3. Denis is 61. He worked in a hardware shop until it closed last year. He got a job in a supermarket, but the pay is poor, and he has no fi xed hours. His children are in college in Dublin. Every cent he earns is gone at the end of the week.
4. Paul and Sharon live in a rented fl at with their two small children. There is mould growing on their bedroom wall, but they are afraid that if they complain to the landlord he will ask them to move or raise their rent. They could not aff ord to pay a higher rent.
5. All Callum’s friends are going skiing with the school this year, but he is not going. Neither his mam or dad is working. His mam says that they cannot aff ord the cost of the tour and the equipment he would need to go.
6. Noreen is retired and lives alone. She has savings but is worried about spending them. She does not light a fi re in winter. Instead she puts on warmer clothes and goes to bed early. Her son is always arguing with her saying that she should give herself some comfort and she cannot take her money with her, but Noreen will not listen.
7. Andrea bought a new house fi ve years ago. Since then she has had chronic back pain, which means she needs physiotherapy every week. Most of her income goes on the mortgage and bills, leaving her little for food or clothes.
8. Michaela’s friends always have new clothes and new phones. Her parents give her €20 per week and tell her that she must get everything she needs with that. They say they are teaching her to manage her money.