A compelling new one-hour documentary from RTÉ's Factual Unit will offer some insight to a cross-section of Irish society aiming to balance their pay cheque amid ever-increasing demands.
BROKE tells the story of the people behind the headlines, doing their best to survive at a time of rising food, energy and housing costs. From small business owners to healthcare workers, young people questioning their future in Ireland to those wondering how they will pay their next bill.
Two of the contributors involved are Aoife Guilfoyle and Andrew Richardson, a young couple who have moved in with relatives in Dublin to save for a deposit on their new home.
Both in their mid 20s, the two saved as much as they could while but became concerned as property prices continued to spiral.
Despite saving €20,000, they feel priced out of the property market. Instead they have decided to use this money to emigrate to Canada in search of a better life.
"We moved in with relatives and we really started saving then….We were looking at a mortgage of about 200,000, with a 20% deposit. We’d near 20 grand between so we thought that was going to be grand, that’s a load of money. But no, that’s nowhere near what we needed," Aoife told the documentary makers.
"We were going to get a two bed apartment with some friends but that went south and then we were like right why should we rent? Let’s just buy. Let’s get a mortgage," Andrew explains. He works as an estate agent so knows the Dublin market well. "There wasn’t anything decent that we could afford…we just went what are we buying here?"
"You’re thinking what would keep me here? What would I miss?," says Aoife. "When you ask yourself that question, nothing comes to mind. Apart from family and friends, there’s nothing else that you’re really going to miss here."
Part of that family is Hiccup, a pet lizard that Aoife describes as being "like a puppy". Although they tried to bring "their baby" with them, Aoife explained that bringing a bearded dragon into Canada simply wasn't feasible for them.
Despite this "heart-wrenching" goodbye combined with the "chaos" of packing their lives into a suitcase, the two insist that emigration is the only way forward for them.
"It's like ripping off a plaster - you have to, it's painful, but it has to be done," says Aoife.
You can watch Aoife and Andrew's story in BROKE in full tonight on RTÉ One at 9:35pm or catch up on RTÉ Player.
