Tax credits have left us with nothing

donny909

UnderPressure wrote: »

Maybe the OP needs the car to get to work? For some families (not all granted) a car is a neccesity rather than a luxury, I live in a very rural area and to get to the local town say 3 times a week would cost more in bus fares than it does to run my car. (seriously bus's where I live in Wales cost an absolute arm and a leg, £10 return into the local town for 2 adults and 2 children)

Gine are the days of cars being classed as a luxury item, for "some" families they are truly necessary to have any kind of quality of life....................

I can get that of cause but with the very limited income it cant be right by many peoples standards to use tax credits to pay for the running of a car, it's not what tax credits are meant for weather the person is entitled to them or not. For us it would mean taking over 50% off what we spend on our child to run a car.

Far to many people become reliant on a car as something then need when more often than not they dont "need" a car at all. It's all to easy to use the "I need it to get to work" line for justification.

UnderPressure

donny909 wrote: »

I can get that of cause but with the very limited income it cant be right by many peoples standards to use tax credits to pay for the running of a car, it's not what tax credits are meant for weather the person is entitled to them or not. For us it would mean taking over 50% off what we spend on our child to run a car.

Far to many people become reliant on a car as something then need when more often than not they dont "need" a car at all. It's all to easy to use the "I need it to get to work" line for justification.

Even considering my last post I do have to agree with this to a certain extent, although we may be in a situation where we practically have to have a car that is only because we live so rurally, in reality if we lived in a city or town then I am sure we could manage our day to day lives on public transport.

I know we are in a very small minority I jst wanted to point out that for "some" people it is essential.

AnxiousMum

My car is definitely a necessity due to living rural (and job wise as I have to be able to travel around the south east for work). However, if I worked in a set location, and simply had to choose between running my vehicle and feeding my kids - then it wouldn't take long for me to make the decision that I could no longer afford to live rural, and I'd be having to move into town where public transport was more accessible.

B00

Getting back to the OP's original post....

Are we to understand that the £60.00 per week is purely to live on? Whilst it's not ideal I admit, it is entirely possible to feed a family on that (and less!) for the short-term. It might mean your children who are at school will have to go on packed lunches, but in all honesty- needs must.

UnderPressure

AnxiousMum wrote: »

My car is definitely a necessity due to living rural (and job wise as I have to be able to travel around the south east for work). However, if I worked in a set location, and simply had to choose between running my vehicle and feeding my kids - then it wouldn't take long for me to make the decision that I could no longer afford to live rural, and I'd be having to move into town where public transport was more accessible.

I agree with you, if it is a question of feeding your kids and having a car then obviously the wee nippers should come first.

So far as "no longer afford to live rural" I dont quite understand that comment, does it cost more to live in a rural community? Are you really saying that people whi live in a rural community should be expected to "upstick" and move to a town so they no longer need a car? Is it cheaper to live in a town? Should people born in rural communtites with links and family ties to small viallges be forced to move into a town?

I think your comment here maybe be a little nieve and not very well thoguht out....................

AnxiousMum

UnderPressure wrote: »

I agree with you, if it is a question of feeding your kids and having a car then obviously the wee nippers should come first.

So far as "no longer afford to live rural" I dont quite understand that comment, does it cost more to live in a rural community? Are you really saying that people whi live in a rural community should be expected to "upstick" and move to a town so they no longer need a car? Is it cheaper to live in a town? Should people born in rural communtites with links and family ties to small viallges be forced to move into a town?

I think your comment here maybe be a little nieve and not very well thoguht out....................

No, I'm not saying anybody 'should' do anything, just what I feel I would do myself. If I was in a small village with my family around me, would I move if I could not find employment that I could get to as well as be able to afford to feed my children? Of course I would. My employment opportunities would likely be greater, more chance of being able to cut back on commuting costs etc. Ideally though, if I was in dire straits and living close to family - I would think that just as I wouldn't see a member of my family go hungry, that my family wouldn't let me go hungry either, or my kids. My last move was half way around the world rather than go on benefits when my OH was made redundant. After two years living off of savings, and no work in his field, we made the move knowing that we would be able to provide for our family in doing so. But, just because I would do it, and have done it, doesn't mean I think everybody should.

nextyeartina

Wireframe - Is this to your satisfaction? Such a fuss about grammar & text colour... tut tut

deepmistrust - thanx for all your support

donny909 - how the op pays for her car is her business. there are people out there on full benefits with no intention of finding a job, living the life of riley!

tina

donny909

nextyeartina wrote: »

Wireframe - Is this to your satisfaction? Such a fuss about grammar & text colour... tut tut

deepmistrust - thanx for all your support

donny909 - how the op pays for her car is her business. there are people out there on full benefits with no intention of finding a job, living the life of riley!

tina

I was making the point of if she really need the car, which was more than a fair thing to bring up seeing as nobody knew and a car is highly expensive to run on her limited income. I know it's her business how she pays for the car. But in this case she is clearly relying on the tax credits to pay for it and rural or not it's not really a fair thing to use the tax credits for. But as she is and she's stuck in that situation for now then fair enough to her as at least she is working.

But if the tax credits system stopped for her and others tomorrow or even reduced quite a bit it would certainly force her to look for alternatives.

To the op, can you not use your considerable spare time (seeing as your oh looks after the children) to either look for something closer to you or more hours. As saying you drive round the south east makes it sound like you do a lot of driving. As you state you live rural I therefor accept your circumstances and have some sympathy.

And as you only do 20 hours per week is there not anything your oh can do work wise?. If you live rural there must surely be form of seasonal labouring farm work he could do this time of year.

Oldernotwiser

UnderPressure wrote: »

Crikey calm down ladies

Why do you assume that the posters concerned are female?

Oldernotwiser

B00 wrote: »

Getting back to the OP's original post....

Are we to understand that the £60.00 per week is purely to live on? Whilst it's not ideal I admit, it is entirely possible to feed a family on that (and less!) for the short-term. It might mean your children who are at school will have to go on packed lunches, but in all honesty- needs must.

Just to add (yet again!) that the OP will have at least another £100 pw to live on because of her earnings! The £60 she mentions has been a complete red herring!