What could they say? Without savings, there's not much you can do.  In the short term, you tough it out as best as you can; unless there's an option for improving income you have what you have.  In the long term, it gets easier as the kids move out and you can work more/decrease expenses. At retirement OAS + GIS + whatever CPP you get provide a better living for a single person than the working single mother probably has today.