How do you manage to survive on your jobseekers money?

falko89

moose1982 wrote: »

How do people survive? I think it is easier for some people over others. If, previously, you were earning say just over minimum wage, then cutting little things out is much easier when compared to someone who earnt quite a lot and had to suddenly change so much of their lifestyle. If you were earning a lot, then to suddenly have to stop going out for a nice Sunday lunch, giving really expensive gifts at birthdays etc to friends and family, stop going on a nice holiday etc etc, that is hard to do. But if you earnt at the lower end, I think you don't care about things like expensive gifts or nice holidays, I think you appreciate little things more.

I'm sorry that will not go down well with people who did earn a good amount, but it is how I see how the jump from earning to going onto JSA affects people in different ways.

I think some folk will get to see how the other half live, even when working things like holidays didn't exist, a meal out was to McDonalds:D So no big shock to the system here, the biggest shock is the amount of free time I now have.

red_devil

flush the toilet once a day sorry but:eek:

Derivative

moose1982 wrote: »

How do people survive? I think it is easier for some people over others. If, previously, you were earning say just over minimum wage, then cutting little things out is much easier when compared to someone who earnt quite a lot and had to suddenly change so much of their lifestyle. If you were earning a lot, then to suddenly have to stop going out for a nice Sunday lunch, giving really expensive gifts at birthdays etc to friends and family, stop going on a nice holiday etc etc, that is hard to do. But if you earnt at the lower end, I think you don't care about things like expensive gifts or nice holidays, I think you appreciate little things more.

I'm sorry that will not go down well with people who did earn a good amount, but it is how I see how the jump from earning to going onto JSA affects people in different ways.

I think that's probably what explains a lot of the posts on this board really, something I hadn't thought about before.

I put away >70% of my annual income, so to me living on a few grand after housing is trivial, it's something I already do.

So I suppose to me coming back to the London vs North East thing - having lived in both places I really notice no difference. My luxuries cost more, that's about it.

patchi

red_devil wrote: »

flush the toilet once a day sorry but:eek:

Have you not heard the saying....

"If it's yellow, let it mellow....if it's brown - FLUSH IT DOWN!"

Edinburgh65

Remember to keep an eye on the "Freebies Board (no spend required)" board on here.

When I was unemployed, I found a good few links to printable vouchers for things like a free can of soup, microwave burgers, and bars of chocolate (worth signing up with Milka if you like chocolate), and toothpaste samples. It was very exciting at the time (I'd still be excited about a voucher for free chocolate now mind you!).

Not sure where the "angry" smiley came from, sorry. Not angry.

his_wife

have read this with interest, my 19 yr old son was laid of recently, after working from leaving school, he looks for work every single day, he has applied for every job going including cleaning work. When he took all his evidence of job hunting into the dole office, the guy told him never to apply for cleaning jobs he was too over qualified:eek:

My son has said he would rather die, than keep on having to sign the dole, when he goes in , it is blatantly obvious the clientele in there demanding crisis loans, who can barely speak are never going to get a job, so why give out interest free loans.

He receives £112 a fortnight, he pays no lodge, as he has his pet insurance to pay, and his phone bill, which is in contract till the end of september. However, he buys all his own bits and pieces.

I for one, do not know how anyone can manage, especially if you have a home to run.

gettingready

I am going to write about my personal experience as I do not know the circumstances of others so of course can not comment on those...

I feel that is is extremely hard for a single person to surviwe on 67.50 per week.

Having more people at home, even if they are all on benefits - there is more money to go round but no extras for things like heating for example or lighting.

It does not matter if one person or 5 are in the room - it is still one light, one telly, one radiator but the difference is there may be 67.50 per week or much more to pay for this.

Also, costs the same to boil water for tea or cook a meal - may need more ingridients but still the same us of gas/electric.

It is VERY hard for a single person to survive on 67.50 per week and I am very happy to be going back to work on Monday - despite this job paying less than half of what my previous one was paying... I was at my wits ends being out of work and I am up to my eyeballs in debts as could not live on 67.50 per week at all, despite my best attempts. Just meeting every day bills was simply not possible. No, I do not go out, I do not drink, I do not get ready meals/take aways and my pets were supported by my daughter and her boyfriend while I was out of work. Still- it was simply impossible to live on 67.50 per week as a single person.

LadyMissA

gettingready wrote: »

I am very happy to be going back to work on Monday -

Good luck for Monday - waiting to hear on that NHS application but I doubt I will get shortlisted, but was worth a go.

gettingready

LMA- thanks...and fingers crossed for you.. sometimes they take ages to get back to me. I had a phone call in Feb to invite me for interview for a job I applied for in... October (!!!). I politely declined then as the location changed and was not reasonable travel for the money and really bad connection.

So... hope they get back to you X

red_devil

Out of interest why do they take so long to phone. I applied for a job on 9th jan and only just had a phone call anyone know why? Is it possible someone started then left?