Are working people this dependant on benefits

[sasguru]

Are you saying that if you want your neighbour's teenage kid to babysit for your child, they should have to get a CRB check and be registered?

See my previous posts

[The Spartan]

Quite. Are you saying everyone (from say London) should move there to take advantage of the lower rents, mortgages and other costs?

Not quite but it is something that could be considered if there was suitable well paying (for the area that is) employment opportunities.

[d000hg]

See my previous posts

Do I have to?

[vetran]

When I go back to work, we're going to have to pay for all our childcare, which will be about £50 a day

Becomes

When I go back to work, we're going to have to pay for all our childcare, which will be about about the same cost as parking 2 cars in London

They of course can use salary sacrifice and various vouchers to pay out of pre tax income.

Registered child minders of course can only turn over £10K a year on this and pay all that insurance, training, take the risk of not getting paid etc.

£100 extra a week – but then we discovered that because of his new job, we lost all our tax credits, which is about £200 a month.

so despite being £200+ a month better off we are moaning

I make big sacrifices to buy Bobby the fresh peppers he likes so much but we simply can't afford to eat fresh stuff every day.

so £1 on peppers down the market on Saturday is a huge expense? That's why we buy Bobby Mars bars.

However we must spend money on Sky in case my husband who is finally earning average wage leaves me.

A lot more sympathy for this family that the dippy one on £80K but frankly I know people a lot worse off.

[The Spartan]

If I could rep you I would have you

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to vetran again.

[d000hg]

True but on the other hand when a middle class family can't afford £25/month on luxuries what's the bloody point?

[vetran]

second story

£44,000 in Nottingham?

so what is that £1500 take home each?

Semi detached houses £100k

so Mortgage = £1000

Council tax, utilities & insurances £600.

what are they spending the rest on?

[vetran]

True but on the other hand when a middle class family can't afford £25/month on luxuries what's the bloody point?

they aren't middle class. they are earning £24K he is un skilled, she is basic healthcare.

He isn't an Architect & her a Pharmacist.

Sorry they are working class.

yes its tight, no its not right, but to fix it you need to realise cutting benefits, government expenditure & tax avoidance by multi nationals needs to be brutal.

[Mich the Tester]

Caerphilly which is 10 miles outside of Cardiff

Very much off topic, but there are some great cheeses down that way. I understand the old fashioned Caerphilly's enjoying something of a revival, and that can't be a bad thing.

[The Spartan]

Both parties are working in both cases, there are probably households out there that would give everything just to have one job or one decent paying job.