Garda Sergeant can't afford food

wmpdd3 · 17-10-2012 12:38pm

I worked the whole way through college and had digs as it was the cheapest way to stay in the city my course was in.

The day the person in MABS looks at your financal statement in shock, is the day you realise you are you dont have money for food.

17-10-2012 12:40pm

Melion wrote: »

65k a year and can't survive, kindly **** off.

best comment ever 65 grand :rolleyes: and cannot live

FutureGuy · 17-10-2012 12:45pm

They are talking about it on 2FM. No pity for anyone who bought at the height of the boom. All the warning signs were there.

Undercover Elephant · 17-10-2012 12:46pm

Einhard wrote: »

Yeah, but in the article she claims their income after bills and the mortgage is €109. That's not too bad for what's essentially discretionary income. As someone else pointed out, you'd fill a Lidl trolley to overflowing with that a week. Sure, they might have to make some adjustments and cut back somewhat, but to be playing the poverty card is a bit much. A lot of people in this country only dream of having that much to spend on themselves each week.

I don't want to nitpick about what spending is discretionary, because your basic point that many people are worse off is well made.

The point I was making originally is that this is a middle class family earning a good wage, and even if every point made in this thread about budgeting is correct, they are still hugely exposed. These are the people the government relies on to fund its operations. It's a problem we can't throw money at.

This is the next phase of the crisis.

Heroditas · 17-10-2012 12:46pm

Of course, it's extremely likely that the letter is a complete fabrication, including the bit about MABS.
You can guarantee it'll be a subject for Joe Duffy this afternoon though. :rolleyes:

Einhard · 17-10-2012 12:47pm

summerskin wrote: »

To feed a family of four healthily? You are kidding right? Costs us a minimum of €150 to ensure the kids aren't living off fish finger, chips, burgers and other processed crap. Food should be the one expense you never cut back on when it comes to your family, or even yourself.

I manage to feed myself quite healthily on less than €25 pw. I really don't think that €109 on food between four people is evidence of someone on the poverty line.

Sickens me when i read all the students, or anyone for that matter, on here
talking about living off noodles and cheap crap so they can afford enough beer,
designer clothes, smartphones etc to keep them going.

Maybe some people prefer having smartphones and beer to quality food. Why should that sicken you?

Hal Decks wrote: »

There is a remarkable display of ignorance in a lot of the replies to this thread. When that family took out their mortgage they had a reasonable expectation that the family income would sustain it. Never in the history of the State had Civil/Public servants' salaries decreased.
This family is in trouble until such time as they can sell their home and get a cheaper one. I can only hope that some of the righteous critics here will suffer the same way. It's likely to be the only way they will show some compassion.

Look, if their troubles are genuine, then I feel for this family, as I'd feel for anyone going through a tough patch. However, it's not unreasonable to question the story being put forward by this woman. Whatever about her mortgage, the fact remains that after all taxes and bills are paid, they have €109 pw to spend on themselves. I don't think child benefit was included in the income tally, so it's likely they have more than that figure. Now, that's obviously not enough for a family to live in luxury, but it's crtainly not living on the breadline as the article seeks to suggest.

The important thing about all this, is that this woman isn't making their "plight" known simply because she feels the need to share her experiences. She's doing it because she wants to pressurise politicians into not increasing taxes or cutting income or whatever moves might impact on her situation. Now that's fair enough, but the savings have to be made somewhere. She knows that, so what her story amounts to is a demand that someone else shoulder the burden, not her. That you and I or someone else are targeted, but not her. In that light, I don't think it's unreasonable that the wider society, which she expects to insulate her from cuts, shoud question her narrative, and seek to the bottom of her story.

I don't mind paying a little extra so that people in dire straits are protected- I would resent however, having to pay extra so that someone who has at least €109 pw discretionary income is protected. I don't think I'm alone in that, and I really don't think it's an unreasonable position to take.

Podgers · 17-10-2012 12:52pm

If they are finding it hard to make repayments with a salary of 65K a year and paying €1500 a month they are as well to be handing back to keys to the bank! whats the point in working? wouldn't they have a lot better lifestyle to let it go and rent some were?

It shows how many people got badly stung during the "good times" everyone could afford the mortgages big cars etc a few years ago but no one foreseen the rainy day. i know people that got paperwork "adjusted" for a successful mortgage application and are up the creek now.

My father once said its not whats coming in that hurts its whats going out, a person on 20K a year can be more better of than someone on €70K a year, it all depends what they are spending it on.

martinn123 · 17-10-2012 12:54pm

One, of many strange facts as outlined in the Irish Times piece.

The Mortgage is over the next 25 yrs, and her husband is over 50.

So 7 yrs ago at age 43/44 they took out a 30+ yr Mortgage to take him to age 75.

Sounds like one of the more risky lenders.

gardai, can retire from age 60 I think on a full pension so how did they think the Mortgage would be paid up to 75.???

maybe a bit of Consultancy work in the Security Industry, better get a part time job there....now..

MagicSean · 17-10-2012 12:57pm

gurramok wrote: »

Its after "mortgage and utilities" so not on the pay slip. Thing is they do not tell us what utilities and how many kids there are(if >0, that means child benefit).

Plus there is an assumption that the wife lives off the husband as she has zero income?! What is the wife's employment status?

Actually the credit union has a scheme whereby the money is deducted from your pay and put into a household budget account from which bills come out of. So your net pay per week would be minus this deduction.

Bannasidhe · 17-10-2012 1:02pm

martinn123 wrote: »

One, of many strange facts as outlined in the Irish Times piece.

So 7 yrs ago at age 43/44 they took out a 30+ yr Mortgage to take him to age 75.

Sounds like one of the more risky lenders.

gardai, can retire from age 60 I think on a full pension so how did they think the Mortgage would be paid up to 75.???

maybe a bit of Consultancy work in the Security Industry, better get a part time job there....now..

I thought that was strange too. Usually lenders won't allow a mortgage to run past statutory retirement age. At least that's what I was told when I got my mortgage from AIB 7 years ago - it had to be a max of 20 years as I was 40 at the time.

JonathanAnon · 17-10-2012 1:03pm

These people really should have kept their mouths shut instead of embarrassing themselves...

Job for life, wouldnt be fired even if the walked in to the Superintendent's office and pissed in his coffee... Nice pension to follow.

Emeraldy Pebbles · 17-10-2012 1:03pm

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

I have never known a Garda who did not do something on the side

Well, then he should lose one kept woman from his life! :pac:

Emeraldy Pebbles · 17-10-2012 1:12pm

K-9 wrote: »

I'm getting 43k here, mortgage of 17k still leaves 26k or 500 a week. I suppose if they've high travel and bills €100 a week to live on is very possible.

Would a sergeant not get reimbursed for fuel costs?

MagicSean · 17-10-2012 1:14pm

Emeraldy Pebbles wrote: »

Would a sergeant not get reimbursed for fuel costs?

Why?

padd b1975 · 17-10-2012 1:14pm

MagicSean wrote: »

Actually the credit union has a scheme whereby the money is deducted from your pay and put into a household budget account from which bills come out of. So your net pay per week would be minus this deduction.

As it would be if you had to pay them via the normal routes, bank, post office etc.

MagicSean · 17-10-2012 1:19pm

padd b1975 wrote: »

As it would be if you had to pay them via the normal routes, bank, post office etc.

No your pay check would show your pay before this amount and then it would go into the bank and would be removed from there. The credit union scheme deducts it directly from your payslip so your net pay that goes into the bank would be minus this amount. Same financial position but it might explain the figure of €109 per week.

Rabidlamb · 17-10-2012 1:20pm

Our income & outgoings would be close enough to this family.
Similar, except for one big thing, our mortgage would be half theirs as we didn't overextend during the boom.

Not to sound P Flynn like but those of you who are incredulous as to how a family could not survive off €65k should spend a month in their shoes.
Huge mortgage, second family car, petrol, childcare, big weekly shop & utilities will leave you with very little change.
I can only presume that most of you who scoff were still living with mammy during the boom in which case you're out of your depth here.

Robbo · 17-10-2012 1:20pm

Aside from the inconsistencies in the story (and a large part of it is plausible if we assume peak boom property prices and various Tiger acoutrements), we must remember that this is the time of the year that various special pleadings are made as pre-Budget submissions. It's just this one happened to be on behalf of the Association of Garda Sergeants, whether they authorised it or not.

Emeraldy Pebbles · 17-10-2012 1:24pm

MagicSean wrote: »

Why?

I would have thought an official Garda car would be fueled by AGS.

summerskin · 17-10-2012 1:25pm

Emeraldy Pebbles wrote: »

I would have thought a Garda card would be fueled by AGS.

They don't get to take the car home....

fits · 17-10-2012 1:26pm

Rabidlamb wrote: »

Our income & outgoings would be close enough to this family.
Similar, except for one big thing, our mortgage would be half theirs as we didn't overextend during the boom.

Not to sound P Flynn like but those of you who are incredulous as to how a family could not survive off €65k should spend a month in their shoes.
Huge mortgage, second family car, petrol, childcare, big weekly shop & utilities will leave you with very little change.
I can only presume that most of you who scoff were still living with mammy during the boom in which case you're out of your depth here.

Everyone is busy dragging everyone else down and pointing the fingers at their neighbours while the people who caused this situation get off Scot free. The cheek of her wanting a dishwasher to work.. Honestly

Where To · 17-10-2012 1:29pm

Rabidlamb wrote: »

Our income & outgoings would be close enough to this family.
Similar, except for one big thing, our mortgage would be half theirs as we didn't overend during the boom.

Not to sound P Flynn like but those of you who are incredulous as to how a family could not survive off €65k should spend a month in their shoes.
Huge mortgage, second family car, petrol, childcare, big weekly shop & utilities will leave you with very little change.
I can only presume that most of you who scoff were still living with mammy during the boom in which case you're out of your depth here.

The people who stupidly mismanage themselves into debt when earning a decent wage are the ones 'out of their depth'

Undercover Elephant · 17-10-2012 1:34pm

Podgers wrote: »

It shows how many people got badly stung during the "good times" everyone could afford the mortgages big cars etc a few years ago but no one foreseen the rainy day. i know people that got paperwork "adjusted" for a successful mortgage application and are up the creek now.

Some of us did foresee it. Some of us were repeatedly told that we were idiots - complete idiots! - not to buy even one property. Some of us said that a crash was coming and half a million for a very ordinary house was insane. Some of us pointed out that government expenditure was ballooning for no very good reason, and that day to day costs were being funded out of stamp duty. Some of us pointed out that rental yields had fallen to their lowest since William of Orange was in short pants. Some of us were told that everything had changed and that our idiocy was a family embarrassment.

Some of us are still waiting for an apology.

jackal · 17-10-2012 1:35pm

Rabidlamb wrote: »

I can only presume that most of you who scoff were still living with mammy during the boom in which case you're out of your depth here.

Maybe you should have lived with mammy for a few more years instead of spending a lotto size figure on a house you are struggling to afford. Sounds like you are the one who is out of your depth.

There is also a concept of renting, which is a new and exciting alternative to living with mammy, but people who bought overpriced houses seem oblivious to that option. You either bought your overpriced shoebox or lived with mammy.

The jumbo mortgage in this story is a side issue, and would be comparable to renting costs for a family anyway. The problem is they are spending €1100 per week, of which €340 comprises their mortgage. Where is the other €750 per week going? Does the dishwasher break every second day?

Duggys Housemate · 17-10-2012 1:35pm

fishy fishy wrote: »

i despair of a family cannot live on 65K per year (not counting her income). And yet, and yet, we have people complaining that people cannot live on the dole. :roll eyes:

They are obviously living way beyond their means- they bit off more than they could chew and now they are paying for it. Even with a 1,400 mortgage per month they should be able to survive especially if there are two incomes coming in. It could be that they can't survive HOW THEY WOULD WISH. But then again, nobody is surviving how they would WISH. We all have to muddle through, even people on 10 K per year.

But a policeman should be paid considerably more than someone on the dole, after all transfers and taxes, because he is doing worthwhile stuff.

We, not just Ireland but the West, now have a situation where after transfers ( i.e. tax from workers and dole to non-workers) we have communism for the bottom 60%, or so. Maybe even higher. A gini index of zero. And then the wealthy, and the super wealthy. Some paying nothing. Worst of both worlds.

There was a time when middle class did mean not worrying about the finances, not about food; having a good car, affording decent travel, or sending kids to university.
After the celtic tiger we are all working class now.

( well not me as I rent and am single but I honestly think 40K is the poverty line for people with kids).

Nwm2 · 17-10-2012 1:36pm

fits wrote: »

Everyone is busy dragging everyone else down and pointing the fingers at their neighbours while the people who caused this situation get off Scot free. The cheek of her wanting a dishwasher to work.. Honestly

No, it's the cheek of her getting her retired parents to pay for it instead of doing the washing up with a brush.

Which is what we did as a family when we were growing up.

Also, the 'people who caused this situation' were surely herself and her husband who saddled themselves with a mortgage it looks like they can barely afford (ignoring the other questions about where the rest of the money might be going to).

I have 3 kids (one in college), also bought my house in 2007, and am the only earner in the household. Granted I earn somewhat more than him, but the real problem is that they screwed up and put themselves in this position, plain and simple.

geeky · 17-10-2012 1:38pm

Undercover Elephant wrote: »

Some of us did foresee it. Some of us were repeatedly told that we were idiots - complete idiots! - not to buy even one property. Some of us said that a crash was coming and half a million for a very ordinary house was insane. Some of us pointed out that government expenditure was ballooning for no very good reason, and that day to day costs were being funded out of stamp duty. Some of us pointed out that rental yields had fallen to their lowest since William of Orange was in short pants. Some of us were told that everything had changed and that our idiocy was a family embarrassment.

Some of us are still waiting for an apology.

You'll have to settle for schadenfreude.

Ken McCarthy · 17-10-2012 1:38pm

I don't normally reply around here being a long time lurker but here goes....

It is this sort of thing that actually give MABS a bad name, rather than getting the family to reign in their spending they seem to encourage it by saying that the weekly budget has a €300 deficit.

I am making the assumption that this is a couple with one wage earner and three children. If the eldest was just offered a place in college then surely the younger two are still in school and the family receive child benefit for them. That is €280 per month or €64.61 per week, that would buy a lot of food in Aldi or Lidl.

The monthly mortgage payment while high is not the real problem here as one other poster pointed out they should have over €500 (excluding child benefit) even after that is paid. Utilities on a semi-detached four bed including TV and broadband could hardly run more than €100 a week. Where is the rest going?

I despair when I read stories like this and it reinforces the idea to me that budgeting should be a school subject.

While I don't doubt that the families story is real, they need to look to themselves to find the solution and not expect that MABS, SVP or the Government is going to solve it for them.

Bannasidhe · 17-10-2012 1:39pm

Rabidlamb wrote: »

Our income & outgoings would be close enough to this family.
Similar, except for one big thing, our mortgage would be half theirs as we didn't overextend during the boom.

Not to sound P Flynn like but those of you who are incredulous as to how a family could not survive off €65k should spend a month in their shoes.
Huge mortgage, second family car, petrol, childcare, big weekly shop & utilities will leave you with very little change.
I can only presume that most of you who scoff were still living with mammy during the boom in which case you're out of your depth here.

Bit harsh.

I certainly was long gone from Mammy and Daddy when I was out of work - my income fell from over 65K p.a. to basic dole - no mortgage supplement, just 188 euro a week in total yet I still managed to pay my mortgage from my savings and all my bills and put food on the table. I may have been put to the pin of my collar but I have zero mortgage arrears (and yes, I bought during the boom) - it's called budgeting.

My sister is seriously struggling - her husband is a Sergeant in the Army - now she didn't buy a large house, she remortgaged to remodel her house then lost her job and is in severe arrears. However they still have multi room sky HD with sports and movies, full health insurance, he's driving a gas guzzler and sulking because he want a new car, and they are paying for her 30 year old son's wedding and honeymoon. That's insane imho.

Duggys Housemate · 17-10-2012 1:41pm

Bannasidhe wrote: »

I thought that was strange too. Usually lenders won't allow a mortgage to run past statutory retirement age. At least that's what I was told when I got my mortgage from AIB 7 years ago - it had to be a max of 20 years as I was 40 at the time.

it sounds like it should have been 25 years in your case. The statutory retirement is now 67 for people born past 1959. however banks will loan a long term second mortgage to people with "equity", obviously this is how you get all those aging BTL landlords. They assume that you pay back quicker, if you can. In 2007 he probably had equity.

And lastly, with public sector pensions the drop in salary is not that big after retirement. They prob. took that into account. In non-inflation adjusted terms he will be earning what he is earning now when retired, but the repayments will not increase, bar interest rate increases.

I've seen 60 year olds get mortgages, or re-mortgages, which is the same thing. Normally for 15 years.

Undercover Elephant · 17-10-2012 1:41pm

geeky wrote: »

You'll have to settle for schadenfreude.

I did for a while.

Eventually I realised that it ain't good when a big chunk of the middle class is paying 40%+ of its income to insolvent banks so that they can continue to live in a house which they can't afford to move out of. Even if it's their own stupid fault.

MagicSean · 17-10-2012 1:42pm

Bannasidhe wrote: »

Bit harsh.

I certainly was long gone from Mammy and Daddy when I was out of work - my income fell from over 65K p.a. to basic dole - no mortgage supplement, just 188 euro a week in total yet I still managed to pay my mortgage from my savings and all my bills and put food on the table. I may have been put to the pin of my collar but I have zero mortgage arrears (and yes, I bought during the boom) - it's called budgeting.

My sister is seriously struggling - her husband is a Sergeant in the Army - now she didn't buy a large house, she remortgaged to remodel her house then lost her job and is in severe arrears. However they still have multi room sky HD with sports and movies, full health insurance, he's driving a gas guzzler and sulking because he want a new car, and they are paying for her 30 year old son's wedding and honeymoon. That's insane imho.

Actually it's not called budgeting. You obviously weren't able to balance the budget weekly if you were dipping into your savings.

Itsdacraic · 17-10-2012 1:44pm

MagicSean wrote: »

Actually it's not called budgeting. You obviously weren't able to balance the budget weekly if you were dipping into your savings.

:rolleyes:

FFS

endofrainbow · 17-10-2012 1:44pm

Cornflakes? with or without milk?

keelanj69 · 17-10-2012 1:45pm

MagicSean wrote: »

Actually it's not called budgeting. You obviously weren't able to balance the budget weekly if you were dipping into your savings.

Oi. Isnt that what savings are for? A rainy day? Or do you like to save and save and save and then die? You save..and then you use those savings. Budgeting!

barbiegirl · 17-10-2012 1:46pm

On that wage he is taking in roughly 3600 per month, so pays mortgage €1400, shopping €200 per week (€800 per month), so that still leaves €1400 for other bills.
So there is definitely something wrong here. Are the kids in private school? Is there a big car or personal loan? Credit cards? This is their budgeting issue, they need to get better at it.
Not saying it's easy, it's not but you cut your cloth to suit your size.

17-10-2012 1:48pm

Sounds like that sh!te about yer man feeding his kids cardboard - except he actually published his name and address :rolleyes:

fits · 17-10-2012 1:49pm

Nwm2 wrote: »

No, it's the cheek of her getting her retired parents to pay for it instead of doing the washing up with a brush.

Which is what we did as a family when we were growing up.

Also, the 'people who caused this situation' were surely herself and her husband who saddled themselves with a mortgage it looks like they can barely afford (ignoring the other questions about where the rest of the money might be going to).

I have 3 kids (one in college), also bought my house in 2007, and am the only earner in the household. Granted I earn somewhat more than him, but the real problem is that they screwed up and put themselves in this position, plain and simple.

I am sure they were able to afford that mortgage when they took it out. I started in public sector in 2008 and worked in it for four years. Despite increments, my take home pay was lower in 2012 than in 2008. people are being continuosly squeezed and standard of living is dropping sharply and all anyone can do is snipe at each other.

For what its worth I am sure they could make some changes but am surprised at the complete lack of empathy in this thread. And I have no kids or mortgage. Many of my friends bought houses at the peak and I feel awful for them.

Smidge · 17-10-2012 1:51pm

MagicSean wrote: »

The 65k includes all allowances and I presume overtime too. After the pension levy that leaves 60k. After taxes that leaves about 36k, which is about 3000 per month. Less the mortgage that's 1600k per month. Electricity and gas for a family of four about 250 a month. That's 1150 he now takes in per month or just under 300 per week. Another factor to consider is that newly promoted sergeants are often sent to stations far away so travel costs would be high. He's probably looking at fuel costs of up to 80 a week. Which leaves 200 a week for all the other household bills and costs. Take away the cost of medical aid which is a necessity in his line of work and he is bringing in less money per week than he would be on the dole.

It's not really hard to see where the money goes to be honest.

You must surely know that if MABS did the accounts, within the 65k these other bills would come out before they were left with 200 per week(or else there is a serious hole in this story as if not where, after the mortgage comes out, is the rest of the 65k being spent if not on the bills, ie gas, electric, phone etc that MABS takes into account?

)

Very disingenuous article by the IT imo and a real slap in the face for people in this country who have lost their jobs and are genuinely struggling on SW.

fishy fishy · 17-10-2012 1:52pm

summerskin wrote: »

To feed a family of four healthily? You are kidding right? Costs us a minimum of €150 to ensure the kids aren't living off fish finger, chips, burgers and other processed crap. Food should be the one expense you never cut back on when it comes to your family, or even yourself.

Sickens me when i read all the students, or anyone for that matter, on here talking about living off noodles and cheap crap so they can afford enough beer, designer clothes, smartphones etc to keep them going.

try lidl - you can get baskets of fruit and veg and healthy foods for next to nothng.

Bannasidhe · 17-10-2012 1:53pm

MagicSean wrote: »

Actually it's not called budgeting. You obviously weren't able to balance the budget weekly if you were dipping into your savings.

Yes- it is budgeting.

When ones total income is 188 euro a week the only way to survive is to reduce all expenditure to ensure the necessities are covered. Which I did. You may disagree, but to me that is called being a responsible adult.

It's quite simple- my income fell drastically so I had to make drastic cuts in my expenditure. However, I still had commitments to meet such as my mortgage - and no, all unemployed people do not get help with their mortgages.

You would have preferred I didn't pay my mortgage perhaps?
Or kicked the can down the road by going interest only?
Or sold my house in a depressed market, possibly for less than it cost me than rented and claimed rent allowance?

fishy fishy · 17-10-2012 1:53pm

fits wrote: »

Everyone is busy dragging everyone else down and pointing the fingers at their neighbours while the people who caused this situation get off Scot free. The cheek of her wanting a dishwasher to work.. Honestly

i don't think childcare is an issue, seeing as they say they couldn't get him into a prestigious college - but then again, maybe students need babysitters:D

Emeraldy Pebbles · 17-10-2012 2:00pm

Duggys Housemate wrote: »

But a policeman should be paid considerably more than someone on the dole, after all transfers and taxes, because he is doing worthwhile stuff.

And he is.

Tazzer · 17-10-2012 2:01pm

Ken McCarthy wrote: »

I despair when I read stories like this and it reinforces the idea to me that budgeting should be a school subject.

.

THIS^^^
I've been saying for years that we need a school module not just for budgeting, but for "cop-on" for the real world. eg, banking/budgeting/borrowing/taxes etc..

The amount of people I know that have not got a clue how to pay, or even how much their bills are is unbelievable..(usually because their other half does it all, and before that their parents).

bamboozle · 17-10-2012 2:04pm

Undercover Elephant wrote: »

Some of us did foresee it. Some of us were repeatedly told that we were idiots - complete idiots! - not to buy even one property. Some of us said that a crash was coming and half a million for a very ordinary house was insane. Some of us pointed out that government expenditure was ballooning for no very good reason, and that day to day costs were being funded out of stamp duty. Some of us pointed out that rental yields had fallen to their lowest since William of Orange was in short pants. Some of us were told that everything had changed and that our idiocy was a family embarrassment.

Some of us are still waiting for an apology.

good for you up in your ivory tower

Unfortunately lots of others were unlucky enough to have bought during the boom years or to have remortgaged to build extensions etc, most of these people had sufficient income at that time to afford their mortgage so they didnt think twice about it. Fast forward to 2012 and many of the above people are either struggling to pay mortgages, have suffered job losses and have cut their cloths accordingly - be it through selling, moving out and renting, cutting out unnecessary expenditure, shopping more prudently, selling off a car, ceasing gym/golf membership etc etc...most of these people realised the predicament they faced and dealt with it and are managing to get by.

The likes of the family in this article are not managing to get by and are whining to the press, but their circumstances (which do not add up in the article) are ridiculous - at 44 years of age a garda earning 52k enters into a 30 year mortgage of about 600k (based on 36k stamp duty they said they paid) what on earth were they thinking entering into a mortgage for 12 times the family income? Plus at 44 you'd imagine/hope a grown man would have either previously bought and/or had savings.

I've no sympathy for any family earning 75k a year to be looking for the pensioner grand parents to cough up to fix the dishwasher. that is obscene and grandparent abuse.

It certainly makes me wonder what service MABS are providing cause the fact they're still using a dishwasher if they're in such dire straits is pure stupid.

jam_mac_jam · 17-10-2012 2:06pm

This is a joke. Oh boo hoo, we bought a huge house during the boom and now we can't feed the kids. Really? He is over 50 and has a 25 year mortgage? There is something else going on there, doesnt make sense. These are lies and a little sinister as well. I think it will backfire as most people will find it hard to have sympathy for somebody on 65K who is so stupid that they can't feed their family.

MagicSean · 17-10-2012 2:10pm

Bannasidhe wrote: »

Yes- it is budgeting.

When ones total income is 188 euro a week the only way to survive is to reduce all expenditure to ensure the necessities are covered. Which I did. You may disagree, but to me that is called being a responsible adult.

It's quite simple- my income fell drastically so I had to make drastic cuts in my expenditure. However, I still had commitments to meet such as my mortgage - and no, all unemployed people do not get help with their mortgages.

You would have preferred I didn't pay my mortgage perhaps?
Or kicked the can down the road by going interest only?
Or sold my house in a depressed market, possibly for less than it cost me than rented and claimed rent allowance?

Not at all. You were sensible to put money away. But there's no point coming on here and bragging about your ability to budget while on the dole when in actual fact you were wiping out your savings.

DoesNotCompute · 17-10-2012 2:13pm

AH response: He's spending €10,000 a year in Coppers :pac:

Real answer: Maybe his wife has a medical condition that precludes her from working, and they're not getting any assistance from the state (carer's allowance, medical card, etc)? Maybe that's what they're spending most of their cashflow on?

Chucky the tree · 17-10-2012 2:16pm

DoesNotCompute wrote: »

AH response: He's spending €10,000 a year in Coppers :pac:

Real answer: Maybe his wife has a medical condition that precludes her from working, and they're not getting any assistance from the state (carer's allowance, medical card, etc)? Maybe that's what they're spending most of their cashflow on?

You can guarantee she would have mentioned that in the letter if that was the case.

Rabidlamb · 17-10-2012 2:17pm

jackal wrote: »

Maybe you should have lived with mammy for a few more years instead of spending a lotto size figure on a house you are struggling to afford. Sounds like you are the one who is out of your depth.

My OP noted the big difference that my mortgage is half what they are paying.
I spent less than €200k on a 4 bed in 2005 & got small tracker.
Neither struggling or out of my depth I'm afraid.

jackal wrote: »

There is also a concept of renting, which is a new and exciting alternative to living with mammy, but people who bought overpriced houses seem oblivious to that option. You either bought your overpriced shoebox or lived with mammy.

My mortgage costs less than rent & in 18 years I'll own the house, which will be nice.

jackal wrote: »

The jumbo mortgage in this story is a side issue, and would be comparable to renting costs for a family anyway. The problem is they are spending €1100 per week, of which €340 comprises their mortgage. Where is the other €750 per week going? Does the dishwasher break every second day?

Health Insurance premiums
Petrol for 2 cars
Car loan repayments
2x Car Insurance premiums
2x Car tax
2x Car upkeep costs
Electricity
Gas/Oil
Weekly shop
TV Licence
Sky/UPC Sub
Broadband
Mobile contract & prepay top up
Childcare
Doctor visits
Children's school expenses
House upkeep & decoration costs
Gardening costs
Residents Committee/management fees
Holiday savings
Prescription medicines up to €130 per month

As I've said, try walking in their shoes for a week & see how you get on.
Of course they represent the high earning coping class which the government will gouge in the next budget for their huge disposable income.

Garda Sergeant can't afford food

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