To think some might spend £650 energy payment on other things?

[Hemklop]

I'm prepared to get flamed here, as I know the benefits system is a touchy subject.

However, I was just wondering whether many people will not use the £650 lump sum payment for it's true purpose, given that it's the summer holidays and there are lots of temptations to spend on other things.

These people then won't be any better off when it comes to the winter?

Of course people won't spend it on energy. It's the middle of summer and there are other more immediate costs to meet now that petrol/food etc have gone up in price so much. Also it's a payment for increased living costs, not just fuel. I mean it's literally called "cost of living payment".

However the premise of this thread, tedious and shit-centered as it is, is doubtless a harbinger of the many many news stories we will see throughout the winter about how it was a mistake to give the feckless poor cash, see, look, they're all skint already, maybe we should have given them vouchers, maybe we should make all benefits payments into vouchers, that way we can protect vulnerable children from their tattoo buying booze swilling parents blah blah fucking blah.

That way hopefully any chat about how these payments and the £400 energy account top ups don't even touch the sides of the increase and are a completely inadequate response to a crisis that requires robust government intervention ... will be drowned out if not removed from the agenda entirely.

Most budgets include things like Housing, Food, Clothing, Heating, Electricity, Healthcare, Education, Transport, Toiletries, Household goods (laundry and cleaning), Entertainment, Car etc.

Most people on the bottom rungs only get to look at the first three items these days. The next two are becoming problematic so will not become a consideration soon. The higher end blow massive amounts on things like cocaine, fast cars, Saville Row suits, soft fabrics.......................................

Who really needs guidance as to how to spend their money?

It’s an expensive time of year the summer holidays. The money might be spent on new uniforms, as well as some of the other extra expenses. It of course won’t go very far but it will take the sting off this time of year.

The money they have “saved” that would have gone on things like uniform is now freed up to go on every day expenses like energy costs as and when needed without the big stuff. It all equals out in the end.

<yawn> at non-recipients telling people how to spend it like they have a say in the matter.

I do see the point you're trying to make, but really, as long as people are living within their means, I can't see an issue.

Lower income people are absolutely entitled to spend their money as they see fit, an so are higher income people. And let's face it, the economy needs people to spend money!

I heard that the money will automatically go into our gas/electric accounts somehow and reduce the amount we need to pay.

She was being sarcastic to show how ridiculous the notion was that people shouldn't be given tiny benefits when some rich would buy a bottle of champers costing as much as a parent of a child with needs gets to buy everything necessary to pay for a month of that child's life.

Oh, I thought that only high income earners might be entitled to spend how they like?

Often wonder about the its non of your buisness etc responses on here.
I guess, but could be wrong, that they come from the wealthy people on mums net who this does not really bother as it is so far removed from their experience.

I think that there may be many people who are working and not in reciept.of benefits like me that are not feeling able to have things like baths, eating so frugally its boring..( am taking about lentils all the time, no meat , no conviniece food at all,) who are finding that they are unrecognised in their struggles and wish the system helped them .
I find it hard when people can get outraged when others tell them to eat frugally, batch cook etc as if its below them or an insult from a wealthy person .
Its what we do. Its like a section of society is little seen ..
.its not all either people on benefits or weathly.
I feel like if people on benefits were told to.live as we do there would be an outcry .

You'd think so if some of the threads on here are anything to go by for sure

I like this. Just so much hate.

For example my dh who is early 60 s cant afford the fuel to go to work . He cycles daily .
Other people have struggles too and could do with help

Its hard not to be wishing for benefits and windfalls like this , or free school meals, or dental care sometimes. I guess we are tired. And want to highlight that sometimes benefit bashing can come from a feeling of struggle for some ? A wish for help too.

I am so shocked the OP hasn’t come back...

How about if I told someone earning 6k per month how to spend their money? Would that be ok?

If they spend it now, they need it now. Food and petrol are still expensive.

Don't forget to buy a big TV and get a sky subscription 😀

I'm not.

Some will use it for non essentials and they will pay the price later on . No sympathies . Most wont.

I'm on a pre pay metre and I'm hoping the vouchers wont have a expiration date. I'm probably going to be putting near on 1k on my meter before the oct price increase to see me through the year that way I'm locked into the price I'm paying now

It's ro ease the cost of living ,so people might spend city on school uniforms ,food even days out but then they will extra money from their income ( that they have not had to.pay for uniforms etc) to pay their increased energy costs .

Scuttled back to the safety of the daily mail.

I haven’t got it yet and no idea what I’ll need it for tbh. My electricity and gas is metered so likely pop it aside for that. Also due a small tax rebate but worrying about winter and Christmas. I work and food & diesel is ridiculous too to be honest others can spend it how they like, as long as my bills are paid and kids fed etc that’s all I’m worried about.

If they do they will still have to find the money to pay their bills!

Growing up in a working class family my dad called it robbing Peter to pay Paul or juggling the bills. In other words when money came in it had to go on whatever was most urgent and some bills would get their payments pushed back I. Favour of more urgent bills.

For some families having their children at home for 6 weeks will be a huge struggle. A struggle to pay for food and a struggle to keep them occupied. If they have to spend some of their July payment on the summer holidays then so be it.

Low income families do not have it easy and it is going to get harder! Don’t believe what you read in the papers, the majority of people living on benefits are not having an easy ride.

I’m getting a tattoo, hun. I can’t decide between the word “Feckless” in gothic script or a portrait of the winner of Love Island on a unicorn

“Joking” aside, it’s none of your business and I think you’ll find those who need this benefit are generally pretty good at budgeting.

Also see Pensioners spending their £300 cold weather payment on Christmas pressie's . Never bothered about that before have you ?

Now the expensive school uniform only to be bought from specialist shops really annoys me. Every state school should have the option for uniform to be bought in Asda/ Sainsbury's with only a school tie and badge for sewing on to be purchased .

I hope that some people who received the payment during the school holidays were able to spend some of it on a few nice days out with their children rather than having to blow the lot on expensive school uniform .