Rain
24-02-12, 16:47
I was in the chat room today and we started talking about the recession and how badly it is hitting everyone and adding to their anxiety.
Personally I feel that my partner and I are just one crisis away from disaster. If the big end went on the car, a pet needed an expensive operation or one of us got physically ill (you have to pay here in Ireland) we would simply be unable to cope.
My partner works full time and yet in the past 18 months we have had our phone cut off numerous times, had our electricity cut off for 3 days (everything in the freezer had to be binned), and went without heating oil for 8 months, during which time our bedroom developed mildew. She has what would be regarded as a ‘good job’ yet many of her colleagues are in a similar position.
There is no joy when she is paid except to decide which particular wolf to keep from the door this week. I am not entitled to any benefits because it is all means tested here and if your partner works you basically get nothing. We are unable to replace worn out shoes or but a new set of pillowcases when we need them. Tyres must be left to go balder than is safe. We eat a lot of toast. We will have to find around 100 euro for my dentist appointment on Monday.
We are keeping our heads above water- JUST- but dread something happening that we can’t cope with. It makes life pretty miserable at times. It is down right scary. Our parents are long gone and we have no one to whom we could say, ‘Lend us twenty euro until pay day, will you?’
The depressing news is this is set to continue for years and years. I wonder how much worse it can get because I’m not sure how much more we can stand before we go under. I will be an old lady by the time the recession ends.
I know vast numbers of us are in the same boat. How do you cope and how do you stop getting depressed and panicking about the uncertain future?
Personally I feel that my partner and I are just one crisis away from disaster. If the big end went on the car, a pet needed an expensive operation or one of us got physically ill (you have to pay here in Ireland) we would simply be unable to cope.
My partner works full time and yet in the past 18 months we have had our phone cut off numerous times, had our electricity cut off for 3 days (everything in the freezer had to be binned), and went without heating oil for 8 months, during which time our bedroom developed mildew. She has what would be regarded as a ‘good job’ yet many of her colleagues are in a similar position.
There is no joy when she is paid except to decide which particular wolf to keep from the door this week. I am not entitled to any benefits because it is all means tested here and if your partner works you basically get nothing. We are unable to replace worn out shoes or but a new set of pillowcases when we need them. Tyres must be left to go balder than is safe. We eat a lot of toast. We will have to find around 100 euro for my dentist appointment on Monday.
We are keeping our heads above water- JUST- but dread something happening that we can’t cope with. It makes life pretty miserable at times. It is down right scary. Our parents are long gone and we have no one to whom we could say, ‘Lend us twenty euro until pay day, will you?’
The depressing news is this is set to continue for years and years. I wonder how much worse it can get because I’m not sure how much more we can stand before we go under. I will be an old lady by the time the recession ends.
I know vast numbers of us are in the same boat. How do you cope and how do you stop getting depressed and panicking about the uncertain future?