Battenberg

I'd say that was about right for us and as they get older it looks likely diddly squat under the tree. I'd probably be looking at around £1000 for 3 kids and something for him indoors. A couple of X Box games set you back £80. If you were buying a Nintendo 3ds that would probably be around £150 in a tiny box then you add in some pj's, selection box, books etc and it all adds up. I used to enjoy the days of Argos shopping when a bloody great Fisher Price boxed pressie looked much more exciting. I have told them all I'm cutting back this year so I'm hoping it will be more like £200 a piece (if you can call that cutting back).

Do you have any children?

The sculpture, called Untitled 1986, became the focus of a lengthy planning battle, with Oxford City Council even attempting to remove it. Eventually in 1992 it was given planning permission by Michael Heseltine, the then Secretary of State for the Environment, on the grounds that any planning system must have “some small place for the dynamic, the unexpected, the downright quirky”.

I just don't understand why, full stop.

It's suggested that we live according to our means, cutting your cloth yada,yada, so yes, I guess it would feel like a pay cut.

I've seen a lot of comments online today in reference to those who are losing their CB saying if you can't afford kids then you shouldn't have them. Regardless if its someone in the private or publics sector getting those benefits, or at least some of those benefits you've mentioned, I would suggest they can't afford to have them either. I wonder why that line is only thrown around in relation to the more well off. Exactly.

I haven't read anyone pleading poverty on this thread. I haven't seen the interview with the woman on the telly but it is just an opinion after all. It doesn't matter how people feel about it, myself included. People are going to lose it regardless and they're just going to have to suck it up. If there's one thing we are entiltled to its to moan in the same way we moan about increasing food and fuel prices. It will no doubt be another demographic next week.

DIY to some extent too. The postage cost for 2.5 ltrs of Dulux (magnolia of course) would be hefty.

This is what I was trying to say. I go to work and try to improve our situation so that I can afford to pay for my children to do things that aren't provided by the state. I see music lessons as a privelage rather than a right, an opportunity I can give them thanks to the fruit of my labour. I therefore object to paying twice over for others to have those privelages through my taxes. Where is the incentive for somebody not working and getting free lessons to start working so they can then pay for them?

That's the one I was thinking about. I don't understand as I'm sure it was on the market as one large place a few years back. The back yard looked like a walled garden with a large pond and statues. I wonder if it sold and somebody split it.

Then that's my mistake. I thought that dental treatment for under 16's was on the NHS. I am sorry if that has not always been the case and I have clearly misread the situation. With regards to the music lessons you've misread what I was saying. I'm more than happy to pay for music lessons but I think that should be the same for everybody. I don't see why kids on benefits should get them free. That's just my feeling on it. Honeslty Sherwick, I don't know if I've aggrieved you in some way but IRL I'm one of the last people with a sense of entitlement. If I was I wouldn't be working. I'd be sat on my @rse claiming everything under the sun.

Yes I can see what you mean, I was wrong. I obviously had something in order to start. I think what Si! said is more accurate. Tax credits were available so I apologies if it sounds misleading. I think my point's been missed on the back of people trying to analyse how I've started a business from what, I shall now say, is very little rather than nothing. That wasn't what I was trying to say. What I was trying to say was is it worth it to work harder and harder or should I have just stayed worse off through work but better off in the system. Oops, did I miss something. I wasn't looking for any so I shall make a note to self not to seek you out for any should I require it.

I think this too. I would have been happy to lose it for one child, even if it is phased out eventually, rather than losing it for 3 all at once. I've done this with my own business this past month. Not because of the child benefit thingy but because it made financial sense when I was presented with my exorbitant tax bill for January. However, this is the bit that galls me and I know some will think badly of me for saying it but, as I've said before, I set up my business when we had nothing, husband had lost his job and I didn't want to do the whole housing benefit, getting used to a life on benefits thing etc. Over the years I've continuously reinvested my profits and took no income over the first four and half years. We didn't have the safety net of tax credits as my income grew because we naturally lost it despite not physically getting paid each month. That's all fine as tbh I'm glad to be out of that system. This year I've drawn a very tidy sum and off the back of that hard work I'll now lose my CB (which I still refer to as family allowance). What it tells me is if you want to work hard to improve your lot then knock yourself out but your children aren't as valued by 'us' as the rest. It also piddles me off when my son, who is still a minor, can't get orthodontal treatment and I'll have to pay for it privately after all the tax I pay. We have a new thing at our school now. Music lessons used to be free to any child who wanted to take up an instrument. Then they started charging. Now if you claim benefits your child can have free lessons. I think it's turned into a bit of a rant but it stops being about the money. It's the principle.

It's madness isn't it. I pointed this house out to Mr BB the other night when we went into Cowbridge for chips. It all about the location and you've only got to head into the high street on a Saturday evening during the summer months to view the pi$$ ing contest for car ownership to realise there's no shortgage of money. Check out the flat which is just a few doors down from Tesco. It's been on and off the market for years. I'll try to find a link.

My ears are bleeding. Her argument regarding child benefit wasn't any better.

This is what I'm seeing. All the, nice from the outside, family homes I've looked at are really fuddy inside. I don't think I've seen one which doesn't have a bathroom suite any some ghastly shade. Avacado in one that I've seen and that colour hasn't been in fashion for about 25 years. It all adds up when you know you're going to have to replace all that before you've even started doing anything else. When those upgrades aren't reflected in the price it's very frustrating.

This sums it up perfectly for me. I spent 10 years working in mortage applications and the key was sensible income multiples. They should never have deviated from this.

If you mean the bit opposite Argos, Boots and just by Ikea, no. You often see people walking there with their dogs like its some beautiful summit.

Some of the flats look so grim too. If you head from the Penarth roundabout to Cardiff bay retail park those ones with all the wooden fascias are all weathered and faded. I bet the developer thought it seemed like good idea at the time.

We've been shopping at Aldi for about 3-4 years and its now incredibly busier than it used to be. I really do prefer it toTesco, where I always feel like I'm being ripped off, and must have saved 100's of £ over the years.

About 6 months ago I was spending around £95 per week, 2 adults, 1 male teen who doesn't stop eating or growing, 2 further children and 1 cat. Now it's crept up to £110 a week and that's shopping at Aldi. Lunch box stuff is included in that otherwise it would cost me a further £30 a week for 3 if paying for school dinners. Annual bill approx £5720

Don't forget to wear flip-flops so they know you're not really serious about buying.

I'm signed up to receive updates with a number of estate agents for my area (rural Vale of Glamorgan). I'm getting emails regarding a reduction on different properties approximately every 2 weeks. Yesterday a property I had been watching at £249, 999, which is vacant and has been on for at least 6 months, dropped by 5K, whop de friggin do. Another agent I've signed up with keeps having an open house on at least one property every weekend. I'm seeing reductions but it's small and steady.

Don't forget to ask your wife who's side she's on. You should be equally annoyed with her for undermining you In front of your "friend".

We were on Independence of the Seas in March. 5 of us, 2 adults and 3 children in Ocean View stateroom and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Holiday was £2800 and gratuities were about £300 for 11 nights. We did go during term time (slaps wrist) and it was full of pensioners. It did get a little tiring after a week of carpet shuffling but the oldies certainly seem to have plenty of money and energy judging by the late evenings in the casino. We aren't big drinkers either so only opted for 2 soft drinks packages. Like the last poster, it really is lovely waking up somewhere new. I didn't think I'd get off at the ports but we got off at each one and found something to do without blowing our budget.