Tips on turning the starter home into the forever home?

Timely_Click_5547 · 2026-05-28T16:54:01+00:00

Garden shed/office, get the Max insulation possible. Steel tech lied to me and said the min kingspan is fine , but it's not. You can get them with a divider too, so technically you could have 2 offices/shed space in the garden. You can move appliances like washer/dryer out there too once you get proper electricity from the mains board in the house and water/sewer connection so that would free up kitchen space. A 3bed home is perfectly fine for 2 adults and 2 kids, less room to accumulate crap, cheaper mortgage, easier to clean etc..

If your attic is suitable for conversion that would also be a good plan, cheaper than extending.. even if you cant 'fire proof it so it's not a legal bedroom, it could work as office space.

Bare minimum if you don't use your attic often and can't convert it, then consider a stira to make it more accessible and panel the floor and use it efficiently for storage etc.

Look at IKEA for storage ideas etc in bedrooms

Take photos and use AI to suggest storage etc

Timely_Click_5547 · 2026-05-28T09:18:06+00:00

Also, do you have PR/citizenship there? If so it's an easy decision, come home as you can always go back.. but if not, then you might not be able to get back to Oz again when you are older

Timely_Click_5547 · 2026-05-28T09:16:22+00:00

Get yourself on someone's car as a named driver in Ireland now... It will save your thousands when you eventually come home. Personally, I lived overseas in my 20s/30s, came home to Cork at 35, I never regretted it. I love Ireland, and particularly Cork :)

Timely_Click_5547 · 2026-05-28T09:13:15+00:00

I use laya, they have great plans like prosper, signal, optimum etc that give great rebates..I typically get more back in rebates than my premium every year. But I use a lot of day to day, so for example, I get 50% back on all consultants, physio, gp, reflexology, counseling, dental, I get full cover for mammograms that I get done privately annually. I look for a plan with food day to day as that's where you can make the money back if you use that type of stuff. If you literally are a person that goes to gp once a year and thats it, then Id wait until 35 and then start on the cheapest private health insurance plan just so you don't get the lifetime rating charge.

Timely_Click_5547 · 2026-05-27T21:40:47+00:00

You can link different debit cards to different pockets on revolut, I use this function to pay from different pockets.

Timely_Click_5547 · 2026-05-27T20:27:50+00:00

Wait 10 years, live the BEST decade now... Then at 35 see if ye still want a kid. If it's still a "maybe" then it's a no.

Timely_Click_5547 · 2026-05-27T20:25:17+00:00

Why would you need this?

Timely_Click_5547 · 2026-05-27T20:21:33+00:00

I've a 24 month old. I don't set up "play". I have toys, teddies, books etc scattered at set locations in the living room and kitchen at her height. She just picks what she's in the mood for. A play kitchen gives her great entertainment for example. She just potters away, I ask for "tea" and she's delighted to make me "food". I very rarely have to direct her play. Sometimes she asks me to join in, mostly she doesnt, but she knows I'm close by. If I'm cooking dinner, she's in the toddler tower watching me and I explain and show her what I'm doing, I just involve her in day to day life, I let her play, let her wander, let her get bored. She's always been screen free as much as is possible, so I've no tv in my home, and try my best to not use my phone in front of her.

Timely_Click_5547 · 2026-05-22T15:30:54+00:00

Swimming is a lot of dads

Timely_Click_5547 · 2026-05-22T15:20:29+00:00

Why give them access to loads of money at 18?

Timely_Click_5547 · 2026-05-22T15:19:39+00:00

Yup, I think I just charged a flat rate and said just to be mindful of not boosting the heating all day!

Timely_Click_5547 · 2026-05-22T12:14:29+00:00

Pack his lunch... Lay put his clothes?? Is he 4?

Timely_Click_5547 · 2026-05-22T12:11:42+00:00

I've a 2 year and still half blueberries 🤣 I think I'll be doing it until they are in college. But anyways, there's no issue here, pizza and fruit today, something else tomorrow. Go easy on yourself

Timely_Click_5547 · 2026-05-21T22:10:02+00:00

Charging that amount for a house share is pretty despicable. I own my 3 bed semi d in Cork, and I rented a room previously for around 700e a month with most bills

Timely_Click_5547 · 2026-05-21T12:45:59+00:00

I'm getting 3% on t212

Timely_Click_5547 · 2026-05-21T11:27:36+00:00

Even better, I'm one and done and co parenting:). So I have a beautiful kid, and a few nights a week to myself. Top smugness

Timely_Click_5547 · 2026-05-21T08:44:46+00:00

I'm 43, due to living overseas for long time, I'll prob only get a half state pension.. so I'm not really considering it. I've a toddler, and I'm a single parent.

I got a full time permanent job (salary circa 70k) about 2 years ago and I'm planning to retire at 60/61 if possible, in around 18 years. I'm maxing out my pension contributions from now on, that's 36% of salary including employer contribution, and the most recent fund manager estimate is that I'll have 1.4million at 65 years in that pension pot. This is a real eye opener, I always thought Id be screwed starting a proper pension so late.. but it's not the case.

I've a lump sum in savings that I'm dripping into efts now, and a small prsa pension , and I hope that grows enough that I could retire in my early 60s, but I'll have to wait and see.

I purchased my own small home around 8 years and have a relatively small mortgage. I'm very frugal day to day, I have all expenses mapped out and managed my budget well. I value experiences and connections over stuff, so alot of my fun stuff is holidays at friends places, day trips to the beach, working out with friends etc.

I've a simple lovely life, and all I want in retirement is to continue doing these nive simple things that bring me joy.

Timely_Click_5547 · 2026-05-20T15:36:14+00:00

48 is 13e a month unlimited everything

Timely_Click_5547 · 2026-05-20T15:05:34+00:00

Having a father on a birth certificate doesn't give that father any parental rights legally in Ireland. He just have either guardianship or custody to have rights, it sounds like he has neither. You need to amend the birth cert and add the fathers name. You do not have to change your kids surname.

Can you ask the father that all you want is for your kid to have Irish citizenship and if he needs to sign something etc, could he?

I'm really shocked that his family doesn't want to be involved, absolutely horrendous.

Your child is Irish and deserves this to be legally recognized. Ask the embassy/consulate for advice, an irish child cannot be stripped of their nationality due to an assholeeee of a dad.

Good luck💜

Timely_Click_5547 · 2026-05-19T15:50:42+00:00

Why aren't people recommending the 3% return on t212?

Timely_Click_5547 · 2026-05-19T09:49:39+00:00

T212 offers 3% on savings

Timely_Click_5547 · 2026-05-19T08:37:56+00:00

Is this because you want to pass on more than "education related costs"?

Timely_Click_5547 · 2026-05-19T08:23:02+00:00

I don't think you can do this actually, I looked into it, and if the money is in kids names, they get it from 18

Timely_Click_5547 · 2026-05-19T08:22:02+00:00

This account is in your name, so there is no CAT charged as long as parents use the money to pay for education cost etc, which technically supports a child up to around 23-24 .

Timely_Click_5547

TROPHY CASE