If food prices have risen by - what? 20% - and fuel is sky rocketing then tell me WHY...

[objectivity]

...are those dependent on state benefits still subsisting on the same paltry weekly allowance?

As a lone parent I have been in work and out of work from time to time, sometimes supported by Tax Credits, other times dependent upon Income Support. The money never really stretches far enough, but how on EARTH are we supposed to survive if everything is now costing more.

An annual review isn't good enough. My weekly costs are rising and rising, from week to week pretty much, so if my allocated benefit is the minimum I need to live on in April, and prices have risen since then, how am I supposed to be surviving in June?

Anyone else REALLY struggling- more than ever?

Tigerfeet, perhaps you should read a little closer.... I accept and value a benefit system that helps and assists things out of our control, disablilty, job loss, illness but think it's a crappy system that makes it more attractive to stay home in a jobless household than get a job.

I started reading this with the intent of posting.. then I read the first half a dozen or so of Nailpolish's posts and decided to stop reading and just say...

"what nailpolish said"

But, someone has to pay the taxes.... so, by default, the employed would have to pay more to make sure beneftis went up by anything that could possibly be considered noticable.

Yes, the system should work better and it shouldn't be possible to be better off when you are not working - As I said, that's not a personal dig and everyone is going to do what's best for them, but the system is really wrong when it's actually more cost effective to not work at all.

Just been reading the rest of this thread, though, and it's equally unfair and unhelpful when people like Posie assume that everyone on benefits (i) smokes and (ii) sits round watching sky all day...

Um, the council could budget a bit farking better - that would save a quid or two. Income Tax could be improved. I'm not saying how,because I am still crying and I dont want to defend my viewpoint...today.

I really think we need to look at the barriers to people working. Where do you start? Mental Health provision coudl be improved,that might see many Incapacvity Benefit claimants backto work sooner. It's a mess, in my view.

Some value stuff is fine, some isn't

Veg tends to be OK, it just doesn't fit into the size grading that the supermarkets insist on for their standard ranges.

I saw value sausages in Asda the other day for 16p!!! Can't begin to imagine how they are made so cheaply

The food industry (in which dh and I both work) is struggling with transport and energy costs as much as your average household is. Hence the rise in food costs. And the lack of pay rises for food industry workers.

No, I don't assume any such thing. I am saying I know people on benefits who can afford to do those things. I also know people who work and can't afford the same luxuries, it's not balanced.

Objectivity - why on earth did you not just get Ofsted approved childcare?

I just phoned my boss and ask for a rise and a crisis loan - he laughed!!!!

Right then chaps. It's been great. I'm off now.

tigerfeet

we have stoped eating so much meat

its really cut the cost of my weekly shop

i told dh it was either that or we eat 16p sausages

The whole childcare thing is an issue isn't it? It seems to me that there are plenty of people willing and able to work but can't afford childcare. Options such as working from home being more normal would help too. Working from home during school hours... perfect... and many jobs could sustain that too imho but many companies won't support it.

If we all could cook a little better I'm sure we'd eat better and cheaper food. Aren't pulses better than meat? When I was little(not that long ago) we ate fish once a fortnight and meat 3 times a week. Forget value, buy fresh and eat more veg and less protein....

I don't smoke by the way, nor do i drink unless in social situations (when im out partying till all hours in the morning ....PAH!)
i had to give my car up and i only have the lowest package of tv that i can get because DS uses it a lot.

my pc was provided by a charity as i use it to help Ds.

i buy almost everyhting from the value ranges and at the moment can't even afford Primark!

Although saying that I could never survive on benefits, I barely manage on £x a week and waste a lot of food. I am willing a to do a healthy cheap food challenge for a few weeks.... anything I save I'll give to charity. Anyone? Perhaps we should start a healthy but cheap thread for your best meals???

sorry naily x posts - I agree, one of the changes we have made is less meat. I bulk out stews and bologneses with veg and pulses. I would happily be largely vegetarian but dh is a carnivore and is yet unconvinced . May well have to steal your 16p sausages line

well you could start by taxing families less at the outset, rather than taking money off them and grudgingly giving a little back to help with childcare etc. Not to mention paying for the whole cumbersome useless system from MONEY THAT IS OURS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

grrrr

(DH and I both work, DS is in childcare 3 days a week, we are entitled to all of a tenner a week in tax credits. Woohoo).

Councils yes, our council spends vast amounts on a free newspaper to tell us all what a great job they are doing (they aren't).

Exactly Tigerfeet.

I'd be happy to work from home during school hours.
I think the government should promote this, with incentives to companies.
You'd get more people working, with less pollution and fewer traffic jams.
Win-win situation.

Fio - you've hit the nail on the head - I mean, as a nation, we are hardly starving, are we?

The rising cost of food is a much great problem in many other parts of the world.

I couldn;t do my job from home, so not keen on that idea. I'd just like to be able to afford childcare from my own income. Surely not too complicated?

Another pseron here eating less meat than before and walking more.. also working from home more (I'm lucky that I can) to try and reduce my fuel costs.

Have switched from tesco to market for fruit, veg and bread as well.. I can't believe just how much money that saved me!

I think we should change the income tax brackets, would it hurt people on £100k to give 3% more, and people up to £30k keep 2% more, and then change it so that two parents can earn enough that working is the best option by at least £50 a week??

actually it would hewlp a great number of mothers if tax credits would cover childcare provided by family members too.

I know a LOT of women who would be glad to go to work but they either don't want their child raised by a stranger or who simply canot afford the childcare costs (even with the deductions)

If i was able to employ my a mum or sil maybe then not only would she be better off but i woudl too.

I'd deffo be up for healthy, cheap meal challenege thread

i dont have any income to moan about either benefits or earned

well i am just about earning 40 quid if the weather is ok on tuesday mornings at the mo

I's so har dwhen you talk about changing tax brackets though.. I get screwed every which way.. I'm an above average earner but am also a single parent. I don't get any financial support from dd's father nor do I get any tax credit due to the flawed system.. when people talk about changing taxes I just have to sit tight and ride it out..

I wish my tax relief was attached directly to my salary like it used ot be.