Child maintenance during the holidays?

[Jeany1967]

Hi all,

Quick question. Me and my ex husband have an amicable arrangement for our child maintenance where he pays the same amount each month for the children's expenses. The children usually live with me and spend every other weekend with their Dad.

The children are with their Dad for two weeks during the summer holidays and he's reduced the child maintenance by half this month because he has more child expenses to pay - to feed them and is paying out hundreds on their activities apparently.

I'm not thrilled about this to be honest and don't really think it's fair. I understand that he will pay more for their food but activities he does with them has nothing to do with me. Not sure if he expects my landlord to only take half from me for my rent this month but the expenses don't just cover their food. I will cover next years uniform, teacher's thank you gifts, all their clothes, ear piercings, lots of general expenses that I cover that he doesn't even have to worry about.

I don't think there's much I can do as we have a mutual agreement but I just wanted to see whether I'm being unreasonable here?

Any advice please?
Thank you

CM is not just directly for child expenses it’s to cover the expenses of having a child too. Electricity, rent, water etc.
It’s the minimum that should be paid.

He’s paying over the minimum so TBH I wouldn’t rock the boat.

and in fairness you have 2 full weeks of no children’s food etc and no holiday clubs which - had he stuck to the EOW arrangement - you’d presumably have to pay for which could be hundreds so you’re outgoings should be less and that should be set aside to offset the reduction this month (I’d probably save £100 a week just on not paying for snacks and fruit!)

not saying it’s morally right as it should have been agreed in advance but In a very black and white way I can see his logic

If she doesn’t know what her ex earns how has she used the cms calculator to know that he pays £120 more a month than what the calculator says he should pay?

As can I due to my male friend

@Coconutter24 it will be an approximate not an update figure like CMS.

The way Op talks is like she knows what he earns

Thanks to all for your replies - very interesting to read.

For those asking, Ex earns £50k a year and has no rent or bills to pay as he gets that included with his job. I realise I'm very lucky to receive what I receive compared to others but I guess if it was the other way around and I was earning what he earns with the outgoings he doesn't have then I wouldn't be decreasing the maintenance this month because I know what costs are involved with the children. He's just oblivious at what it costs to live in the real world 🤷🏻♀️

Can you just say to him, that's fine I had included the full usual amount for August in my budget to pay for September childcare as it has to be booked in advance and for their uniform, while you have them could you please get XYZ items for their school uniform.

Oops not sure why that last emoji is there 🙈

Work out both ways:
1)monthly payments via cms which takes the overnights over the whole year into account. What's the total for the year.

2) The monthly payments you receive with the current agreement (including the half payment for the summer holiday month) and consider the money you save not buying them food etc. What's the total for the year.
Go with whichever one makes more financial sense to your budget.