he keeps threatening csa

Pssst

22k pa is hardly a kings ransom

LizzieS_2

mitchaa wrote: »

If your 2 children cost £7300pa Sou then surely you should deduct the CB payments (£1726) and then whatever you receive in CTC. No idea on your household income but i would assume at least £545 element. Add that to CB and you have a helping hand of £2270. (Possibly more if you are on child elements)

Agreed on CB. Tax credits should only be the family element - any extra is usually as a result of income being lower due to caring work.


As to electricity costs, fridge and freezer etc would be on 24/7 regardless if you had children or not.

You are assuming the same fridge and freezer - mine would be a much cheaper combined under-counter fridge size thing with the little freezer box, not what I have now.

My favourite is the washing machine - my teens have pretty similar size clothes to me, just a lot more quantity to wash and iron afterwards. The volumes I do, also mean my white goods need replacing more than a single person's would!

Gas central heating/cooking would be pretty similar. I.e you can pop 2 pizzas in the oven and you will use the same amount of gas.

Agreed to some extent, but I know from experience that children do not always eat exactly at the same time as parents - the oven/microwave goes on more times than you assume.

You would have the heating on if it was cold regardless if you had children or not.

Size of house matters too - when still married to now nrp, all our bills went up after child 1, a house move then put the bills up even more. Also the heating was on for longer after children came along.