Life on the dole

Life on the dole

I think I see both angles. I see how my Dad hates it and would give anything to go back to work.

On the other hand, my housemate was on the scratcher for six months. He smoked dope all day, wen out 4/5 nights a week and just had mad craic.

In conclusion, life varies.

...the Roman Senators used to have paid retainers called clients who were paid to do nothing but be available to cheer their Senator in public, spread rumours, run messages on a casual basis and be in other ways supportive of their senator. The emperor used to hand out bread and free tickets to the games to keep the mob happy and stay in power......


.....nothing has changed.

I think dole should be structured as a basic income for all with people being able to pick up and do casual work when available. Taxes should be on spending and simplify the income tax code to make it workable. The idea of losing your payment for 9 weeks puts people off taking casual work. The present system is too complicated and inflexible for most people.

Some schemes are heading that way but the idea of getting money for doing nothing and then losing it when you are not sure of being paid ( dodgy companies, waiting to the end of month for salary while getting no money etc. puts a lot of people off taking up work unless it is a big established company and a guaranteed 40 hr week......

padd b1975 wrote: »

Saved your dole?
No offence but thats the best argument I have heard to prove that the level of dole payment is too high.

He was probably living with his mammy and he had no expenses. Mammy bought him food, paid the bills.
It happens at home with my brothers and mother. All the money they get, they piss it away. Or save to buy a car and go on holidays to australia. But in my house, if you have a pair of tits and a fanny, you have to cough up money. There isn't a hope of saving if you're a girl.

Anyway im not at home. Im a student on the back to education allowance which is the same as the dole and i can tell you its not to high. Im just about surviving on it and thats without drink and buying clothes. €60 a week on rent, €30 a week on bills, €30-€40 on food, €30 on bus fares.

HardLuckWoman wrote: »

He was probably living with his mammy and he had no expenses. Mammy bought him food, paid the bills.
It happens at home with my brothers and mother. All the money they get, they piss it away. Or save to buy a car and go on holidays to australia. But in my house, if you have a pair of tits and a fanny, you have to cough up money. There isn't a hope of saving if you're a girl.

Anyway im not at home. Im a student on the back to education allowance which is the same as the dole and i can tell you its not to high. Im just about surviving on it and thats without drink and buying clothes. €60 a week on rent, €30 a week on bills, €30-€40 on food, €30 on bus fares.

Yeah see

This is why "your ma" is so prominent a comment on After hours, Irish men mother lovers to the end and this is why.

I do hope and expect that you will treat your sons the same way.

Irish MAs they're great.

bryaner wrote: »

Pure sh!t, no money, selling anything thats not nailed down to get some pressies for the lads for Christmas, old clothes and no new ones on the horizon, mortgage arrears (awaits no one forced you to get a mortgage brigade) canceled sky, went off the smokes (good thing I know).

Afraid to answer the door, feeling of self loathing, not opening envelopes any more etc etc..

Bryaner, sorry if I am stating the obvious, but have you gone to your bank? I have to start paying my mortgage again in March and there is no way I can do that while doing an internship and getting €238/week. I could pay it if I spent €20 a month on food/bills etc etc so not possible. I am going to negotiate a reduced rate with them.

I know it is hard to look beyond the bleakness of your situation, but this isn't forever.

I really hope you have a lovely Christmas. You have your family and that's more important than the latest toys or clothes. You are doing your best, be proud of that.

bryaner wrote: »

Thanks sunflower, yea we were with the bank again last month looking for interest only for another 6 months still waiting to hear back from them, I'm doing an Open University course at the moment in the hope it opens up new avenues for me (pending I pass it).

Thanks for your kind comments and I wish you and your family a happy Christmas and lets hope 2012 works out for all looking for work..:)

Well done on the course. I am the same with my internship. The career I worked in for 15 years has gone down the pan and jobs are as scarce as hen's teeth, hence the new marketing internship.

I am loving it!

I am glad you are keeping the banks in the know. I don't understand people that just turn a blind eye. It isn't going to just go away. You have to make an effort and that is all you can do. You can't magic money out of thin air!

Keep the chin up, you aren't alone

bigneacy wrote: »

None if your business what he does with his dole payment. Would you prefer he lived hand to mouth weekly and stayed on the live register?

If someone chooses to spend €18 a week on beans and bread and save the other €170 it's absolutely no concern of yours.

He saved what he could and got himself back on his feet. Fair play to him, he made sure he is no longer a burden to the state. Your attitude stinks.

No way. My mates been on the dole fo 2 years plus. He goes out all the time, buys drink, fags etc. There have been PLENTY of ops for him to apply for jobs in the last 2 years and he hasn't bothered. Why ? Because why get a job in a shop or cleaning or something he doesnt want to do when he can get the dole for doing nothing. He's happy as Larry.

And it is our business because its tax payers money.

bryaner wrote: »

Fair play to you on the internship and great to see your enjoying it, I was in a similar situation with my job with 20 years service and kaboom up she went hence why I'm trying to diversify.

You would have no problem getting a job as a life coach sunflower..;)

Never thought of that one

It's tough when you have to start all over again - my field was print media. Likelihood of getting a job in that is pretty much non-existant now.

I am actually enjoying more what I do now, and to think a year ago I'd never have even considered this.

You just have to keep going and push through the feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness because things do turn around. It won't happen overnight, but it will happen

doolox wrote: »

...the Roman Senators used to have paid retainers called clients who were paid to do nothing but be available to cheer their Senator in public, spread rumours, run messages on a casual basis and be in other ways supportive of their senator. The emperor used to hand out bread and free tickets to the games to keep the mob happy and stay in power......


.....nothing has changed.

On the same day we got the "it's not your fault" speech, Enda Kinny even felt it necessary to give one of these "valued advisers" 30K more than the pay cap !