Brainstorm | Opinion, Analysis, Reports, Features

'Consumers now tend to spend less when they get digital payment notifications flashing up an amount on their phone.' Photo: Getty Images

Do you feel more 'pain' if you pay by cash, card or mobile?

Mobile payments used to be regarded as less 'painful' than using cash, but that might be changing

'From what goods end up in our basket to the price paid for ingredients, the market for goods is also more global than we realise'

Will the price of my weekly grocery shop ever fall?

There are complex reasons for the 36% increase in grocery prices in the last four years and that's unlikely to change any time soon

Cost of Living • 06 Jun 25

Who really controls your household money?

Why it matters which partner decides where the money goes when it comes to investing your household's savings

Household Spending • 28 May 25

Women without a degree or higher qualification earned €154 per week less than women with such a qualification. Photo: Getty Images

Inside the financial lives of Ireland's 25 year olds

Here's what CSO data tells us about how Ireland's 25-year-olds are dealing with money issues around wages, savings and the cost of living

Cost of Living • 28 May 25

In the case of M&S, attackers used Sim-swap fraud to manipulate internal processes and gain access to sensitive systems. Photo: Richard OD/Shutterstock

How you could be hit by the Sim-swap fraud used to attack M&S

The hackers behind the M&S cyberattacks used a little-known but dangerous technique – and anyone could be vulnerable

technology • 15 May 25

'Measures to protect access to, and acceptance of, cash are necessary to preserve the circulation of cash in an increasingly uncertain global environment.' Photo: Getty Images

How storms, cyberattacks and wars show cash is still king

Recent events have highlighted the vulnerability of electronic transactions, leaving cash as the only reliable method of payment

Cash • 15 Apr 25

Broadband and phone services are the most utilities to face mid-contract price hikes

Why are my bills going up (and up) mid-contract?

Mid-contract price hikes may be legal, but the practice has been criticised as being unfair to consumers during a cost of living crisis

Cost of Living • 11 Apr 25

'We are enrolled, encouraged and urged to become financialised citizens today, investing in the pensions market to supplement the state pension.' Photo: Getty Images

A short history of the old age pension in Ireland

The state pension is now a mere part of a wider financialised portfolio, made up of other investments and private pension plans

Pensions • 19 Mar 25

Pension funds are under increasing pressure to explore alternative investment options to enhance returns. Photo: Getty Images

Why your pension fund might soon include cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrencies are known for their volatility, but are growing in popularity as pension fund investments

Cryptocurrency • 10 Mar 25

'The primary factor is your ability to repay the loan, which lenders evaluate using criteria such as salary, credit history, savings history, number of dependents and deposit amount.' Photo: Getty Images

What decides if a bank says yes or no to my mortgage application?

Applying for a mortgage may appear daunting so what do you need to know about what the bank want to know?

Your Money • 14 Apr 25

The real value of Christmas is not monetary, but rather the rituals and traditions of the season. Photo: Eugene Zhyvchik/Unsplash

Do the substantial costs of Christmas outweigh the benefits?

The pressure to spend money at this time of year is enormous and there are many reasons why our spending decisions are not rational

Christmas • 19 Dec 24

The price of the gas in your home depends on events nearly 6,000 km away in the Strait of Hormuz.

Will Irish gas prices see a sharp increase this winter?

Natural gas is an important fuel for Irish electricity generation and heating, but the price we pay is decided by international events

Cost of Living • 13 Nov 24

'One participant commented "young people developing these systems don't look at the world through my eyes".' Photo: Getty Images (stock image - photo posed by model)

How online banking creates obstacles for older adults

Despite its many benefits, online banking presents significant accessibility challenges for older adults and those with disabilities

Banking • 06 Nov 24

'Concerns have been expressed that independent ATMs are not currently regulated by the Central Bank and there are fears that fees for cash withdrawals at these ATMs could soon be introduced.' Photo: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Why a cashless society may never emerge in Ireland

Despite the 'cashless creep' in many sectors, there have been policy moves to ensure businesses must still accept cash payments

money • 19 Sep 24

Switch it off: 'International prices, events and conditions determine what we pay for energy in Ireland and the Irish government has little power when it comes to influencing these prices'

How to save cash on your energy bills

Reducing energy use is the most immediate measure we can do to reduce our exposure to high energy bills

Energy • 29 Aug 24

Two Mayo lads playing in Croke Park next August? Priceless

Would you really pay €500 for an Oasis ticket?

We don't always rationally and objectively evaluate our willingness to pay a high price for a ticket in advance of doing so

Oasis • 03 Sep 24

'Though they will face plenty of other problems, such as securing stable employment contracts, housing might not be the primary concern for much of Generation Z in the future.' Photo: Ground Picture/Shutterstock

Generation Z may not need mortgages - here's why

Gen Z may benefit from Europe's declining birth rate as there will be fewer young people to inherit houses and more for them to inherit

Housing • 28 May 25

In the last decade or so, successive Irish governments have introduced three different property taxes. Photo: Getty Images

Where are we at with Ireland's new property taxes?

An explainer on Ireland's new property taxes: who is liable, what rate will they pay, how are rates assessed and when are payments due?

Housing • 08 Jul 24

'It may be helpful to get to know your own relationship with money, your "financial attachment style" before you try to understand someone else's.' Photo: Getty Images (stock image - photo posed by models)

How to talk to your partner about money

Whether you are a few weeks or decades into your relationship, it's never too early or too late to start to talk about money

Your Money • 28 May 25

The new legislation will have important implications for how we access cash and what we can use it for.

5 issues around cash and ATMs which new legislation will address

Maintaining choice in how Irish consumers can pay for goods and services is fundamental to an inclusive society

Cash • 07 Mar 24

When behavioural scientists ask people to quickly tot up a grocery bill or energy bills for the year, people think they are about 5 to 10% less than they really are. Photo: Getty Images

3 misunderstandings about money that cost a lot in the long run

We can learn a lot from the psychology of financial decisions to help avoid losing money

money • 01 Mar 24

The cost of making a cup of tea is coming down

Will Irish electricity bills continue to fall?

The outlook for lower prices is promising due to current stability in gas markets. but prices will stay above the long-term average

Energy Prices • 17 Jan 24

'Each degree of change in the set-point temperature you use for heating can easily save 10% or more of heating energy use'.

5 tips to save money on your heating this winter

Winter means having the heating on more often so here;'s how to have a comfortable home with optimal energy use

Energy • 12 Jan 24

'The various tax changes means the average worker will have an additional €722 per annum in their take-home pay.' Photo" Getty Images

What changes will I see in my take-home pay in 2024?

Income tax changes announced in Budget 2024 are now taking effect so here's how they wlll impact your pay

Work and careers • 07 Jan 24

'The problem is we're not very good in Ireland at increasing the supply of housing'

Is it possible to make housing in Ireland more affordable?

Right now, the policy focus in this country appears to be on helping people to pay for unaffordable accommodation

Housing • 02 Nov 23