Ok whats the secret?

angelicmary85

frenchconnection200 wrote: »

A friend of a friend told me last week that she is trying for a baby and when said baby arrives she isn't going to work again till its a teenager. Now I happen to know neither her or her OH earn brilliant money and they live in a council house so she must know that tax credits will come up trumps for her. Very nice if you can work the system.

Getting TC isn't 'working the system'...the government want to give people money so why not take it? I bet no-one complains about the pension credits the government set up for the older generation...or is it only people with young children that shouldn't get? I don't think it's fair that people under the age of 25 should only get TC if they have kids but as alot of posters have said...a hell of alot of people don't live within their means.

I have admitted to my income going up by a fair bit when I had my son but my OH still works (I will be going back after my mat leave) but when I was still working he was looking after our daughter on his days off as after I had her I only went back part time.

When I add my TC and CB together along with my wage, it comes to less than what alot of people earn but is still alot to us so we can pay off what little debt we have left off quicker and maybe splash out...on some new clothes from a shop that isn't primark!

Toto

Aspiring wrote: »

Well, you've already said there is no point mentioning they are in debt up to their eyes - is the entire street up to their eyes in debt? Quite likely = credit crunch. A recession caused by the demand (and up take) of credit. But, you've said you don't want to hear that

Maybe, they are members of this website? Save enough Tesco vouchers (+ some 'wombaling') can easily pay for a week away at Butlins, or, save a couple of years, a week abroad.

Cook from scratch and use basic cleaners can save a small fortune when added up and tucked away (as opposed to ready meals/take aways/eating out/subway for lunch) maybe they are keen cooks? Or simply, cook/freezer savvy? Perhaps they grow their own veg and preserve the surplus?

Perhaps they only purchase food from the reduced counter/dented tins stands in supermarkets? Maybe they don't waste money at supermarkets and use markets for veg, local butchers for cheap cuts and £ stretcher/Aldi/Lidl/Netto for their tinned/baking/paper goods?

They may be "unemployed" now, but perhaps they were not when they took out their mortgages/credit agreements?

Maybe they Ebay/work from home/shift work/suppliment their income at Boot Fairs? They may be into prostitution, sex chat lines, internet !!!!!!? Maybe they all got together and robbed a bank? Perhaps they are growing and dealing in drugs? Maybe they are part of a huge !!!!!phile racket? The mind boggles!!!!!!!!!!

But my real irritation with your sour grapes post is this: Your post begins by observing "the amount of women around here who stay at home to look after the children while there partners work"

Do you have a problem with women of working partners who stay at home to look after their children?

Do you think being at home looking after their OWN children is somehow lesser than sending them to a nursery so that others can be PAID to look after their children, just so they can have the status that would suit you of "working"?

Bringing up your own children, budgeting, making ends meet and having a bit left over for some (perceived) luxuries (like long weekends away) should never be looked down upon.

I stayed at home while my husband worked. We went to Butlins twice a year for long weekends. I worked damned hard saving money, cooking from scratch, finding the best deal (as opposed to impulse buys). My children went on school trips to the Isle of White, France (numerous), shows at the West End etc.

No *I* wasn't in paid employment (as your post begins) my husband was/is; no, we didn't rent (we were mortgaged). My children walk around in brand named clothes: but only because I buy them in the sales, a year in advance. Savvy shopping, you see

Grow up! Stop hankering after the perceived lifestyles of your neighbours and start appreciating what you DO have. It's very easy to make assumptions about other people. It's easy to presume that they are better off than you.

Go walk a mile in their shoes before you make such sweeping judgements.

If you want to know the REAL secret, it is this: those who you perceive are achieving, are finding a way to realise their own dreams, by their own standards. Who knows how they are prioritising.

If you want to achieve YOUR dreams and aspiriations I would suggest you stop focusing on those around you and you start making your dreams your reality.

However, as one of those "women who stay at home to look after their children whilst their partners (husband, actually) works" aka putting their own life on hold for the benefit of the family - I've earned more for my family by doing so than I would have done by going to work, paying 25% of my wages in tax, another sum in national insurance and then the bulk of the rest going to childcare payments and another substantial amount paying out on trips/toys/clothes out of guilt for not spending time with those children. Moneysaving at it's most bog basic really

Focus on your own business and stretch for your own dreams.

I totally agree.

I am sick to death of hearing people bleating on about 'their taxes' paying for tax credits and so on. I have been a high rate tax payer for years and I don't begrudge a penny of it. I think it's great that children are being given a decent standard of living, poverty creates all sorts of misery, not just because people can't afford to feed or clothe their kids but because those kids often end up in a life of crime or poverty themselves.

So, it sometimes makes sense for one parent to stay at home or work part time, isn't that the best thing we can give the younger generations? A chance to spend their early years with mum or dad caring for them?

Do people honestly think that if there were no tax credits that taxes would go down? of course they wouldn't you'd be paying exactly the same. I tell you, I am happy to hand over my money every month knowing that some of it is going towards giving ordinary people a decent standard of living rather than lining the pockets of some greedy MP or being spent on some needless war.

MyLastFiver

Toto wrote: »

I totally agree.

I am sick to death of hearing people bleating on about 'their taxes' paying for tax credits and so on. I have been a high rate tax payer for years and I don't begrudge a penny of it. I think it's great that children are being given a decent standard of living, poverty creates all sorts of misery, not just because people can't afford to feed or clothe their kids but because those kids often end up in a life of crime or poverty themselves.

So, it sometimes makes sense for one parent to stay at home or work part time, isn't that the best thing we can give the younger generations? A chance to spend their early years with mum or dad caring for them?

Do people honestly think that if there were no tax credits that taxes would go down? of course they wouldn't you'd be paying exactly the same. I tell you, I am happy to hand over my money every month knowing that some of it is going towards giving ordinary people a decent standard of living rather than lining the pockets of some greedy MP or being spent on some needless war.

Post of the week. Respect to your pen.

angelicmary85

Toto wrote: »

I totally agree.

I am sick to death of hearing people bleating on about 'their taxes' paying for tax credits and so on. I have been a high rate tax payer for years and I don't begrudge a penny of it. I think it's great that children are being given a decent standard of living, poverty creates all sorts of misery, not just because people can't afford to feed or clothe their kids but because those kids often end up in a life of crime or poverty themselves.

So, it sometimes makes sense for one parent to stay at home or work part time, isn't that the best thing we can give the younger generations? A chance to spend their early years with mum or dad caring for them?

Do people honestly think that if there were no tax credits that taxes would go down? of course they wouldn't you'd be paying exactly the same. I tell you, I am happy to hand over my money every month knowing that some of it is going towards giving ordinary people a decent standard of living rather than lining the pockets of some greedy MP or being spent on some needless war.

I have to agree but the whole point of working tax credits is that you get them when you work so I look on it as getting my OH's tax back as I don't earn enough anymore to have to pay tax. No-one complains about receiving child benefit so why are some people so annoyed at child tax credits??

Odette

Not saying any the OP or anyone isnt, but some people (especially those from lower to middle class families) are just incredibly shrewd with their money. I find because I didnt have any money when I was a kid, I make what I have stretch now. Also, i scrimp on everyday things to save up for the things I want, ie. foreign holidays.

LilacPixie

actually thinking about it I think I am one of those people the OP is speaking about.

I am a mum of a almost 3 year old and almost 1 year old. During 'the day' I am usually in and out with the kids going to groups and clubs, swimming, the park etc. I work from home most of the time but probably to outsiders I don't work. I do my work when my husband returns form his work so no childcare costs.

We have two cars, mine is the older of the two registered in 2006. Plasma TV ?check, games consols? yup multiple infact, good mobile phone ? yep, new furniture? possibly we are in the middle of renovating our bathroom if that counts.

To add into the mix, yes we get tax credits, £42 every 4 weeks, child benefit is £132 I think. I get DLA because I have a permenant and degenerative medical condition it is a earth shattering amount of £76 every 4 weeks.

How do we have the luxuries we do and still overpay debt/mortgage and save??Well we both work damm hard.

SueP19

angelicmary85 wrote: »

I have to agree but the whole point of working tax credits is that you get them when you work so I look on it as getting my OH's tax back as I don't earn enough anymore to have to pay tax. No-one complains about receiving child benefit so why are some people so annoyed at child tax credits??

An excellent point :T:T:T

angelicmary85

SueP19 wrote: »

An excellent point :T:T:T

I'm glad someone thinks so!

gilligansyle

Surely everything is relative. I am a single parent, and have brought my son up alone. I scrimped for years just to stay on an even keel. I never claimed anything other than child benefit, I wish I could have. Friends who were on less money than me seemed to spend more, have flash stuff, but it never bothered me. Then I met someone who was quite materialistic, and the debt spiral started. So yes, we have the toys, but I'll be paying for them for a number of years yet. You don't know if people are using CC and debt, going to Brighthouse, have saved for years, just lost a parent and received an inheritance or even run a lucrative business from a spare room.
As my Dad used to say " you never know what goes on behind the curtains"

DietCokeMad

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.

I was not meaning to offend anyone here - just using it as an example of how the system is weighted towards people with kids. My friend of a friend is an extreme example and ok she annoyed me when bragging about it when last we met. But her 3 kids are all different dads, and she works extremely hard bringing them up, and I wouldn't wish the situation upon anyone. I'm not against tax credits, benefits or any other form of government support, and I'll be the first in line if i'm ever entitled to any of them.They are necessary and if it allows more people to stay home and bring up kids then great - one day i hope to do the same