Budget Day

Today is budget day here in the UK.

The one thing I'm sure of, is that I will end up paying more tax. Assuming that I ever find another job, that is!

I work short term contracts. Not really through choice. I had a permanent job with a local firm a few years ago. But I was made redundant and my job went to India. I work in IT, so the obvious thing to do was to go contracting. Which has worked reasonably well for the last few years. But I haven't been able to keep up to date with my training, so my skills are getting a bit old fashioned. All the current adverts want skill I don't have.

Anyway what I really want to talk about is the budget. The husband works full time and has a reasonable job. We have a nice house, its quite big, but not amazing. When I'm working I get good money, but again not amazing. We just about keep our heads above water. But it seems like the goverment is always after us to pay more. Every time they change the tax laws it seems to hit us.

We don't qualify for any tax credits. We've lost the married mans allowance. The daughter is at Uni, she doesn't qualify for any assistance, so we have to support her. She is in her first year of a 4 year course, and is living in hall. But the amount she is allowed to borrow under the student loans scheme is less than she has to pay for her room and board. She is over 18, so she is notionally an adult, but we had to fill in all sorts of forms about our incomes before she could claim her students loan (which she will have to pay off).

I have to go now, as I'm taking the children to the dentist (presumably I will have to pay for the check for the daughter as she is no longer considered a child!). More expense!