Cost of living increase — help please!

TodayTomorrow

Hi all. I don’t know whether my question is best placed under the  Child Support category as it is more to do with working out costs.... I really would appreciate some help working out increased living expenses so I can settle this year’s child support costs with my ex partner. We have an amicable non-legal arrangement.

Over 18 months ago I carefully worked out, line by line, exactly what my child’s costs were and -long overdue - I need an easy way to calculate how much the cost of living has increased. Obviously everything costs more and my child is growing so he consumes more and needs bigger clothes. 

Is there a formula? And what is it based on? Is it the CPI? Would increase of utility bills be worked out the same way? And is there an online calculator?. I can’t face working out line by line again as it took many many evenings last time. Btw, I am not looking for alternative suggestions on how to do this (eg percentage of his income) as that is not what we agreed.  Please help!

Socajam

Obviously everything costs more and my child is growing so he consumes more and needs bigger clothes.
If the child is yours why does your ex-partner have to pay anything?
I would have thought the maintenance would cover all of this.

TodayTomorrow

These are the maintenance costs that I’m working out. We are separated amicably and haven’t anything legally binding in place and this is how we decided to work our costs. 

Comms69

TodayTomorrow said:

These are the maintenance costs that I’m working out. We are separated amicably and haven’t anything legally binding in place and this is how we decided to work our costs. 

But that doesnt make sense. You need to agree a formula between the two of you. 

I'd suggest presenting them with something youve worked out with no input would be seen are rather domineering. Remember that the ultimate recourse is CMS, which may well be less than they're willing to pay.