To think the cost of living payment should have been paid differently?

[muddlinthroughit]

Would like to think 99% of people have used it as it's meant, to help with food, fuel etc

However, on my socials today I have seen 1 person spend it on nails and 2 tattoos, and another on a PS5....

Not sure that's what it's meant for?

We have put ours aside for food and power and to help with Xmas

I’ve seen a few people on my fb spending theirs on similar, it’s thier business though. Personally I’ve put ours in a instant saver to pick at when we need for food or energy bills. It’s extra money that I didn’t expect at the beguinning of the year so I’ve already saved for Christmas, as I do every year, not that I would use it for gifts anyway.

@muddlinthroughit fair play for coming back. As I said, upthread, I understand what you’re saying, and tattoos and nails wouldn’t be my priority - I don’t have any tattoos and bought my own gel nail kit during lockdown. But, if people are spending their payments on what you & I consider luxuries, but that’s keeping people employed, isn’t that a good thing?

Thread not going as planned OP ?!

It's not early at all, it's due to be paid between the 8th and the end of the month. It's the 9th today. Which is not earlier than the 8th...

I've put extra towards mine from my pay and I've paid my rent until the week before Christmas, then I get those two weeks free, so I don't have to worry about my rent until the first week in January. I can concentrate on food and Christmas now. Is that allowed OP?

Well done OP for coming back - have you refined your thoughts yet and ready to define all your FB Friends as tat-luvvin, nail jobbers who like to spend time on the latest Playstation. Easy solution - turn off FB and get new friends.

Think of it as natural selection. The majority will use it wisely as necessary for their household. A few will spend it on crap and will struggle later for food and heating. A few of those will get killed off through their own stupidity, and the gene pool at least will benefit longterm.

We can’t and shouldn’t police how people spend it.

OP you’re chatting absolute shite. In one day, you’ve seen four separate people bragging about spending their cost of living payments on tattoos, nails and PS5? Have you fuck.

I got mine today.

I paid my rent arrears.

Paid for some gas and electric.

Did the weekly shop.

Bought a bottle of orange truffle baileys for Christmas as it was a clubcard offer, and I rarely buy alcohol.

Took DS out for a meal after a 6th form open evening.

Still have some left, might book a tattoo. A tiny tattoo.

No, as taxpayers we are entitled to discuss public spending and where our tax revenue goes. Whether you like it or not.

Well there is that, but it’s very dark!

have seen 1 person spend it on nails and 2 tattoos, and another on a PS5

Course you have.

@Imnothereforthegiggles ???? I was explaining to OP that nails & tattoos might not be something we would like to spend money on personally (for me, because I worked out how to do my own nails) I categorically don’t judge what other people want to spend their money on. Where did I say buying a UV lamp was a priority to me in lockdown? And I’m advocating people spending their money on nails as they choose, because it means technicians can still make a living.

You could say that about benefits generally though. I see it all in my job, so many people on disability benefits that are also dependent on alcohol and heavy smokers. it would be impossible to check that money given to people for rent and food is actually being spent wisely.

Ok great, let’s talk about the millions of pounds spaffed up the wall on corrupt PPE contracts during lockdown, then.

Nah.. typical MN tbh... but they do love to feel superior

Actually 1 person with nails and 2 tattoos and one with a ps5... but whatever

It hasn’t occurred to me to take a vested interest (or even the mildest interest) in how people are spending that money.

The irony.🤣🤣🤣

Absolute bull.

Says the person who came on Mumsnet to brag about how superior she is to her friends on social media.

Can people not see how frustrating it is for those who are just above the threshold and struggling though when someone is posting they bought a £500 games console
When that person cannot put food on the table this month , and then in a months time that same person who bought the consol is at the food bank
A take away or a small treat is one thing , many people working ling hours etc cannot afford a playstation
I have friends who have got the payment , they have paid of debts, put extra credit on meters , bought extra food cupboard items to cover weeks when money is maybe a little tight , used it to help them get through maybe bought some much needed clothes for dc, school shoes etc and I'm sure thats what the vast majority have done

Like anything in life some people don't make the wisest decisions with money but it's for them to do that with.

My energy company is putting the £66 into my bank account, I'm not currently using it for my energy bills because I've massively cut my consumption, using my wood burner for heating and have a healthy surplus in my energy account. But that's a decision I have made. (It's going into a emergency fund account so might still be used on a energy big eventually).

Cuppasoup that would be the same taxpayers that are paying for your £66 deduction from your Power Bill? Please do itemize all your expenditure to us, perhaps you have more income streams/universal state provision funded by us/you taxpayers than you might think.

Do tell - after all it's us taxpayers that are paying for it.