How much have you spent this Christmas...

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

Discuss how much money she should be getting, or whether other things can/should be done to help her back into work and make it attractive, but don't question how she chooses to spend the money she is given.

I also wouldn't judge her for the choices she has made over whether or not she finds a job. If I had a way of providing more for my kids, I'd take it.

And I also wouldn't judge her for how many kids she's had. She may be a devout Catholic for all we know. All four kids are with the same bloke, who has now left them! Why should you be forced to use contraception with someone who you are in a long term relationship with?

The father doesn't contribute a penny to the upkeep. Probably because he's left his job as he's better off not working than paying child support for four kids. OK the article makes him sound like a t**t, but ultimately, it's the system again!

The article is bollox and those ranting on here at the woman herself need to rethink where they direct the rant.

[anna]

Did everyone just miss the bit that said she had taken out a loan to cover this

Originally Posted by anna

Did everyone just miss the bit that said she had taken out a loan to cover this

Nope, see my post above.

But the loan is irrelevant really, it's just her way of financing it, she still has to pay the loan repayments with interest out of her benefits, so actually you could argue doing it that way costs the taxpayer more (of course it doesn't because we don't give her more to cover that)

It just means that she has chosen to spend some of the money she has been allocated in loan interest, again that's her prerogative.

[carelesschucca]

Originally Posted by anna

Did everyone just miss the bit that said she had taken out a loan to cover this

as long as she can cover her loan who's issue is it bar her own?

Just think how many idiots with well paid jobs took out mortgages above their means and have defaulted on them and caused more grief.

Its not as if she's cheating the system just using it well.

I love the fact that the tabloids love juicing things up like this but never mention how much people are dogging paying tax!!!

[G]

People dodge tax because 'the system' is so ****ed up. People work damn hard for their money, for it to then be taken from them and wasted on cretins that milk the ****ed up and way to generous system for every penny they can.

not much more to say except I agree with ralphs comments. being on benefits myself and not being able to afford to work is difficult, I have worked for last 25 years and have decided to stay at home to look after Libby as oppose to paying £50 a day for a nursery to "look after her". I have spent about £300 on xmas and birthdays (all happen about xmas). I started buying stuff in July and bought some toys from ebay as Libby is young enough not to realise its 2nd hand. That includes stuff for my daughters 18th. would love to give her more but cant afford it and she does realise that. luckily her daddy is loaded and will give her a nice wadge of cash. hope you all have a lovely xmas x

[SoulKiss]

Even if she IS a complete work of fiction, there has to be some truth in those numbers?

Even if she is an amalgamation of half a dozen things - ie how much child support she gets, how her accomodation is paid for etc, then its still an interesting insight into those who know how to game the system.

I didn't know the system and because of this I lost out on money that I was ENTITLED to because they refused to backdate my claim because I didn't know that if you were let go you didn't have to wait 6 weeks before you could claim.

Yet there are those that do not work, nor do they want to - and that in many cases is because they would lose out due to the disparity of wages vs dole, who can live as comfortably, if not more so than I do, just because I don't have kids to provide an extra income, or pay out more than 4 times what her accomodation costs for a smaller place, just because I want to live about 5 miles from my work?

This piece, I feel is perhaps an artifice, designed to put peoples thinking into the same slant as the Governments thinking - that those on benefits live a little too comfortably, and are a place where tax-payers cant complain about cuts coming from.

Personally, my thoughts are that the State is responsible for putting a safe roof over peoples head, keeping clothes on their backs and putting nutritious food in their stomachs.

Beyond that - the internet, TV, SKY, XBox, iPods etc, well sorry, but you cant have them - and you need money for cigarettes? Try quitting.

[carelesschucca]

Originally Posted by G

People dodge tax because 'the system' is so ****ed up. People work damn hard for their money, for it to then be taken from them and wasted on cretins that milk the ****ed up and way to generous system for every penny they can.

But not paying your taxes is milking the system. its just an exceptable way to do it. In reality its just the same using the system to your advantage. Its all about perspective...

Oh I've spent about £300, but I've still got a Motocross bike to buy and because of that an engagement ring which means a wedding too...

Jesus its getting expensive!!!

[G]

Originally Posted by carelesschucca

But not paying your taxes is milking the system. its just an exceptable way to do it. In reality its just the same using the system to your advantage. Its all about perspective..

Oh yes of course... It's exactly the same... Except one person is doing lots of hard work for the money that is being 'TAKEN' off them... Whilst the other does nothing for the money that is being 'GIVEN' to them.

Exactly £100 has been spent on presents for my daughter. I'm getting nothing from the wife and the wife is getting nothing from me. This is typical in my house.
However, the grandparents have bought loads for my daughter, so she will have a good christmas.
The story from the Daily Mail is typical in this country. Just off the top of my head I can think of at least 2 families from my neighbourhood that do this.

If anyone can get me the address I know a few people that would be seriously interested in a free Xbox360 . ( better state :- i'm joking! )

Ste.