‘It’s not like you can tell your children Christmas is cancelled’

ROSE DOOLEY from Ballyfermot, Dublin, lives with her retired husband. They have two children still living with them. The eldest is aged 25 and works for a living.

They budget each week for €383.

“Whether you have €100,000 a week or €100 a week, you learn to survive. It’s not like you have a choice. You have to feed and clothe your children. You have to get schoolbooks and pay for whatever comes up. It all comes out of the one payment.