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Discussion Forums » General Discussion
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UK Budget........discuss!
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22 Jun 2010, 12:47
Dreamer ♥
Post Count: 167
Good or bad?

I think there is def an upside to some of it.

EG cutting the benefits of those who sit at home and up the benefit of actually getting a job! About time they did that!

I am neutral on tax credits and child benefit as I don't take them into account when working out my finanices (I can't spell). To me they are an extra to be spent on my child, not me.

NI changing. I will benefit a bit from this as I will be paying so much less tax! It will mean more comfort and security from the money I earn.

If I have gotten any info wrong, do correct me but not in a nasty way, I don't understand somethings properly. Sometimes I need help.
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22 Jun 2010, 13:51
Transit
Post Count: 1096
On the guardian website there is a very confused commenter, she believes that as child benefit has frozen she wont be receiving any child benefit for three years!

On the whole I'm pretty pleased with the budget, especially placing a cap on housing benefit (though it would be better if paid to the landlord not the tenant), scrapping the healthy pregnancy allowance after the first child, though I would much prefer it to be taken away altogether. Encouraging single parents to work when their youngest starts primary school is great as well, especially as many schools now have breakfast clubs etc so working parents have time in the morning to drop the kids off and pick them up in the afternoon without having to find a family member to do so, or pay someone else to do so.

The VAT was inspected, generally it wont have a great effect either, I mean if you want to avoid a small rise in cost on a large purchase such as a car, you have plenty time to buy a new one, and really, it wont be much a difference, especially as during the last VAT rise it was fairly successfully received by those who understood it.

I'm all good the public sector pay freeze and the top wage being no more than 20 times the lowest way, however I don't agree with giving those on £21K below £250 a year until the end of the freeze, it seems completely pointless to me and a waste of money.

The lower tax for smaller businesses and the NI cut for those outside south-east/east for the first ten employers for new businesses.

The pensions please me as well, with the rise with earnings or 2.5%.

I would have placed a higher tax on tobacco and alcohol, the levy on cider hasn't led to a decrease in purchase, so I think they should leave it instead of having a reversal.
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22 Jun 2010, 13:52
Transit
Post Count: 1096
expected, no inspected VAT!!! I'm sure there will be more typo's in there somewhere :)
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22 Jun 2010, 13:56
Dreamer ♥
Post Count: 167
I was also confused about the term "frozen". Though I do now understand that it means we (parents) will receive the same amount of child benefit for 3 years which for me is good enough. That money goes towards my child, nothing else.
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23 Jun 2010, 09:19
Miss Murder
Post Count: 33
Yes that means that the child benefit will stay as it is and you will still recieve it. Its ok for some people to say that child benefit only goes on their child and nothing else but I dont have a job, I have a hell of alot of bills to pay and that really makes a difference to me, especially shopping seeing as the child benefit can get my sons milk, nappies and food for a month but coupled with the tax increase it means that the £80 will mean jack shit in a year because prices will have risen so much that food and milk etc will be so high. Also he isnt doing himself any favous by cutting Child Tax Credit when people get a job because im sorry but I wouldnt get a part time job if I would be getting less a month, I need some encouragement! That being said im putting off going to university and getting a real career because of A) the money ill owe due to student loans etc rising and B) he's cutting housing benefit so I wont be able to stay in my current house if I go to uni because it means ill have to get a full time job plus go to uni PLUS look after a child.

I totally agree that people should work when their kids are in school, they are there from 9 till 1 so what else are you supposed to do? I dont agree with them scrapping the Sure Start Maternity grant because that really helped me get things for my son, yeah I had two incomes at the time but when prams are £200+ and a car seat is £300-£400+ for a good safety rated one its hard going to afford it. Other than that I cant remember anything else, I didnt get the healthy grant and I think its pretty useless anyway so I dont mind that going away. It just annoys me that he's cutting Child Tax Cred from 6.6% when you go back to work to 40% which is totally unreasonable and come on, people who dont want to get a job aren't going to be encouraged by getting LESS money for working. IMO I think it is going to push us back in to recession because the poor and middle classes are going to suffer with the tax increase, I will definately notice a huge difference to my shopping and since im struggling now with money I can only imagine. Maybe I should have more kids so they'll give me more money? :P haha. Im going to College in september so once ive finished everything which will be 2 years I will notice a difference to my shopping bill and everything else for that matter.

Overall there are some good things but mostly bad for people who are parents without a job, its not encouraging them to get a career, just to get a meaningless low paid job. Yay for the increase in Alcohol and Tobacco although I would have put both up again now. Too much cheap alcohol out there IMO
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23 Jun 2010, 10:24
Dreamer ♥
Post Count: 167
With what you have said though, I am guessing you have high standards as you put and I will quote "when prams are £200+ and a car seat is £300-£400+ for a good safety rated one" I have 3 pushchairs that all cost under £100 each. The first was part of a set with a car seat. It was in sale and reduced to £50! Bargin! The 2nd again (mamas and papas), on sale, cost £60 no car seat with it but still! Very nice. The 3rd full price was £80. That's an obaby sport one. Our car seat, the above mentioned was our first and was perfect. The one he has been in since he grew out of that one we were given. Their child had grown out of it. We also have 2 more car seats, one for daddies van cost £25 and one for nannies car which was 2nd hand but in perfect condition, we only paid £10. All of the above are all safety tested and DO have "brand names".

You see, this is what I don't understand, people say it is expensive having a child but the only thing we have found expensive is nappies. Toys and such, we wait for sales and I think this is where sometimes people in general (I am not picking on you, just saying everyone or just some) struggle, people are like, we gotta keep up with the latest trends, we gotta be coolest first etc when really it just all adds up to the debt. Wait a while is my opinion. I very rarely go and buy something the minute it comes out. I can wait till it goes on sale because eventually it will. Saying that, the only expense we do have is Mickey mouse lol! An expensive favourite but he only gets new Mickey stuff for birthdays and Christmas. Not just for the sake of it.

You say about going to Uni or getting a job. They are cutting benefits for those who DON'T have jobs. I am a full time mummy and a full time chef. We are quite lucky we have a system that works. My partner works 7am till 5pm, I work 430pm till 11pm. Yes it means we don't see a lot of each other but it works, Oscar gets to interact with a childminder and other children as he goes for a couple of hours 4days a week. £6 a day. He enjoys it, he has come along so much since going there. There are ways and means of working and being a mummy. There is also ways of furthering your education whilst working. If I wanted to I could do all sorts of courses whilst working and get paid at the same time so whilst you say you wouldn't be better off maybe think about getting a job where you could do courses at the same time. Major companies usually do them. I have worked for whitbread for just under 7years and they have offered me so much it is crazy.

As I say though, you just need to look in the right places and then you need to get your foot in the door. I have worked since I left school which was 10years ago. Only had maternaity leave of 1 year. My brother who is a year older than I, worked 1 DAY and decided that was enough and has got 4kids, no proper education and claims he has a "bad back". I know he hasn't and that is the sort of person I despise.



This is all my opinion, Don't hate me for it
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23 Jun 2010, 10:29
Dreamer ♥
Post Count: 167
Also, I hope you don't think me rude but I looked on your diary FP and you have put you want to be a midwife. Well working for the NHS will have so many benefits that maybe it would be worth a struggle for a while. Also things like daycare would all be taken care of as they usually provide that. Sometimes hospitals can also provide living areas, there is one near me that is a student hospital and they have student housing. Cheaper for you then! There will be ways and means, just gotta look at all options!
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23 Jun 2010, 11:46
Transit
Post Count: 1096
Yeah, almost all uni's/colleges provide very good yet very cheap housing and day cares, some daycares are at no extra cost as well.
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23 Jun 2010, 11:58
Dreamer ♥
Post Count: 167
I did think this, I have never been to uni but I do have friends with and without children who have been. I managed fine without uni! I would have been a manager for a site had my confidence not let me down! I would be in a different boat now lol!
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23 Jun 2010, 12:05
Transit
Post Count: 1096
Plus of course at uni the less money have the more financial support you get, not only would she get full loans (which wouldn't effect her credit rating and aren't hard to pay off and a large proportion would not need paying back) a lot of uni's would also provide their own financial aid as well, you can also work quite a lot of hours without it effecting the amount of loan/grant you receive.

The thing is most people who shy away from uni for financial reason don't realise how much support they are entitled too, and that paying back doesn't leave you with large repayments compared to your wage.

You can get a top rated car seat for a new born for under £120 if you buy from new as well, including Britax.
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23 Jun 2010, 12:11
Dreamer ♥
Post Count: 167
Exactly. And also I know people who have left uni many years ago and now only pay back loans through wages they earn providing they earn enough! If you don't earn enough, you don't pay it back! I know you can scam at that point but still, it's good enough for me!

Also, some colleges do free courses for under 25's. My partner has done a 3year one and passed with flying colours! Now as well as being a farm boy he is an electrician! Which means the company he is employed with instead of employing a new person can call upon him and give him extra wage! The more talent you have, sometimes means a much bigger wage!
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23 Jun 2010, 12:19
Transit
Post Count: 1096
Yes, you have to be earning over £1,250 a month before you start paying back your loan, or £15K a year as some people are paid in different intervals. You also pay back 9% of the money you earn above the threshold, so if you earn £1,500 a month you'll pay 9% of £250, which is £22 a month. There is little interest as well, currently the interest rate on student loans is 1.5%.
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4 Jul 2010, 14:15
Acid Fairy
Post Count: 1849
9 until 1? What school do your kids go to?!!
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4 Jul 2010, 14:44
Transit
Post Count: 1096
I thought that was very odd as well, maybe 9-1 are nursery school hours?
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4 Jul 2010, 15:50
Acid Fairy
Post Count: 1849
It could be; I work in a nursery and it is open 7.30am - 6pm (it breaks my heart to see so many 2/3/4 year olds left at nursery for that many hours five days a week) but they can do half day sessions.
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23 Jun 2010, 12:14
Miss Murder
Post Count: 33
My pram was £200 which was the cheapest I could find because it came with the baby car seat thing, im sure you know what I mean and then when he was older I had to get him a car seat which would last him until he was about 4, my mum's was £79 literally the cheapest out there, it doesnt fit in the car securely and it is horrible safety wise but that's all she could afford, mine was £130 on sale which is pretty good and its a lovely car seat. I know you said that one was second hand but ive been told a million times over not to get a second hand one just because you dont know if they've been in an accident, not even a minor one. Im not snobbish like that but I just dont want to risk his safety with all the maniac drivers out there.

As for me wanting to be a midwife, ive got a year of College to do then I have to wait till 2012 to go to uni because of moving etc by then the NHS courses arent going to be funded so its gonna be £3,000 a year [or more cos I heard they were going to put them up to £5,000?] then of course my student loan plus a job PLUS paying for childcare, I know ill get 60% of it paid for by the government unless they change their mind but it is expensive and I honestly dont think its worth the debt im going to be in which is why ive decided to do a different course for the moment because ill be better off NOW which will enable me to save for doing a midwifery course in uni in the future.

I left school at 16 and worked up until I got pregnant with my son then went on maternity leave BUT my employer wouldnt offer me flexable hours even though I thought that was illegal so I had to leave. I decided that I wanted to get back into education now [well when my son was about 9 months old] so I applied and got accepted for one of my courses but I have yet applied for another so that's for me to choose. The only problem is the course is full time, 8 till 6 5 days a week and its an apprenticeship which I think isnt paid so I couldnt really get a job that would work around that.

But my main point was, they want me to get back into work, that's fine I WANT to work but then if I get a part time job to help me with my course I get most of my child tax credit taken away leaving me out of pocket. I know that the income tax thing is being changed but im not sure it makes up the difference? The thing is I WILL be better off not working and according to the government I can sit around on my arse for another 3 years before they will cut my benefits instead of giving me more to get back into education or work, lets face it if you offer people more money to work they will but by cutting Child Tax Cred when you start working it doesnt really make it worth it.
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23 Jun 2010, 12:20
Transit
Post Count: 1096
You would still have a loan to cover your tuition fee's, you can see just above this how they are repaid.
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30 Jun 2010, 22:34
Lady Lazarus
Post Count: 126
RE the changes to student loans - am I right in believing that the student loans are being sold to a private company? If this is the case and they are no longer managed by the government there is a chance that A) we may have to pay loans back sooner and B) we may have to pay more than we have to now. Not that that is deterring me from going. I start in September & I can't wait. I get a childcare grant that covers all my childcare costs for my two boys (aged 2 and 9 months) so that's not an issue. Yes we'll have to work part time as well, but the idea is that in 3-4 years, we'll have a better quality of life. I do think its worth the hardship and the hard work for a few years.

What exactly are they doing to Child Tax Credits and when? I too would really struggle if they cut tax credits, especially as I'm working. Almost every pound I get from my job and the tax credits is accounted for. I could handle the rise in VAT OR the cut in tax credits, but certainly not both. I'm slightly worried now!

Personally I would have means tested child benefit and tax credits and also the winter fuel allowance for pensioners. I work in bingo and quite a few old dears admit that they put their allowance in the bandits.. I do think things like housing benefit for private tenants and things like the winter fuel allowance should be paid directly to who sends the bills.

At the end of the day, I know why cuts need to be made. I'd rather suffer for 10 years now than have my children grow up and have to pay back the defecit. But do I think that the Tory's will really be able to cut the defecit? I don't know. I hope they will but I have my doubts. Do I think the poor will suffer more than the rich? Almost certainly. I'd like to see the PM's wage halved. I could live off half of his annual salary for years.

Also I agree with them shaking up the benefits system and getting rid of the piss takers, but I'm not sure I like the idea of them asking EVERYBODY on DLA to attend a medical. My mum has been awarded it for life because she has secondary progressive MS.. I feel quite annoyed that she has to go through another medical to determine whether she's sick enough to be on DLA, I mean it must be quite frustrating and humiliating for those that genuinely need it.
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2 Jul 2010, 10:48
Transit
Post Count: 1096
People who earn more than £40,000 a year will have their child tax credit cut, at the beginning of the next tax year (march 2011) they are getting rid of the baby element of child tax credit, so people with a child under a year will now receive the standard child tax credit.

I know in 07/08 they were thinking of selling off student loans, however I haven't really heard much about it to be honest, however if it is sold the new company will have to uphold certain terms for at least a minimum term, if after this term they raise interest etc (which I don't think they can actually do legally where student loans are concerned), it will reduce their revenue due to fewer loans being taken out, so it is in their best interest to steer away from change.

Don't those on DLA for life have to have a medical every three years anyway?
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2 Jul 2010, 22:14
Lady Lazarus
Post Count: 126
Thats reassuring then, I earn a small fraction of 40,000 a year lol.
No, I'm pretty certain that my mum's not had a medical since being award it for life. The idea of awarding it for life is that the person has a disability that is incurable and will only get worse, not better... at least in my mums case it is, so therefore, any further medicals would be pointless.
Thanks for clearing the tax credit thing up for me.
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4 Jul 2010, 14:12
Acid Fairy
Post Count: 1849
I don't like the VAT rise. I don't like all the cuts. I have a feeling we will experience a double dip recession because they are cutting too much, too soon.

They are considering cutting 25% from education spending. If they want to cut anything, cut fucking Trident, not education!!

Also the public workers' pension not being increased BLOWS. My dad was a firefighter and developed asthma so had to take early retirement, thus his pension is not that great. Under Labour he was going to get a nice increase. Now he's not. It's sad because many who work in the public services do a ridiculously important job and the money they are paid does not reflect this.

However, my mom works for the NHS and took a private pension out instead and is now glad she did... under Labour she was kicking herself for not having the NHS pension.
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4 Jul 2010, 14:43
Transit
Post Count: 1096
Has he got another job? If so he can increase his pension that way by adding a few years to his stamp.
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4 Jul 2010, 15:49
Acid Fairy
Post Count: 1849
He is a self employed antiques dealer; he's like me: doesn't like working for other people much haha.
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4 Jul 2010, 14:52
Mojo Jojo
Post Count: 278
As someone with a family member who's been living on stat sick pay for a year because he can't get employment support (on account of not being SEVERELY mental ill enough, but equally unable to access counselling services to get him fit for work), I think the benefits system in this country needs a massive overhaul across the board. I actually entirely agree with proposals to medical EVERYONE requesting DLA because so many people take the piss. I know a man who appealed against the decision to cancel his DLA (for a bad back) and won, despite being out in the garden for all to see every day in summer.
I know people who live in benefits because there is currently no incentive to work. Why should you get a job when you'll get more money sitting at home? Then again, as a working mother, it's bloody hard to get hours to suit if you're not keen working evenings/nights. I'm lucky to have a flexible job and free childcare.
We're planning to get pregnant ASAP so we still get the HIPG. I didn't get it with my first baby, coz he was due three weeks too soon. I'll be damned if I miss it again! lol
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4 Jul 2010, 16:00
Acid Fairy
Post Count: 1849
@ Mojo

This is why the minimum wage needs to be raised, so people DO earn more working. And there definitely needs to be more allowances for free childcare. Although, as I said above, it breaks my heart to see so many children shoved in nursery five days a week because their parents need to earn enough to live. My mom has only ever worked weekends since I was born so I spent majority of my time as a child with her and I genuinely think that has led to us having such a very close relationship as adults.

I often wonder why some people have children when they spend next to no time with them. I know needs must but there must be ways around it?

And coming back to the minimum wage, I believe (I may be wrong), Cameron and some other Tories voted against its introduction, so I can't see that being improved in any way.
Why not make minimum wage the same no matter what age you are? At 21 I worked for £4.70. Now I am 22 and I get £5.80. I do the same bloody job, I'm just a few months older!!

AND (I'm on a roll here) why are working tax credits only available to you once you hit 25? My ex is 23, lives with a flatmate and pretty much lives hand to mouth (he works for ASDA for appalling wages) but he gets no help because he's not old enough. What the fuck is that about?

But I have no high hopes for this coalition changing any of this. I did like the Lib Dems but they are quickly going down in my estimation, and I have always detested the Tories, because they would never look out for someone like me.
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