Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Other subjects
Original poster

Anyone not using their child benefit yet?

232 replies

arabicabean · 02/07/2008 15:17

Hi,

I'am a first time mum and have recently started receiving child benefit. I was interested in whether others were using theirs? Mine is paid into a new account I opened and its kind of exciting getting the monthly statements. Are you using yours yet or just watching it accumulate?

OP posts:
Teuch · 02/07/2008 15:53

wasabi - I thought that wasn't allowed? I do have a friend who has it paid into her own account then standing order into childrens, but it wasn't allowed to go straight into child's account.

I assume this is because it is meant to be towards living costs.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 02/07/2008 15:53

Nappies, bus fares (why are they so expensive??) is usually what CB goes on...

notjustmom · 02/07/2008 15:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

littleboyblue · 02/07/2008 15:55

As the OP isn't spending it, I assume she has money from elsewhere to look after her child so when there's enough there, why shouldn't she spend it on herself?
I don't work out how much I spend on ds, it could be £18.10 or whatever it is now or it could not be. I wouldn't spend £15 on him and then think oh my I need to put £3 away for him or I'm spending HIS money. It's the same thing IMO

wasabipeanut · 02/07/2008 15:57

When I say ds has an account it's an account in my name. It's just that we put it to one side so that ds can hoepfully use it in the future.

And before everyone queues up to shoot me down, no we aren't skint but we are careful. We are bloody lucky that we earn a reasonable wage, or course we are, but we do save as much as possible and always have and we do cut back in other areas like holidays, clothes etc.

expatinscotland · 02/07/2008 15:57

We use it to pay bills.

Another reason why I think child benefit should be means-tested.

Bronze · 02/07/2008 15:57

We eat it or burn it in and indirect kind of way.

Neeerly3 · 02/07/2008 15:57

mine goes in joint account and gets eaten up by childcare bills and day to day living.

southeastastra · 02/07/2008 15:57

agree expat. though i'd probably just fall below the limit as usual

OverMyDeadBody · 02/07/2008 15:58

I agree expat.

Well done arabica, give yourself a big pat on the back

thebecster · 02/07/2008 15:59

arabicabean - tactless much? Has the ongoing credit crunch, rising inflation, increased taxation on low-paid workers and spiralling fuel costs passed you by? 2.9 million children in this country are, by official measures, living in poverty. If you are so rich that you can set aside all your child benefit, why not donate it to a children's charity, to help a child who might be cold this winter. Humph.

Boco · 02/07/2008 15:59

I'd never had an opinion on this, but now I know that some spend it on much needed food etc and others use it to pay for a cleaner, I have formed an opinion.

cheesesarnie · 02/07/2008 16:00

i waste mine on food and bills.

'you dont miss what youve never had'-well i never had 3 children before.

expatinscotland · 02/07/2008 16:00

We get DLA for DD1. It goes on petrol bills to ferry her to her appointments because there's no public transport out here and to pay car tax and for repairs/services.

wasabipeanut · 02/07/2008 16:01

Yes cheesesarnie, and if and when I have 3 children our financial situation may be very different.

Which is why I choose to save what I can now.

cheesesarnie · 02/07/2008 16:02

that is very sensible of you ofcourse.i should have crossed my legs and saved my money

OverMyDeadBody · 02/07/2008 16:03

'you dont miss what youve never had'

Tell that to my stomach, coz it's missing the dinners it hasn't been having recently, and making an awful racket as a result.

expatinscotland · 02/07/2008 16:04

here, here, OMDB!

wasabipeanut · 02/07/2008 16:07

FFS, all I'm saying is that I choose to save what I can. I'm not implying that anybody should have "crossed their legs".

I don't see why the decision to go without some luxuries themselves to save some money for their childs future should be something they get criticised for.

I realise that some people don't have this choice and that they can't cut anymore. I have acknowledged how lucky I am.

harleyd · 02/07/2008 16:07

spend it on yourself?

child benefit

the clues in the name

mine feeds and clothes them, and odd days out with them

TrinityRhino · 02/07/2008 16:08

hmmm
what a weird question
I assumed everyone used it to live on
kids clothes, food, milk, school uniform
all the kidddie things and essentials
its for the children and I certainly dont have enough money to sabe it up 'till its a nice amount to spend on me'

lol strange

amazonianadventure · 02/07/2008 16:08

Im afraid it what keeps up going during th eweek, id love to save it just simply cant afford to.

we need food,clothes etc

scorpio1 · 02/07/2008 16:09

also if i happen not to need it for day to day then i like to take them out with the remainder for a day trip (try to do that in summer hols)

cheesesarnie · 02/07/2008 16:10

spend money on myself!it doesnt happen.

Bundle · 02/07/2008 16:16

i spend ours mainly on cava and having the car serviced