How the Dole Could Get You Out of Debt

In Northern Ireland, in every town, there's what is known as the dole office, where inside is small cubicles, lots of chairs filled with people with one thing in common. They're unemployed and looking for work or claiming benefit because they are unable to work due to health reasons, pregnancy, and disability.

These people claiming contrary to popular belief aren't uneducated, lazy bums of society spending taxpayer's money. Even people with degree's which would make a huge contribution to society if they had a job are claiming benefit.

The Government says that a single person can live on a budget of around £60 per week. It is possible if you learn how to budget and just spend money on the basics such as food, electricity, diesel or petrol, bills and heating.

How to survive
The best way to manage to live, is to get a piece of paper, a calculator and a calendar and sit down and add up all the things you need such as food, electricity, bills, heating oil or coal and with the rest of the money that's left per month should stay in your bank account just for those unexpected times that you need the extra cash.

Set up Direct Debits for things such as TV Licensing, car insurance or anything that can be paid through your bank account, and put the dates into your calendar or mobile phone. That way the money will be in your account and bills paid.

Food Shopping
Start shopping for food at supermarkets which have special offers on food such as bread with the sell by date ending in a couple of days.
Before going shopping, write down what you need by going round your kitchen cupboards and fridge and have something to eat before you go, that way you're less likely to impulse buy thing you don't need but you want.

Pay with cash and withdraw an extra £10, so you avoid the whole standing in a busy line when the cashier gives you the total and while you pick yourself off the floor and thinking I'm going to have to pick things to put back. I've been standing in line at a supermarket and having to choose between buying milk or bread with people behind me and having to put things back.