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People living beyond means - doesn't add up

I just need to run this by others.

I know of a family with 4 kids who have one part time job between them. One of them is at uni full time. Now, if that is the case, they would only be able to claim working and child tax credit - right?

Ok, so say they can get by. I know they have a mortgage. You'd think things would be tight yeah? But have they cut back? No!! Now they have acquired car less than a year old, continue to buy expensive clothes, kids go to all the clubs going. How do they do it? Some say it's probably loans - but how do you get car loan on one part time job?

It doesn't add up and yes, they could have won lottery but chances are they haven't. It stinks when others are working hard to make ends meet.
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Comments

  • mrsspendalot
    mrsspendalot Posts: 3,238 Forumite
    They may have used the student loan to pay for the car? The part of the loan that doesn't pay for fees, that is?
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  • RAS
    RAS Posts: 36,071 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Student maintenance loans, possibly a bursary. Over-compensating parents?

    They could be being thick and claiming both the childcare element on the student loan and CTCs?
    If you've have not made a mistake, you've made nothing
  • Aarons_mummy
    Aarons_mummy Posts: 961 Forumite
    Why not go and ask them for a copy of their financial folder and then you can find out.

    Sorry but this irks me so much. Maybe they have saved for a long long time to be able to afford the car, maybe a family member has helped them out, maybe they inherited money from a death and bought a car. There are so many scenarios as to why they are able to have the car.

    wish people would just keep their noses out of others financial business it's so rude and to post about it on an internet forum is just poor taste.
    Credit Card: £796 Left/£900 October 2011 :eek:
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  • Is it any of your business.

    I suggest you get out more.
  • no-oneknowsme
    no-oneknowsme Posts: 1,955 Forumite
    Op , are you a tad "jealous" of this other family?

    As 1 of the previous posters said , maybe they have a supportive family who are helping them out so that they can continue with Uni to gain the qualifications they need to get a good job?

    Both myself and my Husband work , we have a nice home (or at least im happy with it) our Children dont go without . We have 2 cars , our children are always clean and tidy yet we dont earn that much between us (trust me lol THAT statement is true).

    Its all to do with how you manage what money you DO have!

    I dont drink , I stopped smoking 2 years ago , myself and my Husband NEVER go out socially . All our money goes to our home and Kids....

    Could this be the same as the family in question?
    The loopy one has gone :j
  • Jowo_2
    Jowo_2 Posts: 8,308 Forumite
    You aren't privvy to their household expenses and income, whether they are in debt or not, whether they have savings, if their mortgage has been switched from repayment to interest only in order to save money, whether their lender has given them a repayment holiday, if their mortgage is for a tiny sum, etc.

    Their household will also get child benefit, student loan, perhaps a grant, perhaps a bursary if its a NHS related degree subject.

    Don't worry about their standard of living - concentrate on your own.
  • i have a friend at work, she works part time and had 2 children
    she started uni last year she was worried how her finances would work but really wanted to do this so she made cut backs and got all her finances in order before starting

    after a few months she said she was amazed at how much financial help was available bursaries and loans ect
    she said she had never been this much better off for years, but is a little peeved at how much quality time she has lost with her children, but knows once she has done this she can get a better job which will benifit them all

    so what i am trying to say is working and going to uni with children does not mean that money will be tight in all cases, if you know how to manage money properly
  • Tehya
    Tehya Posts: 501 Forumite
    edited 4 April 2011 at 2:54PM
    I just need to run this by others.

    Some say it's probably loans - but how do you get car loan on one part time job?

    Just because a person works part time it does not mean they a low income. When I was teaching (in FE) I worked 18 hours a week earning around £15 TO £20 an hour so a pretty good wage which is more than some earn on full time hours.

    Plus you can get loans on a low income. I am 3 years into paying back an £6000 loan. I also have a credit card with a £4000 limit and also a £2000 overdraft facility.

    Yes I got the loan whilst still in work but it was part time work. My credit card and overdraft were offered to us by the bank since we've been on ESA.
  • karenmay33
    karenmay33 Posts: 167 Forumite
    Why not go and ask them for a copy of their financial folder and then you can find out.

    Sorry but this irks me so much. Maybe they have saved for a long long time to be able to afford the car, maybe a family member has helped them out, maybe they inherited money from a death and bought a car. There are so many scenarios as to why they are able to have the car.

    wish people would just keep their noses out of others financial business it's so rude and to post about it on an internet forum is just poor taste.

    How Rude!

    why should people get everything and others have to work 24-7 to buy the things in life others get for F-All
  • karenmay33
    karenmay33 Posts: 167 Forumite
    Op , are you a tad "jealous" of this other family?

    As 1 of the previous posters said , maybe they have a supportive family who are helping them out so that they can continue with Uni to gain the qualifications they need to get a good job?

    Both myself and my Husband work , we have a nice home (or at least im happy with it) our Children dont go without . We have 2 cars , our children are always clean and tidy yet we dont earn that much between us (trust me lol THAT statement is true).

    Its all to do with how you manage what money you DO have!

    I dont drink , I stopped smoking 2 years ago , myself and my Husband NEVER go out socially . All our money goes to our home and Kids....

    Could this be the same as the family in question?


    jealous rofpmsl...

    just sick of benefit spongers
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