Anyone else actually looking forward to the budget thingy tomorrow?

[MrsVenn]

Do you work in the NHS? We've had our budget cut by £30 million this year in our directorate so are having to find savings, I agree it's hard when you've not got a huge amount to work with. I think you're right in that you've noticed it more through work.

 

[Blah11]

yes i do. our budget went down by 10%

 

[cherryglitter]

Yeah I think you would notice it if your work involves dealing with orders etc. I used to do ordering and it makes a big difference when you see numbers BEFORE vat and then after! Im quite glad the price on a product we see in retail is the number as a whole. Before vat would probably make me feel quite sick! xx

 

[MrsVenn]

Yeah definitely! My mum is head of finance where I work and boy do you see the numbers top up. She's having fun and games re-jigging everything half way through the year whilst doing her duties, it's stressful. But then again, we've been informed that suppliers have been told to lower their rates dramatically so we'll have to see where that takes us.

 

[indy and lara]

There are essentials that your LO needs but a lot of what we buy are extras that in reality we don't need. How many of us will be honest enough to say that their LO has outfits in their wardrobes which have hardly or never been worn before they didn't fit anymore? Do you really need to spend £800 on a pram? You may WANT to but that is not the same as NEEDING to.

We've spent £800+ on a pram and lots of other ridiculous things, but only because we can afford to do it - if you have the money to do it, and it is your money there's not an issue whatsoever.

However, if you are using someone else's money, i think you should obviously be spending the minimum and making the money stretch etc x

You want to know what I honestly think, even if it is your own money you should be questioning whether you need to spend that money. The things we are spending this money on will be used for such a very small period of time that it has never seemed worth it to me. I am also not convinced you necessarily get better quality the more you spend. We have a Mothercare travel system that I bought when I was pg with my son. After he died we decided to keep it to hopefully use in the future. However Em hated the car seat and we had to buy a Maxicosi one. It didn't fit on the travel system so my pal gave us a loan of her Bugaboo and in comparison to my 3 wheeler it is dead flimsy and we were so glad to not have spent that kind of money on a pram.

We are in a strong postion financially but I could never justify spending that kind of money on Em just now. Her room is gorgeous and she has lots and lots of pretty clothes but I worry about setting a precedent that everything needs to be top of the range or that we need every toy or gadget. Where does it stop?

I work hard for my money so if I want to spend it on my baby, I will. Whats wrong with that? + anyway I've kept EVERYTHING to use on my next LO.

I didn't at any point say that you should not spend the money and I think that we all work hard for the money we earn. What I am asking is whether we have become so consumer driven that we spend, spend, spend when it is unnecessary? I have concerns that if we always buy every toy, this will be what Emma expects as she grows and I said that for us, I was concerned that it was setting an early precedent. I am also not talking about people spending into debt either- just asking whether we have got to a stage where we think that the most expensive is the only way to go.

We decided a long time ago not to spend these kind of figures on baby things and used some of the money saved so I didn't have to go back to work. Different ideas and priorities but I was just saying I felt that £5000 was a lot to have spent on a baby/ under 2 year old.

 

[Blah11]

but why does it matter to you what i spend my money on

 

[polo_princess]

I did and will notice any VAT changes heavily through my line of work, was a PITA when it dropped and it will be again when it goes back up

 

[Frankie]

Im pleasantly suprised im glad the SSG is only eligible for your 1st child I have seen what my SIL spend hers on along with the HIP grant

 

[MrsVenn]

PP - I can imagine, I agree it will affect business.

 

[indy and lara]

but why does it matter to you what i spend my money on

Honestly, I think you are just looking for someone to bicker with as I have said quite clearly why I am asking. I am asking whether we have gone too far as a society with consumerism, the must have it being the most important thing. You quoted how much you spent and I said that I could never have imagined spending that.

The why does it matter to you attitude could be applied to anyone. Why do people feel that they have the right to question how people spend their HIP then or their benefits? Their money their choices?

 

[Frankie]

but why does it matter to you what i spend my money on

Honestly, I think you are just looking for someone to bicker with as I have said quite clearly why I am asking. I am asking whether we have gone too far as a society with consumerism, the must have it being the most important thing. You quoted how much you spent and I said that I could never have imagined spending that.

The why does it matter to you attitude could be applied to anyone. Why do people feel that they have the right to question how people spend their HIP then or their benefits? Their money their choices?

I dont think she is picking a fight with you Mindy!!!!

I do agree that there are other ways of clothing and feeding your children without spending hundreds!!!!

 

[aob1013]

but why does it matter to you what i spend my money on

Honestly, I think you are just looking for someone to bicker with as I have said quite clearly why I am asking. I am asking whether we have gone too far as a society with consumerism, the must have it being the most important thing. You quoted how much you spent and I said that I could never have imagined spending that.

The why does it matter to you attitude could be applied to anyone. Why do people feel that they have the right to question how people spend their HIP then or their benefits? Their money their choices?

Difference is the HIP grant and SSMG isn't my money...

Tbh i don't care about consumerism etc, and i don't care what other people do with their money - it's up to them and me what they do with their money, as long as it's theirs to spend.

 

[Happy]

Can someone help me with the student loan side of things. The are selling them off but what does this mean of us that have one?

I used to pay a fair bit back each month but since going part time I dont becuase I earn under the threshhold.

Help.

 

[polo_princess]

PP - I can imagine, I agree it will affect business.

The trouble is 99% of things consumers buy are "end price" and thats all people are bothered about, so with the VAT going up its only going to cause hassle

 

[Hayley90]

Annoyingly the VAT rise will bugger up a lot of stuff at my work too. Everything we sell is quoted at an excl VAT price, but all the stuff online is advertised differently...which i have to look after so im gonna have to jiggle it all around over christmas!!

Although, the purpose of leaving it to 4th jan was interesting - to encourage spending this side of christmas, to get our economy going a little more... the 1st jan - 3rd will be VERY busy january sales

 

[Blah11]

but why does it matter to you what i spend my money on

Honestly, I think you are just looking for someone to bicker with as I have said quite clearly why I am asking. I am asking whether we have gone too far as a society with consumerism, the must have it being the most important thing. You quoted how much you spent and I said that I could never have imagined spending that.

The why does it matter to you attitude could be applied to anyone. Why do people feel that they have the right to question how people spend their HIP then or their benefits? Their money their choices?

because benefits come out of my taxes :s They dont work for them or earn them so it bothers me if they spend money that comes out of my hourly wage on crap.


+ I'm not picking a fight with you at all so stop being so paranoid.

 

[MrsVenn]

I'd suggest a lot of sticky labels and marker pens

I know PP, we buy kit at work before VAT. It's impossible trying to explain to procurement (who are meant to be experts..) that they need to budget at the beginning of the year to include this once purchased, then maintenance fees etc. Well I hope it doesn't cause you too much stress. xxx

 

[Elli21]

but why does it matter to you what i spend my money on

Honestly, I think you are just looking for someone to bicker with as I have said quite clearly why I am asking. I am asking whether we have gone too far as a society with consumerism, the must have it being the most important thing. You quoted how much you spent and I said that I could never have imagined spending that.

The why does it matter to you attitude could be applied to anyone. Why do people feel that they have the right to question how people spend their HIP then or their benefits? Their money their choices?

because benefits come out of my taxes :s They dont work for them or earn them so it bothers me if they spend money that comes out of my hourly wage on crap.

+ I'm not picking a fight with you at all so stop being so paranoid.

Blah, sometimes i read things and i think, hang on a minute.
Dont you think that that comment right there would bother you if u were on the recieving end of it.
I think its amazing that u can work to support your little one, and trust me, even tho i work part time and my husband is not working, dont you think I work hard to raise and support my family?
Im a carer for my husband, and i bring up my children and i work. Yes i rely heavily on YOUR taxes paying my benefits....BUT...my husband worked full time from 15 til he got ill...so hes paying for his own benefits with his OWN taxes that HE paid. And i worked full time also until he got ill, so I pay my OWN benefits in what i used to contribute!!!

I think that that comment was hurtful.

 

[Lucy_lu_84]

I think what blah was trying to get at was there are slot of ppl why receive these grants who don't spend them on essentials for there babies- Which let's face it they are for! So if u spend it on something else u don't really need it right? So she does have a right to b miffed, I'm explaining really badly I'm sorry but I think I know where he is coming from and agree!

 

[Blah11]

Unless you'd spend it on holidays and new TVs for yourself you shouldn't be offended. I'm talking about the people who use it for nonbaby stuff. It irks me and quite rightly so.