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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:
Buda · 18/03/2008 08:32

Don't get it so not an issue!

When I was growing up though my mum's was classed as 'hers' - and was used to contribute to the general household when needed - which with 3 children and only one wage in the house was most of the time!

I think in some ways it should be means tested - very high earners should not get it. However in practice we all know what would happen and eventually anyone not totally on the breadline would not be entitled to it. Means testing it would be the thin end of the wedge.

And I def don't think it should be taxed! Most people have already paid tax!

MrsMills · 18/03/2008 08:35

Ours gets paid into a separate account, which is used for holidays.

Which is of benefit for children.

Rosa · 18/03/2008 08:38

Lucky for those of you who get it .....Enjoy it !

BecauseImWoeufIt · 18/03/2008 08:41

In the early years our was used to pay for child care, and to help us out when we were struggling financially.

For the last few years I have divvied it up between them and put it into a high interest savings account. When that builds up into a lump sum I take that out and buy bonds for them.

There's always enough in their accounts for me to get my hands on, should the family need it, but otherwise it will pay for them (or at least partly pay for them) to go to university.

MotherFunk · 18/03/2008 08:50

Message withdrawn

Rosa · 18/03/2008 08:52

Not when you live abroad and despite paying into the Uk system for over 20 years you are entitled to NIL , Zero, ziltch ....( am I bitter noooooooo?)

MotherFunk · 18/03/2008 08:59

Message withdrawn

Samantha28 · 18/03/2008 09:03

Now I put ours in a savings account for the children. I can access it anytime if we needed it

We are fortunate that we can afford to do this now. I don't think that parents who need it to live on should feel guilty - providing a better standard of living for the children IS spending it on them. Its not like most mums spend it on designer clothing - more like on food and bills or clothes or shoes for the children

Buda · 18/03/2008 09:05

I too am abroad so don't expect to get it. DH pays a huge amount of social insurance here though - not sure what, if anything, that gets us!

Buda · 18/03/2008 09:07

Mind you - did I read somewhere recently that millions is being paid out in child benefit to parents whose children are still living in Eastern Europe? Can't remember if that was an Irish paper or a UK paper.

MotherFunk · 18/03/2008 09:13

Message withdrawn

Buda · 18/03/2008 09:25

Very crazy.

Peachy · 18/03/2008 09:34

Shhh- I'm surprised you couldn't get any other benefits, there are nons means tested benefits available to those with disabled children or ill children, which we get. It's getting hold of the information about what you can claim that's often the hardest part i think.

CB for parents in the EU- every time I think I understand the situation someone says to me 'Ah but so and so at work gets their tax repaid because....' but I think the logic behind it is that if (say) Dad is the family earner and keeping a family back home, and paying tax here, then he can claim the same benefits from that tax as other people who pay in- which makes sense to me, but seems more confusing further down the line.

hippipotami · 18/03/2008 09:35

Samantha, yes that is what I meant, new shoes/clothes as and when needed for the dc.

Keeping CB in a separate account takes the pressure of the normal (joint) household account. We struggle to make ends meet most months, so to keep the CB separate it ensures that the dc don't miss out (okay so horseriding lessons are out of the question but more affordable activities are okay) and it means that the household account does not suddenly have to find £30 for new schoolshoes for instance.

Rosa · 18/03/2008 09:50

If I was in the Uk then yes I guess I would. But we don't get anything here as we don't fall into the category.
Also as I am missing afew years off my pension I must pay that ( voluntary) to get anything or I will loose that as well. It just seems a bit unfair that you have paid into a system that you get nothing from. When I am in the UK + if I need medical treatment I am treated as a non resident and had to pay for a vaccination that I needed that my friend ( Uk resident) had for free. Depsite paying for over 20 years mad!!

MotherFunk · 18/03/2008 10:00

Message withdrawn

Buda · 18/03/2008 10:01

Rosa - I haven't had vaccinations in UK but any time I or DS have had to see a doc in UK while visiting we have never had to pay. Drives me mad as we have health insurance and COULD pay and WANT to pay but there is no system to pay for a GP visit.

pucca · 18/03/2008 10:15

Ours goes into the "pot" for the month, i wish we could afford to save it like others do, but unfortunately we can't.

I also do not think it should be means tested, as it is the only thing we get too, apart from a measly few quid TC, and we are by no means WELL OFF.

ScoobyDoo · 18/03/2008 10:17

Ours goes into the "pot" each month & goes on usual bills, food etc.

Wish we could save it for each of our children but at the moment needs must.

however when i have started working we may be able to put some by.

carmenelectra · 18/03/2008 11:53

Im still shocked that people really actually save for possible deposits for their kids houses! Am i just mean? No i know i am not.

If my dear mother was alive now she would laugh her head off. No way on this earth could she have saved to help my sister and I get on the property ladder, it just wasnt an issue back then.

I know its incredibly difficult and expensive these days, but where do we draw the line at helping our kids? How great to think you can go to uni for free(i had to support myself and take out student loans/work etc)and know you have probably got a car on the way and deposit for a house!

In fact why bother working at all, just let your parents support you!

Its totally different if you are well off, but saving for your kids, rather than enjoying your own money yourself, seems crazy to me!

I feel even less guilty now for hardly saving any of ds1's child benefit and using it for bills etc. Its seems most people do this. He enjoys a good lifestyle, nice toys and clothes, holidays, football every wk etc and i will continue to this this while he is a child, not a bloomin' adult!

The bit i do save for him will never cover a house, just a little bit for when he is older, or sometimes he has some now if there really is something he wants. Theres no way im planning on building up some massive nest egg for him!

Rosa · 18/03/2008 12:28

DOn't want to duplicate as on the other thread as well.
When I am in the Uk I get treated as any other Eu citizen. We have medical insurance as well just in case.My theory is if we need to see a consultant or something we have the cover to go private in case. Vaccination was typhoid or something similar- not routinely covered it was for holiday in Thailand I had to pay £30! I did not have my payslips with me ( not the thing you take to the doc to prove I was paying NI!)

jofeb04 · 18/03/2008 12:29

Ours normally pays for electric or any small food shop we need.

Would love to save it, but cant!

ComeOVeneer · 18/03/2008 12:34

What is wrong with saving it to give them a helping hand as they start out their adult life? If you can afford to do so without making things hard for yourself why not? We don't need it for household bills, food etc, so it would get spent in a frivolous manner. Surely by saving it for their future it is putting tit to better use (however they may choose to use it - car/house deposit/wedding etc)

carmenelectra · 18/03/2008 12:40

Oh i agree, its lovely to save a bit for the future, but house desposits? Thats hardly a 'bit' these days. Would have to be thousands!

And i like to enjoy my money now, not worry my kids cant afford a car! Hardly the end of the world!

My MIL always talks of what shes gonna be leaving for her 'kids' when she dies. I mean whats all that about? Its not her resonsibilty to ensure 2 adults with jobs and families are provided for when she pegs it!

I think we are way too soft on our kids these days. Ive managed alright without any handouts, i just had to go to work or have a bank loan!

expatinscotland · 18/03/2008 12:42

LOL @ the thought of paying for my kids' cars, weddings and university education.

Boy, some kids today sure do have a huge sense of entitlement!

Well, if mine ever do, they're in for a very rude awakening.