MABS Blog

Preparing for your Child to go to College

Have you a child doing the Leaving Cert this year or next year? It's not too early to start planning for their next steps to third level. In this blog, we talk about a few topics to get you started with the financial planning.

Saving on your Energy Bills: Part Three – Invest Now to Save More in the Long Run

In part three we’re looking at big and small investments to save you more money in the medium- to long-term. Bigger investments might not be possible in the short-term, but you could invest the savings you make over the next few months. You may also be eligible for grants and supports, but more on that below. Smaller investments can be cheaper than you think, and you’ll feel the benefits in your pocket.

Saving on your Energy Bills: Part Two - Routine Checks

Do you leave your phone charger plugged in all the time? Or forget to turn the immersion off? Well we’re back with our second round on energy saving tips. This time we’re looking at ideas you can add to your routine and develop energy and money saving habits from.

7 Tips to Plan for Christmas 2020

Are you starting to do your Christmas shopping? Or maybe you've already started? We've got 7 Tips to help you plan for your Christmas

Saving on your Energy Bills: Part One - Everyday Savers

Does the thought or an electricity or gas bill fill you with dread? Perhaps you avoid heating your home on a cold evening to save some money. We have pulled together some tips and ideas that will help you save on your fuel and electricity bills and help your money stretch a little further. Over the next few weeks we will share our top tips for energy saving, we’ve broken them down into three simple areas – everyday savers, routine checks, and spend now to save later.

Let's Talk Episode Four

Are you living in rental accommodation? Una McNeil covers a wide range of topics for those in private and public housing. It’s episode 4 of the LET’S TALK series:

• Rent arrears assistance
• Applying for rent supports
• Renters eviction protections
• Support services for renters
• Good ways to pay rent

Let's Talk Episode Three

Are you ready for more tips to help you manage your household finances? Una McNeil is back on the airwaves for episode 3 of the LET’S TALK series. Topics covered include:

• The MABS service
• Budgeting tips
• Seeking help with debt
• Household saving tips

Let's Talk Episode Two

We are back with another great interview from Una McNeil on Phoenix FM as part of the LET’S TALK series. Mortgages are the focus of this episode. Find out what areas are covered below and if any apply to your current situation:

• Mortgage payment breaks
• Abhaile eligibility
• Free mortgage arrears support
• Abhaile PIP vouchers
• Payment break costings

Let's Talk Episode One

‘LET’S TALK’ is a new series by MABS in collaboration with Phoenix FM. For a select number of weeks, Una McNeil from the North Dublin MABS office will provide an array of tips and answers to day-to-day money questions. Topics covered on episode one include:

• Signing off from the COVID-19 payment
• Repaying COVID-19 overpayments
• Budgeting tips
• Financial supports for school children
• Ways to keep track of spending

Welcoming you back - Reopening our offices

MABS knows that balancing your money in the best of times can be hard. We also know that balancing your money in uncertain times can be even harder. That is why we’ve been here, throughout the pandemic to help you when you’ve needed us. Now it's time for us to reopen, in line with public health measures, read on to see what has changed.

Budgeting on the Family Farm

The farming sector is unique in how it is linked to the family and household budget. In some cases, there may be no separation, which can make budgeting and planning difficult. We've pulled together some tips to get you started.

5 Tips to Make the most of your Weekly Food Shop

Shopping can be either a joy or a chore. But don’t worry, we’re here to make things a bit easier. We are sharing our top tips to help you get the best value out of your shopping and maybe save a few euro on your shopping bill. This week, we look at having a plan for when you are going around the supermarket.

COVID-19 - Government Announces July Stimulus Plan

The Government has announced their July Stimulus plan to get people back to work, create new jobs and stimulate the economy. Read on to see how this might affect you.

6 Tips to Save on your Weekly Food Shop

Shopping can be either a joy or a chore. But don’t worry, we’re here to make things a bit easier. We are sharing our top tips to help you get the best value out of your shopping and maybe save a few euro on your shopping bill. This week, the focus is on how to prepare your budget for your shop. Read on for useful tips on how to spend your money wisely.

5 Tips to Help Plan your Weekly Food Shop

Shopping can be either a joy or a chore. But don’t worry, we’re here to make things a bit easier. We are sharing our top tips to help you get the best value out of your shopping and maybe save a few euro on your shopping bill. Up first, food planning and five tips to remember when creating a shopping list.

Opening a Bank Account - MABS Investigates

In MABS we receive a lot of great questions. Questions that we know many people want to ask, but don't know who to ask or where to start. This week's question is how do you go about opening a bank account and what are the basic banking options.

Central Credit Register - MABS Investigates

In MABS we receive a lot of great questions. Questions that we know many people want to ask, but don't know who to ask or where to start. The focus of this week’s ‘MABS investigates’ is the Central Credit Register. We will cover what the Central Credit Register is, how it works, what its used for and what your rights are.

Minding my Pennies - Coming out of Lockdown

As Ireland starts the next phase on our road out of lockdown, MABS reminds people to be mindful of changes in spending. We’ve pulled together three simple steps to help you mind your pennies as we move out of lockdown.

Back to School - Too Early to Plan?

Now that summer is here and the kids are off, it is a good time to plan for the new school year in September. Liz is back to help you plan and budget for the coming months to avoid panic in August.

Current Account Charges - MABS Investigates

In MABS we receive a lot of great questions. 'MABS Investigates' will work to provide clarity to these questions from an independent and neutral point of view. This week's question is to do with Current account charges and how they compare across different financial institutions.

Working From Home - Tips on Managing your Budget

For many of us, working from home is very different and something new. We are presented with a new way of working and new challenges. Once we get over the technical hurdles and settle in, that’s when we might notice changes to our spending. Some bills may increase and others reduce. We have put together things for you to consider while working at home that we hope you will find useful to help you with your budgeting.

Mortgage Protection Insurance - MABS Investigates

In MABS we receive a lot of great questions. 'MABS Investigates' will work to provide clarity to these questions from an independent and neutral point of view. This week's question is to do with Mortgage Protection Insurance and whether you should continue to pay it if you apply for a mortgage payment break."

Getting Social Welfare Every Two Weeks? - Tips on How to Manage

Some people are getting paid their social welfare payments every two weeks as a result of COVID-19 (coronavirus) supports measures introduced by the Government. Are you one of these people?

Carol from Dublin South MABS talks through tips on how to manage so that your money stretches.