The cost of commuting

Beckala

Weekly I get paid €450 as a rigid truck driver. I commute from Portlaoise to Dublin every day.

Now weekly, €120 comes out of my 450 for tax,
100 groceries
75 has to go on mortgage weekly (interest only)
50 bills
80 diesel for '02 Renault Laguna
20 toll bridge
============
out of €450, I have €5 left disposable income

My girlfriend receives €124 on social welfare, she is assessed independently but living with me, which they know, hence the €124. She has applied for a JobBridge internship in Tullamore (20 miles from Portlaoise) but we only have the one car so it will cost €100 per week to cover travel expenses for that. While she will be receiving an extra €50 per week, this does not 'kick-in' until 2 weeks after she starts.

My girlfriend is also studying to be an Editor via distance learning but cannot go under student rates as distance learning is not recognised by the powers-that-be as 'studying'.

Oh and also, my girlfriend has 2 teenagers with whom she shares joint custody of with her ex-husband. Unfortunately, because he has them a half a day more than her per week, he is considered by the social welfare/government, the sole care giver and therefore receives the Children's Allowance etc. No problem with that only it leaves us to financially support them on what we're bringing in. Luckily, her ex refuses to request maintenance as he is wealthy and knows that we look after them food/clothes and phone credit-wise when they're with us.

As a result of finances, there is often times we cannot take the kids as we cannot afford the extra food which means my girlfriend is heartbroken as she is very close to her kids and I feel guilty. Sorry, didn't mean for this to be a 'poor us' post in fact we're very happy, we have our health (gawd, was that a very 'Irish' thing for me to say? although, considering I'm Irish, quite possible!)

You can see why I'm trying to cut costs wherever possible so is there a tax back facility available on commuting? - I'd say no such luck but thought I'd ask! :rolleyes:

Probably better off on the dole but I want to work, no jobs for truck drivers in Portlaoise which would save me a bundle and it would cost more than the commute to stay for a few nights in Dublin or even to get a place there.

Any suggestions welcome
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Update: Great new ppl! I talked to supervisor about tax which he agreed was high so is looking at it again for me plus I asked for more hours and he was delighted, giving me a whole new run. So fingers crossed, happy days are here again.

I would just like to thank everyone for their support and kind words and giving me the encouragement to speak up and question things like the tax, it's made a difference and someone has offered to put a word in for my GF to see if anything available in the line of work she wants aswell.

Thank you everyone and may your goodness come back to you ten fold.

loyatemu

120 tax a week sounds a bit high?

I stuck your figures into this form and came up with 62 a week in tax/prsi/usc

you can get tax back on commuter rail/bus tickets, but your employer has to buy them on your behalf. - taxsaver.ie has the details.

munchkin_utd

I can only think that a car share would be a way to reduce costs, i.e. give someone a lift each day for a help on the petrol costs, if even to the red cow luas. Or maybe someone needs to go to the northside from Portlaoise daily?
If you got a couple of people giving only a fiver return per day then you'd have 50euro a week in your pocket towards the car

corktina

really the solution would be a job in Portlaoise, although I realise that is probably a near impossibility.

Fair play to you for making the effort, plenty would have fallen back on benefits.

Would having the kids another half a day a week be practical?
Could maybe the Ex cough up more for his kids care if he is wealthy?

ProudDUB

Where in Dublin do you work OP? Dublin Coach runs a bus services that runs from Limerick to Dublin Airport, stopping off at Kildare Village, the Red Cow area and Westmoreland St along the way. It is a fiver each way, making it a tenner a day, if you left your car at Kildare Village and, took the coach to Dublin. Would driving up and paying the tolls be much more? I don't think that private coach operators qualify for the taxsaver scheme, but if you needed to then get another bus/tram/train to your job in Dublin, the monthly ticket for that would. Best of luck to you.

irishguy

Beckala wrote: »

Weekly I get paid €450 as a rigid truck driver. I commute from Portlaoise to Dublin every day.

Now weekly, €120 comes out of my 450 for tax,
100 groceries
75 has to go on mortgage weekly (interest only)
50 bills
80 diesel for '02 Renault Laguna
20 toll bridge
============
out of €450, I have €5 left disposable income

My girlfriend receives €124 on social welfare, she is assessed independently but living with me, which they know, hence the €124. She has applied for a JobBridge internship in Tullamore (20 miles from Portlaoise) but we only have the one car so it will cost €100 per week to cover travel expenses for that. While she will be receiving an extra €50 per week, this does not 'kick-in' until 2 weeks after she starts.

My girlfriend is also studying to be an Editor via distance learning but cannot go under student rates as distance learning is not recognised by the powers-that-be as 'studying'.

Oh and also, my girlfriend has 2 teenagers with whom she shares joint custody of with her ex-husband. Unfortunately, because he has them a half a day more than her per week, he is considered by the social welfare/government, the sole care giver and therefore receives the Children's Allowance etc. No problem with that only it leaves us to financially support them on what we're bringing in. Luckily, her ex refuses to request maintenance as he is wealthy and knows that we look after them food/clothes and phone credit-wise when they're with us.

As a result of finances, there is often times we cannot take the kids as we cannot afford the extra food which means my girlfriend is heartbroken as she is very close to her kids and I feel guilty. Sorry, didn't mean for this to be a 'poor us' post in fact we're very happy, we have our health (gawd, was that a very 'Irish' thing for me to say? although, considering I'm Irish, quite possible!)

You can see why I'm trying to cut costs wherever possible so is there a tax back facility available on commuting? - I'd say no such luck but thought I'd ask! :rolleyes:

Probably better off on the dole but I want to work, no jobs for truck drivers in Portlaoise which would save me a bundle and it would cost more than the commute to stay for a few nights in Dublin or even to get a place there.

Any suggestions welcome

You could try cutting down on your food bill as it's your largest expense and quite high. Just go to lidl/aldi only and prepare food scratch.

Beckala

ProudDUB wrote: »

Where in Dublin do you work OP? Dublin Coach runs a bus services that runs from Limerick to Dublin Airport, stopping off at Kildare Village, the Red Cow area and Westmoreland St along the way. It is a fiver each way, making it a tenner a day, if you left your car at Kildare Village and, took the coach to Dublin. Would driving up and paying the tolls be much more? I don't think that private coach operators qualify for the taxsaver scheme, but if you needed to then get another bus/tram/train to your job in Dublin, the monthly ticket for that would. Best of luck to you.

Thanks you butI start work at 3.30am in an Industrial estate and finishing times vary, hense the car

Beckala

irishguy wrote: »

You could try cutting down on your food bill as it's your largest expense and quite high. Just go to lidl/aldi only and prepare food scratch.

I do my shopping at Lidl and what I cant get there I get at Dunnes and pound shop. As I mentioned, I have 2 teenagers to feed aswell ie. never enough food in the house!!

Beckala

corktina wrote: »

really the solution would be a job in Portlaoise, although I realise that is probably a near impossibility.

Fair play to you for making the effort, plenty would have fallen back on benefits.

Would having the kids another half a day a week be practical?
Could maybe the Ex cough up more for his kids care if he is wealthy?

I have been trying for the past 2 yrs for trucking jobs in Portlaoise, yes it would be the best solution, I agree.

The kids have everything they need and more at their fathers house and they get to see their mother as often as is possible, he is not under strain for finances, he works hard for his money. Neither I, nor my girlfriend would ask him for money for the kids, if anything we should be the ones paying maintenance. And even at a minutes notice there is never any problem with just giving him a ring and collecting the kids. So credit where credit is due is our philosophy.

But I appreciate the suggestion.

Beckala

ProudDUB wrote: »

Where in Dublin do you work OP? Dublin Coach runs a bus services that runs from Limerick to Dublin Airport, stopping off at Kildare Village, the Red Cow area and Westmoreland St along the way. It is a fiver each way, making it a tenner a day, if you left your car at Kildare Village and, took the coach to Dublin. Would driving up and paying the tolls be much more? I don't think that private coach operators qualify for the taxsaver scheme, but if you needed to then get another bus/tram/train to your job in Dublin, the monthly ticket for that would. Best of luck to you.

Working in industrial estate and I start at 3am, finishing times vary. Thanks for the suggestions. I like youe handle, I'm a proud Dub myself! :D

Beckala

loyatemu wrote: »

120 tax a week sounds a bit high?

I stuck your figures into this form and came up with 62 a week in tax/prsi/usc

you can get tax back on commuter rail/bus tickets, but your employer has to buy them on your behalf. - taxsaver.ie has the details.

Cheers for the link, didn't know it existed!

Victor

I can't see why the father shouldn't be paying some maintenance - you guys have half the cost and 'none' of the income.

ProudDUB wrote: »

I don't think that private coach operators qualify for the taxsaver scheme

All operators qualify, however, it needs to be a monthly or annual ticket.

irishguy wrote: »

You could try cutting down on your food bill as it's your largest expense and quite high. Just go to lidl/aldi only and prepare food scratch.

For 4 people?

Hilly Bill

irishguy wrote: »

You could try cutting down on your food bill as it's your largest expense and quite high. Just go to lidl/aldi only and prepare food scratch.

You dont get much for €100 a week these days and especially if you have kids to feed as well.

road_high

Just to throw in my own 2 cents but your salary seems extremely low too. Perhaps if you could look around and try get a bit more in a new job, even €50 a week would make a big difference to you. Not massively above the Min wage where you're at currently. BTW I really admire people like you who get up off their asses and work hard; as said many in your situation would fall back on Welfare.

Jamie2k9

20 toll bridge

Have you registered an elfow account online, cheaper if registered and could bring the cost down if you pay other ways.

120 off 450 per week in tax seems very high, have you checked everything is correct in that front?

Beckala

Victor wrote: »

I can't see why the father shouldn't be paying some maintenance - you guys have half the cost and 'none' of the income.

I hear what you're saying but why should our lack of income become his responsibility? We just need to get up off our asses and better ourselves (hence the GF re-training & I'm trying to get money together & get my artic licence = better job opportunities) The argument can't be made that it's for the kids really. The kids are happy out (as happy as teenagers can be at any given time!) The father doesn't ask for maintenance so we're counting ourselves lucky in that regard. Plus, he doesn't ask us to contribute towards school fees, tours etc, he looks after all that we still try to when we have it though.

It's just one of those things that when the government put all this down on paper, as usual they forgot what it would actually be like for the ppl it would affect ie. ruling that even though joint custody is awarded, whoever has them more, is considered sole guardian, even if it's only by a few hours.

When the gf went to sign on, they told her she wasn't recognised as having any kids, even though we have an extra room to accommodate them living with us and we shop for them etc. Needless to say, it nearly finished her off mentally but what can you do. We're actually very positive people and count ourselves lucky as things could be so much harder for us. It just teaches me not to judge. No-one knows what anyone else is going through, no matter how it looks on the outside.

Beckala

road_high wrote: »

Just to throw in my own 2 cents but your salary seems extremely low too. Perhaps if you could look around and try get a bit more in a new job, even €50 a week would make a big difference to you. Not massively above the Min wage where you're at currently. BTW I really admire people like you who get up off their asses and work hard; as said many in your situation would fall back on Welfare.

All I seem to do is look for better jobs on my time off! I think I've filled out every agency's mandatory 10 page application form, which for a lad, is an achievement in itself! I've dropped CV's in everywhere, I'm on LinkedIn. I had to take a job that meant living in Mallow for 4 months away from the gf, but paid acceptable, that kept us going for a while which was great.

The jobs I've been offered and taken up lately (past 2 yrs) have all been contract either in construction or delivery driver jobs. All long hours on a salary, that's how it works out. Weekly salary, stupidly long hours. Construction pays well but jobs are a day here and there which is frustrating when you're sitting waiting for a call wondering if it will come at all. The thing is, with this job, the pay is crap but there's stability, it's permanent with a chance of raising within the ranks, that's why I'm going for the artic licence as well. Wish to gawd FÁS would pay for it, costs a bomb.

Both herself and myself would rather die than be on the dole. We've both worked since we were 16 (now in our 30's). Herself obsessively sent CV's into every vacancy going for 18 months having been in administration for years, got very depressed with no job as she wants to be a good role model for the kids. We eventually decided there must be too many going for the same jobs so then she decided to re-train and is now happy out with an ambition and goal, as am I. I'd love to make her my wife.

It's hard not to sit down and cry sometimes in desperation. We never seem to catch a break thought it feels like we do everything right, never cheating or trying to get away with no insurance or tax, we pay all our bills on time. I'm probably preaching to the choir. Sure, the whole of Ireland is in the same boat. When I hear of the kids with Downs Syndrome whose medical cards are being taken away...kinda puts things in perspective for me. We should never take for granted what we have.

Beckala

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Have you registered an elfow account online, cheaper if registered and could bring the cost down if you pay other ways.

120 off 450 per week in tax seems very high, have you checked everything is correct in that front?

Yep, I've registered, thanks

corktina

Beckala wrote: »

All I seem to do is look for better jobs on my time off! I think I've filled out every agency's mandatory 10 page application form, which for a lad, is an achievement in itself! I've dropped CV's in everywhere, I'm on LinkedIn. I had to take a job that meant living in Mallow for 4 months away from the gf, but paid acceptable, that kept us going for a while which was great.

The jobs I've been offered and taken up lately (past 2 yrs) have all been contract either in construction or delivery driver jobs. All long hours on a salary, that's how it works out. Weekly salary, stupidly long hours. Construction pays well but jobs are a day here and there which is frustrating when you're sitting waiting for a call wondering if it will come at all. The thing is, with this job, the pay is crap but there's stability, it's permanent with a chance of raising within the ranks, that's why I'm going for the artic licence as well. Wish to gawd FÁS would pay for it, costs a bomb.

Both herself and myself would rather die than be on the dole. We've both worked since we were 16 (now in our 30's). Herself obsessively sent CV's into every vacancy going for 18 months having been in administration for years, got very depressed with no job as she wants to be a good role model for the kids. We eventually decided there must be too many going for the same jobs so then she decided to re-train and is now happy out with an ambition and goal, as am I. I'd love to make her my wife.

It's hard not to sit down and cry sometimes in desperation. We never seem to catch a break thought it feels like we do everything right, never cheating or trying to get away with no insurance or tax, we pay all our bills on time. I'm probably preaching to the choir. Sure, the whole of Ireland is in the same boat. When I hear of the kids with Downs Syndrome whose medical cards are being taken away...kinda puts things in perspective for me. We should never take for granted what we have.

Keep trying, you are doing all the right things and are a credit to yourselves.

( I haven't worked for three years and had an interview for the first time yesterday...yay!)

Beckala

corktina wrote: »

Keep trying, you are doing all the right things and are a credit to yourselves.

( I haven't worked for three years and had an interview for the first time yesterday...yay!)

Hey, that's brilliant! Well done you! There's nothing like that sense of hope, terror and pride that you get when that call comes through for an interview to let you know you're alive - lol. The very best of luck - knock 'em dead

professore

You are a credit to Ireland and are an example of our screwed up welfare system. There is no question you would be better off financially on the dole. Also no question that your mortgage is currently not sustainable. Yet you both get up every day and bust your asses trying to make ends meet.

You have cheered me up no end.

professore

Just sent you a PM

ballooba

OP, you haven't explained how you are paying €120 tax on an income of €450. That doesn't add up at all.

EDIT: The only explanation I can come up with is that property tax, motor tax and others are included in "tax".

This might be useful for OP... http://www.askaboutmoney.com/forumdisplay.php?f=62