Ok whats the secret?

CashRequired

Interesting topic.

Its true, some people are quite ignorant when it comes to the definition of "debt".

I've met people in the past who don't see finance on a car for example, is classed as "debt", or catalogue finance, etc etc etc. Obviously to you and me, owing £10,000 on a car finance deal is debt. These strange people are either very silly and genuinly don't think its debt, or most likely they are in debt denial.

I currently drive a £300 quid car which i got off ebay. It frustrates me when i see people younger than me driving really nice brand new sporty cars (im 24). Although obviously if a young person has earnt it, thats completely fair. Just gets me down :) Although i have nice things, im going to the maldives which i've paid for myself.

The only other explanation for working class people living nice lifestyles is inheritance or having a nice stack of savings.

Toto

Hypno summed up beautifully what I was trying to say.

Honestly it is totally beyond me why other people care about what other folk are or aren't doing.

Penny2myName

DietCokeMad wrote: »

A friend of a friend works 16 hours a week, minimum wage, and has 3 kids. With child maintenance, council house, tax credits and child benefit etc she gets £900 PER WEEK, with no mortgage to pay. Where is the incentive to work?

Ok slight exaggeration going on here
break down of an unemployed person with 3 kids PER WEEK
12.08 council tax benefit (excluding single persons allowance)(when working 16 hours have always had to pay this myself)
60.00 Rent Benefit (when working 16 hours have always had to pay this myself)
46.40 Child benefit
139.64 Child Tax Credit
23.07 Maintenance (if working )
64.30 Income Support (this is then reduced by any maintenance people receive)/ 91.68 16 hours minimum wage

£322.42 £340.79 including working tax credit amount

So either your friend of a friend gets £600 maintenance a week, or has an exceedingly well paid part time job.

jackie_w

Hi there,

I think it must be something to do with tax credits. My SIL and I fell pregnant at the same time, and after the 6 months paid maternity leave I had to go back to work, I couldnt afford to say off any longer. My husband worked full time, and the only debt we had was our mortgage.

My SIL was able to take the extended unpaid maternity leave BUT she was the one that originally worked, her husband didnt work. They had a mortgage too AND when she was off on maternity leave, they were able to go out and buy a new car.

She ended up saying to me one day that I must have been up to my eyeballs in debt, and that was why I had to go back to work after 6 months!!!!!!! Turns out, she was actually getting more money per week because of her tax credits etc than my husband was for working his full time job. If I had decided to take the 6 months extended maternity leave I wouldnt have go anything because it was half way through the tax year and the tax credits people said I would have to wait until April the following year before they would give me any money!!!!

So that is probably your answer or as someone else said, maybe they run a business from home or work at nights.

Jackie

LabLover

I think we all get bogged down a wee bit , trying to pay debt ,make ends meet and then you see next door struggling in house with 52" plasma screen and you think , what the ?!?!??!?!?!? How did they afford that when they have 5 kids under 15 etc We have all been there .I myself am desperatly trying to save up for deposit on mortgage when my OH's sister has not long since went back to work part time after having baby , her hubby works in factory on minimum wage and yet they just bought new car , mostly cash. Have new sofa , there little boy never has to have his clothes washed because SIL just rips tags off new outfit and puts it on and I remember making jealous comment to OH that they seem to be flush all of a sudden and he told me he reckons she is fiddling tax credits saying that her and hubby have split up but he "cant afford " to move into his own flat just yet. Doubt they would ever get found because how to police that sort of thing :mad: :mad: Anyhoo you just have to take deep breath and enjoy YOUR life with YOUR money not comment on everyone elses cause it just makes you feel down and you start to get chip on your shoulder. Life is what you make it (easier said than done I know ) but atleast you know they money you have is your own and not thru scams or anything like that

System

Penny2myName wrote: »

Ok slight exaggeration going on here
break down of an unemployed person with 3 kids PER WEEK
12.08 council tax benefit (excluding single persons allowance)(when working 16 hours have always had to pay this myself)
60.00 Rent Benefit (when working 16 hours have always had to pay this myself)
46.40 Child benefit
139.64 Child Tax Credit
23.07 Maintenance (if working )
64.30 Income Support (this is then reduced by any maintenance people receive)/ 91.68 16 hours minimum wage

£322.42 £340.79 including working tax credit amount

So either your friend of a friend gets £600 maintenance a week, or has an exceedingly well paid part time job.

You are forgetting cash in hand jobs, Hmmm how could I word that better "Cash in Hand Jobs":rotfl: or the working partner that isn't supposed to be living there.

System

LabLover wrote: »

I think we all get bogged down a wee bit , trying to pay debt ,make ends meet and then you see next door struggling in house with 52" plasma screen and you think , what the ?!?!??!?!?!? How did they afford that when they have 5 kids under 15 etc We have all been there .I myself am desperatly trying to save up for deposit on mortgage when my OH's sister has not long since went back to work part time after having baby , her hubby works in factory on minimum wage and yet they just bought new car , mostly cash. Have new sofa , there little boy never has to have his clothes washed because SIL just rips tags off new outfit and puts it on and I remember making jealous comment to OH that they seem to be flush all of a sudden and he told me he reckons she is fiddling tax credits saying that her and hubby have split up but he "cant afford " to move into his own flat just yet. Doubt they would ever get found because how to police that sort of thing :mad: :mad: Anyhoo you just have to take deep breath and enjoy YOUR life with YOUR money not comment on everyone elses cause it just makes you feel down and you start to get chip on your shoulder. Life is what you make it (easier said than done I know ) but atleast you know they money you have is your own and not thru scams or anything like that

That is so true.

vuittondreamer

I bet you any money they are claiming for everything, i'd be prepared to put a wager on it, Does one of the walk with a limp? Disability benefit can pay out shed loads.
Not fair is it?

Penny2myName

nirelandguy wrote: »

You are forgetting cash in hand jobs, Hmmm how could I word that better "Cash in Hand Jobs":rotfl: or the working partner that isn't supposed to be living there.

Still a well paid job then. £550-£600 a week, find out what it is and go for it yourself.

But how can I word this, not everyone is out screwing the system. I gave you the correct amounts going (though C.Tax and H.Benefit differs on where you live)

hypno06

vuittondreamer wrote: »

I bet you any money they are claiming for everything, i'd be prepared to put a wager on it, Does one of the walk with a limp? Disability benefit can pay out shed loads.
Not fair is it?

Harsh.....

Your signature says that your Mum and Dad gave you an interest free loan - if your figures are current, that is the best part of £30k that your mum and dad have handed over to you.

What if you had no debt, no job, and your Mum and Dad handed £30k over to you......to do with as you wished? You would then be one of those who you are currently betting on as being on the fiddle.....