Why are things not going right for us?

mandandpeter

Right where do I start??

Well lets start with money problems :

Our income is the dole, My partner signs for both of us so its a joint income, but as soon as we get it, its gone again with not a cent to spare, We buget every single week but we do not have anything Left, We cannot get jobs due to niether of us really having any qualifications PLUS there are no jobs in donegal! lol We do try and look every week though.

We have to keep sending money over to companys in the UK as we still owe over £15,000 GBP in debt from when we lived over there, They have all gone to debt collection agencies and we set up payment plans with them but we keep falling behind then they send out letters saying they are going to send someone round to "investigate".

ESB prices have shot up and we cant afford to pay them "within the nessesary 14 days" or whatever it is, So we are always getting letters from them saying pay up or else, we cant call and talk to them about it as its in our landlords name. (cant ask him to call and change will explain later)

We have a E1000 loan out with the Providant and thats another E30 a week.

Rent ( we get rent supplimant so thats not too bad)

We have been cut off from Eircom for a phone but still owe them a few hundred, (its a shame really as I really need a landline to call my family back in the UK and call the businesses we owe money too over there when they send there letters!)

Internet (well i need this to keep sane really as I am an isolated person and its the only way now to keep in contact with freinds and family now)

Heating, What heating! Long story involving landlord and serviceing and plumbers! So we live in a cold house so we have an electric heater which puts up esb bill, either that or get coal but that only does the living room so then we still have to put the heater on in the bedroom or kitchen anyway.

Clothing - Well I hardly have any clothes as I am a big girl and there are no shops near me to buy clothes from, I can only buy online which we cant afford, My fiance is not too bad as he can shop in pennys etc
But he does not shop as we cannot afford it.

Food well we live on around E50 for a weeks shopping thats breakfast, lunch, dinner, and stuff like washing up liquid, washing powder, shampoo etc, It is very very tight and we end up usually eating the same things every week.

We have contacted MABS but they said they cannot do anything for us and just sent us a pack out on how to budget but we already know how to budget as I have been budgeting since I was 18.

Our landlords are abit funny, Me and my fiance went through a bad patch and let the house get alittle untidy, then a couple of weeks ago while I was asleep in bed, my fiance had nipped down the shop when he came and woke me saying that our landlady had came in and looked around while I was asleep in bed! She was not impressed, We have tidyed the house spottless, The lino in the kitchen was clean yet she has replaced it and the same with the stairs carpet, It was fine yet she has replaced it, and I think hat she expects us to pay for it, I cannot see why, It was fine as it was, it was her choice to change it, If there were burn marks all over the kitchen floor then yeah we would be responsable then disscus with us about replacing it and how we could pay for it, But if she does say anything then we are going to say "Why? you have not got the heating sorted, the house is a draft zone (its not insulated very well at all) On the cooker only 2 rings work and the other 2 are litrally rotting away! Plus you broke the law when you entered the house without notifying us before hand", plus it was the back door so she purposly went looking for an unlocked door!
There are alot more probs with our landlords.

This has all led to my fiance bieng put on anti-depressants, I have not been fully registered with the docs yet but I would hate to see my list of meds lol I have not had my girly monthly in over 2 years, I have mild asthma, Migranes, Very bad back (i can hardly walk due to back pain).

TBH I think thats it, there are probably alot more things wrong with our lives but its early morning and i am tired,

So anyone got any ideas on how we can save even more money? It would be very appreciated.

Thanks and sorry for ranting and it bieng so long

sardineta

It would appear that the root of your problem is money and you've cut the expenditure side of it to the bone (assuming you don't drink or smoke).

So what you need to do is address the income side i.e. you need to get up and go get work. Benefit dependency is an insidious cycle that leads to generational poverty.

You've left 1 country with a trail of debts, so you have experience of living away and maybe now it's time to move on again in search of the work you both desperately need - there's no free rides anymore.

mandandpeter

sardineta wrote: »

It would appear that the root of your problem is money and you've cut the expenditure side of it to the bone (assuming you don't drink or smoke).

So what you need to do is address the income side i.e. you need to get up and go get work. Benefit dependency is an insidious cycle that leads to generational poverty.

You've left 1 country with a trail of debts, so you have experience of living away and maybe now it's time to move on again in search of the work you both desperately need - there's no free rides anymore.

As I said in my original post, We do look for work, We have no qualifications, PLUS there are no jobs up here in donegal, Infact they are cutting them with economy the way it is!

sardineta

mandandpeter wrote: »

As I said in my original post, We do look for work, We have no qualifications, PLUS there are no jobs up here in donegal, Infact they are cutting them with economy the way it is!

*Sigh...as I said in my original post maybe now it's time to move on again in search of the work you both desperately need - there's no free rides anymore.

Lizzykins

With the free time you must both have, you should try get some qualifications or you'll be stuck in this bind forever. Not sure what else you can do.

mandandpeter

1. We cannot move, We cannot afford to move.

2. It takes money to learn and gain qualifications which we cannot afford,

Everything in this world costs money, we do not have money.

sardineta

Good luck to you both.

littlebug

mandandpeter wrote: »

1. We cannot move, We cannot afford to move.

2. It takes money to learn and gain qualifications which we cannot afford,

Everything in this world costs money, we do not have money.

Have you looked into what your entitlements would be in terms of fees paid if you were to return to study?

littlebug

lookie here... third level allowance.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments/back-to-education/back_to_education_allowance

Since it doesn't sound like you'll be needing any loans/mortgages in the next few years.. would declaring yourselves bankrupt be an idea?

I think it's not too bad in the UK compared to here.. A few years and you're credit rating will be reset and you won't have that 15k loan over ye're heads. that'd free up some much needed money..

JonnyC

mandandpeter wrote: »

Right where do I start??

Well lets start with money problems :

Our income is the dole, My partner signs for both of us so its a joint income, but as soon as we get it, its gone again with not a cent to spare, We buget every single week but we do not have anything Left, We cannot get jobs due to niether of us really having any qualifications PLUS there are no jobs in donegal! lol We do try and look every week though.

We have to keep sending money over to companys in the UK as we still owe over £15,000 GBP in debt from when we lived over there, They have all gone to debt collection agencies and we set up payment plans with them but we keep falling behind then they send out letters saying they are going to send someone round to "investigate".

ESB prices have shot up and we cant afford to pay them "within the nessesary 14 days" or whatever it is, So we are always getting letters from them saying pay up or else, we cant call and talk to them about it as its in our landlords name. (cant ask him to call and change will explain later)

We have a E1000 loan out with the Providant and thats another E30 a week.

Rent ( we get rent supplimant so thats not too bad)

We have been cut off from Eircom for a phone but still owe them a few hundred, (its a shame really as I really need a landline to call my family back in the UK and call the businesses we owe money too over there when they send there letters!)

Internet (well i need this to keep sane really as I am an isolated person and its the only way now to keep in contact with freinds and family now)

Heating, What heating! Long story involving landlord and serviceing and plumbers! So we live in a cold house so we have an electric heater which puts up esb bill, either that or get coal but that only does the living room so then we still have to put the heater on in the bedroom or kitchen anyway.

Clothing - Well I hardly have any clothes as I am a big girl and there are no shops near me to buy clothes from, I can only buy online which we cant afford, My fiance is not too bad as he can shop in pennys etc
But he does not shop as we cannot afford it.

Food well we live on around E50 for a weeks shopping thats breakfast, lunch, dinner, and stuff like washing up liquid, washing powder, shampoo etc, It is very very tight and we end up usually eating the same things every week.

We have contacted MABS but they said they cannot do anything for us and just sent us a pack out on how to budget but we already know how to budget as I have been budgeting since I was 18.

Our landlords are abit funny, Me and my fiance went through a bad patch and let the house get alittle untidy, then a couple of weeks ago while I was asleep in bed, my fiance had nipped down the shop when he came and woke me saying that our landlady had came in and looked around while I was asleep in bed! She was not impressed, We have tidyed the house spottless, The lino in the kitchen was clean yet she has replaced it and the same with the stairs carpet, It was fine yet she has replaced it, and I think hat she expects us to pay for it, I cannot see why, It was fine as it was, it was her choice to change it, If there were burn marks all over the kitchen floor then yeah we would be responsable then disscus with us about replacing it and how we could pay for it, But if she does say anything then we are going to say "Why? you have not got the heating sorted, the house is a draft zone (its not insulated very well at all) On the cooker only 2 rings work and the other 2 are litrally rotting away! Plus you broke the law when you entered the house without notifying us before hand", plus it was the back door so she purposly went looking for an unlocked door!
There are alot more probs with our landlords.

This has all led to my fiance bieng put on anti-depressants, I have not been fully registered with the docs yet but I would hate to see my list of meds lol I have not had my girly monthly in over 2 years, I have mild asthma, Migranes, Very bad back (i can hardly walk due to back pain).

TBH I think thats it, there are probably alot more things wrong with our lives but its early morning and i am tired,

So anyone got any ideas on how we can save even more money? It would be very appreciated.

Thanks and sorry for ranting and it bieng so long

Had ye jobs in the UK? How come you owe 15000? Get out and go for a couple of hours walk in the day that will be not long sorting you out. That back pain lark is all in your head. Keep the house tidy you have plenty of time to look after it.

Just had a look at FAS and 90 jobs returned and at least 10 do not need any real skills.

I would not blame the landlord at all the pair of you sound like tenants from hell

nevey

Just came across your post by accident and I read about your life.

What strikes me most about it is the negativity. You focus on what you cannot do and what is not possible.

You've identified the fact that you need qualifications so you have to fix that. You didn't say what age you are, but if you are old enough to have accrued such levels of debt then you must be old enough to know that qualifications are a must for any kind of stable income. Get started with something that can form the basis of a career.

Are there any unnecessary expenses such as sky TV or could you manage with one mobile phone between you? Also, if you have a local library, can you get internet access there? Is your shopping basket purchased as cheaply as possible, buying ingredients rather than frozen pizzas or ready-made meals for example.

I'm not a landlady but by the sounds of what you describe, you aren't ideal tenants. Sure, the landlady was wrong to come in without permission and not fix faulty appliances, but you were wrong to let the property deteriorate - so you're even.

I really think that you both just need to try a more positive approach. Can you get unskilled labour jobs like cleaning, helping with garden clear-outs (good time of year for that) or anything that will put a little extra cash in your pocket?

Finally, how about trying something positive like doing some voluntary work. You never know what it could lead to.

I hope you get and use some useful advice on here.

seamus

mandandpeter wrote: »

Our income is the dole, My partner signs for both of us so its a joint income, but as soon as we get it, its gone again with not a cent to spare, We buget every single week but we do not have anything Left, We cannot get jobs due to niether of us really having any qualifications PLUS there are no jobs in donegal! lol We do try and look every week though.

Then you go where the jobs are. Yes, moving does cost a little bit of money but seeing as you're renting, the cost should be minimal.

We have to keep sending money over to companys in the UK as we still owe over £15,000 GBP in debt from when we lived over there, They have all gone to debt collection agencies and we set up payment plans with them but we keep falling behind then they send out letters saying they are going to send someone round to "investigate".

Then let them send someone around. In this country, your home cannot be entered by anybody without your permission, unless they're accompanied by a Garda holding a court order. So debt collectors, tv licence inspectors, your landlord; You can tell them all where to go when they come to the door. If these debts are your biggest outgoing, then investigate ways of having these debts set off in the UK - bankruptcy, whatever.
Ultimately if these debts are with collection agencies, then the company who is owed the debt is unlikely to try take you to court. It's probably not the soundest advice in the world, but if it was me I would stop paying until I got back on my feet. If these are what are eating up the bulk of your money, then three to six months of non-payment should get you enough cash to move and find some form of work.

We have been cut off from Eircom for a phone but still owe them a few hundred, (its a shame really as I really need a landline to call my family back in the UK and call the businesses we owe money too over there when they send there letters!)

Same again, sit on this or arrange a payment schedule. They'd rather €300 paid over 30 weeks than nothing at all.

Heating, What heating! Long story involving landlord and serviceing and plumbers! So we live in a cold house so we have an electric heater which puts up esb bill, either that or get coal but that only does the living room so then we still have to put the heater on in the bedroom or kitchen anyway.

We should be at a point now where you can shut off the heating and wear an extra jumper. The days will be getting warmer.

Our landlords are abit funny, ....
There are alot more probs with our landlords.

If the landlord feels the need to replace something, that's their perogative. Small incidental stains on carpets and such would count as normal wear and tear and your landlord has no right to bill you for these.

I have to agree to a certain extent with a lot of the others - there's a negative vibe about the whole post, a real need to make excuses as to why X is Y and so forth.

There is one fundamental here: You need money. Therefore the solution is to get money, doing (almost) whatever it takes. The most obvious solution being to move to a larger city (or perhaps into Northern Ireland) and taking whatever minimum-wage job you can find.

00112984

A very simplistic overview, maybe but I genuinely believe that if there's nothing stopping you sitting on your PC typing away on Boards.ie at 6.40am, there's nothing stopping you working an early shift in a factory, bakery, call centre or similar.

Also, as someone who also has a weight problem, I'd imagine the extra weight doesn't help your back. Like someone else said, get out for some free exercise each day, spend less on food and you should see your back improves to a level where you can sit down to work a full shift and you may even have the energy to clean your house.

jbl123

You are in a negative cycle where each bad thing is reinforcing the other.

You don't have jobs=no money=can't go to doctor=poor health=not keeping up your house=depressing environment=low energy=can't find a job....

You need to do something to break the cycle. Two places to start, where you do have control, is your own body and your own home:

1) Like the other posters suggested, get fresh air and exercise every day. You can't say you don't have time. Just go for long walks. It will help your health, give you more energy and lift your spirits. I'm telling you, this is critical. Rain or shine, sore back or not, just do it.

2) You have a computer, so do some research on foods which give you energy and are healthy, but still cheap: beans, whole grains, eggs and nuts all come to mind. Forget about losing weight in order to fit into a certain size dress for the moment...just focus on eating to make yourself healthier and more energetic. Again, you have nothing but time, so there is no excuse for relying on takeaways or convenience foods, which are both expensive and not good for you.

3) Make a list of things to do around the house every day. Keep the house clean and organized. Forget about what the landlady thinks..If you have a clean and organized enivironment you will feel better and you head will be clearer. Again, you do have time for this.

These are things you have full control over. Focus on them and as you gain energy and confidence, you will gain more control over the other aspects of your life.

bicardi19

So things arent great, but in order to make them better you need to get up off your ass and work for it, not sitting around in a dirty house feeling sorry for yourself.

When I found myself in a position where we were finding it hard to make ends meet with the mortgage, loans and bills and stuff, I took on a weekend and evening job. Its behind the bar in a local hotel. There may be a recession on but there are jobs out there if your willing to work hard and show your potential employers that you have a bit of get up and go.

The answer will not fall into your lap. You need to go out there and do whatever it takes to make ends meet.