Dole talk

fiveworlds

Hi I'm new here and I would rather remain anonymous if that is okay. I finished secondary school a few years ago. I went to college as is the usual thing to a course in computers which I thought would work out okay. Thing is the course had a massive drop out rate. I hated two of my lecturers I didn't understand half what they said, there was no fixed book to study and then they had a habit of telling people that they weren't good enough and they should leave. So I wound up leaving. Then I had to go home and sign on. The thing is I live in a village in the middle of nowhere, I can't drive and there is no public transport. I can't afford to relocate because I was assessed on my mom's income (dad is dead) so I get 35 euro a week of which my mom takes 20. There is no employers in my village I have no way of getting to the nearest town to work. I have been on the dole four years now and have never had a tus scheme an internship or a fas course because I have no right to travel. My mom can't bring me anywhere because she works all week. I'm sick and tired of wasting my life doing nothing but I don't see any light at the end of the tunnel. I know I won't be able to afford to buy a car for years and my mom can't afford it either. What am I to do??

LegacyUser

How far away is your nearest town? Where does your mam work? Could you get a lift with her in the mornings? Could you get a bike and cycle to the town? Or cycle to the main road where there would certainly be buses passing to town? Could you arrange with a neighbour who goes to town everyday to bring you in? There are always options but you have to go out and look for them. Nobody is going to drop something in your lap.

CaraMay

There are many many online course you can do to get started. There just be an adult education team in your area. They can guide you. How do you get to the shops etc?

rtron

Is there a town nearby where you could rent a place?Living on your own would entitle you to more dole money and then you might have more options open to you.

njs030

rtron wrote: »

Is there a town nearby where you could rent a place?Living on your own would entitle you to more dole money and then you might have more options open to you.

Op wouldn't be entitled to rent allowance unless the county council assess him and put him on their list which can take months. Until then he/she would be responsible for their own rent.
The only other way to get RA is if you have paid it yourself for 6 months and circumstances have changed which doesn't apply here.

If you looked for a job op you could then look at moving into shared accommodation nearby.

pgj2015

my advice op, go to career guidance asap, there are free career guidance services in most towns, figure out what you are interested in and go back to college, you need a degree these days to get anywhere, I don't know how you stuck 4 years on 15 euro a week, you will get back to education allowance if you go back to college which will be 100-188 euro a week, plus you can work as well and it wont effect your back to education allowance.

college is the best thing you can do when you find the right course.

mapaca

The Careers Portal website is a good starting point to figure out what career/job would interest you. Look into what grants you can apply for to get into college. You are stuck in a rut, but you can get out of it.

myshirt

You are not by any chance from Leitrim? Sounds very like Leitrim.

fiveworlds

My village isn't much of a village it has a church, a shop/post office and a primary school where my mom works everyday till 4-5pm. I don't have much in the way of neighbours there is two farms on my road that's about it. I applied to the council for housing but they said there was a ten year waiting list and I was not a high priority because I don't have kids. I looked at the back to education allowance before but they only give me €50 on top of my dole now which is too little. My mom gives out because while they cut my dole she doesn't get paid anything for having me around because I'm over 18. Also they only assess my mom as having one child to look after when calculating my dole because my brother and sister are over 18. My brother and sister live in rented accommodation because they found work but they always got 188 from the dole. Their landlords don't allow visitors to stay.

athtrasna

Start saving for a bike? You need to get out and find work as opposed to settling for the dole. What you are getting paid is job seekers allowance /benefit but you're clearly not seeking a job. You need to find ways to get a job, not excuses.

eviltwin

Call the Irish National Organization of the Unemployed. They will be able to give you a lot of information on what you can do. I feel your desperation in every word of your post OP but don't give up. There are supports out there.

pgj2015

fiveworlds wrote: »

My village isn't much of a village it has a church, a shop/post office and a primary school where my mom works everyday till 4-5pm. I don't have much in the way of neighbours there is two farms on my road that's about it. I applied to the council for housing but they said there was a ten year waiting list and I was not a high priority because I don't have kids. I looked at the back to education allowance before but they only give me €50 on top of my dole now which is too little. My mom gives out because while they cut my dole she doesn't get paid anything for having me around because I'm over 18. Also they only assess my mom as having one child to look after when calculating my dole because my brother and sister are over 18. My brother and sister live in rented accommodation because they found work but they always got 188 from the dole. Their landlords don't allow visitors to stay.

if you get back to education you say you will get 50 euro on top of 35, thats 85, you may also be entitled to a grant id say, have a look into that, go ask in your local citizens advice. then say you go to college in sligo for example, you might have to pay rent of 50 euro a week, that leaves you with 35 euro, 20 should do you for food, but you will be living in a bigger town/city and there will be far more job opportunities than where you live now, plus there is some other scheme where if you are really stuck in college they give you some money, also st vincent de paul can help you if you are stuck for food or money in college.

You seem to be making excuses op, forget about your past course that didn't work out, where you live etc what matters is what you are going to do now to change your life. if you don't make the change now, in 4 years you will still be living on 15 euro a week, rather than coming out of college and into a job on maybe 25,000+

I remember reading about a student in galway who was stuck for money in his final year of college a couple of years ago, he bought a tent and lived in that close to the college, he also made money from it as he was doing interviews with papers ect and this paid for his fees, i think he spent from september to march in the tent and finished his college course, im not suggesting you do this op but it shows where there is a will there is a way.

ponzook

Op go the social welfare office and set up a meeting and explain the situation again. If this doesn't work go to a local councillor and explain it or go to welfare.ie and make a complaint. When was the last time you had a meeting with the office? I have friends with both parents working and still getting the full dole living at home.

Also have a look at springboard courses which are proper level 6/7/8 college courses. Course is free and get to keep your dole. Explain the rut your in again to the welfare office.

PLL

How do you only get €35 if your mom only works an hour a day.

If you were means tested through your mom for the dole then you will be for the grant too. So you're looking at 336 a month plus fees paid, and if your mom gets a social welfare payment of some sort you're looking at double that.

No to give out, but you are making excuses. My circumstances are a lot more difficult than yours and I'm in college working my behind off - because I appreciate the value it will bring to my life in a few short years.

aaakev

PLL wrote: »

How do you only get €35 if your mom only works an hour a day.

If you were means tested through your mom for the dole then you will be for the grant too. So you're looking at 336 a month plus fees paid, and if your mom gets a social welfare payment of some sort you're looking at double that.

No to give out, but you are making excuses. My circumstances are a lot more difficult than yours and I'm in college working my behind off - because I appreciate the value it will bring to my life in a few short years.

He said his mam works till 4-5 not just that hour....

Shrap

OP, some of the other posters maybe don't recognise the catch 22 situation you're in regarding access to back to education facilities from your area with no car, and being under 23 (am I right?) and not assessed on your own means, so ineligible for a college grant as well?

When you're 23, you may be eligible for the full grant on your own means and so long as you apply to a college above 45k away, you'll get just enough to pay rent in student accommodation (so long as it's not Dublin) from Sept to May. You'd have to work evenings to maintain yourself, unfortunately.

This trap you're in is exactly what I'm hoping my eldest realises I'm trying to avoid for him and actually puts the work in to pass his first year, cos what you're going through is exactly what he'd be looking at if he messes up his one shot at the grant between school leaving and age 23.

Have you any community bus service in your area? How far away is the nearest adult education facility? Is there anyone you know you could give a few euro to for petrol to swing past every morning and pick you up? I know you'd need more money for that - have to say that if your Ma is earning enough that you're only assessed for 35 euro a week, it would seem pretty counterproductive that she wouldn't let you keep it in order to get back on the road to an education/job?

fiveworlds

@athtrasna

Start saving for a bike? You need to get out and find work as opposed to settling for the dole. What you are getting paid is job seekers allowance /benefit but you're clearly not seeking a job. You need to find ways to get a job, not excuses.

There are bikes at home but I cannot ride a bike. I have a minor disability called dyspraxia which affects my balance. I just fall off all the time. That said even if I could ride a bike the nearest town is 40 minutes cycle away.
I apply to every job in my county as they appear on the various jobs sites like jobseeker.fas.ie, jobs.ie, irishjobs etc it is like window shopping of jobs i am not qualified for.

@pgj2015

You seem to be making excuses op, forget about your past course that didn't work out, where you live etc what matters is what you are going to do now to change your life. if you don't make the change now, in 4 years you will still be living on 15 euro a week, rather than coming out of college and into a job on maybe 25,000+

I remember reading about a student in galway who was stuck for money in his final year of college a couple of years ago, he bought a tent and lived in that close to the college, he also made money from it as he was doing interviews with papers ect and this paid for his fees, i think he spent from september to march in the tent and finished his college course, im not suggesting you do this op but it shows where there is a will there is a way.

Living in a tent?? I'm pretty sure that isn't legal without the landowners permission. You also can't stick around too long in a public place because that is loitering.

@caramay

There are many many online course you can do to get started. There just be an adult education team in your area. They can guide you. How do you get to the shops etc?

Online courses cost money most of the time take the comptia a+ course it costs €400. I get €15 a week then I have to pay a taxi to town to sign on which costs €35.

@sharp

OP, some of the other posters maybe don't recognise the catch 22 situation you're in regarding access to back to education facilities from your area with no car, and being under 23 (am I right?) and not assessed on your own means, so ineligible for a college grant as well?

Yeah that is true I need to be over 23. I also need to be over 26 to get full dole now. It is so annoying when i started they were saying I needed to be over 22 then it was 24 now 26. I don't know how i will ever put up with another 4 years of €15.

Have you any community bus service in your area? How far away is the nearest adult education facility? Is there anyone you know you could give a few euro to for petrol to swing past every morning and pick you up? I know you'd need more money for that - have to say that if your Ma is earning enough that you're only assessed for 35 euro a week, it would seem pretty counterproductive that she wouldn't let you keep it in order to get back on the road to an education/job?

As I said there is no public buses in my area. Apart from school busses to the primary school and I am not allowed to use them.

pgj2015

Living in a tent?? I'm pretty sure that isn't legal without the landowners permission. You also can't stick around too long in a public place because that is loitering.




yes it was illegal but he just used his initiative and camped where he wouldn't be seen in a wooded area i think, he got away with it for most of the college year and got his degree and didn't end up in jail for camping funnily enough. You need a serious kick up the ass op, people are trying to help you out with some good information and you are just seeing the negative and feeling sorry for yourself, i wasn't advising you to camp in a tent in college just showing you there is always a way to better yourself.

Ireland is a great country for helping people out who are disadvantaged, what other country will pay you to go to college? in america people come out of college with thousands of dollars of debt, there are lots of services here such as citizens advice to guide you, you just got to get up off your ass and seek them out.

CaraMay

Coursera.org does hundreds of free online courses to get you started.

Shrap

fiveworlds wrote: »

Yeah that is true I need to be over 23. I also need to be over 26 to get full dole now. It is so annoying when i started they were saying I needed to be over 22 then it was 24 now 26. I don't know how i will ever put up with another 4 years of €15.

Never mind your full dole for now. When will you be 23? If it's before (approx) mid 2016 then you can apply for a 2016/17 college grant and be assessed on your own means. SUSI opens for new grant applications sometime around Easter every year, but you can access all the info on criteria etc. online anytime. You could start planning to apply for a new course ASAP - now is when LC students are starting to look so you'd have adequate time to figure this out. You could still apply after June I think, but chances are that your grant wouldn't be processed in time for the start of the college year.

Penny Tration

Why are you paying 35 a month for a taxi to sign on? When you live that far away from your nearest dole office, it's a yearly sign on, with weekly forms posted back to them to say you're still available for work. You shouldn't be signing on monthly if you live far from your local office.

I know a few people with dyspraxia and yeah it messes with your balance, but all of them can ride a bike. A 40km cycle isn't really that much either once you get used to it. You just have to keep practicing with the cycling til you get used to it.

Unless you're happy to basically be stuck indoors doing nothing all day, you need to stop using excuses and see them as challenges to overcome.

power pants

fiveworlds wrote: »

@athtrasna


There are bikes at home but I cannot ride a bike. I have a minor disability called dyspraxia which affects my balance. I just fall off all the time. That said even if I could ride a bike the nearest town is 40 minutes cycle away.
I apply to every job in my county as they appear on the various jobs sites like jobseeker.fas.ie, jobs.ie, irishjobs etc it is like window shopping of jobs i am not qualified for.

@pgj2015


Living in a tent?? I'm pretty sure that isn't legal without the landowners permission. You also can't stick around too long in a public place because that is loitering.

@caramay


Online courses cost money most of the time take the comptia a+ course it costs €400. I get €15 a week then I have to pay a taxi to town to sign on which costs €35.

@sharp


Yeah that is true I need to be over 23. I also need to be over 26 to get full dole now. It is so annoying when i started they were saying I needed to be over 22 then it was 24 now 26. I don't know how i will ever put up with another 4 years of €15.



As I said there is no public buses in my area. Apart from school busses to the primary school and I am not allowed to use them.

OP, There is no reason stopping you getting a job or going back to college. Yes, it might be difficult but I think everyone in life faces hurdles that they need to get past.
From reading this thread, I get the impression that you are full of excuses. You mention that you have a disability stopping you cycle which is fair enough but then also say even if you didnt, nearest town is 40 mins cycle away

40 mins is nothing if it gets you a job, college than sitting at home making excuses

You need to be a lot more proactive

Senna

Seen you mentioned IT and A+, is this an area you have an interest in? If so there are loads of free courses available on sites like udemy, InformIT, etc.
People might think their a waste of time, but if they are on your CV it shows you have a desire to learn, plus if you are asked about being out of work, you can always reply with a list of courses you were doing, which is the only good reply to the "gap in employment" questions during an interview. Don't disregard any course just cause it's free.

ponzook

Senna wrote: »

Seen you mentioned IT and A+, is this an area you have an interest in? If so there are loads of free courses available on sites like udemy, InformIT, etc.
People might think their a waste of time, but if they are on your CV it shows you have a desire to learn, plus if you are asked about being out of work, you can always reply with a list of courses you were doing, which is the only good reply to the "gap in employment" questions during an interview. Don't disregard any course just cause it's free.

Start studying your Cisco exams and your Windows Server exams. These are proper exams and recognized exams, not like whats on Udemy and Inform It which companies don't care. Have you actually started studying for specific exams over the four years when you were out of college? Alll content and training videos can be downloaded for free. There is no excuse.

If its networking/Windows Server technologies your interested in. Study these exams and spec your C.V around what your learning in the exams. The exams are 150 each. As I mentioned before Springboard is the way to go for the college course. A lot of companies in Dublin are getting grants off the government to hire long term un-employed who have done an I.T course.

JK2015

Some of the advice here is not very practical IMO - a 40 min cycle for someone with dyspraxia, and planning to live in a tent while in college is extremely silly.
OP, from your first post I do get the impression that you are blaming others for your having to leave college and not taking responsibility for it yourself. Obviously, your sick of being in the situation you've described, and are desperate for it to change. At least you have that determination - there are people who would be perfectly content with that lifestyle you've described.
If you are interested in 3rd level education, you could get a credit union loan for until you can be assessed as an independent applicant for a grant. Get college prospectuses/career guidance/fill out career interest forms online to guide you into whatever area is best suited to you. Once in college, in whatever town/city that is, getting a part-time job will be much easier.
If getting a job and moving out is more what you'd like to do, its much easier to get a job when you hand in a cv in person and make a good impression, rather than emailing cvs.

Flippyfloppy

As an aside, if you have a high speed internet connection at home perhaps you could consider an apple work from home job to get you off your feet & raise money to leave. http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057207459/75

duckduck1991

athtrasna wrote: »

Start saving for a bike? You need to get out and find work as opposed to settling for the dole. What you are getting paid is job seekers allowance /benefit but you're clearly not seeking a job. You need to find ways to get a job, not excuses.

This is 2015 ..The days of cycling to work are long over mate..I wonder how long youd last getting up in the morning to cycle to work or cycle around looking for work..people with your attitudes really annoy me...I'm sure the Op is aware their ment to be seeking work to get the weekly payment but being from rural Ireland that's not always so easy..

Shrap

Flippyfloppy wrote: »

As an aside, if you have a high speed internet connection at home perhaps you could consider an apple work from home job to get you off your feet & raise money to leave. http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057207459/75

It's a nice suggestion Flippy, but I lolled a bit at the notion of any rural "village" (with only a church and one shop) having high speed internet, never mind a mile or so from the local exchange!

5.45Mbps download and 0.21Mbps upload is what I have here right now, which is quite good for us. It was fixed yesterday by a brave Eir engineer knee-deep in water

OldBean

duckduck1991 wrote: »

This is 2015 ..The days of cycling to work are long over mate..I wonder how long youd last getting up in the morning to cycle to work or cycle around looking for work..people with your attitudes really annoy me...I'm sure the Op is aware their ment to be seeking work to get the weekly payment but being from rural Ireland that's not always so easy..

If anything, there's more people cycling to work now than the last 30 years. Plus some fresh air and exercise can be great for feeling better and getting motivated.

OP, is your mum taking the 20 quid for rent and food? I know things are tough, but if the dole is only giving you 35, could she let you keep the 20 to put away for the time being?

I'm in agreement with the poster who said get out - try get into a course next year with cheap rent, hopefully a grant land a part time job. It'll be hard work, but still easier than looking back in a few years time regretting not doing it. If you can put some of that money away, at least you'll have something for your deposit, first month or two of rent and food and travel until you get a job.

I also think you need to do some research and look at getting some advice on what is and could be available from the guys at Citizens Information, depending on where you move, or what you do.

As I'm sure you know, staying at home will do you no favours. You'll end up getting further and further down about your situation and have even less motivation to work.

Weatherproof79

PLL wrote: »

How do you only get €35 if your mom only works an hour a day.

If you were means tested through your mom for the dole then you will be for the grant too. So you're looking at 336 a month plus fees paid, and if your mom gets a social welfare payment of some sort you're looking at double that.

No to give out, but you are making excuses. My circumstances are a lot more difficult than yours and I'm in college working my behind off - because I appreciate the value it will bring to my life in a few short years.

Was wondering how long it would be before a self righteous post came along. So you're worse off that OP? Please explain how you manage to pay for transport, food and accommodation for less than 15euro per week? I'm intrigued

duckduck1991

OldBean wrote: »

If anything, there's more people cycling to work now than the last 30 years. Plus some fresh air and exercise can be great for feeling better and getting motivated.

OP, is your mum taking the 20 quid for rent and food? I know things are tough, but if the dole is only giving you 35, could she let you keep the 20 to put away for the time being?

I'm in agreement with the poster who said get out - try get into a course next year with cheap rent, hopefully a grant land a part time job. It'll be hard work, but still easier than looking back in a few years time regretting not doing it. If you can put some of that money away, at least you'll have something for your deposit, first month or two of rent and food and travel until you get a job.

I also think you need to do some research and look at getting some advice on what is and could be available from the guys at Citizens Information, depending on where you move, or what you do.

As I'm sure you know, staying at home will do you no favours. You'll end up getting further and further down about your situation
In city's yes there are plenty cycling to work ill agree with you..But this is rural Ireland were talking about

intheclouds

Op Im trying to think of practical advice for you and the best I can come up with is as follows:

Ask your mum to stop taking the 20 euro a week off you for now. You can pay it back to her later - its only 1k a year, but its more necessary in your pocket than hers right now.

Use the 20 euro a week to get yourself to more populated areas and literally pound the pavements looking for work. You will find places that have signs up advertising help wanted (I can think of 2 places like that close by where I work in Dublin right now). When you land some work - rent a cheap room close by. Get a credit union loan to facilitate the initial move.

From that point you can plan the future - the immediate issue is to get you out of where you live and self sufficient. When you achieve that - then start looking at part time evening or online study. Be very careful if you go down the online route that you are using somewhere accredited.

You will need to be positive about this. Things like a 40 minute walk or bus to work are small beans in the bigger picture. Being largely broke for the first while is to be expected as well.

You can do it!

LegacyUser

OP, maybe the solution is right on your doorstep. You say you're living next to a few farms- would you consider approaching them for work as a farm hand or odd job man or home help?
They might also be willing to give you the odd lift into town

LegacyUser

There's a school nearby too
Is there any talent you could offer harassed parents for after school ?
Music , art, sport , IT, supervised study , babysitting?
Loads of opportunities to make a few bob

Flippyfloppy

Shrap wrote: »

It's a nice suggestion Flippy, but I lolled a bit at the notion of any rural "village" (with only a church and one shop) having high speed internet, never mind a mile or so from the local exchange!

5.45Mbps download and 0.21Mbps upload is what I have here right now, which is quite good for us. It was fixed yesterday by a brave Eir engineer knee-deep in water

Ah that's true shrap & such a pity in this day & age!

fiveworlds

OP, There is no reason stopping you getting a job or going back to college. Yes, it might be difficult but I think everyone in life faces hurdles that they need to get past.
From reading this thread, I get the impression that you are full of excuses. You mention that you have a disability stopping you cycle which is fair enough but then also say even if you didnt, nearest town is 40 mins cycle away

40 mins is nothing if it gets you a job, college than sitting at home making excuses

I don't have a problem getting a job I got three job offers this week alone. The problem is if I have to take a taxi to get there I make a loss.

One job I was offered paid minimum wage but the taxi costs 35 euro each way. So I would have to make at least 70 euro a day. Which means with tax I need to work 11 hours before I make money.

pgj2015

fiveworlds wrote: »

OP, There is no reason stopping you getting a job or going back to college. Yes, it might be difficult but I think everyone in life faces hurdles that they need to get past.
From reading this thread, I get the impression that you are full of excuses. You mention that you have a disability stopping you cycle which is fair enough but then also say even if you didnt, nearest town is 40 mins cycle away

40 mins is nothing if it gets you a job, college than sitting at home making excuses

I don't have a problem getting a job I got three job offers this week alone. The problem is if I have to take a taxi to get there I make a loss.

One job I was offered paid minimum wage but the taxi costs 35 euro each way. So I would have to make at least 70 euro a day. Which means with tax I need to work 11 hours before I make money.

could you not just move to where the jobs are?

Shrap

fiveworlds wrote: »

I don't have a problem getting a job I got three job offers this week alone. The problem is if I have to take a taxi to get there I make a loss.

One job I was offered paid minimum wage but the taxi costs 35 euro each way. So I would have to make at least 70 euro a day. Which means with tax I need to work 11 hours before I make money.

Is there anyone you can ask from your village, or the next one, or someone your Mum knows who is driving past the same places you got job offers for twice a day? I asked this before. You never answered.

You could easily bung them a few euro every day to swing past and pick you up. It's not unheard of, you know. Especially in rural areas like mine. My eldest (who I also mentioned before) got a lift from someone living in the next village in and out of college (with one small bus journey in Limerick) every day for a month till his grant came through and he could afford rent in town. He's 17. If he can do it, so can you.

Shrap

pgj2015 wrote: »

could you not just move to where the jobs are?

To be fair, he can't move out till he has saved up a deposit and rent, can he?

And about the cycling (to all those thinking a 40 min cycle on rural roads would be ok) - that would be suicidal, tbh. Nobody should cycle in the dark on these roads. Last time I came upon a (well lit up and reflectored) cyclist, I very nearly mowed him/her into the ditch as I was blinded by a car coming against me round one of the hundreds of corners. Absolutely not to be recommended to anyone. No street-lights, remember? And barely enough space for two cars to pass safely at night as it is. Cycling to work? No.

fiveworlds

You could easily bung them a few euro every day to swing past and pick you up. It's not unheard of, you know. Especially in rural areas like mine. My eldest (who I also mentioned before) got a lift from someone living in the next village in and out of college (with one small bus journey in Limerick) every day for a month till his grant came through and he could afford rent in town. He's 17. If he can do it, so can you.

Most employers are restaurants and they want me to cook but the working day starts really early and I don't know many people who'd be up that early going to town. They have no problem asking me to foot turf/pick potatoes or milk cows though and they all know I work hard and often have my name in for jobs that come up that's how two of my job offers came this week. I know someone mentioned me renting but if I really had the money to rent I'd go where the jobs are easy to get to I.e. the city.

Shrap

fiveworlds wrote: »

Most employers are restaurants and they want me to cook but the working day starts really early and I don't know many people who'd be up that early going to town. They have no problem asking me to foot turf/pick potatoes or milk cows though and they all know I work hard and often have my name in for jobs that come up that's how two of my job offers came this week.

Well that's good OP. As for the early starts, the neighbour who gave my son a lift left at 6 to start work at 7.30. My son had to hang around for 1 1/2 hrs before college. Lots of people do this. If your area is anything like mine, anyone except farmers have to travel at least an hour to work, sometimes more. Why don't you put up an ad in the post office or ask your mum does she know anyone going early? I'll bet between all the kids in the local school, at least one of them has a parent heading that direction that early.

A dumb priest never got a parish - know that one? (It's probably not true tbh, but you get my meaning!) ASK. Next time you come back with a reason this won't work out for you, it'll be because you don't want to try OP.

Bananaleaf

To be fair - re the 40 minute cycle - if I cycled for 40mins in the rain (we have a lot of rain in this country) I would be out sick for a week after it.

Yes, people have to make sacrifices when they are looking for work, but sometimes the posters on here are unrealistic and unnecessarily harsh in the "advice" they give when it comes to people out of work.

It is clear some of you have never found yourselves in similar situations.

OP - is there any skill or talent that you have that you might be able to advertise online for free, via facebook? Maths lessons, personalised wooden plaques, dog walking service?

strandroad

fiveworlds wrote: »

Most employers are restaurants and they want me to cook but the working day starts really early and I don't know many people who'd be up that early going to town. They have no problem asking me to foot turf/pick potatoes or milk cows though and they all know I work hard and often have my name in for jobs that come up that's how two of my job offers came this week. I know someone mentioned me renting but if I really had the money to rent I'd go where the jobs are easy to get to I.e. the city.

See this sounds like an excuse again. Rent in a small town is cheaper, if you're so trusted can you ask the employer for a small advance or your mother to lend you something for the first month or fortnight?
Alternatively can you do the same to buy a second hand motorbike or a moped?

You can think of the city when you start earning, otherwise you'll just waste even more years.

JK2015

Can you not get a credit union loan for deposit/first months rent so you can move now that you have a job offer?

intheclouds

Bananaleaf wrote: »

To be fair - re the 40 minute cycle - if I cycled for 40mins in the rain (we have a lot of rain in this country) I would be out sick for a week after it.

Yes, people have to make sacrifices when they are looking for work, but sometimes the posters on here are unrealistic and unnecessarily harsh in the "advice" they give when it comes to people out of work.

There is nothing unrealistic about a 40 minute cycle. I used to cycle an hour each way to work daily for years, in all weathers. I was even a smoker at the time so I wasn't even fit! It was a necessity before I had a car, there was no public transport to where I worked.

LegacyUser

Do you have any relatives or friends living closer to where the jobs are?
If so could they help you out and let you stay with them for maybe a month or 2 max until you found a job/saved a little bit of a deposit for your own place to rent? Out of your 35 you could still buy your own food and maybe give them a small amount per week or else contribute in other ways by helping them cook, clean or garden about the house until you found a place. You could get a small loan for the remainder amount of a deposit.

I can't understand why your mother is only leaving you with 15 euro per week to live off. If based of her earnings you are only eligible for 35 euro per week instead of the max 100 does this not mean her earnings are relatively comfortable even without your 20 euro input? I get that parents can charge rent and stuff to teach their children about paying their way but surely she sees that all this 20 euro per week charge is doing is making it impossible for you to ever save or ever leave her and move out. Does she definitely really want you to move out? You mentioned that your father is deceased and your other siblings have moved away, I've seen it happen before in a similar situation where the parent actively discouraged their child from moving out because they just didn't want to be left alone and controlling finances was an easy way to do that. Maybe you could talk to her about it and come to a new arrangement even if it means paying her back at a later time.


I think you should go back to college and get a part time job.

Was your last course a level 7 or a level 8. If it was a level 7 check if SUSI will pay you grant for a new level 8 course. I know that SUSI don't generally pay grant for repeat years after dropouts, but that loophole used to exist where if it was a different higher level course it was seen as a 'progression' or something and didn't really count as a repeat type year. (Double check that though it's a bit hazy in my mind)

You are 4 years on the dole. If BTEA doesn't work out, could you qualify next year as a "second chance student" - this is a student aged over 23 who has had a gap of 5 years between the time since they left their last college course and then you would again be eligible for a susi grant despite starting out from a first year of course again.

You would be eligible for Back to Education right now though. Are you sure you would only get 50 euro extra on Back to Education Allowance?
Citizens Information:
"If you are a new participant aged under 26 and you were getting a reduced age-related Jobseeker's Allowance payment, you will get a new personal maximum BTEA rate of €160 (any means you have will be deducted from this rate)."

I know several people living at home who all got the maximum rate some even with a parent working, just double check it and speak to somebody in the office. And even if it is 85 euro per week that you would get surely that's a heck of a lot better than living of 15 euro per week in the middle of nowhere. If you moved away to college with 85 per week you could get a cheap twin room to share, and no doubt any college would be closer to part time jobs which you could still have without it even affecting your 85 euro per week payment.

You are also eligible to complete a SPRINGBOARD online course for free. As far as I know these are run by several colleges around the country and you gain actual proper qualifications from completing them. Even if you didn't get paid for them would be better than sitting at home doing nothing and you would at the same time be making yourself more employable for the future.

Lots of good suggestions already given such as sharing a lift into town with neighbours to get to places you've already had job offers. Don't just assume it would be too early for people, you should go around and actually ask people.

Are you good at arts and craft by any chance? I'm always seeing pages on facebook of people selling little items they make themselves.

There's lots of things you can do to pull yourself out of this rut. It's by no means a hopeless situation, tricky for sure, but you just need to be more proactive.

magicmushroom

JK2015 wrote: »

Can you not get a credit union loan for deposit/first months rent so you can move now that you have a job offer?

A couple of people have suggested this but how is he meant to do that?
With the money he's getting each week he has no savings, the CU don't just hand out money - you have to have savings (and keep money going in consistently) to even be considered.

OP, if I were you I'd be sitting down and having a long chat with your Mum about how you're feeling. For her to be taking that money off you each week when you're in this situation comes across as very unfair.
Is she struggling financially herself?

Based on the fact that you're getting such a small amount based on her earnings would show that she should be earning a decent enough amount really, so maybe she could help you out.

Is there any chance she herself could give you a small loan?
A few hundred would enable you to rent a single room in an area that is closer to town and transport links.
Or if she can't do that, at least letting you keep the full €35 each week would help.
Make a plan for the money and then present it to her.

Do some research on how much it would cost to rent a room in the area you think would suit you. Calculate how many weeks it would take you save the deposit and first months rent. Set up a weekly payment into your CU to save it.

Maybe she doesn't want to give you the extra €20 per week now as she has an impression that you're lazy - I don't mean that badly, but she may not realise the struggle you're going through in your head. Maybe she thinks you're more than happy to sit at home all day.

Could you possibly offer to do something for her in return for keeping the money? Ie. do all the cleaning in the house - make sure you do something noticeable each day so that when she gets home the house is hoovered, the dishwasher emptied, any washing done and put away etc.

Also try to show her your willingness to work - put up some adverts in the local shop window offering services for grass cutting (maybe not the right time of year, I know) dog walking, babysitting etc.

One last suggestion I have for you is if you have access to the internet, sign up for some online market research. I am signed up with one called Red C Live surveys - they email you some questions every couple of days, you answer and they pay you between €1-€5 for each survey you complete.
(You need a laptop or tablet for it, it doesn't work on a mobile).
When you've build up €50, they send you a cheque. Simple.
That could be an extra €50 each month, and there are other websites like it too so if you put some time into finding a few, you could be getting a good few extra quid a month.

Edited to add - I just thought, here on Boards each county has it's own thread. Maybe you could put up a thread asking if anyone drives through or near your village into town (or wherever suits you) each day and would they be willing to give you a lift in exchange for a few € towards their petrol? You never know!

screamer

TBH it sounds like you've thrown in the towel before you even try. With a negative poor me outlook you're right you'll be stuck in that rut forever.
So yes online courses are one thing night courses are another would be perfect you borrow your mother's car when she doesn't need it or you go back to college full-time and drop your mother to work and pick her up coming home. Or get a job bridge placement that you can ask for a bit of flexibility in hours. I've seen people even with kids and all alone go back to education to better themselves. Where there's a will there's a way. Only you know if youre willing to do it.......

Drexel

Tbh all in hearing is excuses.

You could easily cycle for a few months

Your mom goes into the town every day for work. There is your lift right there.

Bananaleaf

intheclouds wrote: »

There is nothing unrealistic about a 40 minute cycle. I used to cycle an hour each way to work daily for years, in all weathers. I was even a smoker at the time so I wasn't even fit! It was a necessity before I had a car, there was no public transport to where I worked.

In my opinion it is completely unreasonable.

I am very fit - I go to circuit training and weight training classes 6 days a week. I pay to do classes indoors because if I went for a run outdoors in the rain I get sick. I don't know what the story is with that - but for me - would be out of the question. I take multivitamin too!

Drexel

Bananaleaf wrote: »

In my opinion it is completely unreasonable.

I am very fit - I go to circuit training and weight training classes 6 days a week. I pay to do classes indoors because if I went for a run outdoors in the rain I get sick. I don't know what the story is with that - but for me - would be out of the question. I take multivitamin too!

Rain gear?