is my husband hiding money?

BigAunty

pickledonionspaceraider wrote: »

'I cant find last year's tax renewal letters but I did find an old wage of his. It says his net wage is £1300 ...
This does sound like an old wage slip and he may have had a raise who knows, but £1300 take home is not a great wage for a sole provider - that would equate to a take home of £1,038 a month

£1300 net is £1300 net - his take home pay is £1300. You have assumed it is gross and then made deductions from it.

And yes, the OP is groping in the dark about the household budget because her husband is intentionally and deliberately concealing his income and the household expenses.

Anyway, he's admitted to having disposable income of around £60 a week, around 4 times greater than hers.

If he would sit down and draw up a budget, like many couples willingly do, the OP may be able to work out where they can make the typical savings to free up more money, such as finding the cheapest insurance, energy, telecoms tariffs and so forth. That route is shut down.

Also, if he would be more open about his debts, they could draw up a better debt management strategy.

Instead she is told she has to lump pocket money of £2 a day.

cte1111

Net is after tax, so the husband will receive £1300 per month, not the lower figure estimated.

pickledonionspaceraider

BigAunty wrote: »

£1300 net is £1300 net - his take home pay is £1300. You have assumed it is gross and then made deductions from it.woops yes i see what you mean - so £1300 take home,still not a great wage for a sole provider for six people really

And yes, the OP is groping in the dark about the household budget because her husband is intentionally and deliberately concealing his income and the household expenses.

Anyway, he's admitted to having disposable income of around £60 a week, around 4 times greater than hers.

If he would sit down and draw up a budget, like many couples willingly do, the OP may be able to work out where they can make the typical savings to free up more money, such as finding the cheapest insurance, energy, telecoms tariffs and so forth. That route is shut down.[COLOR="rgb(255, 0, 255)"]That would drive me mad, not knowing how much things were costing and trying to find cheaper alternatives[/COLOR]

Also, if he would be more open about his debts, they could draw up a better debt management strategy.

Instead she is told she has to lump pocket money of £2 a day.
It sounds a small amount when you put it like that, but OP is only working 12 hours a week having 15% of a wage as 'pocket money' is pretty lucky ...

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pickledonionspaceraider

ahh yes £1300 take home per month - think I am cracking up

It does seem to me that their outgoings are likely a lot more than realised as basic bills could be including debts etc.

I wouldn't be happy not being involved in the household budget, as I quite enjoy shopping around for cheaper alternatives

Transformers

quidsy wrote: »

It always amazes me what people will put up with. Your husband sounds like a right prize!!!

Well, he must be doing something right as the OP has chosen to have four children with him.

BigAunty

To be honest, I'm surprised that there is no entitlement to housing benefit on rent of £630 per month, I think ? (though I know its based on LHA rate entitlement, not actual rent paid) when his income is around 18k per year. Half of his net income or so goes towards rent which is v. high and is considered an unserviceable level by many letting agents, though its topped up nearly that sum again in other income.

Anway, his net income is allegedly £300 a week, with £94 employment income of the OP, £103 child tax credits and what I assume is £62 child benefit on top - net weekly income approx £559 with around £150 or so going on rent, around a quarter of net income, which is considered manageable.

I don't understand why she only ends up with the equivalent disposable income of a cappucinno.

Anway, just to highlight the weirdness of the benefits system, as I've already pointed out, the OP would get around £460 in employment income and benefits per week, going up to £510 if she receives the minimum recommended child maintenance, if she became a lone parent.

However, I am sure that a very large chunk of her rent would be paid by HB, and at the very least would get the 25% council tax discount but likely to be greater. Overall, because the bulk of her accommodation costs would be met (which are paid by the parents directly now), she'd be much better off. This higher income is also offset by reduced expenses in not having 1 extra person to feed and clothe. Also, assuming that the loans and credit cards are in his name, and he keeps the car, then she is free of those debts and expenses, too.

I'm not saying she is in the position to roll round naked on a carpet of bank notes but I have a feeling she can treat herself to more than a pair of tights or a take away coffee each day.

Plus she'd regain control of the household finances and get a sense of accomplishment from budgeting exercises.

BigAunty

Do you think we scared off the OP? She has described herself as weak and depressed.

Perhaps we ought to post words of encouragement, optimism and comfort?

fairy_lights

pickledonionspaceraider wrote: »

Weekly food £360 the month - must me far more for you as you are six pple

You spend £360 on food per month just for one person? :eek:

pickledonionspaceraider

fairy_lights wrote: »

You spend £360 on food per month just for one person? :eek:

Gosh, no, figures are for my entire household, which is less people than OPS household

David301

Have been reading this with interest, I don't feel there is enough information about the families finances to start saying that the husband should give X,Y,Z more.

I do think that from the figures given and general knowledge of the the cost of things that this household is running on far too tight an income for there to be any left over for frivolous spending.

Maybe the husband is trying to keep the actual money situation from his wife a secret because it is so dire that he lives in constant dread that an unexpected bill could arrive and he doesn't want his wife to live like that. Maybe he is trying to put some money to one side as an emergency fund so that his family will be secure in such an event?

There are two sides to every story.