to think that all child benefit should be scrapped from the age of 5

[Ithinkitsjustme]

I think that instead of recieving child benefit, all school age children should be entitled to free school uniforms (including one pair of shoes and trainers and a coat), breakfast and cooked lunch and all school trips (which some years would be more expensive than others), there could also be a new benefit set up for those on a low income. At the moment, many schools charge over the odds for school uniform, trips are unaffordable for the majority of families and suitable school shoes are very expensive, if these were supplied by the schools, the cost would be far lower and would thus save money across the board. Those who wished would be able to send their child with packed lunches.

[expatinscotland]

YABU.

They are schools, not hotels and tour companies.

[DragonMamma]

YABU

What about kids that were homeschooled?

[FlobbadobbaBOO]

Waaay too many variables. Homeschool, children with SAHP's who won't need wraparound care, children with SEN of all types and a variety of needs that won't be met by what would turn into a 'one size fits all' type of care, children who may not be allowed to go on certain trips, religious differences...
And thats before the laughable suggestion that one pair of shoes will last all school year..
YABU.

[DameMarghoulFountain]

quite bonkers in so many areas

i like you, OP - brilliant!

[LisaMed]

I can't work at the moment due to health reasons. If I had the child benefit in my name I would be able to accrue 'credits' to go towards my eventual pension. This is a really big deal for a lot of women who do not work outside the home but sacrifice their pension rights for the sake of their family, then end up shafted financially if the marriage does not work out.

[CogitoEerilySpooky]

YABU. We should be able to trust parents to prioritise their children and use any money they get wisely rather than stipulate what it can be spent upon

[noisytoys]

Yabu. Child benefit is the only money we have in this house for food. All other money pays essential bills and there is nothing left over. My parents bought DDs school uniform

[pushitreallgood]

yabu simple.

[Dahlen]

Actually, I'd quite happily give up my CB in exchange for all that as it would cost way, way more than my CB amount.

[pushitreallgood]

are the Tories canvassing mn at the moment for new ideas to piss everyone off there seem to be a lot of really dumb idea floating around.

[Ithinkitsjustme]

Dahlen, buying school uniform this year was what started this thread off it costs a fortune! I spent well over £700 and that doesn't start to cover the school trips and other "voluntary contributions" that we get sent constant reminders for!

[FlobbadobbaBOO]

I predict that this thread will have exploded into bunfighting and/or hysterics by teatime...

[RandallPinkFloyd]

£700 on school uniform
How many kids have you got?!

[Molepom]

I second that prediction Flobba with the added suggestion that someone will mention food vouchers.

MNHQ - please stop messing about with the forum, that's 3 times now I've tried to post this.

[JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar]

YABU, for the reasons Cogito gives. Quite apart from that, even if you take uniforms and trips out of the equation, older children are way, way more expensive to keep than preschoolers.

I suggest CB only kicks in once a child reaches 5, doubling every 5 years. £160 a month seems reasonable to keep a 15 yo in bus fares, snacks and school excursions

[BornToFolk]

But school uniform needn't cost much. I must have spent £50 max kitting DS out for Reception, including shoes. His school is in quite a deprived area and I think they account for that with the uniform as it's quite basic (white shirts, grey trousers/skirts and school sweatshirts that are reasonably priced) and they are not fussy about shoes so it's possible to buy the uniform as cheaply as possible. And his first school trip cost the grand sum of 20p as it was subsidised by a local business!

I'm aware that costs of uniform and trips will go up as he gets older but for now, I'd rather keep the child benefit, thanks.

[JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar]

Ignore my shocking maths please

[EternalHope]

I like it!!! Good thinking, OP. That way it would be obvious that the financial help is genuinely ending up with the children so stopping anyone saying that benefits just get spent on the parents.

[5madthings]

all uniform for £50 including shoes?! ha ha i wish! the madthings have wide feet with a high instep, awkward buggers i spend about £50 a pair!

school uniform isnt too bad as for my three in primary i refuse to but the logo stuff and just get the right colour top from sainsburys and then trousers a t-shirts when there is an offer on at m&s.

high school unifotm more expensive, blazer, tie, jumper, shirts, trousers and then pe kit has to be the logo stuff. but at least blazers last, pe kit should do two yrs as i buy it big. so its trousers, shirts and jumper every yr or more often as ds1 kerps bloody growing!

buy yabu i like getying my cb and choosing what it goes on, music lessons, extra days out etc.

what i also like is i get it weekly! when i had ds1 i was at uni and applied for it weekly so i could budget more easily. they agreed to pay it into my bank weekly and have continued to do do, its quite nice knowing there is a certain amount going in once a week.

[yousankmybattleship]

YABU. And bonkers.

[Ithinkitsjustme]

Wait until your DC's reach the comp. £35 for a rugby top that they will wear once, £25 for each sweater/ sweatshirt, £8 each for a school tie, if the school was given a budget for these the costs would come down. I have 3 children (of comp age) that I was buying for and £700 included £10 for a pair of football boots as they were the cheapest I could find and £12 for canvas shoes that again were the cheapest black shoes i could find for my DD. School trips cost between £8 in infants and £350 in comp. Even pupils who do NOT go on school camps in comp end up being asked for at least £100 to stay in school for the week. I think it would even out over the years and would also go some way towards combating bullying over labeled items.

[Ithinkitsjustme]

Haven't thought about Home Educated kids though. Back to the drawing board

[DameMarghoulFountain]

£100 to stay in school

someone's maths are wrong here

[Ithinkitsjustme]

No Dame, they have a "curriculum enrichment week" which is either spent at camp or in school doing "alternative" activities such as martial arts day (£35) or a trip to a theme park (£40) etc. all week. It costs a fortune.

[KellyElly]

Great idea, would suit me perfectly :)