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?

I wouldn't use the Chb to cover school meals. I would use CTC or Wages. Because it would be MY choice for them to have school meals when packed lunches are cheaper. For my convenience. As I did when I was working because I was too lazy to make packed lunches after a day at work.

That's NOT for the child's benefit - it is for the working parent's benefit IMO.

Clothes - in the child's benefit, they benefit from not being naked! (And having better clothes than they would without the Child benefit).

Shoes - in the child's benefit, they benefit from not getting cut feet.

After school clubs - in the child's benefit, they benefit from the additional education experience of a new sport or hobby.

Day trips - in the child's benefit, they benefit from seeing more of the world than their immediate area.

Childcare - NOT in the child's benefit - for the benefit of the parent who is out at work.

School meals - NOT in the child's benefit - for the benefit of the parent who is out at work.

But I accept that not everyone will agree with me. But if I can do it while I am on Income Support - then why can't everyone?

We used to put it directly into DD's savings account but we now transfer it into her current account for her to spend as she wishes. We pay for clothes, family outings and presents for parties, treats etc and she uses the money in her current account to pay for trips to the cinema, ice skating, magazines etc. We do top her money up a wee bit so she gets £81 cb and we top it up to £100. She is only 10 but I think that's a good age for her to start learning to manage her own money- she rarely spends the full amount every month and has built up quite a nice amount in her account. If our circumstances were different though and we needed the money I would have no problem in putting the CB into the family pot.

It goes into the household budget. Sometimes out of this I buy shoes. Usually I buy fags. :o

I use it to buy flat screen TVs, sports cars and rather fetching chunky diamond jewelry.

Yup the cash has just been rolling in with CB. You have to excuse me, I have to go book some first class tickets to Las Vegas.

Hey - I'm NOT saying that it doesn't leave me VERY tight, and any unexpected expenses are almost impossible to cover. Like the sodding school wasnting a costume for DS1 with 4 days notice.

But, DD is 13yo - it won't be THAT long until I am still having to feed and clothe her WITHOUT the ChB's help. Or that of CTC.

I manage it on benefits. Because the Child Benefit is meant to be FOR THE CHILD'S BENEFIT, not for the FAMILIES benefit IYSWIM.

I have mine paid into a po account and it gets used for birthdays,days out,shoes or dancing bills.Having said that id think nothing of using it for a household bill if i needed to.
The way it gets paid harps back to the olden days when they took the order books off us and we had to say how was to be paid.

HuntyCat - I don't follow your argument. If being fed and clothed isn't in the child's benefit then what on earth is?!

Our cb sure helps with the cost of nursery fees! Although once DS is in school, we'll probably put it into an account for him; it might help pay some uni fees/deposit on a flat later on in his life. I don't see the problem in that.

I know somebody who does consider that the entire CB has to go on the children and will buy toys and clothes up to the amount every month, not a penny less. she is quite dim though.
I spend mine on school/nursery fees and vodka, both directly benefit the children.

It just leaves me speechless that some people are using the money to survive and other are letting their 10 year old use it as pocket money, the difference in peoples needs is just breathtaking.

At the moment I'm quite sure all CB goes on child as its paying for all his camping trips, school sobriety trips, equipment etc. But in general it does all go in one big pot and as its half term here this week I'm very glad of it as its paid for child entertainment too Xx

tbh I wouldn't feel it was to my children's benefit to get used to having more clothes or activities than we could well afford if at the same time it meant there was no money left over for emergencies

much better for them not to get used to living above their means- and much better for them if that boiler can be fixed when it breaks down

I was the only one of my friends at college who did not have the spending of the whole of my cb (because that money was needed to buy food). Funnily enough, I was also the only one of my friends who did not struggle with managing my finances once I had left home. The others had acquired far more expensive tastes than their student loans could supply.

I spend most of mine on sex aids & fags.

I do buy them food & clothes from earned income though.

Most people spend at least 20 quid a week on their kids, be it food, shelter, heating etc.. why the debate?

What on earth difference does it make what each specific pound gets spent on? It all goes in the same pot called "household expenses" which includes stuff like feeding the children and buying them shoes.