Are you in the fortunate position of being able to save for a home or you're hoping to buy in the next few years? Purchasing a property in Ireland, especially when you are new to the process, can be daunting task at the best of times. But with the current housing crisis it’s tougher than ever and that’s before you even get to the stage of dealing with auctioneers, banks, quantity surveyors and solicitors. Miriam Finn is a buyers’ agent. A former estate agent, where she only represented the vendor, Finn switched sides and now takes buyers under her wing helping them through the marathon process. In this episode she sets out the timelines involved, explains how to put your best foot forward as a potential mortgage candidate; and shares her insider knowledge as an estate agent with bidding strategies, picking the best solicitor and asking the right questions of sellers.

Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Help to Buy scheme

First Home scheme

More information on various state help and grants

CCPC mortgage money tool

Price comparison web sites like Bonkers and Switcher analyse the best value mortgage loans on the market

Check if a prospective property is on a flood plain

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In the aftermath of the financial crash, Ann-Marie Gaynor was getting over a marital breakdown, lone parenting three children under 7 and in five-figure debt. A self-described Celtic Tiger baby, Gaynor says she only ever saw her credit card limit as a target and would apply for a new card once she'd maxed out another. In this episode she shares how she turned her life around; kicking the debt, clearing her mortgage and now encouraging her social media followers to regain control of their finances too. The Longford woman who goes by the name @IrishBudgetingMammy is sure others can tackle their debt even now during this cost of living crisis.

Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Money Advice and Budgeting Service 

Other links you may find helpful:

• The Insolvency Service of Ireland’s Back On Track web site

• Competition and Consumer Protection Commission

• If debt is causing serious mental distress, reach out and speak to an organisation like Samaritans

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Stephanie Barry Woods and her husband Tim quit their jobs in 2016 to travel the world. They haven't lived back home since. The Cork native goes by @StephMyLife on social media where she shares all her best travel tips, as well as how she and Tim managed to save €100,000 in four years to fund their adventure. In this episode, Steph elaborates on what she did as a formerly financially illiterate twenty something to become an astute saver. Conor Pope also joins the podcast to explain the different savings options currently on the market, and where you might put your money should you be in the fortunate position to do so.

Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Stephanie’s savings plans
• Bonkers and Switcher both compare credit card balance transfer options.
• The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has a regular savings account comparison tool
• FinTechs such as Revolut, Bunq and N26 provide competition to Irish pillar banks
• Raisin allows you to save money in dozens of EU banks that may offer higher interest rates

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Your earliest money memories might be sabotaging your present day finances. That top you bought after a bad day at work? That savings account you keep meaning to open? Or that skimping you do on the bill at the end of a meal, that makes your friends’ eyes roll... Most of these behaviours can be traced back to attitudes and beliefs around money that we formed in childhood, according to Emma Edwards of The Broke Generation. In this episode we speak to the finance writer, podcaster and author about the narratives we carry into adulthood that get in the way of our fiscal well-being. Edwards explains how to figure out our subconscious beliefs around money, why you shouldn't skip this step and how self-discovery can break the cycle of self-defeating behaviour.

Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

The Broke Generation

Good With Money by Emma Edwards is available in all good bookshops

The concept of money mindset categories were popularised by the financial psychologist Dr. Brad Klontz

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If you’re struggling to budget and wondering where you’re going wrong, Irish Times consumer affairs correspondent Conor Pope has you covered. From spending tracking to goal setting to switching providers, Conor breaks it down into accessible steps without bombarding you with jargon or berating you for your love of oat milk lattes. Yes, this stuff is hard but is possible to budget in a way that’s empowering and motivating.

Better With Money is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.

Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Spendee budgeting app

MABS bugeting tool

CCPC budgeting tool

Charles Duhigg

Revolut vaults explainer

An Post Money jars 

Bonkers 

Switcher

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If you’ve always been a bit a mess with money, and it’s really time you got your act together, Better With Money from The Irish Times is the podcast for you.

Whether you’re brutal at budgeting, interested in investing or hoping for your own home -  we speak to people who’ve been there and done that, to explain the “yeah but literally how”?

So don’t feel bad if you don’t know your assets from your elbow – check out Better With Money from The Irish Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.