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Original poster

Not much saved for kids

60 replies

helpmelosemybigbelly · 22/04/2026 22:02

Feel bad I don’t have much saved for my kids so thought I’d ask here and see how others are doing or anyone similar to me

have 2 DC ages 8 and 5. Older one has nearly 3k younger around 1.5k. This is all birthday and Xmas money and money received when they were born etc

my DH works but low income, we on UC also as a top up as i can’t work right now due to caring for my older DC with high support level needs. Also we rent which is expensive so doesn’t help

my children’s pots are terribly low aren’t they

OP posts:
Screamingabdabz · 22/04/2026 22:37

I tried to save for my kids but it kept getting absorbed into the family pot as we couldn’t afford it. They’ve all done fine. They earn much more than us now!

SpiceGirlsNeedAComeBack · 22/04/2026 22:26

If it makes you feel any better my parents are quite well off & gave me nothing when I grew into an adult. 🤷‍♀️

CountryQueen · 22/04/2026 22:24

Sunisgettinganewhaton · 22/04/2026 22:10

Be careful their cash doesn't hit the UC savings threshold... If it's in bank accounts even in their own names it counts as YOUR savings.

Is this true? Someone close to me left 2 children £15k each and I’m told it’s in their bank account which I know is attached to the mother’s bank account. She is in receipt of UC 🤔

Tempodrom · 22/04/2026 22:23

Sunisgettinganewhaton · 22/04/2026 22:10

Be careful their cash doesn't hit the UC savings threshold... If it's in bank accounts even in their own names it counts as YOUR savings.

No it doesn’t. It does need to be declared but if it can be shown that the child is the beneficial owner, it does not count. It is therefore better in a kids ISA rather than a savings account but shouldn’t count as a parents savings either way.

Sunisgettinganewhaton · 22/04/2026 22:10

Be careful their cash doesn't hit the UC savings threshold... If it's in bank accounts even in their own names it counts as YOUR savings.

dontmalbeconme · 22/04/2026 22:09

On your limited income, you're doing (more than) fine.

Rizzz · 22/04/2026 22:07

This is all birthday and Xmas money and money received when they were born etc

They're kids and they're not allowed to spend their own birthday and Christmas money??

If this is true and you're worried about them 'only' having 3k and 1.5k it's a very strange thread.

FoundAUserNameDownTheSofa · 22/04/2026 22:07

Of course that’s not low.

And if you are on a low income I’d use their Christmas and birthday money for their more immediate benefit (clothes, a day out, after school activities etc, not just toys) rather than trying to save more.

youalright · 22/04/2026 22:06

Absolutely nothing when they where old enough they got jobs. My eldest is 19 and buying her first home with zero financial help from us. I'm so proud of her for doing it herself she's a good little saver.

CeriseFlingo · 22/04/2026 22:04

Some people have hundreds of thousands saved. Some have nothing.

You can only do what you can do. Do your best, bring them up to be good people and to work hard.