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

It's the same argument about benefits in general. 99% of people manage their money five but there's always the story of the family whose kids are going without meals but they parents are drinking and smoking.

You either treat people like adults and accept not everyone will make good decisions or you could give vouchers that lack flexibility and mean some people can't make use of them/increased administrative costs/abuse of the vouchers.

Those using their cost of living money for luxuries may regret later

My DM is saving hers for a holiday. I said we'd all be going round hers when it gets cold so we can keep warm!

It's a little too ironic...

Does it feel any less unfair when they now have disposable income to spend on whatever they like because their bills have been covered. Doesn't really matter what way round you technically do it. If you are struggling you can use a food bank as well

@edwinbear

Our energy bill is now lower than a year ago, so yes we definitely are benefiting

My bills are payed so what I do with the money Is my business! As it is their business you have no idea how they manage there

We have haven’t we? Doesn’t mean we can’t also talk about this.

It is but as the taxpayers funding the money they’re also entitled to moan about it. It doesn’t grow on a tree.

@liveforsummer but the bills haven't been covered have they as they will have bigger bills from now on and won't keep getting payments
Latest Playstations etc are huge luxuries which many people cannot afford working or otherwise

2.7 billion pounds to line the pockets greedy self serving millionaires. And people are bothered about someone on benefits getting their nails done. Get a grip.

@Imnothereforthegiggles if you’d like to know my personal circumstances over lockdown, my husband was made redundant, became so depressed he drove to Beachy Head intending to jump off it. Thankfully he bottled it and came home but it took months to access the mental care health he so desperately needed (and still does). I was working in a bank, I realise how much we’re hated but many of us were working 16-18 hours a day to get Covid loans to small businesses as quickly as possible so they didn’t go bust. I was also home schooling 2 DC - as many of us were.

My schizophrenic, 85 yr old aunt caught Covid and became seriously unwell, so unwell her care home refused to take her back. I had to find a new home, whilst dealing with all the above - she lives 300 miles away from me.

I apologise for buying a UV nail lamp which I still use whilst I was dealing with that.

I’m spending mine on fags, booze, designer clothes and a flatscreen television.

actually, I have bought DS some new jeans and a new jacket, which are a designer label, but I’ve had them off Vinted second hand, so pfftt.

There is moaning about it, and there is saying it should have been paid differently... like the people that are entitled to it can not be trusted with money, and should have it in food/fuel vouchers instead.

While the OP was perhaps worded badly, I think the poster meant the mistake is to pay it all in one go rather than installments.

I think it's fair to say human nature does tend to see a larger sum as more of an opportunity for a treat, especially when it comes before most of the biggest costs in energy have actually arrived.

Having a go about Christmas is a bit unfair. Most people try and do something even if it's a chicken dinner and a token gift - and especially so if you have kids. To be preparing for those costs is sensible.

For what it's worth I've seen similar posts in my own family but you'd be wasting your breath to raise it. A lot of people cannot resist money like this in their pockets

Maybe the government will be announcing another round of cost of living payments in the mini budget next week ?

I'm £1500 in credit so mine has gone in my savings for when I get a new house.

Disability benefits are not ringfenced for specific uses, unless you mean direct payments (for which receipts are required to be kept) or in-work benefits used to help with the extra costs working incurs. We don't yet, thankfully, and hopefully never will live in a society where people with disabilities are prevented from buying specific items in shops on account of their being disabled.

@Babyroobs I very much doubt it , they have given a lot already and the money is to cover the growing bill
Im expecting my pay packet to decrease slightly as they pit tax up or something to pay for all this
We only qualify for the £66 pound but have really needed that to cover our extra costs as pre payment anyway
I just can't see more help coming, I hope I am wrong but i just don't think there is much to give

This!

@gogohmm ours too. We’ve not put the heating on yet, I’m currently wearying a thermal base layer and 2 jumpers. I’ve bought cheap blankets, the kids have learnt to switch off lights and have shorter showers. We’ve bought an air fryer and stopped using the tumble dryer. We’re conscious of our energy consumption where we weren’t before, from an environmental perspective, this is a win.

@Imnothereforthegiggles no thanks i will comment in this thread , no need to start my own is there ?
Sorry when a kid is going hungry because the parent has spent money to help feed / keep them warm etc in alcohol or such like then yes i will judge

I think council tax is expected to rise quite a bit. Maybe it will be increased council tax support for those on low incomes. that would be fairly easy to administer for those already receiving discount.

Look at it as an investment. It's a cash injection into the local economy. Think of the nail techs and tattooists. They have more money coming in so their business stays afloat longer. They can pay their rent, suppliers and staff. Who will in turn spend the money. And a lot of it will go back to the Treasury in VAT, Income tax etc.

Nah I doubt rishi will.