To be seriously worried the new govt are looking at cutting child benefit...

[cherrymama]

to 'middle class' families?What does that mean?We both work but have four kids and losing that income will seriously affect us...so please tell me IABU and that it won't happen!

i would happily give back the 2 child trust funds.....never added to them,but the govt could have them back!

anyone else?

The whole point of trust funds is to encourage saving which is a very good thing IMO.

its not encouraing saving.....not for everyone. i certainly cant afford to pay anything in...and only 2 of my 5 dc have these,so not really fair!

Here is a different perspective

Sorry is the reason you have only 2 of your 5 children with CTF's because the scheme came in for your later children?

Are you saying you DON'T want the money? Well it isn't all about you it is about saving for your children's future.

yeah right,saving for their future!! mmm....they are LOSING money! invested but not gaining much

better that my children have a decent economy than a few quid in the bank i think,clearly the government couldn't afford this 'scheme'....i think my children would fare better with a decent education than ctf

You could use the CTF for their education - you could put away uni fees for example for when they are 18.

The £250 gift is not ruining the economy.

It'sme, you've said the wisest thing on this whole thread.

'Having children is a choice, and actually it is perfectly normal to struggle financially whilst they are small.
It is not the governments responsibility to take that burden away.'

No, but the govt should encourage saving, it really does help if people get into a habit of saving, especially when there is an economic crisis.

It does really encorage saving - if you were that way inclined and had the spare money then you would.

I would rather see money for each child born invested in education. May not go a long way but better than sitting in a account for the benfits of the banking institution.

The poorest familes get £500 a birth then £500 at 7 , I doubt whether they are topping it up each month.

So with interest rates as low as they are - WOW what a great nest egg for them at 18 !

Reward again for nothing.

Should read ' It doesn't really encourage saving'

I live in a close to minimum wage household but still put £10 in my daughters trust fund every month and any birthday money etc, and its made quite a bit of money in it already. I think its a great idea and definitely encourages saving.

There were child savings accounts around before they brought in the trust fund.

Saving for children is nothing new , Labour didn't invent it.

I guess another thought is that you can cut Child Benefit for the parents earning over a certain amount when you cut the state pension for those with private pensions and investments generating a certain amount too.
How much would that put back in the pot I wonder ?

I think there would be major outcry if they cut pensions like that .

People pay into the welfare state and don't necessarily grumble about it as all people get something out of it.

We will be getting to a point in our society where there is absoutely no reward for working and that will divide our classes even more.