Living in Austerity

Mags30

This is from one of the Irish papers today and describes better than I can how unhelpful our GP's are when dealing with patients like me. http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/depressing-truth-about-treating-depression-in-the-young-227126.html

Yesterday I had my 6 week check-up for the GP exercise referral at the gym. Came home in a mood again not because of my results, but because I got no feedback at all :huh: I had been expecting the same tests as the first day (blood pressure, lung function, strength test) but gym lady did none of these things. She asked how I was getting on (good ) and we had a chat about non-exercise related things and that was it. End of consultation. I was left wondering "What was the point?" I gained nothing from meeting her. She didn't even give me a new exercise diary for the second 6 weeks of the programme. I asked for one and was told I didn't need it so I went and printed out a calendar template which I could have done without meeting her at all.

Same with the counselling which I've abandoned and have decided I'll probably never do again. It was like I sat there and told the counsellor about my week and she would regularly ask "How do you feel about that?" It was like I was paying her to be my friend :huh: She said at the start she could teach me techniques to cope with panic attacks/anxiety but she didn't. Absolutely nothing, just chit-chat. I can honestly say I've learned more from self-help books and Dr Google. And this counsellor wasn't somebody I found at a bargain price on Gumtree :rotfl:This was at a long established, reputable and highly recommended clinic. But at least I tried it.

I heard something similar today from a guy who went to pyshiotherapy for 6 weeks for an anke injury and again got no actual benefit from it :huh: Obviously all of these therapists are very nice and friendly and I'm sure they want to help us but a lot of the time we're just throwing money at things that aren't helping at all (we pay for all of these services here, it's not like the NHS)

I've been feeling much better and much more productive though since the clocks went forward last weekend so there's definitely a seasonal element to this, which given the weather in recent times is rather unfortunate :snow_grin

Mags30

I've copied and pasted this from the paper. It doesn't actually apply to me as I won't be applying for debt relief but the spending guidelines are interesting.

"According to figures leaked at the weekend, those wishing to avail of debt relief or personal insolvency will be expected to survive within strict financial limits.

These include:

*€247.04 a month on food for a single working adult. Guidelines specify a “balanced, nutritious diet”;

*€35.73 a month on clothes and shoes, or €428.46 a year;

*€33.40 a month on personal hygiene products such as shampoo, soap and hair and shower gels;

*€31.09 a month. or €373 a year, on health, including over-the-counter medicines, plasters, and antiseptics, as well as dentist, optician and GP bills;

*€31.47 for furniture, appliances, and cleaning products;

*€28.97 a week for “social participation”;

*€28.61 a month to cover household waste charges, an annual boiler service, and having the chimney swept;

*€2,000 for the cost of a car, but prohibited if an applicant lives in an urban area “with adequate public transport links”. Those who have to drive to work or the shop can spend €240.13 a month on a car;

*€48.47 a month for electricity, €57.31 for heating;

*€12.22 a month for home insurance, but no permission for health insurance"

Social participation means socialising! But it can be for something like SKY sports or gym membership/hairdresser/nails/cigarettes, etc instead of going out if that's what you'd prefer to spend it on.

The clothes allowance is close to the €500 I set for myself.

The food allowance appears generous compared with MSE guidelines on food and it makes me feel slightly better about the €286.99 I spent on food when I was tracking my spends :AMedia reports are saying a family of 4 will have €140 a week for food but none of this is official yet.

Mags30

Was sick last week, had a really bad chest infection so had to take a full week off from my exercise plan. Yesterday was my first day back at the gym and I didn't like it at all which is because I had been loving it before I got sick. But don't worry I'll keep going and hopefully will like it again soon. Also fell behind with Couch To 5k. After a week long break I went back and repeated Week 4, Day 3 which means I'm still at the halfway point. Hoping to do Week 5 this week. I like running outdoors but the weather is dreadful so we'll see how that goes.

Really short of money again this week as I paid the Household Property Tax yesterday which was €130. Unfortunately that's last years unpaid tax which 450,000 people still haven't paid. I think my actual Property Tax bill will be €400. If the €130 was unpaid at the end of June, a €200 surcharge would be added to the €400 :eek: so I paid it. Can't cope with all these expenses. Mostly sticking the head in the sand and trying not to think about it.....new government please.

vasseur

Interesting figures there. Even allowing for exchange into GBP some of them are generous.

Hope you're feeling better now. Ease yourself back into exercise gently.

Irish_Mom

Hi Mags,

Still reading your diary even though I don't post much. As expected, my job is gone so we have made the decision to move back to the UK as there is nothing here for us anymore longterm. Work prospects are severly limited around here in the south.
I , thankfully, have been offered and accepted a job so packing up everything at the moment. How can a family have collected so much crap !!lol

Take care

IM