Latest news with #financialsupport
Independent Singapore
2 hours ago
- General
- Independent Singapore
‘Am I a bad daughter?' Woman resents parents who demanded S$1k a month despite barely supporting her during her school years
SINGAPORE: A woman has sparked discussion online after questioning whether she was a 'bad daughter' for feeling resentful toward her parents, who she claims demanded a large portion of her salary despite providing little financial support during her formative years. In a post on the r/singaporefi subreddit, the woman recounted her experience growing up in a household where money was tightly controlled. She said that as a student, she was given just S$2 a day for allowance in secondary school and S$5 a day during her time in polytechnic—amounts that were insufficient to cover even basic expenses such as meals and transport. To cope, she took on part-time work to supplement her needs. However, her efforts were met with criticism at home. According to her, her parents told her that 'kids should give back to their parents,' a statement she described as 'weird' given that she had started working only to meet her own basic needs. The issue resurfaced when she began working full-time. Her parents, particularly her mother, once again reminded her of her duty to support them financially. See also Malaysian singer Ika Mustafa cleared of coronavirus 'They brought this up again and my mother demanded S$1,000 out of my paycheck (which I gave, for six months),' she wrote. 'Until I couldn't mentally and financially hang on because what the heck was I supposed to eat?? And I can tell she spent those S$1,000 on herself instead of the family because a week after that, I see random branded bags delivered to the house,' she added. The financial pressure, coupled with the emotional strain, eventually led her to seek therapy. 'I went for therapy because I was afraid to confront my mother. And it helped, though I had to pay for it, but I wished I had discovered Reddit sooner; maybe I'd save some bucks,' she shared. Despite the circumstances, the woman revealed that she continues to live with her parents due to financial constraints. 'I still live with them because I'm too broke to buy a house here in SG and waiting to turn 35,' she wrote. 'But from now till 35, I cannot fathom how much of my future and finances have been robbed. And I live every day knowing that they were and still are financially irresponsible. And I guess, nothing will ever change this.' 'Kids should not be an ATM.' In the thread, plenty of Singaporean users chimed in to say the woman wasn't a 'bad daughter' just for feeling resentful. They understood where she was coming from and said it was completely fair to feel hurt and torn after going through so much emotional and financial strain. Some also opened up about their own difficult journeys. One user wrote, 'I just wanted to say I feel you. I get so envious when I hear about others whose parents paid for their uni fees, or even gave them allowance and a stable home. I didn't even get home-cooked meals after secondary school. Been feeding myself and putting myself through school after O levels.' Another commented, 'I'm in the same situation. I paid for my own tuition fees since poly. Worked part time here and there.' A third simply remarked, 'Kids should not be an ATM.' Meanwhile, others advised the woman to either set boundaries with her parents or move out for her own peace of mind. One user said, 'If you are getting your finances robbed, wouldn't it be better for you to rent a room elsewhere? Maybe it will be less than what your parents robbed you. It's better for you to distance yourself and break contact.' In other news, a Singaporean man who was laid off earlier this year from his role as a tech project manager shared on Reddit that he's been unemployed for over five months and is starting to feel discouraged about his job search. Posting on the r/singaporefi subreddit, he explained that since losing his job, he has been actively applying for roles, customising his resume for each position, and doing everything people typically advise during a job hunt. However, despite all his efforts, he has only received three interview calls so far. Read more: 'They mind my gap': Laid-off tech worker says 5 months of job hunting have led to only 3 interviews Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Cost of living: 'Forgotten about' Lurgan parents rely on £20 summer scheme
"Forgotten about" parents are calling for more financial support for children's activities during the summer comes as research by Ulster University suggests more parents are cutting back on children's sports due to the rising cost of living.A number of parents whose children attend Clann Éireann summer scheme in Lurgan, County Armagh, spoke to BBC News costs just £20 a week and is able to keep costs low as it is run mainly by volunteers. Seana McConville, who volunteers at smaller sessions in the club that are adapted for children with additional needs, like her son, said if her child was going into childcare over the summer she would have to pay for one-to-one support for said families like hers were "forgotten about"."I'm a full-time worker and every other year I would have to work term time, which is less money throughout the year in order to be able to take off the summer," she said."But that's not good for me or my son, because we are then tied to just being in the house. "I miss the social side of being at work and the rest of the year you can struggle because your wages are less." The Clann Éireann summer scheme runs for two weeks and this year 180 children are Coleman has worked at the club for 30 years and is a classroom assistant at the local said it was a lifeline for many parents."We know people are trying to cut corners on food, clothes, for basic toiletries, that's the way it's going, like back in your mummy's day nearly," she told BBC News NI. School uniforms and PE kits Ulster University surveyed 855 research suggested 37% of parents reduced spending on sports and 35% said their child had missed out because they could not afford also found 30% of parents were unable to afford clothing and equipment needed for Science lecturer at Ulster University, Maria O'Kane, said at this time of the year researchers heard a lot about the cost of school uniforms and PE kits as families were beginning to budget for them ahead of the new school year."Maybe it comes at the sacrifice of a family holiday or a family day out," she said."We heard in the interviews even going for an ice-cream is a luxury they just couldn't afford any more." Mum-of-six Natalie Geoghegan said the sharing of Gaelic kits at Clann Éireann helps keep costs down."With football, you need the latest kit, but with this gear, it's not the latest - one from four to five years ago is just the same, you've got the badge and you're part of the group," she her family, holidays are a luxury that do not happen every year."You like to try and get away because life is hard and you like to get away in the summer, but you have to cut back in general on things like clothes and [use] hand me-downs," she said."When they're in school all year, there's a routine. I'm lucky I'm at home - I'm not working - but for me to entertain them in the house and run the house, it's mundane for them for me to try and do everything." While Clann Éireann is proving to be an affordable option for these parents, Maria O'Kane said summer schemes do not always suit working families as the hours can be quite short and they can be expensive."That puts another pressure on families if their child is expected to attend," she added. Single mum Nicola Fagan said she felt many parents were "left in limbo" over the summer."Not everyone has grandparents or family who are going to cater to your needs," she works overtime to save for the summer months and her children's many activities."I try my best to make ends meet so they can get to everything they want to do and their friends are involved in," she said."It's a whole lot of pressure because you don't want them missing out on anything that everybody else is doing."I come last all the time and I wouldn't have it any other way, because you aren't going to have your kids for a very long time when they are small so as long as they are happy I can do without for another couple of years." Summer anxiety She said the summer scheme had given her children opportunities and day trips that they would otherwise not have had."It would have been an anxiety for me over how much it would be and what you are going to have to cut back on," she said."Or are you going to be caught out in a week's time thinking, 'I shouldn't have spent that money because I need diesel in the car or extra electric because Finnian hasn't turned off his PlayStation overnight?'"It's stuff like that you need to think about when it comes to money and cost of living." The survey also suggested that more limited disposable income would mean siblings had different is the case for Claire King who said: "From my older child to my younger child, he doesn't get as many days to soft play areas or trips to the zoo, things like that."Between camps, feeding them, childcare costs - they've all gone up in prices, so it is definitely more expensive than it has been in the past."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Britain's gas storage site threatened with closure this winter
Britain's largest gas storage site risks closure by the end of the year unless the Government steps in to provide financial support. Centrica, which owns the Rough storage facility, has warned of the potential shutdown this winter as it battles steep losses at the site. Rough represents half of Britain's gas storage capacity and its closure would be a significant blow to the resilience of the country's energy system. The UK remains reliant on gas to help back up intermittent wind and solar, particularly over winter. Chris O'Shea, the chief executive of Centrica, which owns British Gas, warned the storage site was expected to lose £100m this year and said: 'We can't sustain that.' He told The Telegraph. 'I would be willing to close it. My job is clear. It is to grow the company, grow jobs, grow profits, and I take that seriously. 'We've made money over the past couple of years. But we're now pouring £100m into this asset that we could invest in other things.' Centrica aims to redevelop the 40-year-old site to be able to store hydrogen alongside natural gas. However, Mr O'Shea said: 'The market at the moment is not giving the right signals to invest in storage.' The company has asked ministers for a so-called cap-and-floor mechanism to help fund the £2bn project. While Centrica would provide the investment up front, the mechanism would effectively mean guaranteed funding underwritten by a levy on consumer bills. 'I want a mechanism that encourages investment in Rough,' Mr O'Shea said. 'We have seen it in nuclear, but let's extend that to other assets that are needed to bring energy resilience.' Mr O'Shea said he had been encouraged by recent talks with the Government. He praised Rachel Reeves and Ed Miliband for highlighting the importance of gas storage as part of the Government's industrial strategy. However, the call for state support comes at a delicate time for Labour. Ms Reeves's Budget has been left in tatters by a series of policy about-turns and poor economic data, forcing her to find billions rather than consider further spending. Meanwhile, Mr Miliband is under pressure to demonstrate progress towards meeting his promise of lowering energy bills by £300 this parliament. It suggests the Energy Secretary may be wary of signing off on a measure that add more levies on to bills. Mr O'Shea warned the issue of support for Rough was urgent and could not be put off. He said: 'I think we've got to see something [from the Government] probably this year. If we get towards the end of the year and we've got a situation whereby we've got no prospect of making a profit, then we're just throwing good money after bad. 'It would be like a charitable donation and that's not our business. If we were to do that, then the shareholders would act quite quickly.' 'No one likes a freeloader' Centrica has already stopped filling the facility off the Yorkshire coast amid concerns about the site's financial viability. Mr O'Shea said Government intervention was key to safeguarding Britain's energy security. He said: 'If Rough closes, then the UK has just six days of gas storage available, compared to 100 in France, Netherlands and Germany. 'If we get into a crisis and the UK hasn't invested in gas storage, then I am not sure it will flow from the Continent. 'Politically, if you're the prime minister of France, Germany, and you look at a country that hasn't invested in gas storage, then I am not sure that will work. There is a need for us to recognise the risk that no one likes a freeloader.' The potential closure of Rough risks reviving concerns over Britain's strained energy supplies, particularly as the country moves to a system more reliant on intermittent renewables. Gas power stations remain crucial for backstopping Britain's energy system when wind and solar generation fall short, something that happens during so-called 'dunkelflaute' periods of low wind and limited light that occur over winter. 'We have had pretty warm winters in the past couple of years, and that has helped us,' said Mr O'Shea. 'If we'd had cold winters, then we would have struggled. Would you feel comfortable driving in the red zone in the revs all the time? I don't feel comfortable with an energy system that has such a small margin for error.' The closure of Rough would lead to the potential loss of hundreds of jobs at the site. A Government spokesman said: 'The future of Rough storage is a commercial decision for Centrica, but we remain open to discussing proposals on all gas storage sites, as long as it provides value for money for taxpayers.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Britain's gas storage site threatened with closure this winter
Britain's largest gas storage site risks closure by the end of the year unless the Government steps in to provide financial support. Centrica, which owns the Rough storage facility, has warned of the potential shutdown this winter as it battles steep losses at the site. Rough represents half of Britain's gas storage capacity and its closure would be a significant blow to the resilience of the country's energy system. The UK remains reliant on gas to help back up intermittent wind and solar, particularly over winter. Chris O'Shea, the chief executive of Centrica, which owns British Gas, warned the storage site was expected to lose £100m this year and said: 'We can't sustain that.' He told The Telegraph. 'I would be willing to close it. My job is clear. It is to grow the company, grow jobs, grow profits, and I take that seriously. 'We've made money over the past couple of years. But we're now pouring £100m into this asset that we could invest in other things.' Centrica aims to redevelop the 40-year-old site to be able to store hydrogen alongside natural gas. However, Mr O'Shea said: 'The market at the moment is not giving the right signals to invest in storage.' The company has asked ministers for a so-called cap-and-floor mechanism to help fund the £2bn project. While Centrica would provide the investment up front, the mechanism would effectively mean guaranteed funding underwritten by a levy on consumer bills. 'I want a mechanism that encourages investment in Rough,' Mr O'Shea said. 'We have seen it in nuclear, but let's extend that to other assets that are needed to bring energy resilience.' Mr O'Shea said he had been encouraged by recent talks with the Government. He praised Rachel Reeves and Ed Miliband for highlighting the importance of gas storage as part of the Government's industrial strategy. However, the call for state support comes at a delicate time for Labour. Ms Reeves's Budget has been left in tatters by a series of policy about-turns and poor economic data, forcing her to find billions rather than consider further spending. Meanwhile, Mr Miliband is under pressure to demonstrate progress towards meeting his promise of lowering energy bills by £300 this parliament. It suggests the Energy Secretary may be wary of signing off on a measure that add more levies on to bills. Mr O'Shea warned the issue of support for Rough was urgent and could not be put off. He said: 'I think we've got to see something [from the Government] probably this year. If we get towards the end of the year and we've got a situation whereby we've got no prospect of making a profit, then we're just throwing good money after bad. 'It would be like a charitable donation and that's not our business. If we were to do that, then the shareholders would act quite quickly.' 'No one likes a freeloader' Centrica has already stopped filling the facility off the Yorkshire coast amid concerns about the site's financial viability. Mr O'Shea said Government intervention was key to safeguarding Britain's energy security. He said: 'If Rough closes, then the UK has just six days of gas storage available, compared to 100 in France, Netherlands and Germany. 'If we get into a crisis and the UK hasn't invested in gas storage, then I am not sure it will flow from the Continent. 'Politically, if you're the prime minister of France, Germany, and you look at a country that hasn't invested in gas storage, then I am not sure that will work. There is a need for us to recognise the risk that no one likes a freeloader.' The potential closure of Rough risks reviving concerns over Britain's strained energy supplies, particularly as the country moves to a system more reliant on intermittent renewables. Gas power stations remain crucial for backstopping Britain's energy system when wind and solar generation fall short, something that happens during so-called 'dunkelflaute' periods of low wind and limited light that occur over winter. 'We have had pretty warm winters in the past couple of years, and that has helped us,' said Mr O'Shea. 'If we'd had cold winters, then we would have struggled. Would you feel comfortable driving in the red zone in the revs all the time? I don't feel comfortable with an energy system that has such a small margin for error.' The closure of Rough would lead to the potential loss of hundreds of jobs at the site. A Government spokesman said: 'The future of Rough storage is a commercial decision for Centrica, but we remain open to discussing proposals on all gas storage sites, as long as it provides value for money for taxpayers.'
New York Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
5 Years Ago, They Reversed Roles With Their Parents. Where Are They Now?
Five years ago, Sian-Pierre Regis, then 35, welcomed new roommates to his Manhattan apartment: his mother, Rebecca Danigelis, 78, and his partner, Sam Moll, 30, whom he had been dating for two years. 'It sounds like a sitcom — two gay men and a mom in a cramped New York rental,' Mr. Regis said. 'It felt like this quirky experiment.' They made the most of their tight quarters, constructing gingerbread houses together at Christmas and sharing 'highs and lows' every Friday at the dinner table. But for Ms. Danigelis, encountering her son's dirty dishes in the sink and sleeping in a windowless spare room was not exactly how she had envisioned her golden years. Instead, the arrangement was born of necessity after she was laid off from her longtime job as a hotel housekeeper in Boston and could no longer afford her rent. 'I never in the world expected to be in that position,' she said. 'I'd worked my tail off my whole life.' At the time, Mr. Regis didn't know anyone else in his shoes, either. 'None of my friends had parents living with them,' he said. That changed after he and his mother shared their experience in a New York Times article about young adults who were financially supporting their parents, published in May 2020. In the years since, those young adults have found solidarity with others in the same boat — people in their 20s, 30s and 40s who help their parents with money, housing or both. As Mr. Regis said, 'It opened up conversations with peers that made me realize I was much less alone in my responsibilities than I thought.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
