In not having much sympathy with a couple on £45k plus per year having some benefits cut?

[ssd]

There is loads of this on the news just now about how "middle income" families will be having some child tax credits cut and might be paying more tax. They news are showing what to me looks like comfortable off families having to do with a bit less. Is this really so bad? I know an income of £45-£50k per year might not be much in central London but will keep you in style in parts of the north, but how bad will it be? So people might have to change jobs/give up the second car/holiday at home instead of Spain every year? SO WHAT? There are plenty of us living on less than £25k a year who have had to cut back since having kids and take this as a fact of life.

I know MN is made up of mostly middle earners and I'll get pelters for this, but I don't really care. Anyone I know on a middle income can afford to give up some things _ its called life.

By violethill Sat 15-May-10 11:12:58
There is also a lot more help towards childcare costs these days than at any point in the past. If you are a low earner, you'll get a money towards it. Plus a certain amount of free hours from 3 years up

You think i didnt try to sort all that out. My son would have to carry on going to the preschool he goes to now, and i would have to take him and pick him up because the nursery didnt do that. The fees for the month would have been just above £1k thats including the 15 hours free nursery for my 3yr old.

I love to hate these threads. Where it turns into a witch hunt against a SAHM.

2shoes that's how I feel too...

LeninG I probably should. I just see these threads and see red.

I feel for anyone affected by financial difficulties. It's corrosive to relationships and family life whatever your income. There's nothing worse than feeling sick when the post arrives because you know there will be more demands for money; avoiding answering the phone to avoid debt collection calls; and feeling wracked with nerves every time you look at your bank account.

This is not fun for anyone and I would be happier if we were looking for ways to increase opportunities for those on lower incomes and thus increase their income to reduce tax credits longer term rather than taking money from people who need it. I suspect, however, that this attitude would not lead to the instant injection of cash the government needs (although perhaps delaying Trident might help).

Our TC are the same as last years, we get just under £30 per week thats WTC/CTC together, because of last years income.

Thank you

i really don't get all this "well you can't complain because other people are worse off than you"

personally, I am the hypothetical person you speak of in the OP. and i'll get by fine with a tax credit cut or child benefit cut. I rely on it atm as my "spending" money. it buys the children clothes and new shoes, my phone bill and bits and bobs when out shopping
so yes, i'll probably have to do without those. and yes i'll get by

but just because other people have it worse doesn't mean I am not affected by it does it?

next time I see someone on here saying how hard it is bringing up a family on a low income should I tell them to grow up and deal with it jsut because people in third world countries don't even have a proper house to live in?

don't be so fucking short-sighted and ignorant

LeninG - your measured words have just stopped me having a major flouncy strop (not that anyone would have noticed probably). Thank you.

'Some people are so sour because they cant stay at home with their children, i would love to have both of us working but i choose to stay at home to look after them because of the fees, thats why im going out to work in the evenings and sundays. '

You chose to stay at home because benefits like Working Tax Credits made it possible.

We are low-income as well.

Used to two cars? Oh, give me a break.

And guess what? We're on £16,000/annum! Nowhere near £45K.

So again, my message to you (because I'm certainly taking it to heart now this coalition is in!) is: don't get too comfortable.

Because it's delusional to think your lifestyle as you know it is going to continue to exist under this regime.

Or any other.

It can't.

It's unsustainable because of the levels of debt this nation carries.

The tops up are going to get cut or stop even.

well sai skidoodly.

I'm currently on benefits - but always ensure I have tea and coffee in the house.........so when life gets shit for the currently working ones (many of who may lose their jobs especially in the public sector) my door is open for a cup of coffee (or tea) to put the world to verbal rights.

I don't give a shit if you're on 45k and feel the pinch, or are on benefits like myself and feel the pinch - makes sod all difference - a squeeze is a squeeze, a change in the way you live is a change in the way you live, a pinch (or more likely a fucking great great nip) is a pinch and it hurts

I don't give a shit whether you both work, you're a SAHP, or your on benefits (apart from the minority who think it's their god given right to stay on benefits and not even want to think about working/want t work) it sucks, and it's going to suck even more

That's just it, toccata, just what I wrote on this thread and others: we're all going to pay, because they and their cronies aren't.

Well, a 5% pay cut. Boohoo.

We are in the same oncome bracket and I am lucky enough that I am able to be a SAHM for now.

We could lose our TCs of £40 a month and still manage. CB is £240 a month nearly so would definitely miss this.

I am seeing more and more of this Tories/Lib Dems axing child benefit, there is NOWHERE they have said they would touch child benefit so why is everyone getting so het up about it?

The op has a huge chip on her shoulder. If you're jealous of people earning £45,000 then deal with it. Different jobs have different salaries. It is a fact of life. Get over it.

The op has a desperate need for everyone to be on the same amount of money as her. She seems to think it is okay for the £45k salary people to sacrafice their salary, but appears to be unwilling to make any sacrafices to her own salary and benefits. Very selfish.

Middle income families are not there for the low income families to squeeze them dry. Low income families seem to get benefits left right and centre at the moment. It's about time the government stopped giving them so many handouts. If you want more money earn it yourself.

Sahm's are going to find it very hard to go back to work when all these cuts happen and unemployment goes up
I've got loads of friends who think they ll get a nice little school hours job when their kids are in school

compo - I know I'm dreading it - I'm hoping to be able to start work next year when DS3 starts school......any job so long as I can find the childcare to go with it........but I'm not holding my breath

You dont get much credits anyway if you are on that income. So people arent losing loads.

OP, do you think that people on all incomes should have the same standard of living?

how is 45k between a couple considered a lot? We get just shy of 50k between two of us, the only luxury we have is sky, which i know we could cut but its only £18 a month, we prob will cut it when baby comes along but it won't go far. Our mortgage for a two bed house, in the north so not even london, is £800 a month. We have a little spare money at the moment, as in enough for a uk break once a year, and the odd night out, but once we have the baby and have to pay for childcare that will go out the window.

I know some people are worse off, but the idea of saying we have two foreign holidays a year etc is ridiculous.

Surely these cuts just aren't going to effect families on £12,000 a year. The whole point is that they are going to effect those on a 'comfortable' wage. £12,000 isn't comfortable for a family.

Those on £12,000 probably won't be effected. Those on a combined £40,000 - £50,000 will be.

the cuts this government will have to make will affect everyone I'm sure........well everyone except the mega-rich.

I would say a middle income is over £50k. I agree that some people have a strange definition of struggling. We are a middle income family, we can only afford one oldish car, we can't afford foriegn holidays, dp has no pension and cannot afford to buy. But we are not struggling in any way shape or form and I think it would be selfish for us to demand child benefit or tax credits so we could have luxuries such as our own home.

I cannot believe someone posted above that the middle income have to pay for ISAs and a huge mortgage - they must have been joking.

I accept that people need help with childcare, although in my case we can't afford the childcare so we stopped at one. I do think people need to means test themselves and ask do I really need that child benefit or tax credit. We also need to develop a sense of community when state funds are tight. So can you afford to pay extra for that school trip so smother child can go?

Also getting a bit sick of "£45k you can live in style in the north" no you bloody well can't!!

We live in Manchester and our 3 bed semi in a decent area cost us £349k. Transport eating out etc all comparable to the South East and far far more expensive than many parts of the midlands. Many regeneration areas in MCR are also pricey Whalley Range for example. Previously a bit of a "no go"in the gang years but now lovely leafy place gorgeous houses nice atmosphere but expensive. My old flat in Hulme previously pretty much a ghetto also above the threshold price wise for many first time buyers on £25-£30 k wage now.

And try cheshire for pure extortion!

It's hardly Corrie you know

Rent anywhere decent also ££££££ more expensive than some parts of South Cheshire.

To me living in a £349k 3 bed semi IS living in style - we live in a 2 bed flat which was less than half that.

(and I am not being jealous or anything else, our income is prob over £50k).

People do all live up to their income, but doing that and not having much less is not the same as struggling in poverty.