I work two jobs full time. My partner works full time. We pay rent privately (a lot I might add) We both have a car (absolutely nothing fancy, A Dacia jeep and a Nissan micra) We’ve three small kids. We use home heating oil to heat our home. We don’t earn €100K like Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil make out like we do. (Fair play to those who do, more power to ye) but I don’t know many, if any, couples who earn 100 grand a year. We don’t qualify for social housing, medical cards, etc This budget has done absolutely fuckin nothing for us. My prediction below of being ‘better off’ by about €200 has been proven right. Carbon tax ‘reductions’ means that if I can afford to fill my oil tank for €1500 quid, I’ll get €50 off. Wow. Now, those who got an ‘increase’ in their social welfare like people on disability, pensioners, etc - I actually don’t begrudge them one bit and their small increase will not help them at all. It’s also worth highlighting carers. They’ve gotten fuck all. The cost of living, fuel prices, etc are absolutely rinsing us all. But Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have not taken that into consideration. In fact, I’d argue they don’t even care. A lot of people are actually going to be WORSE off due to the rate of inflation. The only people who are better off from this budget are those who are ALREADY better off. The corporations, millionaires, landlords and vulture funds are delighted. THE PEOPLE WHO VOTE FOR FINE GAEL AND FIANNA FÁIL ARE DELIGHTED. This cannot continue folks. Do not look beside you, do not blame your neighbour, do not blame foreigners, do not blame the EU, do not blame other people who think differently than you. BLAME THE GOVERNMENT. To everyone who is struggling…whether you’re a hard working man or woman, a pensioner who is finding it hard to get by in your retirement, a person with a disability who feels forgotten or a carer working your socks off for pittance….i will stand with you!