How do you do it?

FizzleSticks · 29-04-2016 03:01AM

This post has been deleted.

MyPeopleDrankTheSoup · 29-04-2016 03:15AM

i'm the opposite, don't know how i spend so little apart from big blowout drink sessions of course. i didn't have one of them in all of february and calculated i spent €200 a week and that includes giving money to my mother, brother and sister.
expenses are: diesel, coke zero and lunch/dinner every day when someone isn't cooking for me

longshanks · 29-04-2016 03:54AM

poa wrote: »

Dole/pension its all the same.
I worked and paid taxes for 20 years.
Some go on the dole at 18 for life.
Some take their pension at 65 when they retire.
I retired at 38, and take my dole.
Look for a job? I am done with all that to be honest.
I like having my freedom and health now, not later at 65.

How do you fill your day now?

29-04-2016 04:13AM

Honestly, I realized that nothing about living in a "rich" country and nothing about having a career path was worth worrying about money.

Kai123 · 29-04-2016 04:19AM

OP, take in account age and time worked, and accumulation of wealth and assets. People in my work seem to have so much more, but they are a bit older then I am. Imagine being given a lump-sum of cash that you would earn in a year or two.

Also some people have strange standards for food. I can spend €180 a month on food, some people spend that a week. It all adds up.

monkeysnapper · 29-04-2016 07:39AM

Dughorm wrote: »

Do you smoke or drink?

Do you go on foreign holidays?

Do you have a satellite/netflix subscription?

Do the kids have XBox etc... ?

Do you have a monthly bill pay subscription for smart phone contract?

These are non-negotiables for many people and very expensive if you add them all up.

We go on holiday every year, small man is not long walking so you have to think smart, I'm originally from wales and we go over there and stay on farm, kids love the farm . obviously no cost there. We hope to go to Spain next year tho .

We just have free channels on sky, never missed it, have Netflix . We have all the TV we need I assure you

They're not playing consoles but have I pads and play games on them . (no cost )

One bill on mobile .

The one thing we have is vhi . wouldn't be without it with small kids and have used it a few times

We don't smoke or go out drinking , we both did that part long ago

c_meth · 29-04-2016 07:42AM

Cathy.C wrote: »

I make crystal meth in the downstairs toilet.

Eh?

Mint Aero · 29-04-2016 08:06AM

I make so much money and I have a the big penis har har har

Samaris · 29-04-2016 08:40AM

I have one of those account-keeping books - the sort that schoolkids have for Business Studies and if I'm a bit "where the hell is money going?", I'll keep records in there. I really should do it more consistently.

Generally I just budget in advance for the neccessities and we do weekly shops as we live right out in the country. Rent is lower here too. We did get caught short last month, but that's the first time in quite a while.

RayCon · 29-04-2016 09:09AM

Make a spreadsheet and track everything. You'll soon figure out where the money is actually going and what you can/can't afford.

kieran. · 29-04-2016 09:13AM

Cloudsky90 wrote: »

I earn 55k , my wife 42k and we can only afford to go on holiday to wexford.

We earn similar and cant go to Wexford even this year

poa · 29-04-2016 09:54AM

longshanks wrote: »

How do you fill your day now?

It depends on the weather to be honest with you.
But here are some things I do now I have my freedom;
volunteering at my local hospice, swimming, running, cycling, tending to my weed plant, sunbathing on my patio, tending to my barbeque, reading books, smoking a joint and having a mug of tea, washing my car, servicing my watch collection, popping round to my friends for a chat, DIY, shopping, turbo training, watching films, going for drives to the seaside, hiking, kayaking on my local river, listening to music. And most importantly having a lay in and waking up naturally around 10.00am with no alarm clock.

whiskeyman · 29-04-2016 09:57AM

This thread really needs input from Aongus Von B for some sound financial advice.

Ush1 · 29-04-2016 09:58AM

whiskeyman wrote: »

This thread really needs input from Aongus Von B for some sound financial advice.

Could poa be Aongus Von Bs mysterious brother?

AnonoBoy · 29-04-2016 10:01AM

c_meth wrote: »

Eh?

Has nobody told you your origin story thus far?

brevity · 29-04-2016 10:02AM

Poa has got it set tbh.

poa · 29-04-2016 10:03AM

esforum wrote: »

you didnt retire, you have chosen to not work and claim welfare. Call it what it is and its insulting considering the nature of this thread where people are talking about struggling to pay their own way

I have no desire to derail this thread into another dole bashing one. It's been done ad infinitum on here and just kills a thread.
So let me simplify things for you then, you are good and I am bad. OK, I admit, you are right and I am wrong. You win.
Your opinion has now been validated, and we can both move on.
The thing is, I am happy now; and the tone of your post sounds negative, which tells me you are not happy.
For me life is about being happy and keeping positive vibes as much as possible. I keep things simple, and just try to do what makes me happiest.
No offence taken or implied either way, different strokes for different folks.

Allinall · 29-04-2016 10:06AM

poa wrote: »

I have no desire to derail this thread into another dole bashing one. It's been done ad infinitum on here and just kills a thread.
So let me simplify things for you then, you are good and I am bad. OK, I admit, you are right and I am wrong. You win.
Your opinion has now been validated, and we can both move on.
The thing is, I am happy now; and the tone of your post sounds negative, which tells me you are not happy.
For me life is about being happy and keeping positive vibes as much as possible. I keep things simple, and just try to do what makes me happiest.
No offence taken or implied either way, different strokes for different folks.

All whilst defrauding the state.

Tom Cruises Left Nut · 29-04-2016 10:15AM

One thing that works for me is having 2 bank accounts

Money for the mortgage and bills go into that account as soon as I am paid

I have Revolut card that I then top up with the amount I will spend on food etc for the month

The remainder is savings and if I want a treat out of that all the better

Another thing that helps is paying a bit off things like electricity and gas each month, no bill shock every 2 months and using pay as you go makes it even easier

poa · 29-04-2016 10:15AM

Allinall wrote: »

All whilst defrauding the state.

Well what can I say? My previous profession was an unpopular one. I suppose one could say I was defrauding the state for 20 years when I worked. Some called it work, some would call it fraud. I did OK out of it I suppose.
The thing is, one can label someone on thing or another in order to validate one's opinion, but I learned a long time ago that's all it is. It changes nothing in reality. Reason being, a man will go on living the way he lives whether he gets called a fraudster etc or not. It matters not to him, as its just an opinion from someone.
There was a time when I raged about these things myself. Why should I fund these dole heads from my taxes etc. But the way I see it is this, I worked and paid taxes for 20 years into the system, and now I am milking the system. Pay in and take out.
The reality is, I am not the first to live how I choose to live; and won't be the last. The system says I can, so I do.
For what it's worth, you are right; but I can't make myself feel the way another man does about it. I just do what makes me happiest.

Allinall · 29-04-2016 10:20AM

poa wrote: »

Well what can I say? My previous profession was an unpopular one. I suppose one could say I was defrauding the state for 20 years when I worked. Some called it work, some would call it fraud. I did OK out of it I suppose.
The thing is, one can label someone on thing or another in order to validate one's opinion, but I learned a long time ago that's all it is. It changes nothing in reality. Reason being, a man will go on living the way he lives whether he gets called a fraudster etc or not. It matters not to him, as its just an opinion from someone.
There was a time when I raged about these things myself. Why should I fund these dole heads from my taxes etc. But the way I see it is this, I worked and paid taxes for 20 years into the system, and now I am milking the system. Pay in and take out.
The reality is, I am not the first to live how I choose to live; and won't be the last. The system says I can, so I do.
For what it's worth, you are right; but I can't make myself feel the way another man does about it. I just do what makes me happiest.

Will it matter to you if you get reported, prosecuted and given a prison sentence?

You're not as anonymous as you might like to think.

poa · 29-04-2016 10:22AM

Tom Cruises Left Nut wrote: »

One thing that works for me is having 2 bank accounts

Money for the mortgage and bills go into that account as soon as I am paid

I have Revolut card that I then top up with the amount I will spend on food etc for the month

The remainder is savings and if I want a treat out of that all the better

Another thing that helps is paying a bit off things like electricity and gas each month, no bill shock every 2 months and using pay as you go makes it even easier

I think previously the idea of running a current and savings account was a good idea. But the interest rates on savings accounts are poor at present, and with the fees of 2 accounts V 1 account, it negates the interest accrued.
The same with the fees on a top up card.

I closed my Bank of Ireland account due to their fees and lack of interest. Now I just use a Post Office account, and buy Prize Bonds with my savings weekly. OK one loses at the rate of inflation investing in bonds, but there is a chance of winning something in their draws. I worked out the interest in a savings account would be around the same after fees are deducted anyway; so the draws are a better or even option for me.

If it weren't for my car insurance direct debit, I wouldn't bother with an account at all.

poa · 29-04-2016 10:24AM

Allinall wrote: »

Will it matter to you if you get reported, prosecuted and given a prison sentence?

You're not as anonymous as you might like to think.

OK, you are derailing the thread off topic. I have no desire to as it kills the thread. Another dole bashing thread just bores the majority. So I am out.

maudgonner · 29-04-2016 10:26AM

Ush1 wrote: »

Could poa be Aongus Von Bs mysterious brother?

You, my friend, are a genius!

eviltwin · 29-04-2016 10:27AM

poa wrote: »

OK, you are derailing the thread off topic. I have no desire to as it kills the thread. Another dole bashing thread just bores the majority. So I am out.

It's not a dole bashing thread at all. There are plenty of people claiming welfare who would find your actions disgusting as well. People who are trying to find work or who are educating themselves, they are nothing like you so don't even try and lump yourself in with them. You are actively defrauding the state, I hope your local SW office starts putting pressure on you to find work since you are claiming a benefit designed for job seekers and cut you off.

CruelCoin · 29-04-2016 10:28AM

wally1990 wrote: »

So how do you do it? Everyone just seems so comfortable ?!? Do you have a strict strict budget? Does it cause fights in a relationship? Or are you tight?

I just don't know how someone earning €25,000 or less can have a family and pay rent and everything else

You'd be amazed what people pay for food.

€2 for a 500gram uncles bens rice or €15 for a 10kg sack.
5-pack chicken breasts for god knows how much (5 or something), versus going to the local halal butchers and getting 50 drumsticks+thighs (read 100 pieces of chicken) for €40.
The same can be found across the board.

Rent where i live is 500p/m for a 4-bed...Renting in Dublin on a sub-40k wage is idiotic.

Holidays are another good example. I could go to spain for a week and spend a fortune, or i can go to egypt for the same week, all flights, accom, food and drink plus 22 scuba dives valued at normally€50 per dive, all for 1000.

The single biggest issue with people not having money, is they're bloody stupid with it.

Dughorm · 29-04-2016 10:29AM

monkeysnapper wrote: »

We go on holiday every year, small man is not long walking so you have to think smart, I'm originally from wales and we go over there and stay on farm, kids love the farm . obviously no cost there. We hope to go to Spain next year tho .

We just have free channels on sky, never missed it, have Netflix . We have all the TV we need I assure you

They're not playing consoles but have I pads and play games on them . (no cost )

One bill on mobile .

The one thing we have is vhi . wouldn't be without it with small kids and have used it a few times

We don't smoke or go out drinking , we both did that part long ago

Cheers - I didn't mean to pry!! What you are saying makes perfect sense - you have the "modern necessities" at prices well under control so you get the most from what you have. Fair play

Tom Cruises Left Nut · 29-04-2016 10:29AM

poa wrote: »

I think previously the idea of running a current and savings account was a good idea. But the interest rates on savings accounts are poor at present, and with the fees of 2 accounts V 1 account, it negates the interest accrued.
The same with the fees on a top up card.

I closed my Bank of Ireland account due to their fees and lack of interest. Now I just use a Post Office account, and buy Prize Bonds with my savings weekly. OK one loses at the rate of inflation investing in bonds, but there is a chance of winning something in their draws. I worked out the interest in a savings account would be around the same after fees are deducted anyway; so the draws are a better or even option for me.

If it weren't for my car insurance direct debit, I wouldn't bother with an account at all.

Depending on the bank you can get rid of the charges if you deposit over a certain amount a month though

poa · 29-04-2016 10:32AM

maudgonner wrote: »

You, my friend, are a genius!

Sorry to disappoint you, but I am not Mr Bismark.
Apparently he was a trader, but I have never been one.
I have worked around them though, so I am aware of their modus operandi.
Trading is not something I aspired to do, nor do I have the aptitude for it.
Generally speaking, the successful traders I have known keep that very quiet; and would never come on an internet forum and reveal it.
The ones that do, and speak openly about trading; are often Walter Mitty types that have watched Rogue Trader and Wolf Of Wall Street, and have a fantasy about being a trader.
I worked hard for 20 years in an unpopular profession. I did OK. I prefer to leave it at that. A gentleman never reveals his secrets.

poa · 29-04-2016 10:38AM

CruelCoin wrote: »

You'd be amazed what people pay for food.

€2 for a 500gram uncles bens rice or €15 for a 10kg sack.
5-pack chicken breasts for god knows how much (5 or something), versus going to the local halal butchers and getting 50 drumsticks+thighs (read 100 pieces of chicken) for €40.
The same can be found across the board.

Rent where i live is 500p/m for a 4-bed...Renting in Dublin on a sub-40k wage is idiotic.

Holidays are another good example. I could go to spain for a week and spend a fortune, or i can go to egypt for the same week, all flights, accom, food and drink plus 22 scuba dives valued at normally€50 per dive, all for 1000.

The single biggest issue with people not having money, is they're bloody stupid with it.

You do talk some sense here. I always buy my Pinot Grigio and Prosecco by the case as its much cheaper than individual bottles.
There is a lot to be said for buying non-perishable items in bulk.

How do you do it?

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