Is it Mickey money day today?

extra gravy · 02-07-2013 09:49PM

ash23 wrote: »

What's the difference between taking 100 euro from wages on a Friday and spending it on a night out or taking 100 euro from children's allowance and doing the same?
I don't get the logic that the children's allowance should be used for the children when most people find that a huge chunk of their wage goes on their kids. It's all much of a muchness.
I wouldnt agree with taking kids to the pubs when I'm drinking but I've often spent the children's allowance on stuff for myself or socialising once the kiddo isn't needing something.
Next weeks wages are going on school books so this months children's allowance is going towards a night out this weekend. Same difference really.

How is it the same? The children's allowance isn't earned, it's paid for by the taxpayer. I don't mind people blowing their own money which they actually earned but I do have a problem when my tax goes towards funding the social lives of certain people just because they had a few kids.

Marsden · 02-07-2013 09:52PM

extra gravy wrote: »

How is it the same? The children's allowance isn't earned, it's paid for by the taxpayer. I don't mind people blowing their own money which they actually earned but I do have a problem when my tax goes towards funding the social lives of certain people just because they had a few kids.

I think what ash is saying is, if she earns 2000 euro a month and gets 100 for childrens allowance, how can you differentiate between your own money and ca.

ash23 · 02-07-2013 09:54PM

extra gravy wrote: »

How is it the same? The children's allowance isn't earned, it's paid for by the taxpayer. I don't mind people blowing their own money which they actually earned but I do have a problem when my tax goes towards funding the social lives of certain people just because they had a few kids.

It's all from the same household though. My point is, people were saying that child benefit shouldn't be spent on anything but the kids. But really, if I get paid on a Friday and spend a grand on childcare and stuff for my child, leaving me with nothing and then I get €130 on a Tuesday, what difference does it make if I use it to lets say, get my hair done?

I could get my hair done on Friday and wait until Tuesday to buy the child her school books but it's all just semantics really.

If you've a problem with an allowance being paid just because someone has a child, that's fine. But the whole "it must be spent on the kids" thing is a bit silly. I spend a fortune on my childs needs. I just don't specify which income source it necessarily comes from.

Murichu · 02-07-2013 10:43PM

In my opinion, CA is for the benifit of the child, nothing else. It should be used to go towards food, clothes, education, entertainment, school trips, health insurance and so on, for children. The surplus or entirity, if not financially reliant on it for the immediate maintenance of your child, should be saved in an account for the child, which upon maturity can be used for college, to get married, a deposit on a house, or travel the world. Children always need, or will require something. It's not for greedy selfish ****s to squander however they please, otherwise it'd be called Do Whatever Ya Want Allowance. Seperate it from your main income and use it to heighten your children's overall quality of life.
I don't believe it should ever be means tested. It's purpose is to provide for the children of the State who are it's future. I imagine it goes a longway towards the prevention of child poverty also, if used correctly, but hey, that's just my opinion...

extra gravy · 02-07-2013 10:46PM

ash23 wrote: »

It's all from the same household though. My point is, people were saying that child benefit shouldn't be spent on anything but the kids. But really, if I get paid on a Friday and spend a grand on childcare and stuff for my child, leaving me with nothing and then I get €130 on a Tuesday, what difference does it make if I use it to lets say, get my hair done?

I could get my hair done on Friday and wait until Tuesday to buy the child her school books but it's all just semantics really.

If you've a problem with an allowance being paid just because someone has a child, that's fine. But the whole "it must be spent on the kids" thing is a bit silly. I spend a fortune on my childs needs. I just don't specify which income source it necessarily comes from.

I think I took you up wrong, my apologies. It's the people that don't work and have no interest in working but use the children's allowance as a means of funding their social life that I have a problem with. They don't contribute anything worthwhile to the system which they are using to their advantage.

harry Bailey esq · 02-07-2013 10:49PM

fair enough havin a few drinks but bringing the kids is wrong.some poor little kid was outside a pub earlier having a quick smoke while his ma was inside having a drink,and some busybody goes and starts a feckin thread about him.no child deserves that.bad form.

ash23 · 02-07-2013 10:51PM

Murichu wrote: »

In my opinion, CA is for the benifit of the child, nothing else. It should be used to go towards food, clothes, education, entertainment, school trips, health insurance and so on, for children. The surplus or entirity, if not financially reliant on it for the immediate maintenance of your child, should be saved in an account for the child, which upon maturity can be used for college, to get married, a deposit on a house, or travel the world. Children always need, or will require something. It's not for greedy selfish ****s to squander however they please, otherwise it'd be called Do Whatever Ya Want Allowance. Seperate it from your main income and use it to heighten your children's overall quality of life.
I don't believe it should ever be means tested. It's purpose is to provide for the children of the State who are it's future. I imagine it goes a longway towards the prevention of child poverty also, if used correctly, but hey, that's just my opinion...

I still don't get that though.

I can easily think of ways to spend €130 a month on my child. Two weeks childcare and it's gone. 3 weeks food. As it happens I pay for all the "necessities" from my wages.

I doubt there is anyone out there with a child who doesn't spend more than €130 per month on their child. So if they choose to absorb the childrens allowance into their household income then what difference does it make? My wages and my child benefit go into my bank account. And all my expenses and those of my child go out of that account. I can't see how segregating them would make any difference.......

mikemac1 · 02-07-2013 10:53PM

Didn't Centra in East Wall, Dublin get in trouble last year for advertising alcohol on a flyer for good deals for children's allowance money?

A lot of outrage and apologies were given as I remember

Going by this thread it was smart business!

oldyouth · 02-07-2013 10:55PM

ash23 wrote: »

What's the difference between taking 100 euro from wages on a Friday and spending it on a night out or taking 100 euro from children's allowance and doing the same?

Really??????

One you have earned and free to do what you like with and the other you have received from the State (and fellow citizens) which is supposed to be earmarked for the benefit of the children that you brought in to the world and have responsibility for. That is the difference.

ash23 · 02-07-2013 11:00PM

oldyouth wrote: »

Really??????

One you have earned and free to do what you like with and the other you have received from the State (and fellow citizens) which is supposed to be earmarked for the benefit of the children that you brought in to the world and have responsibility for. That is the difference.

Again, semantics. Should I put off buying my child her books for 3 days because it's to come from childrens allowance and not my wages? What's the point? So some boardsies will think I'm a better parent?
Either way the same sums of money come in and the same sums of money go out and the same things are purchased........

Let's be clear here. I'm not talking about making a child go without and using the child benefit for myself instead. I'm talking about the notion of getting that €130 into my account and thinking "oh I better not pay the car tax with the childrens allowance. I'll put it off until Friday and pay it from my wages. But on Friday I'll use that €130 to pay the childminder"
It's nonsense really. Either way both bills are paid. Who care whether it's the parents wage or the child benefit that pays for it once the child is provided for?

HondaSami · 02-07-2013 11:03PM

oldyouth wrote: »

Really??????

One you have earned and free to do what you like with and the other you have received from the State (and fellow citizens) which is supposed to be earmarked for the benefit of the children that you brought in to the world and have responsibility for. That is the difference.

I'm not sure you are getting her point, i see what she is saying and it's simple, she gets paid on Friday spends money on her child and on Tuesday she gets C/B and takes back the money she spent on Friday.
She is spending the C/B early and tbf C/B was always for mothers to help with the bills etc and we have no right to say how it is spent imo.

Murichu · 02-07-2013 11:06PM

ash23 wrote: »

I still don't get that though.

CA is not household money, it's the child's money, to be used to suppliment or improve what you should be providing.

As it happens I pay for all the "necessities" from my wages.

That's what you're meant to do.

So if they choose to absorb the childrens allowance into their household income then what difference does it make?

Then they're potentially spending it on themselves, instead of saving it for the children's future.

My wages and my child benefit go into my bank account. And all my expenses and those of my child go out of that account. I can't see how segregating them would make any difference.......

Open a seperate savings account for your children, lodge the CA into it, only use it for the child, when neccessary, and you'll soon realise what difference it makes.

Lenin Skynard · 02-07-2013 11:06PM

oldyouth wrote: »

Really??????

One you have earned and free to do what you like with and the other you have received from the State (and fellow citizens) which is supposed to be earmarked for the benefit of the children that you brought in to the world and have responsibility for. That is the difference.

So how do you suppose someone would go about organising this? Maybe get a marker pen and specifically mark the child allowance notes for fear that they might contaminate your other money? And what difference would it make anyways? The child isn't going to get more nappies from €50 child allowance money than it will from €50 non-child allowance money.

HondaSami · 02-07-2013 11:09PM

Murichu wrote: »

Open a seperate savings account for your children, lodge the CA into it, only use it for the child, when neccessary, and you'll soon realise what difference it makes.

Yes because this is what the majority of parents do, i don't think so and if people can put away the C/B for the child's future needs then they do not need the payment in the first place.
C/B has and always will help pay the bills for lots of families, it's still helping the kids at the end of the day.

Murichu · 02-07-2013 11:11PM

HondaSami wrote: »

tbf C/B was always for mothers to help with the bills etc and we have no right to say how it is spent imo.

Tbf CB is for the benefit of the child, thus its name. If ya can't pay usual bills from your own income, then maybe you should learn how to budget within your means. We have every right to determine how our taxes are used or abused.

An Riabhach · 02-07-2013 11:13PM

While in the supermarket today,I saw foreign nationals with their kids buying bottles of vodka...Im guessing that was their next purchase after collecting their money

ash23 · 02-07-2013 11:16PM

Murichu wrote: »

Open a seperate savings account for your children, lodge the CA into it, only use it for the child, when neccessary, and you'll soon realise what difference it makes.

Why? Incur extra bank charges and hassle just so I can see that I spend it on her?

I pay for her food, her clothes, her house, her heating, her education, her health insurance, her entertainment, her holidays, her extra curricular activities and every other thing she needs....... on one wage.

I can assure you it adds up to more than €130 per month. All I'd be doing is letting the money go into that account the first tuesday of every month and taking it out a day later to pay for something she needs.

Perhaps if I had the luxury of not needing the child benefit you might have a point. But there are few and far between who don't need it. And I'm not talking about my household bills. I'm talking about the expenses incurred for my child. Those little extras. Sure, health insurance alone is over half the child benefit for the year.

HondaSami · 02-07-2013 11:18PM

Murichu wrote: »

Tbf CB is for the benefit of the child, thus its name. If ya can't pay usual bills from your own income, then maybe you should learn how to budget within your means. We have every right to determine how our taxes are used or abused.

Yes and paying the bills benefits the child, children need heat lighting etc there is no reason why it has to be spent on food, clothes for the child.

I do not receive C/B and can pay my bills and i still do not see us having a right to say how the C/B is spent.

Murichu · 02-07-2013 11:22PM

HondaSami wrote: »

I do not receive C/B and can pay my bills and i still do not see us having a right to say how the C/B is spent.

But can you seriously condone pissing it up against the wall, as per the situation the OP refers to? I hope not.

Murichu · 02-07-2013 11:25PM

HondaSami wrote: »

Yes and paying the bills benefits the child, children need heat lighting etc there is no reason why it has to be spent on food, clothes for the child.

Of course it does, but why can't you pay usual living costs out of wages/SW benifits and use CA solely for the benefit of the child?

ash23 · 02-07-2013 11:27PM

Murichu wrote: »

But can you seriously condone pissing it up against the wall, as per the situation the OP refers to? I hope not.

So, if I get paid on a Friday and have a night out on Saturday with my wages and then on the Tuesday I use the child benefit to pay for, lets say, school books, that's ok.

But if I get paid on Friday, buy the school books with my wages, stay in Saturday night and then get the child benefit on Tuesday and use it to go out, then that's not ok.....

HondaSami · 02-07-2013 11:27PM

Murichu wrote: »

But can you seriously condone pissing it up against the wall, as per the situation the OP refers to? I hope not.

Well no i would not condone that but we were not talking about that particular situation and tbf we have no idea if it even happened.
Parents who drink during the day with kids in tow do not just wait for C/A day imo. this situation is to do with parenting and not C/A.

KKkitty · 02-07-2013 11:29PM

Murichu wrote: »

Tbf CB is for the benefit of the child, thus its name. If ya can't pay usual bills from your own income, then maybe you should learn how to budget within your means. We have every right to determine how our taxes are used or abused.

So paying an electricity bill or other household bill with the child benefit money is an abuse of your taxes? Get real seriously. Your post is kinda an oxymoron.Us mothers get that money by the government and put it back into the government by paying for goods and services provided.

Murichu · 02-07-2013 11:30PM

ash23 wrote: »

Why? Incur extra bank charges and hassle just so I can see that I spend it on her?

I pay for her food, her clothes, her house, her heating, her education, her health insurance, her entertainment, her holidays, her extra curricular activities and every other thing she needs....... on one wage.

I can assure you it adds up to more than €130 per month. All I'd be doing is letting the money go into that account the first tuesday of every month and taking it out a day later to pay for something she needs.

Perhaps if I had the luxury of not needing the child benefit you might have a point. But there are few and far between who don't need it. And I'm not talking about my household bills. I'm talking about the expenses incurred for my child. Those little extras. Sure, health insurance alone is over half the child benefit for the year.

I feel you've missed my point entirely. I'm not suggesting any child can be maintained on €130 a month. Only that CA should be used to supplement what you should be providing, and improving the child's standard of living. In other words, the resources available without it.

HondaSami · 02-07-2013 11:30PM

Murichu wrote: »

Of course it does, but why can't you pay usual living costs out of wages/SW benifits and use CA solely for the benefit of the child?

Ok if you get paid monthly and the C/B gets paid the same day do you separate the money so the C/B is spent on the child? does it make a difference what money is used ?
I can't see how you think using the actual C/B money makes a difference.

Murichu · 02-07-2013 11:32PM

KKkitty wrote: »

So paying an electricity bill or other household bill with the child benefit money is an abuse of your taxes? Get real seriously. Your post is kinda an oxymoron.Us mothers get that money by the government and put it back into the government by paying for goods and services provided.

No, that's not what I said at all. Pissing it up against the wall is though don't you think, or is that a contradiction of terms?

ash23 · 02-07-2013 11:34PM

Murichu wrote: »

I feel you've missed my point entirely. I'm not suggesting any child can be maintained on €130 a month. Only that CA should be used to supplement what you should be providing, and improving the child's standard of living. In other words, the resources available without it.

But how would putting it into a different account help? What "should" I be providing? And how does it matter if I choose to provide health insurance or day trips from my wage instead of the CB and then use the CB for my own social life instead of using the CB for the health insurance and day trips and keeping the surplus wages for myself? It all income and the expenditure is the same regardless of the source.

wolfpawnat · 02-07-2013 11:37PM

c_man wrote: »

I wonder what percentage of children's allowance nationwide actually goes on stuff that benefits the kids?

I doubt it is a pandemic, though I think one mother alone doing it is sickening. Then again, there are other mothers that use it to "treat themselves" to shellac nails every other week and they are anything but poor. :rolleyes:

HondaSami wrote: »

Yes and paying the bills benefits the child, children need heat lighting etc there is no reason why it has to be spent on food, clothes for the child.

I do not receive C/B and can pay my bills and i still do not see us having a right to say how the C/B is spent.

The thing is though, I have this argument with people from time to time, "it should only be spent on the child" yes, it should benefit the child, it is CB. But sometimes my son needs something on the 14th of a month that cannot wait for the first Tuesday of the next. Say, he grows out of shoes (he is 4, it happens a few times a year, and not always when you plan) and I don't have the spare cash, so what do I do? I use the ESB money and then use the CB to replace said ESB money when it arrives, but to some that is not acceptable. Kids cost money 28-31 days a month, sometimes the 130 is not available when needed. Some months kick us in the crotch more than others, but people think that using it to pay a bill means you are not using it to look after the child, you are, because if you didn't have the child that money spent on them during the month would have paid those bills anyway for a lot of people.

HondaSami · 02-07-2013 11:39PM

ash23 wrote: »

But how would putting it into a different account help? What "should" I be providing? And how does it matter if I choose to provide health insurance or day trips from my wage instead of the CB and then use the CB for my own social life instead of using the CB for the health insurance and day trips and keeping the surplus wages for myself? It all income and the expenditure is the same regardless of the source.

I think we are fighting a lost cause here, for some reason that poster has the idea that the actual money should be spent on the child.

my friend · 02-07-2013 11:43PM

anncoates wrote: »

Do you work in the pub OP?

If you don't, maybe they're there for the same reason as you on a weekday.

I was dining , they were drinking.

Care to expand your direction?

Is it Mickey money day today?

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