Worried over money and life

Mrs Garth Brooks

I am going into my final year at college in september. It was only a two year course. I lived of savings for the past year. I have a very small amount of savings left but not enough to see me through the year so i will hopefully be getting a loan. I was able to claim the dole over the summer, so i applied for the back to education allowance anyway but i dont know if they'll give it to me as i have already been to college a couple of years ago.

My problem is what do i do next May when i finish? Im not guaranteed work. I would take anything going even a shop job just for money. I tried looking for a job at the start of the summer but nothing came up. I dont want the same thing again next year.

I will be 29 in a few months. By the time i finish college i will be almost 30. So i think by this time i should be more settled. By settled i mean having a job and somewhere to live, even if its a houseshare.

The last thing i want is to be back home even with a possible loan to pay off. I know its cheaper at home. My mother only asks for €50 a week in housekeeping. Its not alot really. But i dont think my mother really cares what my circumstances are. Even if im on the dole, like now she will demand that €50 a week.

Thing is its not the €50 a week that bothers me. I think its fair as its cheaper than renting. Its the fact i have 3 brothers all at home and they have the perfect lifestyle. Two of them works, earning between €400-€500 a week. And they don't contribute anything and my mother doesn't even ask. I asked her why, and she made an excuse that they are saving for a holiday. She doesn't think that im on less and i have college again in september. She just doesn't care.

My younger brother on the other hand is on the dole and getting €100 a week. He has never payed anything. Her excuse is its only a €100, its not alot. Off he went a couple of weeks ago and bought a car. So his dole money is being spent on the car and his insurance.

All three of them doesn't pay. And she does everything for them. She buys their food. Not just the basics, but crates of coke and fanta, pizza, steak, sweets, anything they want. She makes their dinner, gets up early in the morning and makes their lunches. She washes their clothes, makes their bed. Its all great for them. While my mother is on the dole and has a part time job on the sly. Its only an extra €100 a week.

I thought being away for the past year might have changed something. As she really relied on the girls for paying. My sister moved out also, so my mother was down a €100 a week. My mother struggles with money and doesn't take anything of the working lads cause they are saving for a holiday and the younger brother bought a car.

Its not very fair. Its been like that for as long as i can remember. She makes every excuse for them. They were working on and off last year. One of them spent 2 months in australia. Followed by all three of them spending another 6 weeks in australia. There were times they were out of work, and not evening claiming the dole. My mother supported them all and made excuses. And nothing changed while being away.

So i dont want to be finishing up with college, being broke, having to move home, having a loan to pay off and not having a mother who couldn't give a fck, even if i end up on the dole. While she lets three grown men do as they wish. And being back in the middle of this. It isn't fair. It never has.

I am terrified of not getting work next year and not making a life for myself.

LegacyUser

Hi HardLuckWoman,

Sounds like a tough situation and while I think it is fair enough that you're expected to pay rent, I fully agree that it is unfair to have one rule for you and another for your brothers. It's possible that you won't resolve the situation and so your best bet might be to move out.
Surely if you're on social welfare, you'd be entitled to rent allowance. That's if a job doesn't come up in the interim. The important thing to remember is that you have options.
I'm a student myself and surviving on BTEA and manage to rent a room in a house share. It's been very tough financially as I don't receive rent allowance and am also trying to pay off debt, but it can be done.
If you really want out of there and are prepared to live on the cheap for the sake of your own space, it might be worth looking into your other options. I do understand what a bitch it is to have to worry about financial pressures all of the time.
Good luck.

Maple

OP, with respect you have started the same thread multiple times.

I suggest you follow the very sage advice given you in those threads and speak to your mother.

I am locking this thread.

Maple