Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

Original poster

What do you do with your Child Benefit?

153 replies

emmaalwaysinadilemma · 16/10/2020 21:54

My mum was horrified when it came up in conversation that I put half our child benefit payments aside to pay for our annual family holiday. The other half goes into a pot mainly for the DCs' clothes, and other odd bits they need. She thinks this money should be put into a savings account for them - which it would, in an ideal world, but there's no way we could afford to take them on holiday then Hmm

I'm now curious about what other people spend it on, and if my mum is right that it's a bit unfair of me to spend it on holidays?? As I said, if I didn't do this then the children would have no holidays as we simply couldn't afford it.

OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 18/10/2020 19:04

@Fruitteatime

It goes back to the government. I do wish they'd rethink the fact that one family could have two parents earning nearly 50k to make a household income of almost 100k and claim child benefit, whereas in another family one parent may be earning nothing and the other 60k. The high earner may have sole control of the finances so it doesn't make much sense to me.
Agree tho we earn nowhere near that but it should be done on joint family Income

Cb goes into my account. Gets spent on things for dd usually like clothes shoes was nappies but pt

But have been some months esp over lockdown that money has helped towards food

Don’t have a problem with you spending on a holiday. It’s for your kids

jessstan1 · 18/10/2020 19:34

@DollhouseBurglar

Wish I could save it for DD.

It goes on essentials like heating, food and clothes.

That is what it is for, Dollhouse, I was glad of it for essentials when mine was small. Things may change as your DD gets older.
decoraters · 18/10/2020 23:01

@DrCoconut

I hope all the "don't judge, the government decide who qualifies" sentiment applies to universal credit claimants too.

Absolutely. Why would it not?

MuchTooTired · 18/10/2020 23:31

Mine goes in to the joint bills account. I save £100 into an isa for the DC (in my name) and £10 each into a junior isa, and the left over gets eaten by bills. I’m a SAHM to twins, and we (DH and I) go without other things to afford it. I appreciate we’re lucky to be able to save it though! If the shit hit the fan I’d spend it which is why the bulk of it is in my name. Had DH been furloughed for longer than he had been we’d have had to spend it to get by.

jessstan1 · 19/10/2020 14:03

decoraters Sun 18-Oct-20 23:01:43
DrCoconut

I hope all the "don't judge, the government decide who qualifies" sentiment applies to universal credit claimants too.

Absolutely. Why would it not?
........
Yes, me too. I wouldn't know anyway unless someone told me but I believe people should have all the help they need. I'm a pensioner and OK but could have done with a bit of financial help when I was younger so am glad for anyone who can claim it.

Callardandbowser · 21/10/2020 10:08

I live off it because since having DD, I have taken at least an 80% pay cut.

RedVelvetDreams · 21/10/2020 10:10

DS clothes, prior to lockdown it would go on days out.

If not we put it in DS bank account for future use or emergencies (he's 1)

formerbabe · 21/10/2020 10:11

I don't think anyone should feel bad or guilty for not saving it. Even when we were much more financially comfortable it never occurred to me to save it. Kids are bloody expensive..I'll take all the help offered to me!

Manteo · 21/10/2020 10:49

@Fruitteatime

It goes back to the government. I do wish they'd rethink the fact that one family could have two parents earning nearly 50k to make a household income of almost 100k and claim child benefit, whereas in another family one parent may be earning nothing and the other 60k. The high earner may have sole control of the finances so it doesn't make much sense to me.
But the family with one parent not working would have no childcare fees and the non working parent could work if they wanted to. On most cases, not all obviously.
LindaEllen · 21/10/2020 11:26

To be honest, we don't separate it at all. DSS gets everything he needs from either us or his mum, and everything we get in goes towards paying the bills, birthdays, Christmases, days out, clothes for him and anything else he needs (and often whatever he wants, too) in between.

He doesn't want for anything and actually, the way I see it is that it's supposed to support you to raise your child - not squirrel it away to give it to them as a lump sum later. There's something wrong with the system if that's happening on the regular.

Sarahplane · 21/10/2020 11:30

Goes into the same pot with everything else.

Onedropbeat · 21/10/2020 11:35

Goes into the family pot

Just as happened with my parents

They still fed me and bought me clothes and shoes and helped towards learning to drive and a car without saying it was down to the child benefit

Our children get what they need and when older will have help towards larger financial items where we can

user1487194234 · 21/10/2020 13:25

But the family with one parent not working would have no childcare fees and the non working parent could work if they wanted to. On most cases, not all obviously.
Strongly agree with this,

thismeansnothing · 21/10/2020 13:28

It goes in a separate account. Gets used for the kids clothes, the odd soft play trip (when they were open), school shoes etc.

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 21/10/2020 13:33

Used to use it for milk and nappies when he was young. We got family allowance for DSS2 and DS. When DS got older it just went into the normal household income. We couldn't afford to save and until DS was about 7 we couldn't afford regular holidays either. It would have been nice to save it, but that isn't the intention of the benefit, otherwise it would be paid directly into a savings fund for the child by the government.

starray · 21/10/2020 13:43

Pays for child's music lessons.

firstimemamma · 21/10/2020 13:49

It's just money in our current account, we don't do anything in particular with it. Ignore your mum, it's up to you what you do with it and the holiday thing sounds like a good idea.

Bid876 · 21/10/2020 14:00

Goes where its suppose to, feeding & clothing the kids.

frustrationcentral · 21/10/2020 14:18

CB goes into an old account of mine. It covers Rugby training costs, scout subs, PS4 monthly payment and pocket money for both boys

Mosaic123 · 25/10/2020 07:46

When it was first introduced it was paid out for the second and subsequent children only. My MIL always resented not receiving it as my DH was an only child.

Worthingmumofone · 25/10/2020 08:12

My son was one of the last one to get the child trust fund and i had the cb payments paid directly into that so it didnt go into my current account and get swallowed up. His 18 next year and its enough to cover his rent at uni for the 3 years so he doesnt need to take out such a big loan. I am a working single parent and there def were times when i needed it , but then i'm happy now i dont have to start scrapping around for money to give him for uni especially when im looking to ease up and go down to part time hours next year.

notanothernamechangeeyeroll · 25/10/2020 08:50

It gets put into the main household account but we have standing orders each month to holiday and celebration accounts so effectively it gets out in those.

winniesanderson · 25/10/2020 12:25

Like most others it's in to the pot for whatever's needed, the vast majority of which is directly for the children and that which isn't still benefits them indirectly, heating, food etc. Can't afford to plan to spend it on treats or save it in our house.

Ilovecheese53 · 25/10/2020 15:34

@Worthingmumofone

My son was one of the last one to get the child trust fund and i had the cb payments paid directly into that so it didnt go into my current account and get swallowed up. His 18 next year and its enough to cover his rent at uni for the 3 years so he doesnt need to take out such a big loan. I am a working single parent and there def were times when i needed it , but then i'm happy now i dont have to start scrapping around for money to give him for uni especially when im looking to ease up and go down to part time hours next year.
That’s lovely. I bet your so glad you put it aside now.
Mydogatemypurse · 25/10/2020 15:39

Goes into the pot to just live.

Swipe left for the next trending thread