Dole dilemmas – a daily slog“The conclusion? Very simple. It is extremely difficult to live an independent life on the dole.” Life on the dole
Edwin McGrealThat, folks, is the long and short of it. I had one week with €197 to cover all my costs and I couldn’t do it. Came close alright, but ran over-budget.
That I only went over by €11.97 is a moot point really.
I went into this project fairly confident I could manage on the amount that is afforded as the basic social welfare entitlement to the 13,346 people on unemployment benefit in the county of Mayo.
I had to move out from the comforts of home, live in an apartment in Castlebar, pay all my costs such as loan repayments, phone and car costs and have enough left over to survive. And I did live a simple life. Nothing in the way of what I would consider treats. No sweets, no eating out, no fast food. And most certainly no porter. I lived a very plain life for a week.
I cashed out very little. But enough to tip me over.
What killed me though was my standing order. I budgeted all my set costs such as loan repayment, car insurance, ESB etc over a weekly basis and took this out straightaway €116.25, leaving me very little breathing space.
The reason for my confidence, and some may call it arrogance, in relation to being able to make it under the €197 for the week is experience.
I was on the dole before and that time I got by perfectly well. I was able to make my loan repayments and I often had enough to go out in Castlebar at the weekend.
But, and here’s the rub, I was living at home then with all the perks that carried. For the purposes of this exercise I had to live independently. No assistance from anywhere or anyone, save for the €197 itself and rent allowance for the apartment.
I didn’t have any real cruel luck during the week (save for getting sick, more anon). I didn’t have to fork out for any car repairs, didn’t have to buy clothes or shoes or get a haircut and didn’t go out. And I still ended up over-budget.
The conclusion? Very simple. It is extremely difficult to live an independent life on the dole. Certainly with my circumstances. Touch wood but were I to go on the dole for real I would have to either live at home, sell the car or both.
And that wouldn’t be independent living. Were I to try to live on my own on the dole I would need to have someone I could lean on for an occasional ‘dig-out’, although not in the Charlie Haughey extreme.
Anyone who can live on the dole without any supplementary income or benefits has my respect. It would be easier to live with someone who could share costs such as rent and food rather than on your own. It’s not something I would like to have to do again.
Many thanks to McGuinness Construction, Castlebar for their kind provision of an apartment at Cois Locha in Castlebar.
Edwin's diary
“I know I’ll be back to my normal existence on Tuesday but, right now, life sucks. Don’t know if I could cope with full-time unemployment. Probably couldn’t.”TuesdayGetting the best out of a nifty in AldiApartment got – and a fine one at that, that’s one thing I could get used to – it’s time to stock it so off to Aldi I go. I give myself €50 for a budget for the shop. Looking back on it I could probably have got by on less but I wasn’t extravagant and was a long way removed from the occasional work lunch where dinner and dessert might set you back close to €20.
Got €20 petrol for the car as well. The shopping won’t be the hard part though – it will be having to cook for myself instead of having meals come easy to me by way of going out or having it put on the table for me. No such luxuries this week. Probably no harm either I hear you say.
Money spent €69.72
Money left €127.28 WednesdayTrying to stick to a worthwhile routineThe financial part of living on the dole is but one side of it. With all the time you have to yourself with very little to do it can be extremely difficult to stay motivated and the loneliness is striking.
Playing football helps me personally. Watching a good DVD can eat a few hours – I’ve already sat through All the President’s Men – and reading is good for the soul too.
But you would miss being out and about, interacting with people. You get out as much as you can but you will tend to spend quite a bit of time on your own in the apartment. And while the apartment is comfortable, being there on your own is soul destroying.
Money spent €0
Money left €127.28 ThursdayThe damage of the unaccounted for billA hospital appointment this morning passed some time but always raised a significant concern. The €60 bill. I wasn’t hit with it on the spot but I will receive the bill in the post in the next week or so. And what would I do with the bill? I’d have to borrow money from somewhere.
For the purposes of this week I’ve cancelled out any rent costs with what rent allowances I might receive but I know only too well that rent allowance isn’t straightforward either.
Play astroturf that evening but could I afford the €6 every week? Not when it could be the difference between two dinners and making do without.
Money spent €7.00
Money left €120.28 FridayStanding order leaves me crippledToday is the day for my standing order and it has destroyed my budget. €116.25 gone and I’m in serious bother. People asked me would it not make sense to give up the car if I’m on the dole. Perhaps it would but I’m committed to monthly car insurance instalments until April and have car tax paid too. I would be cutting off my nose to spite my face.
My personal loan, a legacy of my year in Australia, has to be paid back too and it didn’t seem like much at €50 a week. That’s until all you have is €197. But I realise too that my level of personal debt is very minor. I know far too many people with higher levels who have lost their jobs in recent months.
Money spent €116.25
Money left €4.03 SaturdayClose to breaking pointWake up feeling sick. Great. Just bloody great. Have a football match to concern myself with this afternoon. Had hoped to buy football boots in advance as my toe is coming out through my well worn Puma Kings. But I’ll have to make do.
Don’t play in the match and it’s just as well. An hour afterwards I’m physically sick and end up staying up half the night with a vomiting bug. Am told that there’s nothing I can take for it, to just let it pass. Have to admit though that I feel like shit. Mentally and physically. The sickness has probably aggravated this but I’m fed up. I know I’ll be back to my normal existence on Tuesday but, right now, life sucks. Don’t know if I could cope with full-time unemployment. Probably couldn’t.
Money spent €0
Money left €4.03 SundayIt’s official: I go over budgetI misbehave today. At home to pick up a few things, I take a few coins from my money jar to get me through the next few days. Reality is I’m not going to come in over-budget but I’m not willing to allow my health get any worse either. Still very weak from the bug and know I will need some sort of tonic on Monday morning.
Car running low on petrol. Don’t want to make my week worse by running out of petrol on the main road in full view of everyone.
Normally would get €20 but just stick €10 in. Still it’s the straw that broke the camel’s back and I’m officially over budget. Very surprised to have done so.
Money spent €10
Money left €-5.97 MondayBack to work, thankfullyLast day and thank heavens for that. Still laid low and sleep in until 11am. Feel like crap still so go to chemist and buy a tonic. After my misbehaving on Sunday it is the last few coins to my name. Find it hard to believe I couldn’t break even. Much more mindful of the realities of the economic situation that faces so many now.
I think it’s fair to say most people are grateful for a job in the current climate. I always have been. Am even more now though.
You realise money is only one part of the issue with unemployment. There’s a real sanity issue too. It is a constant battle to stay onside on every front.
Money spent €6.00
Money left €-11.97MORE“The financial side of living on the dole is very difficult” – Thérése RuaneUnemployment has risen by 180% in three years
