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Anyone feeling that its now pointless to work here

  • 18-02-2011 2:55am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,553 ✭✭✭


    I dont know about other people but with current tax increases, its barely worth working and theres more increases to come. Is anyone feeling its completely pointless working here now? I mean even in the context of a decent paying job? i have a well paying job, mrs is in the civil service, and we have a 4 month old kid, but we'd nearly be better off on the dole now, ok lose the house and the deposit etc.( not in negative equity ), but who cares about the house, on the dole of course you would have to cut corners but no work involved and both of us around to look after the kid

    Im not saying thats a solution, and its a disgraceful solution, its either that or jack it all in and move to another country, but do people really think its worth even working here now? no matter what the job is?

    Ignoring idiots who comment "far right" because they don't even know what it means



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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,387 ✭✭✭✭jimmycrackcorm


    I guess you werent around in the 80's when pay was poor and it didn't take much to end up in the 48% bracket


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,553 ✭✭✭lmimmfn


    I guess you werent around in the 80's when pay was poor and it didn't take much to end up in the 48% bracket
    i was around in the 80's, and i remember it very well, at least we had community spirit then, housewives used to go down to the ports and the fishermen would give them fish to feed their families. We dont even have that now.

    If anything i remember the 80's more than most, and i understand the value of money, but in the 80's we paid high taxes to pay off interest on stupid government loans but also to fund public works, now all our tax money goes to pay off guys like Anglo paid 400million to recently. He should really send a card, and tell us to keep up the good work.

    btw it was higher than 48% in the 80's as far as i remember it was 56%, its now 52% but that doesnt represent the full picture due to inflated electricity prices and what not.

    Ignoring idiots who comment "far right" because they don't even know what it means



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 882 ✭✭✭ZYX


    lmimmfn wrote: »

    btw it was higher than 48% in the 80's as far as i remember it was 56%, its now 52% but that doesnt represent the full picture due to inflated electricity prices and what not.

    Top rate of tax was 65% in the 80s and you didn't have to earn a lot to have to pay it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,347 ✭✭✭paul71


    Interesting that this tread is running alongside the Blackeconomy one at the moment. The failure of Leftist tax policies is exposed in these treads. They both prove that increasing tax rates results in reducing the amount of tax collected, either by people refusing to work anymore once they reach the higher tax bands or switching to the black economy.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,157 ✭✭✭srsly78


    We still have one of the lowest tax rates in europe OP. Go live in Germany of Belgium and see how much tax you pay.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,010 ✭✭✭RichardAnd


    lmimmfn wrote: »
    i was around in the 80's, and i remember it very well, at least we had community spirit then, housewives used to go down to the ports and the fishermen would give them fish to feed their families. We dont even have that now.

    If anything i remember the 80's more than most, and i understand the value of money, but in the 80's we paid high taxes to pay off interest on stupid government loans but also to fund public works, now all our tax money goes to pay off guys like Anglo paid 400million to recently. He should really send a card, and tell us to keep up the good work.

    btw it was higher than 48% in the 80's as far as i remember it was 56%, its now 52% but that doesnt represent the full picture due to inflated electricity prices and what not.


    Yes, I agree. There was a some what more alturistic spirit amoungst people during the 80s that was lost during the boom. My grandmother on my father's side grew up in a working class area in north dublin. HEr father was killed in WW2 so she had to go out working at 13 just to make ends meet for her mother and siblings.

    What she has always told me though is that if one family in the tenament was on hard times (and they all were at some point), the others would give them hand. Not much now, some food, old cloths or whatever but the point was everyone was in the same boat and thus, people helped each other. Given that today, recession or not, people are much, MUCH better off than my grandmother was, a little community spirit would make a huge difference.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 277 ✭✭Whiskeyjack


    I feel the same way. The only reason I work is out of a sense of responsibility. I certainly wouldn't take that much of a hit financially if I was to go on the dole.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,321 ✭✭✭✭listermint


    I work because being on the dole is a ball of sh**e. For real, All you people talking about i would be better off etc etc, Its CRAP.

    Seriously there is a hell of alot to be said for working just to keep you sane, get you out of the house and have some of your own time away from responsibilites at home.

    I really wonder about some of these posts, christ people you would swear we were all living in Somalia in the early 90's the way some people go on. Its tiresome, talk about having miniscule problems.

    ' i have a job my wife has a job, the tax is going up' .............. :rolleyes:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 170 ✭✭Squirm


    I was made redundant in the very early weeks of my pregnancy. My partner works and earns a decent wage. We have a young child now and it is a struggle to support the household on my partner's salary.

    When I return to work it is highly likely that, once I pay for chilcare, I will be earning only slightly more that the dole and my daughter will be being raised by other people in my absence.

    Were we to both sign on, apply for mortgage relief, cash in on the fact that we ARE living with negative equity and the banks would more than likely extend our period of 'interest only' payments, apply for a medical card, we would probably have more expendable income at the end of the month. We could go a step further and not actually bother seeking a job, I could claim to be a single parent, I could avail of rent allowance and pay that to my partner etc etc. We could exploit the system to the fullest....

    But at the end of the day, regardless of what we are earning after tax etc etc etc, we have a child that needs positive role models, to inherit a strong work ethic and a sense of right and wrong and, I would rather my daughter see her parents struggle and work hard and strive to make ends meet, than see them sit on their arses getting hand outs.

    I was a child in the 80's and I think one of the main differences between now and then is that we are a spoiled generation who enjoyed the high life, became increasingly materialistic and who do not truly understand the value of a euro... thus the fall from grace is all the harder.

    I accept that a huge number of people are genuinely struggling enormously to get by BUT I see regularly my peers and friends complaining about the credit crunch, tax increases, pay cuts etc, and yet they continue to holiday twice a year, go for meals, weekly nights out, buy nice clothes blah blah. My mother did not enjoy these luxuries in the 80's. There really wasn't the money for it.
    I don't think a lot of people are really experiencing hard times like our parents and grandparents did.... they're just less able to cope with the sacrifices they do have to make.

    IMHO


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,264 ✭✭✭✭jester77


    I live in Germany and taxes are still very low in Ireland imo. I would have an extra €600 in my pocket every month in Ireland. Fuel is about 10c a litre more expensive here, we have water charges, property tax, we even have church tax (not compulsory but you can't have any sermons like christenings, weddings, funerals,etc if you don't pay it). The cost of living here is not much different, some things are cheaper as VAT is 19%. But there is no way there is €600 a month of a difference.


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 506 ✭✭✭common sense brigade


    I have always worked and hopefully always will . i earn 480 Euro a week before tax. I pay 125 a week childcare for my baby. I live in a different county from my family and friends in order to work. so i have no back up in terms of childcare or even the odd night out. i have a mortgage too like most people but luckily we built our house for 135,000. i would love to pack up and go home to my family but there is no work out there. any work there is 1,000 people are applying. i would never give up my job just to go and sit on the dole.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,206 ✭✭✭zig


    Unfortunately when we do reach a level of taxation on a par with Germany our standard of service will most likely not have improved by an equal amount. This is a result of where our tax money is going.

    I think that was the original point.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 243 ✭✭GoldRush4821


    jester77 wrote: »
    I live in Germany and taxes are still very low in Ireland imo. I would have an extra €600 in my pocket every month in Ireland. Fuel is about 10c a litre more expensive here, we have water charges, property tax, we even have church tax (not compulsory but you can't have any sermons like christenings, weddings, funerals,etc if you don't pay it). The cost of living here is not much different, some things are cheaper as VAT is 19%. But there is no way there is €600 a month of a difference.

    What's the bet you wouldn't even have that job in Ireland???


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,909 ✭✭✭sarumite


    When the people are better off on the dole, does that say more about the job they are in or the amount of money paid out to dole recipients?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,264 ✭✭✭✭jester77


    What's the bet you wouldn't even have that job in Ireland???

    Most likely would have that job in Ireland with the skillset I have. I work in IT for a web 2.0 company, one of the areas where that has not been too hard hit. I know some of my former colleagues who have recently moved to Ireland and taken up jobs there working for a similar company in Dublin.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,927 ✭✭✭munchkin_utd


    jester77 wrote: »
    I live in Germany and taxes are still very low in Ireland imo. I would have an extra €600 in my pocket every month in Ireland. Fuel is about 10c a litre more expensive here, we have water charges, property tax, we even have church tax (not compulsory but you can't have any sermons like christenings, weddings, funerals,etc if you don't pay it). The cost of living here is not much different, some things are cheaper as VAT is 19%. But there is no way there is €600 a month of a difference.
    snap - also paying high german taxes.
    I would have 500euro MORE if working IN ireland
    Also same with the wife.

    So we are a grand per month worse off cashwise in Germany than in Ireland.

    Give me irish taxes any day!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,932 ✭✭✭hinault


    sarumite wrote: »
    When the people are better off on the dole, does that say more about the job they are in or the amount of money paid out to dole recipients?

    Personally I would like to see some surgical cuts in social welfare payments.

    There is a group of people in this country who deliberately choose to exist on the hand outs given by this State (subsidised housing, unmarried mother allowances, dole, other social welfare allowances).
    These people should be deliberately targetted and their welfare payments slashed.
    They are a drain on society and choose not to take an active part in society.


    By historical standards, current rates of taxation here are low.
    Also comparing our tax rates to Europe, we're not paying anymore tax here than they are in Europe.
    Raising taxes won't reboot this economy anyhow.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 277 ✭✭Whiskeyjack


    sarumite wrote: »
    When the people are better off on the dole, does that say more about the job they are in or the amount of money paid out to dole recipients?

    That's what I was getting at. There's not enough of a gap


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 206 ✭✭clouds


    I can't see how a couple with 2 jobs, one of them civil service, one child and a manageable mortgage could be better off on the dole. Though I suppose it depends on the quality of the jobs. At what point does it become unfeasible I wonder. Below the average industrial wage? Which is circa e32k now I think.

    After mortgage, childcare, travel to work and if one of you goes to the doctor but before bills food and whatever else do you have 360 a week? (Ex child benefit as that'd be unchanged)

    We have 2 jobs one child and a large but manageable mortgage and we would definitely not be better off on the dole.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,912 ✭✭✭HellFireClub


    clouds wrote: »
    I can't see how a couple with 2 jobs, one of them civil service, one child and a manageable mortgage could be better off on the dole. Though I suppose it depends on the quality of the jobs. At what point does it become unfeasible I wonder. Below the average industrial wage? Which is circa e32k now I think.

    After mortgage, childcare, travel to work and if one of you goes to the doctor but before bills food and whatever else do you have 360 a week? (Ex child benefit as that'd be unchanged)

    We have 2 jobs one child and a large but manageable mortgage and we would definitely not be better off on the dole.

    Very hard to listen to a post like the OP in this thead. Two salaries, both respectable enough by all accounts and not a sign of gratitude that they seem to be relatively well insulated from the poverty that many are experiencing now, people who are unemployed, etc...


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 170 ✭✭Squirm


    Very hard to listen to a post like the OP in this thead. Two salaries, both respectable enough by all accounts and not a sign of gratitude that they seem to be relatively well insulated from the poverty that many are experiencing now, people who are unemployed, etc...


    Actually, you're dead right. Couldn't agree more. I lost my job, my partner took a 15% pay cut on top of the tax increases an we too have a new baby.... an we're still doing ok-ish and we're still nowhere near the poverty line. We manage ok, we hope to get away this year at some point, we went out for dinner last weekend, my partner will go for a couple of pints tomorrow night. We have to budget, watch the cents, wait for the sales etc, but my partner still has a job, we can afford our mortgage and we still have our car. We're one of the lucky households.

    OP- the social welfare is for the genuinely in need. You sound like you might well be in a position in DONATE to the genuinely in need.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 39,022 ✭✭✭✭Permabear


    This post has been deleted.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,914 ✭✭✭danbohan


    I guess you werent around in the 80's when pay was poor and it didn't take much to end up in the 48% bracket

    or the 65%,


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,010 ✭✭✭RichardAnd


    People sayign they are better off on the dole are, in my opinion, talking crap. I was unemployed for 7 months before and even on the coldest morning in winter when I have to peel myself out of bed at 6:45am for work, I do not wish I had no job to go to. Unemployement might be fine for a month or so but as time creeps by and your days are filled with applications being rejected, solitude the sense of uselessness, your outlook will only grow dim.

    Work can be crap, it's work. However, it can also be full-filling in that I know I'm worth something to someone and it allows me to live a normal life. Unemployment does neither of these things.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,566 ✭✭✭DublinWriter


    srsly78 wrote: »
    We still have one of the lowest tax rates in europe OP. Go live in Germany of Belgium and see how much tax you pay.
    I've lived in both Germany and Belgium.

    In both countries private health insurance doesn't come into the picture as the national health systems are fantastic.

    The cost of living in both Germany and Belgium is also lower.

    I wish people wouldn't keep banging on about Ireland being a 'low taxation' country - it's not, it's all smoke and mirrors when you factor in indirect taxation such as fuel duty, VRT, VAT...and you obviously haven't checked your January payslip seen how much you've been hit by new USC Levy.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 454 ✭✭KindOfIrish


    lmimmfn wrote: »
    I dont know about other people but with current tax increases, its barely worth working and theres more increases to come. Is anyone feeling its completely pointless working here now?
    Ireland has the lowest taxes in western Europe by far.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 16,391 ✭✭✭✭mikom


    High tax, low tax, middlin' tax, schmiddlin' tax.
    It all comes down to this.....

    When you put a euro coin in the government slot in Ireland, what do you get?
    When you put a euro coin in the government slot in Germany, what do you get?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 243 ✭✭GoldRush4821


    jester77 wrote: »
    Most likely would have that job in Ireland with the skillset I have. I work in IT for a web 2.0 company, one of the areas where that has not been too hard hit. I know some of my former colleagues who have recently moved to Ireland and taken up jobs there working for a similar company in Dublin.

    I really would love to have IT skills, not just typing and that sh!t but being able to program, they're so transferable and seemingly recession - proof!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,819 ✭✭✭dan_d


    lmimmfn wrote: »
    I dont know about other people but with current tax increases, its barely worth working and theres more increases to come. Is anyone feeling its completely pointless working here now? I mean even in the context of a decent paying job? i have a well paying job, mrs is in the civil service, and we have a 4 month old kid, but we'd nearly be better off on the dole now, ok lose the house and the deposit etc.( not in negative equity ), but who cares about the house, on the dole of course you would have to cut corners but no work involved and both of us around to look after the kid

    Im not saying thats a solution, and its a disgraceful solution, its either that or jack it all in and move to another country, but do people really think its worth even working here now? no matter what the job is?

    I'm on the dole.The OH is working.

    Not to put too fine a point on it - that's a completely rubbish attitude you have there. I spent 6 months unemployed, got a job for 4 weeks, and was then told I was on temporary lay-off, due to company problems with finance.

    You do NOT want to be on the dole.You most definitely do not want to be on the dole if you're someone who is used to working.I would give anything - anything - to have a job right now.It's so much more than "ah sure you get everything, and there's no effort involved".

    You have nothing to get up for everyday.Absolutely nothing. The effort to get out of bed at a reasonable hour in the morning becomes very hard after a while. Your days are endless periods of time, punctuated by the odd trip - a visit to the bank, a visit to the PO, maybe the gym, meet the odd person for coffee (if you can afford it).You worry constantly about the gap on your CV, how to explain it, how to afford courses (proper courses, not the fiddly FAS stuff).All decent courses cost a hefty sum of money - in my case I have a degree and 5 years experience. I've paid to do a private course in a college for 14 weeks and I want/have to do a Masters from September.I have to pay for that. I'm not going to get grants/subsidies anything.How do I pay and afford my bills??

    You have nobody to talk to and nothing to do.Not even the most motivated of people can keep themselves going indefinitely on the dole. You spend hours browsing the same websites, hoping that there just might be something there today. You spend HOURS trying to come up with new ways to find jobs, something different, more innovative, something around scouring the sites and papers.When people say "what do you do"...you say "I'm unemployed".And they go "oh.that's terrible, I'm sorry". You can't fill the car with petrol without wondering have you got the money for it.Your brain becomes tired and depressed and worried.You may find yourself having panic attacks or serious anxiety problems...and then you realise that you can't afford the medical help to get you past it.

    And then you look at places like Boards, and realise there are still a large number of people out there secure in their happy worlds and the belief that all those on the dole are wasters and scroungers, who get everything for free, don't have to pay for a thing, and couldn't be arsed looking for work.And (in my case), you get extremely angry pointing out to these people that no, in fact, the dole is a rotten place to be. That (to be honest), whether you've "earned" the money or not through years of work, it's depressing, frustrating, degrading, infuriating and embarassing to be in this situation.I worked damn hard in college, I am not looking for massive money (the job I got paid mid 20K), I will do anything at all, and I can get nothing.Sweet FA.Furthermore, I am entitled to 188eur a week for another few months, and then that's it. I don't have or get a single other thing, regardless of the fact that I have paid into our system.Unlike others out there.

    So no.Don't ever wish you were on the dole. There's so much more to it than "sure you get stuff for free". It goes way,way beyond that. If you have a job, hold on to it, and don't delude yourself you'd be better off without, because you wouldn't.And kindly don't tar everyone with the same brush.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,262 ✭✭✭✭Idbatterim


    I cap my pay just at the lower rate, so does my mum. Paying 52c in the euro over the threshold is a joke. Whats the point in working any harder? Its all going to be squandered anyway! Dan_d I think everyone is sympathetic to your situation, what infuriates me is the career welfarers, the dole should be incrementally cut over time, down to absolute subsistence, maybe even have it set higher for people that are newly unemployed. Id cut welfare and the lower the rate of PAYE, make it worthwhile for people to actually work. I believe in Germany all state benefits are linked to what you actually paid in? Here there is no difference once you have certain amount of stamps I believe. What makes me laugh here, is that the so called well off or rich that are the target of alot of people are the ones massively subsidising alot of the wasters that are on welfare and the low paid!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,925 ✭✭✭th3 s1aught3r


    Well its just going to get worse. We have just had the first of 4 austerity budgets. Expect taxes and rates to be increased every year for the next few years. Also, most of your tax money will now be going to pay off debt and not into services. In other EU countries they pay higher taxes but they also have better services. In Ireland expect to pay more tax for less services
    Not really a future to look forward to imo


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 206 ✭✭clouds


    Right well everybody who wants to go on the dole should should jack in the job & give up the house. Simples.
    That will free up jobs for some of them on the live register, they'll be earning and can buy your house from the bank.

    Then in 10 years when your doley life is exactly the same, depending on which way the wind blows in Leinster House, you can laugh at the lad in your old job, except promoted a couple of rungs, living in your house which is that bit nearer to being paid off. Oh yes you'll break yourselves laughing after a few years of it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,262 ✭✭✭✭Idbatterim


    Lucky for me I haven't had to use any state services in years including public transport! great to see that the amount you pay in has no relevance to the quality of service you get or the rate of welfare if you become unemployed or the state pension...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 206 ✭✭clouds


    What's your point?

    Do you think a person on the higher rate of tax should get velvet-cushioned public buses for the days when the old Beemer is getting rewaxed?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,262 ✭✭✭✭Idbatterim


    my point is, that those earning the most are indeed contributing the most by far, and getting the least in return by far.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1 waterbaby77


    This is a very interesting thread and I must say it's extremely reassuring reading responses from people who actually feel they're doing okay.

    My husband and I live in London (both born and bred here pretty much) but desperately want to move back to our families in Ireland as life in London just doesn't feel sustainable for much longer - we work, work, work and just don't have a work-life balance in any way, shape or form. I am a senior nurse practitioner, currently studying part-time for a Masters and my husband is a marketing manager. We are hoping to start a family soon and really want to be closer to our families. We've got our own property and a reasonable amount of savings, and would ultimately want to buy a house in Ireland. Are we crazy to be even considering this?? We both want to continue working obviously, but not to the same degree that we have been here now for a very long time. Would appreciate opinions (apologies if this isn't considered best place for post - let me know where to go as a newbie ;) ).... Thanks.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 206 ✭✭clouds


    What do you want in return? Don't get me wrong i've no gra for lazy scum who never worked a day in their lives but what do you think you deserve compared to them? Or a tougher question, someone who worked hard for years and years but in a low paid ish job. They worked but they never really earned much, therefore taxed much. So what happens to them?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 206 ✭✭clouds


    @ waterbaby.

    this is just me but if i was you... I'd finish the masters. I wouldn't return to Ireland but I'd go to a small city maybe further North in England. You'd have a cheaper cost of living, nursing travels well, don't know about marketing managers but ye could research it. The transport links would be no worse - probably easier to get to the airport in a smaller city. Then start a family.

    I don't think Ireland is a good move now. They'll be slashing and burning at the HSE so no work for you there.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,925 ✭✭✭th3 s1aught3r


    Idbatterim wrote: »
    my point is, that those earning the most are indeed contributing the most by far, and getting the least in return by far.

    Wrong
    Those earning the most have been availing of tax breaks and loopholes for years and some have not been paying tax at all :rolleyes:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,819 ✭✭✭dan_d


    Idbatterim wrote: »
    Dan_d I think everyone is sympathetic to your situation, what infuriates me is the career welfarers, the dole should be incrementally cut over time, down to absolute subsistence, maybe even have it set higher for people that are newly unemployed. Id cut welfare and the lower the rate of PAYE, make it worthwhile for people to actually work. I believe in Germany all state benefits are linked to what you actually paid in? Here there is no difference once you have certain amount of stamps I believe. What makes me laugh here, is that the so called well off or rich that are the target of alot of people are the ones massively subsidising alot of the wasters that are on welfare and the low paid!

    Ah yeah, Idbatterim, I know that.I'm not actually looking for sympathy, and I agree that the dole needs to be cut incrementally, based on how long you've been on it.But I do get very annoyed with people who go around making statements about "everybody" on the dole.There's no excuse for those statements - everyone in this country should, at this stage, be aware that those on the dole can nearly be broken into 2 groups - lifetime and those who lost their jobs in the last 2 years. I just wish people wouldn't make such sweeping statements. I understand where the OP is coming from, especially since everyone's tax is increased and nobody sees any return for it ie, no improvement in public services or health services or anything. But I do think that wishing to be on the dole is a bit much - the reality of it is soul-destroying.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,553 ✭✭✭lmimmfn


    I just want to state, my intention on creating the thread wasnt to annoy unemployed people, my point is to highlight the pointlessness of working here in Ireland

    Heres a very rough comparison between 2 couples each with 1 kid, first earning say 35k each with a mortgage who travel to work( 1 by car, other with travel scheme ), the other couple on the dole with rent allowance

    Couple earning 35k each
    Take home = 52780
    Mortgage 12000
    Life Assurance = 500
    Petrol 50x52 weeks = 2500
    Travel scheme = 1250
    Childcare=6500
    Insurance=500
    Car Service + Costs = 1000
    VHI = 2000
    Doctors visits = 20x50 = 1000
    Prescriptions = 1000
    Food at work( 2x5euro per day ) = 2500

    Total = 30750
    Total minus earnings = 22030

    Dole couple:
    Total income=20384

    Difference = 1646

    1646/52 = 31euro per week

    31euro per week /40=80cent per hour extra for the couple
    So basically each of the working couple work hard to get 40cent per hour extra more than the dole?


    Throw in another kid in the above equation fopr the working couple and theyre 7k less, but not the guys on the dole

    Im not even trying to compare working couples against those on the dole, im just saying whats the point of working?

    All this crap about ireland being a low tax economy is absolute junk, those with high taxes have free healthcare( France/UK ) and/or free childcare( Sweden ). From the graphs shown in this forum a few months ago the irish person pays on average 33% tax and Sweden pays about 40%, difference is
    in Sweden you get a hell of a lot more for your money, namely free healthcare and childcare.

    Even working overtime here is pointless, 52% tax would be fine if it was a social tax, youre working harder to earn the government more than you get just so they can bail out banks and investors more?

    Ive deliberately not even charged the company any overtime in months just so i wont be giving money to investors. Personally i enjoy the satisfaction.

    Again this is just to begining of the austerity measures, what the hell is it going to be like in a few years time, it really is looking like the best case scenerio is to get to hell out of here and cut all losses

    Ignoring idiots who comment "far right" because they don't even know what it means



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,262 ✭✭✭✭Idbatterim


    Even working overtime here is pointless, 52% tax would be fine if it was a social tax, youre working harder to earn the government more than you get just so they can bail out banks and investors more?

    Ive deliberately not even charged the company any overtime in months just so i wont be giving money to investors. Personally i enjoy the satisfaction.

    Again this is just to begining of the austerity measures, what the hell is it going to be like in a few years time, it really is looking like the best case scenerio is to get to hell out of here and cut all losses

    I agree. I also get a kick out of just keeping my pay at the threshold. We all know that cuts are far less damaging than tax hikes, do Labor really have to harp on about crap and suggest stuff that all we know wont work already?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 525 ✭✭✭Halo Kitty


    Applause to Dan D. for expressing so well what i and many more people feel and think... I am umemployed 4 weeks.. and just coming to terms with what it really means, still try to keep positive and still get out of bed early go to the gym. check fas notice board and slowly walk home to waste more time....I am sure in a few weeks it will feel like work.....For everyone out there employed if u ever want to swap places thay are many people
    who wish they were walking your shoes...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,553 ✭✭✭lmimmfn


    Halo Kitty wrote: »
    Applause to Dan D. for expressing so well what i and many more people feel and think... I am umemployed 4 weeks.. and just coming to terms with what it really means, still try to keep positive and still get out of bed early go to the gym. check fas notice board and slowly walk home to waste more time....I am sure in a few weeks it will feel like work.....For everyone out there employed if u ever want to swap places thay are many people
    who wish they were walking your shoes...
    sure if theres no difference whats the point? glad you can afford a gym, i cant and i work

    Sorry to hear about your recent unemployment though

    Ignoring idiots who comment "far right" because they don't even know what it means



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 525 ✭✭✭Halo Kitty


    Paid my gym membership 2 weeks before i was given redundancy notice....but will i be able to renew it next yr is the least of my worries.....


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,553 ✭✭✭lmimmfn


    Halo Kitty wrote: »
    Paid my gym membership 2 weeks before i was given redundancy notice....but will i be able to renew it next yr is the least of my worries.....
    sorry,im not trying to be a gimp, if you look at those figures youre as well off as most working on average, especially if you have a kid

    And work wise its only going to be higher taxes and less take home pay for the next 3 years of austerity measures

    Ignoring idiots who comment "far right" because they don't even know what it means



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 525 ✭✭✭Halo Kitty


    i can not undestand how anyone can be expected to live on €188 and pay bills .. that is all i am entitled to as on job seekers benefit ...i have cancelled my health insurance...my landline is next to go...and my heating is put on later and off earlier...and i am now saving for my home insurance....and i count myself as lucky because i had a job for 24yrs....and now i wish i had a job even a day a week would make me feel human again...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,553 ✭✭✭lmimmfn


    Halo Kitty wrote: »
    i can not undestand how anyone can be expected to live on €188 and pay bills .. that is all i am entitled to as on job seekers benefit ...i have cancelled my health insurance...my landline is next to go...and my heating is put on later and off earlier...and i am now saving for my home insurance....and i count myself as lucky because i had a job for 24yrs....and now i wish i had a job even a day a week would make me feel human again...
    i understand your pain but i spend 250 euro a week
    50 euro on nappies and forumla
    50 euro on petrol
    25 euro on food at work
    10 euro on car upkeep
    50 euro on food + extra crap like toilet rolls

    leaves me 65euro for clothes and any luxury spends

    its hardly very different
    Our last electricity bill with the new kid came to 250euro for 2 months
    Gas was 250 euro also for 2 months.

    Its not rosey in the garden in my circumstances working

    Ignoring idiots who comment "far right" because they don't even know what it means



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 587 ✭✭✭fat__tony


    lmimmfn wrote: »
    i understand your pain but i spend 250 euro a week
    50 euro on nappies and forumla
    50 euro on petrol
    25 euro on food at work
    10 euro on car upkeep
    50 euro on food + extra crap like toilet rolls

    leaves me 65euro for clothes and any luxury spends

    its hardly very different
    Our last electricity bill with the new kid came to 250euro for 2 months
    Gas was 250 euro also for 2 months.

    Its not rosey in the garden in my circumstances working

    Seriously, not one person on this thread has any sympathy for your situation.

    You're both working yet you seem to have a poor grasp of managing household finances and energy use. How the hell could your ESB and gas bills be so high?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,553 ✭✭✭lmimmfn


    fat__tony wrote: »
    Seriously, not one person on this thread has any sympathy for your situation.

    You're both working yet you seem to have a poor grasp of managing household finances and energy use. How the hell could your ESB and gas bills be so high?
    im not looking for sympathy, i couldnt give a crap for that, im stating its pointless to work
    As for the ESB, have a kid( IN IRELAND ) and see how you get on

    If you have anything decent to contribute please do, youre points above well lets just not even bother commenting on them

    You dont even live here so your opinion is completely worthleaa

    Ignoring idiots who comment "far right" because they don't even know what it means



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