RENT: euros350 per person a month for two-bed apt, good size

UTILITIES: Electricity only (no gas or oil): plus/minus euros200 per 2 months/ water is free

TRANSPORTATION: Tricky one, as I walk to work. Partner pays a small fortune on his car (petrol about euros20 a week, Tax about euros300 every 3 months and insurance the cost of a small country -insurance depends on age and sex in Ireland). Buses to the city are about euros9.00 for a return ticket; euros7 for one way. Train due at the end of August; no idea of cost.

FOOD: Groceries in discount supermarket about euros85 between 2 for about 2 weeks, but we're on a budget! Eating out: 3-course meal euros50 per person up. Drink in pubs a small fortune; about euros4.50 for a pint of beer, euros3.50 for a vodka (and that's before the mixer!); cocktails about euros8-15; take away about euros6-7 for a meal

CLOTHING: Jeans usuallly euros50 and up; women's shoes about euros60 and up; handbags euros20 and up

SIGHTSEEING: Costs a fortune! Bunratty Castle costs about a tenner to get in and now they're charging us to see the Cliffs of Moher!! They're effing cliffs! They're part of our country!! Anywhere touristy (e.g. Killarney, Co. Kerry, Kinsale, Co. Cork) always more expensive.

IReland is so expensive to live in, and I haven't even got near the capital (Dublin) yet... you'd want to be minted to live there anyway, becuase STUDENT rent starts at euros600 per month....