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.
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.
Cathy.C wrote: » I make crystal meth in the downstairs toilet.
Cloudsky90 wrote: » I earn 55k , my wife 42k and we can only afford to go on holiday to wexford.
longshanks wrote: » How do you fill your day now?
whiskeyman wrote: » This thread really needs input from Aongus Von B for some sound financial advice.
c_meth wrote: » Eh?
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
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.
Allinall wrote: » All whilst defrauding the state.
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.
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
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.
Ush1 wrote: » Could poa be Aongus Von Bs mysterious brother?
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.
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
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
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.
maudgonner wrote: » You, my friend, are a genius!
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.
![Photo of [Deleted User]](https://wb.vanillicon.com/v2/bed6f1d088326d5eb21c0139847332c7.svg)
