To wonder if everyone uses Child Benefit/Tax Credits on their children?

[Voidka]

I have been browsing on another forum (in a section I dont normally look at) and there seems to be the thought on there that CB must be used on things that the child needs and wants, not to cover bills and household expenses.

Now I am sure this is lovely in an ideal world, but it doesnt work in practice surely?

At the moment, whilst I am earning a good wage we dont need the CB. Whilst that is the case the CB gets put into an account for DD - one that she can't get into. I appreciate that I am in a very lucky position to be able to do this. However, I can get into this account, and if there were ever an emergency I would have no qualms about using this money 'for the greater good'.

When I finish this contract, there is every chance I wont get another job, or will get a job with a much lower wage - at that point the CB will be used as 'family money'...if it still exists by then.

When the CB is paid it gets added to my normal account and then that money goes on bills, food, electricity, rent, haircuts, clothes, nappies and so on. So yes it does go on them, but I dont specifically lay out what its going to go on.

I pay it straight into DD's child trust fund

Mine goes into a separate account, but it's a back up fund. If some of it ends up staying there - great - mostly it doesn't, unfortunately.

CB goes to our general account. An equal amount goes out of the general account into a policy which will mature around the time if/when they go to university, which is when we will definitely need extra money. If they don't go to university, DH and I will go on a nice holiday!

As far as I was aware children live in the house, which attracts expense in the form of rent. They also use electricity, gas, water etc. They eat too.

So the CTC and CB are used on those things the children have benefit of. As well as uniforms, shoes, other clothes etc.

"I once got told off because I didnt put my DS's DLA in an account for him and that I shouldnt be spending it"

seriously?

Hopefully you said something to the effect of "the clue is in the name of Disabled LIVING Allowance!"

Mine goes into a separate account and when boys were small it was spent on nappies and milk, it was then as they got bigger spent on pre school, then it was used for school trips now its spilt evenly and put into their bank accounts for things they want

No we don't need our CB, but as a SAHM it's the only money I get to acknowledge the importance of bringing up the next generation.

The conservatives are supposed to be, for better or worse, the party of the family

ours gets split 3 ways and is put into a savings accounts for the children. Making the most of it, as we wont be getting it for much longer.

We have different accounts for different things, rather than one big pot, and the CB gets paid into an account of it's own. It's used to pay for things the children need beyond what the general household bills cover, so is spent on their clothes, their shoes, school uniform etc.

CB goes into a separate acount to pay for stuff like football coaching, swimming lessons, shoes and stuff. Tax credits go into the main account along with salaries and are part of normal household expenditure.

A good chunk of it goes on a monthly bus pass for DS (11) to get to and from school. The rest hardly makes a dent in sports/drama fees. It definitely all goes on the DCs though.

It goes into the joint pot, which the rent/bills/food etc come out of - keeping a roof over DD's head, keeping her warm and fed are necessary, and without it I can't make the ends meet. Out of that pot also come her activities, swimming, playgroup, her clothes/shoes, nappies, dancing, and any days out we can afford, I can safely say that more than the percentage of the pot from CTC and CB are spent directly on DD!

Can I vote for wibblys post back there ^ as quote of the week .

how odd

the whole point of child benefit and ctc is to help pay for the child's living expenses.
so it should go towards their usage of electricity, food, rent, and clothes etc. you get it because the child puts extra expense onto the household without contributing by way of an extra wage.

I think if it is being put in a bank account for them and saved for later, those people shouldn't be recieving it as they obviously don't need it.

Mine gets spent on the children - food, some clothing, nappies but it does so through my bank account and I purchase these things for them. It seems to always get spent, perhaps some of it on childcare - who knows I wouldn't like to break it down, but lets put it this way when it comes in it doesn't stay there for long and I have another account that is things for me which I transfer money into on payday. Not even in the same league as cb tbh per month.

I don't understand those who are able to save it, and DLA - surely that is essential to be spending rather than saving it? Again if there is enough in the pot to save it then is it really needed? The only time I felt flush was when the first lot of cb came through - as it was more than 1 month. Again didn't last long but lasted longer as I was bf at the time

as a lot of people have said it goes intoa joint bank account that my husband and my wages go into and is used along with the rest of the money on food electric whatever,i only get 40 pounda month child taxcredit and childbenefit for two children. at the moment were struggling so cant afford to pay it into aseperate account for the children but when we have paid off some debts etc i may do .

btw - my post isn't meant to be rude, I started off thinking I would be able to save it for one day being spent on the greater good for the dc but it just hasn't happened. I blame the childcare as I would love to save it as I like to have emergency money. I just don't know how I have managed not to save it tbh but it has just gone..........

Therefore I am quite jealous of those who are able to save it, but at the same time I guess this is the situation that the cb changes are trying to change. The thing is that we will probably have it stopped and yet actually we use it all up every month and not on luxuries so it doesn't seem very fair.

Myself and my DP don't have a joint account. I'm a SAHM and the CB + CTC gets paid to me. We have two kids. I use it to buy 99.9% of the kids clothes and shoes, most of their toys, book, christmas + birthday presents so yes it does go on them. I

If nothing in that department needs buying then it will go on food which most of it did last month.

Watching that Panorama on 'poor america', it really made me value the institution of child benefit, it and the NHS must really be fiercely protected.

I save £25 a month for each DC and spend the rest of it during school holidays, on weekend treats or if my children need books or school equipment.

I've recently taken to allowing the dc to take turns in choosing new clothes/shoes with the CB. It is dd2's turn today. Dd1 is not happy because she has already 'spent' next weeks money and was looking forward to getting new party shoes.

The CTC is saved for holidays/spent on daily living expenses, which is what is is meant for, no?

Most tax credits go on nursery fees. The rest goes on gas and electricity, which my children benefit from. CB mainly goes on grocery shopping.

All goes into the "pot" in which mummys money tree grows from