The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has contradicted Michael Noonan’s promise that we’ll be richer over the next year.

The influential think-tank says that despite claims the Budget protected the poor and helped middle-income earners, the reality may be different.

The report follows a survey, released earlier this week that showed Irish people will spend on average €600 on presents alone this Christmas. https://www.newstalk.ie/This-is-how-much-people-will-spend-on-average-this-Christmas

So have you loosened your purse strings or are you wary of over-spending?