To use the kids Christmas money to get me through January?

[darkmorning]

In a way I don’t know why I’m asking as I don’t have a choice really, but if the overall consensus is absolutely not I suppose I can use a credit card or something.

PIL gave both children £50 for their savings accounts. I’d have to put the cash in my bank account and transfer to their savings accounts: plan is to do this after I’ve been paid in January. Should I? Or is this just horrible?

“with the credit cards I could potentially spend hundreds”
well no, only if you foolishly decide to do so. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. It’s totally within your control.

Well you don't know me. And I don't belong to the category you describe.

Good for you.

@BetsyBrowny look, you’re just being nasty. Your posts didn’t start off like that and I do think you were genuinely trying to help, albeit in a very pompous and lofty sort of manner which did get my back up a bit although I tried to be reasonably polite in my responses. However, as the thread has gone on you just won’t let it drop and you have resorted to downright insults on occasion, as well as a few side swipes. It isn’t just you, but you have stuck in my mind as someone who just keeps coming back and giving me long, long posts with advice that to be honest is totally irrelevant.

Like most people I have a job; I get paid, I use that pay in various ways. Childcare is my biggest outgoing, then debt repayment, then I have the children’s savings (yes, really, £50 each is not some sort of careless, insane spending some are determined to make it out to be) entertainment and food. Plus a couple of things like phone, car insurance and the like. And fuel. The much mentioned fuel!

I will have paid the debt off by May at the latest. I will have more money then.

I will then have more money in September when DC1 is at school and DC2 has more hours funded at childcare.

And then I will have still MORE money in September 2027 when both children are attending school.

So yes things are tight for me but they are manageable. I agree ideally I’d have savings but I don’t, in cash anyway. So this is where we are. I’m not planning on changing any of this at the moment, I’m sorry if that upsets you but I’m not.

This thread is madness.

The crowd saw several key words which are potential red flags, skipped the word potential and started screaming and shouting.

I can imagine a situation in which what you writes makes sense.

It's funny how people insist on providing a financial advice when they don't understand the big picture.

That and;

I cannot think why the OP bothered to ask if she'd already decided. 😂

I have answered that around six times now. I said I would go with the consensus but I actually changed my mind.

I honestly don’t know why people come back with things like this. If you want me to feel bad or stupid or something great, it worked. Thanks.

If do this without a second thought.

I’ve used credit cards for over a decade to buy cars or undertake home repairs etc.. I have two accounts that both offer 0% on balance transfers or money transfers on a cycle for 12-18 months, I just repeat the process until it’s paid off. I pay a small fee but never any interest. I also pay into my kids bank accounts every month. In many cases it’s the cheapest loan option available.

If everyone just focussed solely on paying off debt (CC, mortgage, loans, HP, store credit) it would be imposible to do anything in life. The OP is steadily paying off CC debt, the OP is aware and conscious of overspending and addressing it. The OP saves for her children’s future and is borrowing £100 until next month as Christmas is expensive and visiting family is important.

Using this money now is literally no different to depositing it into their accounts later than planned. I’ve got a couple of envelopes sitting on the mantelpiece with lots of Christmas money from relatives for the kids. My older ones get to spend it now but my youngest I will put in her account. I haven’t done it yet because I’ve been busy. If I needed £100 in a hurry for something I’d take it because it makes no difference, I’d still have to keep the cash and transfer it from my account eventually anyway. So why are people ripping the OP to shreds?

All the people saying you’ll never ping it over to them, I don’t know what circles you move in but I always do. Sorry if you wouldn’t but that’s your problem.

OP well done for putting a bit aside for your kids. I did the same even when times were tough and I went without things to put a little bit by each month for them. They know they can only use it for travelling, moving out or towards a car and they accept this without question.

They also knew from a young age that if they lend me money ie "whose got £10 I can stick in this card I’ve only got a £20" or "has anyone got £2 for your sister for silly sock day because I forgot" that they’ll get it back. This is completely normal in my family, I feel sorry for kids whose parents aren’t like that.

I really appreciate that post @Characterbuilding . Thank you.

@darkmorning You're right. I was trying to help you. I didn't intentionally insult you and if I have, I take that back. I think you sense the amount of frustration your thread has caused where some of us tried to offer real practical help but it wasn't what you wanted. I hope life get better and you find a way through this. I won't be posting again- point taken!

That was an extremely gracious reply @BetsyBrowny and it’s rare to see on here - thanks

I think some of the posters on here should feel ashamed of themselves. Surely people realise that not everyone earns huge salaries or that probably the majority of people in this country aren't in a position to build up savings? Most people don't earn the huge salaries that people brag about on Mumsnet - many many people live hand to mouth every month and many people also build up credit card or loan debts because they need to do so to survive.

My understanding from the OP's posts is that she has only found herself in the position of needing to use the £100 given to her children because her salary was £100 less than usual this month. She made it very clear from an early stage that she was asking one question in this thread and was not asking for financial advice or seeking comments about how she should have a nest egg of six months salary. I think the OP lives in the real world, not the Mumsnet world, and having read her more recent posts about how she's managed her debt, and that she will be debt free in a very few months, it's very obvious that she doesn't need financial advice from anyone.

I'm in awe of how you've managed your debt OP, and also of the way you've handled some of the sanctimonious and uncompassionate posts from people who have no idea what it's like to have no pot of savings to fall back on.

Ignore all the nasty grunts from the financial sucklings as they come up for air to cast judgments on those less fortunate or struggling.

2025 can still be prosperous for you if you strive to reach the goals you have set for yourself.

Sounds to me like you have a plan and are working towards a better financial future.

They are lovely posts @Growlybear83 and @Purgepossessions2025 . Thank you.

Just use the money OP. Just put back in your kids accounts when you are able.

Can't believe the amount of sanctimonious BS on this thread. Just shows how the overall financial situation of most mumsnetters is completely removed from the reality of the general population. And the patronising is on another level.

@darkmorning you’re welcome, some of these responses are hurtful, preachy and diabolically disproportionate.
You are not selling one of your children’s kidneys to fund a drug habit whilst living in squalor. You are not the anti-Christ reincarnated. A poster even mentioned theft and legal ramifications 😂.
Someone who wasn’t mentally robust could easily spiral into an unnecessary abyss of shame and guilt reading some of these replies. This is a complete non-issue and nothing to give a second thought to.

I agree with this tbh. It’s a slippery slope otherwise and could well end up with putting off the paying it back month after month.

It's OK so long as you definitely can and will pay it back next month. If there's any doubt, don't do it - it would be stealing!

Exactly. There is nothing sacrosanct about money given to children.

Well other than it’s the kids and not yours?

Kids have no legal property rights.

So?

So the parents can use money given to the family as they see fit.

Is that what you do?
It wasn’t given to “the family”, to be used at op’s discretion.
That would have involved no dilemma at all, as op is clearly aware.