Wow £50 a week worse off from today

abby1234519

I could afford to finish my degree if I didn't get child tax credits when baby is born in July but I definitely think I can't survive without local housing allowance.

I'd like to hope when I finish my degree I don't have to claim any benefits but we shall see. I guess I have a romantic view of being self sufficient in years to come but I think our country has somehow made us dependent on handouts. I don't think that applies to everyone, I'm one of the unfortunate single mothers to be who doesn't have much choice at the moment! I look forward to the next Budget LOL

kelloggs36

The thing is that when the children get older and go to school, you do have more money spare - even if you pay for care before and afterwards. I have noticed that our disposable income has increased vastly - but we spend it as we earn it, or get insurances which we need but have managed without in the past, such as life insurance, water insurance and pet insurance. The only essential things we used to have were buildings insurances and normal bills like gas, electricity etc and food. We didn't have much of a social life but we got by. As time has gone by things have got easier - especially after I got a job after going back to uni as a mature student. However, now, I am facing getting half pay as I have been off work for the past few months whilst the Drs try and find what is causing my debilitating abdominal pains. I have had surgery and am facing more, and my pay is about to go down to half. I know I have been very lucky, but it is back to cutting back to essentials until such time as I can get back to work again - which will hopefully be next month! I find it sad that people have to rely on tax credits - why don't employers pay a living wage so that it is unnecessary for the government to subsidize them? That is what it boils down to in the end - pay the executives less and pay the lower paid more - a little more fair distribution of money will go a long way, but greed rules the world so those who have more than they need won't sacrifice any for those who are struggling.

viktory

shaftola wrote: »

Young couples are going stop starting familys if they know whats gonna hit them when they go and put there children in nursery

Good! There are more than enough people in our country - a hiatus in child birth is a great idea.

FBaby

I became a single mum when my kids were 18 months and 3 years old. I was working full-time then. I was only able to carry on and make it financially viable thanks to the childcare element of tax credits. My friend separated shortly after that and decided not to return to her job. 7 years later, I earn too much for any tax credits at all and pay high rate taxes. My friend is now finding herself having to go on JSA having not worked for over 8 years. She knows that her prospect of getting a well paid job is now very low. She will continue to receive a good amount of tax credits. Does anyone think that helping me with childcare costs wasn't a good investment for the government?

OP, I understand your frustration, but look at it in the long term, you will struggle for a couple more years, but once both your children start school, you will most likely have increased your income and won't have to pay childcare any longer and you will be then much better off than if one of you give up their job. I look back and have no doubt that I made the right choice however exhausting those years were.

flashnazia

Why is everybody having a go at the op?
At least they are working and contributing to the system. Whatever they are taking out of the system is only temporary until the kids grow up.
Have a go at those who have never worked, have no intention to, and never will....

viktory

flashnazia wrote: »

Have a go at those who have never worked, have no intention to, and never will....

I might..had they posted *rolls eyes*

moomoomama27

flashnazia wrote: »

Why is everybody having a go at the op?
At least they are working and contributing to the system. Whatever they are taking out of the system is only temporary until the kids grow up.
Have a go at those who have never worked, have no intention to, and never will....

Totally agree, but it's a chance for people to get on their high horses!

flashnazia

The op and his partner pay approx £278 tax a week, they were claiming £244. That still makes them net contributors! The other parasites deserve the vitriol not these two!

dreavi

This is exactly why I am not starting breeding until I can afford to support my kids.

I cant afford to maintain a lifestyle with disposable income, pension contributions etc.

Tax credits should be if you cant meet your childrens needs not to top you up to a desirable lifestyle.

My opinion anyways but no-one ever asks it as a non-married childless man

p00hsticks

kelloggs36 wrote: »

I am staggered at the cost of childcare - my children are 13 and 8 now, and don't need full-time childcare, but when they did I sent my eldest to a childminder who charged about £300 per month, which was affordable. There weren't any tax credits for childcare then - they came in after, when my eldest went to school. Even with our joint incomes being less than £30k per year, we still didn't qualify for any childcare costs for the before and after school bit, so I don't understand how people on that money get it?

The problem is that it is a vicious circle - while parents are able to claim hundreds of pounds a week in tax credits, nurserys can charge these sorts of prices, as the vast majority of the bill is being met by government benefits rather than from the parents pay packet.

If one result of the cuts is that some parents decide it is not worth both partners working and so pull their kids out of nurserys, perhaps the prices will have to come down to more manageable levels