Child Maintenance - is it ever OK to reduce it?

[FloralsForSpring]

So cost of living is going up etc and we've taken a look at our finances. We are going to have to cut back a bit. Is it ever ok for the maintenance payments to the ex to reduce? They are well above the CMS recommended amount (DH's choice) but we all know the CMS amount is not always half the amount of raising a child. It also shouldn't matter what mum earns/pays but she's living rent free in an inheritated property and works what I would call "extremely part-time".

@Finallylostit

quattro - why did we need to be drip fed all the other stuff about the EX to justify the decision.

Decision : only pay CMS - fine
Justifying it with all the caveats and then making digs at the EXs lifestyle is not necessary - and on your other thread you want to make this board better - take a look at this thread and the half baked judgements made about the EX with filtered half the facts comments.

Making this board better cuts both ways.

Op wasn't in my head justifying anything because to justify it she would have come to a conclusion so I'm doing xyz because of abc. She gave background which was relevant and helpful. Asking a DC or SDC to give up a hobby that costs £1 a week is very different from a extremely expensive one. The background re the other houses finances were also relevant.

She would have been asked those details if she hasn't provided them and then been slated for drip feeding and people would have come to the conclusion that the reason why she didn't share this info upfront must have some nefarious intention for doing so (usually hating the SC in some way.)

Same story on this board.

You seemly fairly harsh on the Op and that sparks more questions over why with you, than it does over what the op has posted here.