How far does your child maintenance go?

Soubrette

speedster, you sound like the NRP equivalent of my own household - I work part time but see part of my job as 'money saving' our household income, this is to pay for the luxuries we have (one of which is of course working part time). I have found that as mine have gotten older they have also gotten more expensive though.

A thought to throw into the mix - if you (general posters not one in particular) feel that NRP and PWC should be liable for 50% each of the costs, what if the PWC is of independent wealth and does like to buy nothing but the best for their child (and themselves). They can afford it, they have plenty left over and aren't accruing debt in any way - is it then fair to expect the NRP (who in my example actually has a much lower household income) to stump up 50% of these bills? If not, why not?

Sou

speedster

if they want to be extravagent and spoil the child then they shouldn't expect the nrp to foot the bill.

simple really! :T

Soubrette

speedster wrote: »

if they want to be extravagent and spoil the child then they shouldn't expect the nrp to foot the bill.

simple really! :T

So if you somehow acquired an income of £100,000 a year then you would still continue scouring ebay, no extravagent holidays, better food, nicer clothes etc? You would genuinely continue in exactly the same way that you do now?

Sou

speedster

Soubrette wrote: »

So if you somehow acquired an income of £100,000 a year then you would still continue scouring ebay, no extravagent holidays, better food, nicer clothes etc? You would genuinely continue in exactly the same way that you do now?

Sou

yup. i'd pay 100k off my mortgage.

i quite enjoy hunting for bargains. i've done it all my life. we were brought up poor and i think i'm a better man for it.

plain, simple family values which seem lost in this materialistic greed ridden society we are in now.

speedster

sorry mis read!!

100k a year!! i wish. :rotfl:

dunno what i'd do then!!

Soubrette

speedster wrote: »

sorry mis read!!

100k a year!! i wish. :rotfl:

dunno what i'd do then!!

lol - don't we all

Do you accept that the majority of people moneysave because they want to keep within their income and if their income rose then for most people, their outgoings would rise?

Sou

speedster

yeah. i'd agree with that.

we all live to our means. we've put our childrens welfare before our lifestyle. we could have the nice new cars and flashy holidays, but the wife'd be out working all hours instead of at home with the little monsters!!

our choice, and we live accordingly.

Soubrette

speedster wrote: »

yeah. i'd agree with that.

we all live to our means. we've put our childrens welfare before our lifestyle. we could have the nice new cars and flashy holidays, but the wife'd be out working all hours instead of at home with the little monsters!!

our choice, and we live accordingly.

OK, but putting aside your choices - Would you also agree that in the main if a family has a greater disposable income (and therefore more outgoings) then the children also benefit from that disposable income?

I know that previously you have called it spoiling the child but I'm talking about things like fancy holidays, extracurricula activities, nicer clothes, more spent on going out etc. In short the children and the adults of a family tend to lead a similar lifestyle based on that family's income.

Sou

LizzieS_2

speedster wrote: »

ha ha!! i was just stating the main expenses.

tax credits can provide pretty much everything else the sprogs need. i know. i have to pre schoolers and i dont really see any difference in our lifestyle since before they were born.

but then, we're careful and shop for bargains. ebay, freecycle, charity shops etc, etc.

we live a fairly simple life and i think, happier for it.

i must admit, hand me downs are a godsend. having a nephew a year older than my boy comes in VERY handy! :j

my mate, however is a totally different kettle of fish. he earns similar amounts to me, has NO mortgage, but spends an absolute fortune on tat for his little princess and has a mrs who just buys for the sake of it.

guess which one of the two of us is always moaning about being skint?

The thing is, not everyone gets the maximum tax credits. Children can cost as much or as little as you choose. When living with both parents those choices are static, when separated it appears many people change their mind over what they expect their child to have.

shell_542

LizzieS wrote: »

The thing is, not everyone gets the maximum tax credits. Children can cost as much or as little as you choose. When living with both parents those choices are static, when separated it appears many people change their mind over what they expect their child to have.

Both NRPs and PWCs