry, gals.
For anyone wondering, the Carter Beauty by Marissa Carter 'On the Lash' false lashes come in six alternating styles from Natural up to Dramatic.
The Carter Beauty by Marissa Carter false lashes are innovative, 3D artificial lashes designed to add volume and depth whilst seamlessly blending with your own lashes for a natural look.
Grab your 'On the Lash' in style 'Glamour' before it's gone.
Carter Beauty by Marissa Carter is available in Irish pharmacies nationwide and in selected Penneys stores. You can also buy the goodies online on their website here.
While they may be on a very extended 'break', Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson became millionares after chugging out album after album in a short space of time.
First of all, 1D sales are beyond insane. According to RIAA, One Direction has sold $13.5 million in digital singles, which is basically in downloaded singles alone.
Their album sales are also on the high end of the spectrum; 2013’s Midnight Memories was that year’s best-selling album, selling a whopping 4 million copies worldwide.
Let's not forget the merch, shall we? Piles of cash came in from their 2014 Where We Are Tourin particular. It became the highest-grossing tour of the year with $290.2 million.
Their 2013 Take Me Home tour also made $114 million, and 2015’s On the Road Again Tour made $208 million. So they've got plenty to brag about.
Bear in mind, the money had to be divided in five as well as siphoned off to their management and those who worked on set and on tour with them. STILL, it's cold hard cash.
Their merch strategy was out of this world; they could have sold a dirty old sock and fans would pay millions for it. You can still find merch of the bands actually..might get some more?
Their This Is Us movie earned a casual $8.9 million on its opening day alone, so there's that too. We confess, we went to see it, Twice.
One Direction also made sure to work with brands to get endorsements, such as Toyota and Pepsi.
Apart from all that coin he made in the infamous boy band, Harry also had his self-titled debut album and movie roles as part of his earnings.
His self-titled musical offering sold well, with one million copies being bought to be exact, and his solo tour making $62 million
His role in Dunkirk presumably paid well, and his modelling for GUCCI tailoring also gave him a handsome salary.
His L.A. home was only recently put on the market for $7.495 million, so he's got some money tied up in real estate property, and a $6.8 million NYC apartment, as well as his $3 million London home.
Which means…according toCelebrity Net Worth, our boy Harry has a total of $75 million to his name.
We just shed a single tear for the state of our financial independence…
With the expense level of living in Dublin at the moment, you'd be forgiven for feeling down in the dumps about wages right now.
Good news is needed, and thankfully some was released today regarding the average weekly earnings for Irish workers; it's actually…*deep breathing* … INCREASED.
Increased? We haven't heard that word in a long time. Too long.
According to the Central Statistics Office of Ireland, the average weekly earnings in the fourth quarter of 2018 were €761.64, which is a four percent increase. We'll take what we can get, eh?
It's an increase of just under €20 per week from the figure taken from the third quarter of last year.
Average hourly earnings increased from €22.60 in the fourth quarter of 2017 to €23.46 in the fourth quarter of 2018. However, the figures represent gross amounts before deductions for PRSI, tax and other levies.
The average weekly earnings for Irish employees in the public sector increased to €966.40 in the fourth quarter of last year, while average weekly earnings increased in all 13 sectors of the economy in the same time frame.
The Information and Communication sector saw the highest average weekly earnings in Ireland, with a weekly figure of €1,175.46, followed by the Financial, Insurance and Real Estate activities sector at €1,084.89. We're not jealous, though.
The lowest average weekly earnings were €360.73 in the Accommodation and Food Service activities sector and€493.12 in the Arts, Entertainment, Recreation and other service activities sector. (That's us…Oh sh*t…)
The healthcare crisis is escalating as the nurses and midwives remain on strike for another day this week.
The impact on tens of thousands of patients is causing chaos, as members of the public are asked not to use out of hours GP services as hundreds of doctors gather for a protest in Dublin.
News has since emerged that a rally will take place this Saturday, allowing members of the public to support the nurses and Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).
Over 35,000 nurses and midwives voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action late last year, with their first 24-hour stoppage taking place on January 30 and second strike occurring yesterday.
The Facebook post reads; "Join the nurses' protest, called by the INMO, this Sat 12.30pm Parnell Square Dublin. Leo Varadkar and the Fine Gael led government are refusing to negotiate with the nurses."
It continues, "They are ignoring the huge public support for their legitimate claims. Most of us know that nurses deserve equality of treatment with other professional grades, better pay will help ease the recruitment crisis and that means better patient care in our hospitals."
"Nurses do not want to strike – they would prefer to care for their patients. We can help by turning our sympathy into a major display of solidarity." it concludes, calling on the public to text their numbers to join the rally at the Garden of Remembrance.
Further strike action is expected to take place on February 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, and 21, which is sure to affect a huge amount of patients.
Patients are being asked by the National Association of GP Co-ops to travel to emergency departments, or to wait to see their own GP if any ailment is experienced.
Other disruptions include the cancellation of outpatient appointments, non-urgent surgery, and respite, rehabilitation, and day centre services. An estimated 50,000 patients in the past week were affected.
There were 410 patients waiting for hospital beds this morning, with highest figures in UH #Limerick (50 people), #Cork UH (29 people), and UH #Galway (27 people).
— Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation (@INMO_IRL) February 6, 2019
Another strike is expected tomorrow, with up to 75,000 people likely to be affected.
As of last night, there appears to be little hope of resolving the pay dispute, with the INMO accusing the Government of “recycling” ideas and calling on them to “come to the table unconditionally”.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar admitted that direct contact should have been made with nursing unions regarding further talks at the Workplace Relations Commission to resolve their dispute, instead of through a press release.
Leo Varadkar said offering a pay rise may not help retain nurses or attract young workers to the profession.
Has anybody done a study to find out why young nurses are leaving and why others who want to move home to Ireland have not done so?#istandwithnursesandmidwives
He responded to critique from Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, who claimed the statement was an "appalling and a pathetic way" to approach the dispute.
Yesterday, the Fine Gael Government issued a statement saying it was willing to engage in talks on issues other than pay to try to overcome the nurses' strike.
General Secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation Phil Ni Sheaghdha said the Government had not communicated directly with the unions.
— Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation (@INMO_IRL) February 6, 2019
Adult mental health services are also coming under huge strain today and tomorrow due to a ban on overtime, including night rosters, as members of the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) engage in industrial action.
Doctors will join the disagreement by heading to the Dáil to protest at conditions and pay cuts, which was organised by the National Association of General Practitioners.
Other aspects of the healthcare crisis involve a lack of beds, and the disastrous cost of the new National Paediatric Hospital, which sum now stands at €1.7 billion.
An 18-year-old Belfast man has accidentally become the JAMMIEST teenager in the universe.
Dane Gillespie cashed an £8,900 cheque from his granny into his Nationwide account the other day, only to see that there were some extra 0's there that could light up anyone's world.
Basically, he was an absolute millionaire, with a cool £8,800,000 in his possession. For a day, at least…
Dane's mother was interviewed by Belfast Live about her son's bank balance, and it's pretty gas.
"We couldn’t believe it. My son thought he was a millionaire for a few hours. Next minute my husband messaged me with the photograph of his bank account details. It took me a wee while to click," she said.
"He’s going to me, ‘I’m gonna order a Porsche’ and I said, ‘Don’t be daft, that’s not our money, we need to get this sorted," she laughed. That lad has expensive taste…
His mother talked some sense into him;"It was like that for a good few hours. For an 18-year-old being a millionaire for the day, he just can’t believe it. He just wanted to go out and spend, but if you do then you have to pay it back."
"He thought all his birthdays came at once this morning. It’s mad," she finished. Unfortunately for Dane, Nationwide corrected their mistake ASAP, so his good fortune didn't last long.
In a statement to MailOnline, a spokesman for Nationwide said:
"The customer paid the cheque in at the branch and unfortunately the wrong amount was keyed. The error was noticed straight away and the balance was corrected in a matter of seconds."
"While the amount was shown on his balance, cheques do not clear straight away, so the funds were never in is account. Sadly he may have to wait a little longer to buy the Porsche he wants," they joked.
Pay-Day Purgatory. That middle time during the worst month of every year where you literally forget the concept of monetary transactions because money does not exist in your life anymore.
Spare change? Goodbye.
Contactless card? Forget it, gal.
Online shopping? You're delusional.
The days of being financially independent are long gone. Winter is here.
None of us can recall a time where we could 'spot' our friends for food, or the blissful moment when you don't have to check your balance because you're aware that it ain't empty. (Rarely happens but for some unicorns apparently it exists)
Those were the days…but now we're trapped in Pay-Day-Purgatory, land of the tense and agonising wait to be paid. Those last few days where all you can do is sit in your home and mope, because moping is free.
The countdown continues anew, once again we wait in the darkness by the frosty window, trying to remember a time when we could wave our bank cards and expect something in return.
Ariana Grande OWNED 2018, there is absolutely zero question about that.
It's looking like 2019 will be yet another year of the Ari, after she released her pink-infused Tokyo themed music video for 7 Rings.
"Whoever said money can't solve your problems, must not have had enough money to solve 'em. They say, "Which one?" I say, "Nah, I want all of 'em" = The life we both want and deserve.
It's a badass anthem of female empowerment, and touches on her past heartbreak and current happiness as a single, but powerful woman. YAS GURL.
The track is an ode to her best friends, and the rhythm and lyrics areinspired by The Sound of Music's classic tune My Favourite Things.
"Wearing a ring, but ain't gon' be no 'Mrs', bought matching diamonds for six of my bitches. I'd rather spoil all my friends with my riches, think retail therapy's my new addiction," she croons. GET IT HENNY.
"Been through some bad shit, I should be a sad b*tch. Who woulda thought it'd turn me to a savage?" she sings, on top of a kitchen island, looking INCREDIBLE.
She's seeing the world through rose-tinted glasses, it would seem. From sexy ensembles abundant to unreal feminist themes while dancing ironically in a kitchen setting, the video is set to be a hit.
Let's examine the best Easter egg aspects to the video, for scientific purposes only. Naturally, her fans have gone WILD over the GRRL power video, with glitter and pink everywhere to be seen.
She embraces her wealth, suggesting that in fact, money can buy her happiness and retail therapy can help her to recover from break-ups. Why not, gal. Why not.
Ariana was definitely inspired by the hip-hop industry, her glamorous pink fur coat is sure to inspire fashion trends, and her new-found confidence at her hard-earned cash is reminiscent of male rappers.
Memes are also sure to be hoppin' online, we're seeing some absolute gems already:
Ari raps now? The Sweetener songstress makes her love for the finer things in life well known in the video.
From "lashes and diamonds" to "ATM machines" and "breakfast at Tiffany's," Ari lives the high life on her own terms and her own earnings.
True Arianators will notice that the intro for 7 Rings is suspiciously similar to the one included in the music video for Thank U, Next. Our gal-pal Ari was dropping hints WEEKS ago.
Her best friends joined in on the video action and are all featured as "six of my b*tches."
Ariana gifted these six lucky women to Tiffany & Co. rings on a day out in New York City, hence their starring roles.
well …………. ‘twas a pretty rough day in nyc. my friends took me to tiffany’s. we had too much champagne. i bought us all rings. it was very insane and funny. & on the way back to the stu njomza was like ‘bitch, this gotta be a song lol’. so we wrote it that afternoon. https://t.co/CoczmPj1Fo
She revealed on Twitter that the inspiration happened on a "pretty rough day in NYC", after which her besties brought her to Tiffany for "way too much champagne". That's our regular Saturday, sure.
Ariana shared at the time. "On the way back to the studio, Njomza was like, 'Bitch, this gotta be a song lol.' So we wrote it that afternoon."
Singer-songwriter Njomza was a close friend of the late rapper, and Ari's ex-boyfriend. The pair frequently collaborated, and Njomza made sure to perform at Miller's tribute concert last October.
Ari gifted him with one of the six rings, presumably as a nod to their paralleling loss.
Ariana's doggo Toulouse is renowned in the celebrity pooch world, and even ended up making an appearance in one scene of the video because he "literally wouldn't leave" while filming.
7 Rings marks the second single from Grande's upcoming album, thank u, next, after Imagine was released.
The album marks her new ability to drop music whenever she wants, a hip-hop trait which has been predominantly used by male rappers, and made famous by Beyoncé.
The album is sure to be as big a hit as Sweetener, the more amazing girl-power music from Princess Ari, the better.
Iconic whiskey distillers Jameson are making a final call for college graduates to apply for its renowned 2019/20 international graduate programme.
The programme is known globally for offering world-class experience and two international placements, but they've claimed that the latest candidates need one thing; 'Serious character'.
The grad programme has been running for an outstanding 27 years, and gives graduates the chance to fulfil their personal and professional potential while working with an Irish brand with worldwide influence.
As a Jameson International Brand Ambassador, your office could be anywhere when you're on the move. With 50 markets on offer, it's an amazing opportunity to build a serious career. Our only requirement? SERIOUS CHARACTER. Show us you have it and APPLY NOW: https://t.co/f2aCujkaVepic.twitter.com/17tx6rocIK
— Jameson Graduate Progamme (@JAMESONGRADPROG) January 4, 2019
The successful candidate will be working on the international stage, and are supported by a competitive benefits package, multi-award winning training and development programme and a global support network.
The leader of Jameson's programme, Sinéad D'Arcy, commented that;
“The Jameson International Graduate Programme is a truly unique programme offering graduates three-years’ experience in a marketing role, in one of over 50 countries across the world."
"Every year we look for driven, charismatic and creative graduates, from a range of diverse backgrounds, to serve as brand ambassadors in cities across the world," she added.
Over 400 countries to date have completed the infamous graduate programme alongside Jameson since it began in 1991.
Alumni of the Irish distiller's programme have progressed to high quality roles internally and externally in over 33 cities, and Jameson maintains its role as the fifth most popular graduate employer in Ireland according to gradireland.
If you want to kick-start your career, why not start now? Applications for the 2019/20 Jameson International Graduate Programme close on Wednesday 16 January 2019 at 1pm, so get on it.
