AIBU to be surprised at how much Child maintenance costs?

[demystified]

I have 1 child and earn 16.5k a year. Out of curiosity(thread on here) I put these details in the child maintenance calculator and based on having my child 1 or 2 nights a week it says I would pay £33 a week.

They must be having a laugh, or am I missing something? Is there another part to it?

I get where you're coming from lougle but while I'm in good health, it's a choice I'm making for my family.

The point is I shouldn't have to make that choice because her father's contributions should be fairer.

It should be an amount deemed necessary to look after a child, paid by NRP if they have the money and by government if they don't (or maybe paid by government anyway) and the debt should be treated like a student loan, not wiped until you retire.

That way RP would get a reasonable amount that would not change if the NRP is eg made redundant.

Parents who pay more should be rewarded via tax breaks

I think is is unfair that the NRP gets a reduction in maintenance for nights away from the RP actually.

I know NRPs who have their DCs at weekends by staying at the grandparents house or providing a mattress on the floor of the living room of their flat. The only extra cost to them is a few meals for that weekend.

On the other hand the RP still has to maintain a family-sized house and buy all clothing and transport to school costs for DC. They don't get a reduction in these costs when the DC are away. They can hardly downsize to a studio flat every other weekend can they?