L
linky
Guest
I am a single parent with one child and struggled to get off lone parents allowance 6yrs ago. I returned to full time work in 2004 and was able to buy my own (affordable) home in 2007. So in alot of ways, I'm ok. I have lost two jobs in the past 3yrs, but am now in a full time permanent position.
Just got my first payslip for january (did a dummy-run on payroll) and I'm down 220 this month. I have a medical card so have lost that exemption from the health levy, plus the usc cuts that we're all experiencing.
My salary isn't huge - 32k pa so my take home pay is now just under 2400pm. However, my mortgage is 1100pm and my childcare is 550pm and I am struggling big-time. I foolishly borrowed from one of those loan companies to get my car fixed last year (not sure if they are money lenders, but they are legit) and am paying 60pw until the end of sept, which is crippling me. I also have a credit union loan (deposit for house) which costs me 75pw. So I also pay 540pm in loans. Which leaves me with about 300pm to pay bills and live on (including child benefit).
I am distraught here and don't know what to do. I have tried to cut costs everywhere, I've cut the tv down to basic channels only, I've no internet, I shop in lidl/aldi etc and I don't know what the point is in working anymore.
Today, I rang a single parent organistion (she wasn't the most helpful person tbh) and she basically said to just keep working and not to go on sw and I'd get nothing off my mortgage. I do have the option of reduced hours in work and could maybe avail of some help from Fis or lpa if I did this...?
I'm kind of all over the place at the minute - either way, I have to pay those two loans pw, so I suppose I can't leave work...but I'm wondering how fis works, how lpa is assessed etc etc? I thought the lpa organisation would be more helpful, but she was quite rude and abrupt on the phone (her tone was very much 'you're lucky you have a job'...don't feel very lucky today!) so I thought I'd come here and ask if anyone can advise my entitlements if I went p/t etc etc?
Thanks for reading and sorry it's so long.
Edit; Can I just add that I've worked all my life and was only on lpa for 7 months when my baby was young, my partner left and I couldn't afford the cost of creche fees and rent. I don't actually want to apply for sw, would look on it as a huge step backwards but am finding it difficult to find another option.
Just got my first payslip for january (did a dummy-run on payroll) and I'm down 220 this month. I have a medical card so have lost that exemption from the health levy, plus the usc cuts that we're all experiencing.
My salary isn't huge - 32k pa so my take home pay is now just under 2400pm. However, my mortgage is 1100pm and my childcare is 550pm and I am struggling big-time. I foolishly borrowed from one of those loan companies to get my car fixed last year (not sure if they are money lenders, but they are legit) and am paying 60pw until the end of sept, which is crippling me. I also have a credit union loan (deposit for house) which costs me 75pw. So I also pay 540pm in loans. Which leaves me with about 300pm to pay bills and live on (including child benefit).
I am distraught here and don't know what to do. I have tried to cut costs everywhere, I've cut the tv down to basic channels only, I've no internet, I shop in lidl/aldi etc and I don't know what the point is in working anymore.
Today, I rang a single parent organistion (she wasn't the most helpful person tbh) and she basically said to just keep working and not to go on sw and I'd get nothing off my mortgage. I do have the option of reduced hours in work and could maybe avail of some help from Fis or lpa if I did this...?
I'm kind of all over the place at the minute - either way, I have to pay those two loans pw, so I suppose I can't leave work...but I'm wondering how fis works, how lpa is assessed etc etc? I thought the lpa organisation would be more helpful, but she was quite rude and abrupt on the phone (her tone was very much 'you're lucky you have a job'...don't feel very lucky today!) so I thought I'd come here and ask if anyone can advise my entitlements if I went p/t etc etc?
Thanks for reading and sorry it's so long.
Edit; Can I just add that I've worked all my life and was only on lpa for 7 months when my baby was young, my partner left and I couldn't afford the cost of creche fees and rent. I don't actually want to apply for sw, would look on it as a huge step backwards but am finding it difficult to find another option.