How on hells earth are we supposed to manage!

Fiver29

bobajob_1966 wrote: »

So are we all agreed that single parents don't all have the easy ride that the media portray them to (and that any discussion of the subject is completely irrelevant to the OP's situation!)?

Indeed! And has knocked this thread right off course. So I shall say no more on the subject :silenced:

Back to the original thread.

chris1973

I would love to work but would actually be worse off when part of a couple. What a mad system that we have!

I wouldn't worry about it, eventually the country will reach a point where there are more people unemployed than working - maybe some of them will be the ones who decided to give up / not to work because they were better off (then) on benefits *if* this is the case with some people out there and *if* it has ever happened then hopefully those who made the decision will hopefully, be big enough to stand by those choices when the brown stuff hits the fan. I can see a point in the future where the revenue from taxes will drop significantly to the point where benefit payments going out outstrip the revenue coming in, I doubt Greece will return a favour and pick up the tab and bail US out, so the whole benefit system as we know it will collapse. After all, there are other countries who dont' have any form of benefits perhaps we'll soon become another one of them.

If / when this happens, believe me, nobody will get anything, and we'll all be glad to work for whatever a job happens to pay. At least then, regardless of marital status, life style choice, parent or non parent, from a benefit point of view, we will all be equal, because we will all be getting £0 as there will be nothing in the pot left to give.

morganedge

Fiver29 wrote: »

Go for it then. Although I suspect you won't.

Well i'm single, don't have any kids, and am in a low paid job and so not in the same situation.

But not having to go to work is my dream. Isn't it everyones dream?

Oldernotwiser

jtktb wrote: »

I'm already ironing and ebaying and that helps, although we don't have a lot left to sell!
We only really need to eb a couple of hundred pound a month better off but in order to do it I need to work full time in a well paid job

Don't your tax credits go down because of your earnings from ironing?

Marisco

morganedge wrote: »

Well i'm single, don't have any kids, and am in a low paid job and so not in the same situation.

But not having to go to work is my dream. Isn't it everyones dream?

Well, I retired last year and I can tell you not working is glorious!! Do what you want, when you want, and no sod telling you what to do. Job's a good 'un (Mind, I did put in a canny few years at the grindstone prior to that!!)

Fiver29

morganedge wrote: »

Well i'm single, don't have any kids, and am in a low paid job and so not in the same situation.

But not having to go to work is my dream. Isn't it everyones dream?

No, I hate not going to work. Having to take holidays depresses me something chronic.

Oldernotwiser

sarahevie wrote: »

No quite relevant, it was empathising with the OP. I am probably closest to the OPs circs in that I'm married with two kids, OH earns £17.5K I told her how we manage as a family. I work evenings and weekends in a supermarket. We also have a rental property.

I actually agree with Midnight Express that tax credits should be abolished.

I thought you were arguing that you were badly off?

Oldernotwiser

Marisco wrote: »

Well, I retired last year and I can tell you not working is glorious!! Do what you want, when you want, and no sod telling you what to do. Job's a good 'un (Mind, I did put in a canny few years at the grindstone prior to that!!)

You and me both, kid!

sarahevie

bobajob_1966 wrote: »

So are we all agreed that single parents don't all have the easy ride that the media portray them to (and that any discussion of the subject is completely irrelevant to the OP's situation!)?

I used single parent rather than couples as I know the amount of entitlement as I work as a voluntary support worker helping single parents claim benefits. I have assisted two single parent families this week with three children so I know EXACTLY how much can be claimed. Which is why I used the three children example.

I think about 30% of single parents work, recent gingerbread article. Posters such as FBaby are amazing. Absolutely inspirational.

I don't blame non working people I understand the logic of not working with such high entitlement, but I am angry at how generous benefits are. Hence why I would like to see tax credits abolished.

I'd say to the OP it can be tough, but it is worth working for your sanity even if 'financially' you are no better off. Frugal living isn't bad either.

ab.da54

jtktb wrote: »

Yeah, so should CB, never seen why the government pay people for having children, but I've also never understood why they pay people to sit around and not work when they have never done a days work in their lives, losing your job is one thing, but never even having had one and chosing not to cause it wont pay as much as they get already??

Without being disrepectful, isn't that what you are doing? Not working and staying at home because if you did work, you would lose your tax credits.

Your husband clears £980 per month and you receive £350 in tax credits, plus £130 something child benefit [or is that included in with the £350 tax credits?]

Mortgage is £350 which leaves either £980 or approx £1110 per month.. After all your outgoings, you are left with £90 for food, clothes etc. This would suggest your other outgoings are very high, so is there any way you can reduce them.

Have you done a S.O.A to see exactly where the money is going? If you have debts, can you reduce the payment on them? Can you reduce TV packages, if you have them, switch to pay as you go phones if you are on contract, have a look around to reduce energy costs, insurance costs, if you have those.

Times are tight for many and people are tightening their belts but, there are people who do manage on around £1000 per month. It's not easy, but is doable [is that a word?]

Good luck.