I feel the same as you. Never before have we had so little money. Two young children. Savings what are they ? Feeling very down about the whole situation and can not see a way out of it. God only knows what the budget holds. We will be even worse off if that is at all possible.

Pippa
I have a son just started College , one in 5th class , and bills just mounting up . I was never so badly off. BUT I think we have to try and remain positive ,in so far as we have our kids . They do not ”need” all that they ”want” and we can explain that to them … I reckon things have to become simpler and less commercial. We have decided that we will spend time together at Christmas with family instead of presents , My older children will be coming home for Christmas. . I do not use the Heating (Gas) as much . I light the fire in the evening ! wear a warm fleece during the day and go to bed earlier…
Chin up girl :)
We are all in the same boat and do not for one minute feel ashamed . It is the shower of liars in government who should be ashamed .

Eileen I’m in the same boat but I refuse to let things get me down. It’s not easy but I just will not do it.
Look a lack of 24 hour central heating, foreign holidays & Sky didn’t kill our parents & it won’t kill us. In fact in a funny way it has brought the family closer together & when things do improve, as they will we will all be the wiser for it
Keep the faith!!!

Justin Gillespie
Thanks for that ,I was talking to friends of mine recently and we decided that we are not going to hide the fact that we are broke -short of money- any more . We are doing the best we can do . There is money in this country ,and we are all in the same boat. :) There is no shame in working hard and being paid a pittance . altho in my case I am on a pension .

Eileen,
Thanks for your encouragement.

There is no shame in poverty, but it is a terrible inconvenience!!!!!!!!!

I remember when we were kids my mother knit , She would rip out jumpers that had we had grown too big for and reknit them into hats gloves and scarves. Bigger jumpers were knit into smaller jumpers and she made our clothes too as she was a skilled dress maker . It is amazing how much we take for granted . Just saying :)

Consider investing instead of saving. it can be done with a small amount, its not just for the wealthy. Saving with banks is a joke, your money only makes the banks money. Get “investing for dummies” as a start. Very easy to read and follow and it might just make you think differently about your hard earned

Mark
Are you serious ? Did you even Read our comments ? We do NOT have any spare cash ….
Nil , Nada, Nothing !

Eileen go easy. I posted the comment for all to see, as a helpful suggestion. I hope your situation changes for the better.

Mark
… and all of us were only saying how tough things have become . EMPATHY . Look it up in a dictionary

Eileen, I’m currently working off the Chinese coast, 10 hours a day, 7 days a week in order to pay my bills and pay off the debts from going to college, twice. I havnt seen my family in 77 days and won’t for another 23. Empathy! Useless. Hard work and perseverance are all that will do here

Mark
Don’t knock it
I worked on one occasion 21 x 12 hr shift days straight and if I took a day off I was fined . Other times it was 7 /8/ 9 days straight . I know what it is to work hard and to have to work hard. I miss work , and I have not been able to wrk in nearly 7 years since I was ill health retired. I earned great money and I was never short of a rattle in my purse . But I became ill , developed a condition and can not work now.
Enjoy , as far as you can what you do . It sounds to me it can be interesting. Best of luck.

Andrew
If only that is always the case . I agree on the savings and the health aspects of keeping fit and having regular exercise etc , keeps weight down etc etc . I cycled into work for years and years . So keep up the good work and if you are fortunate , it will stand to you in later life :) \ /

The CSO looks raw statistical data on income, total net spending, disposable income based on cost of living expenses, total consumer debt etc…

The Credit Union ASKS people, often over a phone survey, how much money do they THINK they have left over at the end of the month……

Dude .. you forgot the most important one BONDHOLDERS.. muwhahahahahah..

Touche

I thought savings around also have increased as people save to emigrate and disposable online might have increased as older families have fewer mouths to feed owing to the same thing

Judging from the comments those posting are saying they don’t have the opportunity to save and are struggling to keep things together. Don’t think I’d view those comments as being negative. Just the observation that for many people trying to save is a thing of the past.

Kerry, we must look at the wider picture. An improvement will not affect everybody at exactly the same time. I am happy if my neighbour’s situation is improving – I know that my time will come. Wishing for something that you do not have causes unhappiness. If we spent more time appreciating what we do have we would be a lot happier.

I would agree that I wish my neighbours all the best. However I don’t see any of my neighbours situation improving quite the contrary. I just feel this might be just more spin before a difficult budget. Government saying we are doing better and can afford to pay more when this is not the reality. I love your optimism but refuse to bury my head in the sand.

Patrick Lyons
Your sneers do nothing to lift my spirit , My neighbours are as broke as I am.
I have to pay my car tax this month , How ? And I budget ,but my son was ill last week and the doctors bill @ €60 has left me short, That will be coming out of the food bill. I am not entitled to the medical card. I do not begrudge the doctor his money but how is it in the UK people can see their docs for free and get their meds for free ?

No sneer intended Eileen. I would like to have a car but I just accept that it is out of the question at the moment. I cycle everywhere and I am happy that I can afford a bicycle. No tax, no petrol, no insurance and no expensive repairs. I am healthier and happier than many car owners. There are many poorer people around the world who could not afford a bicycle. Cars are a relatively new invention – people survived without them before and they can do again. Always look on the bright side!

Patrick
I can not cycle , I need my car to get around or I would be house bound . If I could get out to cycle I would be very happy . I am not apologising for having a car to aid my mobility ,nor am I asking any one to pay for it . I could do with out the expense to be sure but such is my life . I bought it when I could afford it and paid for it . I had a good job and due to ill health I had to retire I am not yet fifty and I miss work . But my lot is not a bad lot . However I draw the line at having to look at the bigger picture when we ordinary decent working peoiple did nothing wrong .Yet we still have to pay the price . There are swindlers and fraudsters living on 500,000 euros a year . The same people who were meant to be looking after business and retired with these exorbitant pensions. I would have to work 30 years to earn 500,000 euros that they get in one year. There is something wrong with that picture.

Same as me Patrick… You also got to factor in that cycling will pay dividends later in life when you’re fit and healthy in your 40s… won’t be off work, missing job opportunities and blowing all your €€€ on medical treatment