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Original poster

child benefit - what do you spend yours on?

272 replies

PersephoneSnape · 17/03/2008 12:17

I apend mine on (part of) the weekly food shopping for me and 3 dcs, ds2s ballet lesson and dds pocket money. does anyone tuck it away in an account or spend it on wine and handbags?

OP posts:
toffetoes · 17/03/2008 13:30

Mine goes on a club that is running at the school I.E football or tennis or any trips that arise. got mine early this week so ended up going on food shopping.

VanillaPumpkin · 17/03/2008 13:32

Thanks Mercy, that was annoying me.

claireybee · 17/03/2008 13:37

Ours just goes on general living, although I do think of it as paying for things for the DC. I'd love to be able to save it for them but we can't really afford to while I'm not working

Graciefer · 17/03/2008 13:50

Ours is split equally between my 2 DS's and put into their saving accounts.

DS1 already has £3,000 saved this way and he is only just 5 years old.

I was hoping that it may pay towards uni/driving lessons/house deposit/wedding expenses etc, when they were first born.

However they both have special needs (DS1 has autism, DS2 has Downs Syndrome), so they will probably end of spending it on stuff that they need and the government won't supply when they are older.

mumbear · 17/03/2008 14:43

I remember when I was a child and id go with my mum to the post office to claim it, and then we would go next door to the news agents to buy her weeks worth of ciggies Ah mother of the year

chelsygirl · 17/03/2008 14:45

same as stripeymama

sleepycat · 17/03/2008 14:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Peachy · 17/03/2008 14:49

Don't feel bad sleepycat, we do the same and I think the majority of people do TBH.

hifi · 17/03/2008 15:01

mine is secret stash, although i am thinking about saving it for dd education later. we dont really need it and agree should be means tested. although on the other hand i think of others who are scamming and think why not?

QOD · 17/03/2008 15:06

goes into a savings account, pays for her saturday school (at the local private school), xmas and bday pressies for her, holiday spends, that sort of thing.
COuldnt afford it otherwise

windygalestoday · 17/03/2008 15:11

years ago apparently you didnt get it for your first child.......ours just goes to general stuff having said that it is spent on the children vi clubs/groups shoes or clothes.
i dont agree with means testing but i think maybe a cap on how mny children u can clim for?

windygalestoday · 17/03/2008 15:13

clearly the a and k key on my keyboard are on strike lol ....

KerryMum · 17/03/2008 15:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Twiglett · 17/03/2008 15:16

living

Disenchanted · 17/03/2008 15:20

Food, clothes for kids, gas/elecricity cards when they run out.

ComeOVeneer · 17/03/2008 15:20

Ours goes into savings account for dd and ds for when they are older. I don't agree with it being means tested. I am quite sure that if it was you wouldn't suddenly find those that are deemed entitled to it suddenly getting awhole lot more, it would simply be syphoned off elsewhere. There are other benefits that are means tested. I have paid my fair share of taxes and NI, surely I am entitled to reap the benefit of doing so?

TheAntiFlounce · 17/03/2008 15:20

fags, beer, and 18 year old gigolos

seeker · 17/03/2008 15:23

chocolate.

CaptainUnderpants · 17/03/2008 15:24

Another one here for it going into savings account . Have dipped into it for paying for DS private consultant and private speech therapy . Otherwise left alone , except fot the time when I had to buy 4 pairs of new shoes for them in one go !

HooversBrokenAgain · 17/03/2008 15:26

Wine and fags.

Ballet, music lessons and nappies/toiletries.

TheDevilWearsPenneys · 17/03/2008 15:27

CoV as I asked on the David Camron live chat.
Why is it fair that friends of ours who boast that they earn £300'000 plus get the same amount as people who earn below the national average?
Shame on them for filling out the forms to claim that (for them) meager amount.

MaLopez · 17/03/2008 15:27

Cash ISA. Always wanted to save for DD and so it gets transferred the moment it lands. That way I don't miss it. Have been tempted but out of sight and all that.

If it was means tested, I would still get it but do not agree with it been means tested.

Quattrocento · 17/03/2008 15:28

I put it into an account for them. All of it. Religiously. Also tuck away birthday and christmas money in there. How dull are we?

nervousal · 17/03/2008 15:36

fags and booze

chocolateteapot · 17/03/2008 15:36

I spend ours on nursery top up for DS, swimming lessons, piano & maths help for DD.

A friend of mine is on her own and on benefits but every month puts the child benefit into a savings account for her two children. She says that she has no house etc they will inherit and really really wants to be able to give them something financially so this is her way. She doesn't get any maintenance from her Ex, her only income is income support etc, but still she manages to put it aside.