The couple has worked hard all their lives: but now the money is simply not enough

Created: 12/08/2022, 7:00 p.m

By: Felicitas Bogner

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No, they don't need luxury, says a couple from the district.

But since the prices for food, petrol and heating have risen so much, the money is no longer enough to live on.

Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen – You worked hard all your life, ran your own business in the Tölzer Land for over 30 years.

He was responsible for the manual work, she for the office.

Two years ago, the couple had to close the business.

Not voluntarily.

"My husband has a serious heart condition and has now also been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease," says Simone Oswald (name changed by the editors).

She is sitting at the newspaper's meeting table and is visibly upset.

Despite many setbacks, the struggle continued

Oswald is on welfare, lost her house and farm many years ago, but kept fighting despite the rain and now lives with her husband in poverty.

She is 59 years old.

"I'm so uncomfortable with all of this.

We've both worked day in, day out and here we are."

Oswald shakes his head in disbelief.

Your story actually begins 30 years ago.

"The start of our working life together was not easy, we had a huge order for a large property developer," reports the saleswoman.

"We worked an immense amount of time for the project and advanced material costs." They waited in vain for their wages.

"Then the developer and client filed for bankruptcy," she says with a blank look.

With a heavy heart, the house had to be sold because of the many debts

So what?

“Back then we ran into so many debts that we couldn’t pay them anymore.

So it was with a heavy heart that we had to sell our house in order to continue,” says Oswald.

This experience sticks in the couple's bones to this day.

“But it had to go on, and we came to terms with leading a very frugal life.

We don't need luxury," emphasizes the 59-year-old.

There was simply no money left over for reserves

On a small footing, they were able to run their business in the district in pairs.

"But there was never anything left for reserves, and so we weren't able to pay into the pension fund for a few years." At some point, says Oswald, struggling for words, "you get caught in a hamster wheel".

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The couple has been on Hartz IV for almost two years. "I also work in a bakery," she says.

"In this way we come up with almost 1,500 euros that are available to us every month."

Since groceries and everything else has become so expensive, it's just not possible anymore

With this money they just about made ends meet.

"But since groceries, petrol, electricity and heating have become so expensive, I sometimes don't even know what to put on the table for lunch."

It doesn't have to be a big meal for the couple.

"A sandwich or pasta with sauce, that's enough for us," says the 59-year-old woman.

"But even if we live as frugally as humanly possible, I can't even buy a new winter jacket."

The couple is dependent on their ancient Opel

The couple's main spending point is their car.

"An ancient Opel, but we depend on the vehicle." The Oswalds live in a very remote district in a Loisachtal municipality.

“I often have to take my husband to the clinic in Großhadern.

He is currently waiting for a donor heart.

He also has many other doctor's appointments because of Parkinson's disease," reports the woman.

Since her husband got sick, she takes care of everything.

Her days are long: when Oswald is not working in the bakery, she takes care of the household and at the same time looks after her mother, who lives in Dietramszell.

"Without a car, I wouldn't know how I'm going to manage everything here in the country," she says.

Sometimes the son can help his parents

But now there are a number of payments to be made: "I have to have an inspection done, the car needs new V-belts and new winter tires." It is currently almost impossible for her to pay these amounts.

“My husband even had to go without his medication for a few days before my salary came.

The account was just empty,” says Oswald.

Everything that the health insurance does not cover - such as magnesium - is a major additional burden.

“Sometimes our son can give us a hand.

But at some point his resources are also limited, after all he also has a family.”

Hoping the man gets accepted into a nursing degree

She doesn't see a ray of hope at the moment.

“We work our way up from day to day”.

One wish - in addition to the winter tires and the inspection for her old Opel - still burns on her heart: "That my husband be officially admitted to a care level.

He has an emergency call.

This is important for us because I travel a lot.

So far we have had to pay the 54 euros for it ourselves.” With a level of care, the health insurance company would cover 25 euros of this per month.

That would be, says Oswald with a glimmer of hope in his eyes, “like a little Christmas miracle for us”.

You can find more current news from the region around Bad Tölz at Merkur.de/Bad Tölz.