NST December: Debt Destruction December

Florence_J

thriftylass wrote: »

Hello,

usually don't post this month but this one left me perplexed (just wondering if I have a jealous overreaction ):


Someone else diary:

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of children in household......... 6
Number of cars owned.................... 1

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 900
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 3527.64
Other income............................ 975
Total monthly income.................... 5402.64

Really!!! That is a post tax income £64824. We're fortunate to earn 30 and 40k respectively and get together less than 4k a month after tax and childcare vouchers and including child benefit? She seemed like a lovely lady, working etc. It's more the system I think is wrong.

Sorry just can't believe it. Is that the norm?

I would like to begin by echoing your words that the original poster in question is lovely and working, lest this become a chance for pitchforks to be bared, I would also hold this opinion even if the poster was not working.

The system is flawed. I don't begrudge the OP this amount of income, but sometimes the benefits system gives too much and sometimes it gives too little. I was entitled to practically nothing when I became unemployed (according to the benefits calculator) because I live with my OH who is in work.

Also when I grew up there was a time when my family lived on benefits and when my Dad eventually re-entered the work force his full time income was less then he had been getting in benefits.

At the end of the day if the OP is receiving that income, then they have been proven to be eligible for that income, therefore I will place my trust that the higher powers who set that income know what they are doing.

thriftylass

Florence_J wrote: »

I would like to begin by echoing your words that the original poster in question is lovely and working, lest this become a chance for pitchforks to be bared, I would also hold this opinion even if the poster was not working.

The system is flawed. I don't begrudge the OP this amount of income, but sometimes the benefits system gives too much and sometimes it gives too little. I was entitled to practically nothing when I became unemployed (according to the benefits calculator) because I live with my OH who is in work.

Also when I grew up there was a time when my family lived on benefits and when my Dad eventually re-entered the work force his full time income was less then he had been getting in benefits.

At the end of the day if the OP is receiving that income, then they have been proven to be eligible for that income, therefore I will place my trust that the higher powers who set that income know what they are doing.

I amended my post a little to make it more obvious that it's not a dig or judgement of her .

Truly there must be sth wrong though if you didn't receive anything and I guess your partner didn't earn near enough that. Also I will never in my live have a take home pay of that even combined with my partner and we earn quite well, have degrees etc. What's also a shame is that if she were fortunate to have a partner it be a lot less no matter what he earns. Sorry, just puzzled. Didn't get any benefits when I was unemployed either and I was only living with my boyfriend at the time.

I'm not even doubting that she is entitled to it but it seems way beyond any realistic income gained through full-time work of two even.

Florence_J

Hi thrifty, don't worry, I know you weren't having a dig, I hope I conveyed that. Like you when I first saw it I was puzzled, I can only dream of having that sort of income combined with my OH, let alone on my own.

I certainly would never want the benefits system to 'punish' people receiving it to provide a sort of 'incentive' to them to get work ASAP by being too small, particularly if children are involved.

Like you, I found it puzzling.

Fmess

Evening all,

SFD number 8 One more day at work. Got loads done at work today and I’m trying not to bring too much work home over the holidays.

That benefits amount is huge! It’s interesting how the benefits system works.

f0xh0les

As she is on a low income - earning £900 a month, she would be on max child tax credit which is £50 per child per week - so for 6 would be £300 a week. £1200 per month, or £15,600 a year (52 weeks). Child benefit would be nearly £90 a week on top of that, so £4,648 a year.

When my DH decided to stop working for the final 3 months of his PhD, the tax credits and child benefit paid the mortgage, all bills, and fed us. I have 4 children.
DH was a student so did not get benefit, and as I was a stay at home mum, I was his financial dependent and did not qualify for any benefit (once you are married you are a benefit non-species) .

So we were fed and housed by the kids' money coming in.

I still had to pay council tax though, as DH was exempt due to student status, and I was not looking for work as DH was in uni writing his thesis 9-5 6 days a week.

We were amazed at the amount of money we got. But as soon as possible DH got back into work. We can see how people would find the 'safety net 'of the benefit system more of a 'comfy hammock'. Not to mention the free school meals, free school trips, free swimming lessons and of course Housing Benefit on top.

Sadly, financially, until her kids reach 16 she won't be able to have a live in partner to share her life with, unless he is well off enough to make it worth her while, but then she would be reliant on 'his money'.

The system is crazy.

apple_muncher

More on this tomorrow...

f0xh0les

Today was not a NSD

MOT and service, plasterer started, Christmas performance for DS4

And today was December payday instead of 29th, so it is going to be a long, long January until next payday. Must remember to be extra careful and leave enough in the kitty.

Parcels are beginning to arrive from the Amaz0nian tributary.

Tidings of comfort and joy to all.

Lauralozzle

Not a NSD as we forgot to take food out of the freezer this morning, we had already eaten our ‘freezer saver food’ and didn’t get home until 7:30pm so we went via Asda and got a ready meal. Didn’t taste fantastic but it was ready in 6 minutes and I’m so tired I didn’t have the energy to start defrosting something and then cook a meal out of it as it wouldn’t be ready until 8:30pm realistically.

I’m struggling at the moment to be honest, I’m tired, I’ve been working stupid hours and it leaves moments where I’d rather spend to get something (fairly) instant. (To put things into perspective I’ve worked an extra 11 hours in the past 3 weeks - on top of my full time hours and 1.5 hour (there and back) commute to work.) come January I’m going to request more days working from home, that’d be three hours of my day back instantly.

There is a light though, at the end of the tunnel. My last day is tomorrow and I’m not back until Start of January.

Gratitudes: Christmas holidays, a bath, the lush bath bomb from my friend, freshly washed pjs warming up on the radiator

T

greent

NSDs Still 8.
Lunches taken/ prepped at home - yep

Debt destruction: Aiming for DFD (exc BTL mtge) of 10/18. Have joined the 'pay off all your debts by Xmas 2018' challenge to hopefully gain inspiration and keep motivation
Exterminate Facebook gone from phone. Will keep it off. Regenerate - will re-start cleaner eating - starting with dropping sugary snacks in between meals - failed on sugary snacking today
Clear up, clean up and take control. Clear space by removing 31 items - 68/31 Clean up your way of talking to yourself. Let yourself sparkle. Take control of your finances, your time, your habits, and your health. -
Explore your local area - failing at this.
Mental health.. Do something every day this month that makes you feel good: Write down 4 gratitudes each day.
* all my children are home (this may be a recurring item.... :D)
* having more than enough
* a warm house
* DD and OH both gave blood today
* We sorted out (hopefully) a couple of little queries on kitchen design
* lots of ironing achieved in front of catch up tv :j
Budget EVERYTHING
Food 342.69/450 - included some bits for packed lunches for tomorrow
Social 0/£120
Gifts 15.66/£125
Fuel 50/65
Make extra money 60.66:j:j (+ 6 extra hours at work) - (and kids have made over £150 (net) from selling toys!!:T:T)
Evaluate (Done) Now to 2018: (targets set)
Remember to do - DONE (foodbank/ save the children/ hamper scamper appeal/ shelter/ homeless collection/ bag of various to CS)

apple_muncher

Today Iam grateful for dh having some work,for being able to keep dd off school as she is still under the weather, for back-to-back strongmen from 2008 with my fave: Mariusz Pudzianowski, for getting some more presents sorted and wrapped, for a yummy sausage tea.