Am I the only one that thinks that the budget is good?!

[isitactuallybadthough]

NC’d for obvious reasons.

I mean it seems that they’re trying to help the working class?

I am not on benefits. I’m also not lucky enough to live in a property worth over £2,000,000. But surely the worst off in society will be better off under this? With the energy bill cut and two child benefit scrap? Also books for libraries, national wage increases. I do understand people feeling frustrated at the pension/ISA parts, that will probably affect DH and I but overall I’m pleased as the worst off will be slightly less worse off?

Can’t wait to see Labour being punished at polls by people paying for this largesse for other people to have multiple kids for free, while they themselves to have cut back on affording things for their own kids.

Don't really bother me, I earn enough that I can afford to pay more.

I understand where you're coming from and definitely people do make poor life choices but if you're still in your twenties then there's loads of time for you to maybe end up a single parent, or out of work or struck down with an illness or injured in an accident and unable to work. So you are being a bit smug.

We definitely need balance and incentives to work. We are have a good income but not naive enough to think that being on benefits could never happen to me

Yes millions of people on working age benefits and millions of immigrants coming in to do those unskilled jobs means I know. It’s not rocket science. Even a child could figure it out.

‘Poverty’ is a statistical value. If your household income is more than 60% of the median income after housing then you officially no longer in poverty. Yay! But this doesn’t mean kids lives are any better. It’s just handing parents cash for them to spend on whatever they like. Fags, booze, horse racing.

For those saying that the removal of the two-child cap will lead to people having more children, the LSE has researched the effect on choices to have children around the cap, and found it had a relatively small impact in disincentivising people from having more than two children.

But surely you can both live together so she has warmth and you could suggest it as her helping you rather than you helping her.

It doesn’t poll well at all.

I see the removal of the child benefit cap as a negative. Whilst it will help poor families, it will also pay out to rich families too. I would actually rather see child benefit scrapped completely and the money saved going directly to just families that need it. That's probably my biggest issue with it, it's a really odd decision that smacks of tring to win a popularity competition, not doing the best for our country. That said, I do like the mansion tax and the ISA and pension changes that stop the wealthy avoiding tax.

This does apply to a fair percentage.

I agree OP. I mean it could be better but not bad at all.

That’s not what the putting money into pensions was.

We are one of the richest countries in the world, we should not be forced into sharing properties just so that our pensioners can eat and heat.

It is for a lot of people, it's regularly recommended as a way to avoid tax on here.

I am not sure how it helps anyone to see the economy tanking and no plans at all for growth. That’s going to affect everyone.

No. People don't have more children just because they can have £90 of child benefit £293 of UC per month and tax free childcare. 🙄

Edit as I'd made mistake on the type of benefit and amount, but the point is, people don't have children because they get access to benefits. It's much cheaper not the have children at all.

Why do they seem not quite genuine?

I also think it is fine! Happy for those who are struggling to hopefully struggle a little less.

Using your own money to save for your own retirement so you can be self sufficient. Unlike benefit claimants. What a scandal.

Of course we shouldn't but an elderly woman living alone shouldn't be crying on the phone to her single parent daughter about not being able to afford heating

Sharing properties shouldn't be forced but if you and your mum get on together which you obviously do, then its the obvious solution.

It’s about universal credit not child benefit that’s 300 per child. 600 for two etc

@HoskinsChoice I think business rates were in there as well as commercial energy prices

I agree with you. There was so much talk in the media beforehand about how awful it would be and it’s really not that bad. Of course they need to raise extra money - that can’t be a surprise to anyone. Public services need more funding. The way they’ve gone about it, targeting those who are better placed to make a greater financial contribution (which includes me) is the obviously fair way.

I think my main annoyance is that it's just not joined up. The wage rises on top of the NI raises last time that didn't exempt social care for example is resulting in and going to continue to result in working class people both losing their jobs and their access to support and care.