Budget 2017, a pensioner's story: ‘We’re far worse off than 8 years ago’

“I’m from a generation that know how to cut their cloth to suit to their measure — that spent their lives having to live within their means.”

So said Ellen Reddin from Ballymun in Dublin, emphasising her age: “76-and-a-half-year-old.”

Yes, she’s somewhat pleased to see a €5 increase in the old- age pension from next March, but the mother-of-six and grandmother-of-18 will be watching to see what other ‘secret cuts’ lie in store in the year ahead.