Single Mums Are Fighting To Survive

First, as a single dad I do get annoyed that writers don't use the term single parent, as not all of us are female (although I accept the majority are!).

Second, BrightHouse is a 'weekly payment store' (APR from 29.9%) whose main customer base are benefit claimants, so these results are not unexpected. However the fact remains that since the introduction of tax credits and help towards child-care you are invariably better off working as a single parent than on benefits (I work full-tim myself), and as someone who until recently worked for the DWP I do know the figures! The people who are really suffering in society are low-paid single people and couples without kids, whose standards of living are on average far below those of single-parents.

This is not to say of course that every single-parent can get work (areas of high unemployment, or where a child is disabled etc.), or indeed should get work if the child is young (although I chose to and my lad's only 2, but he absolutely loves nursery), but until the recent lurch into recession most single parents could get work if they wanted to. In fact I actually worked in Jobcentre Plus in a typical northern town with areas of high benefit deprevation, but where jobs were readily available, and where when faced with single parent benefit claimants who said they couldn't work because they had children had to politely point out that myself and a significant amount of my colleagues were not only ourselves single-parents, but shockingly had jobs too!

I am a single mother with NO debts and I didn't much like Neil's article.As he rightly says there needs to be another survey with different data.MY main priority is to STAY OUT of debt,everything else involves struggling to survive on a limited budget.Holidays and savings are a dream,at least for now.

Hi JGHarney

You said:

"First, as a single dad I do get annoyed that writers don't use the term single parent, as not all of us are female (although I accept the majority are!)."

Sorry that annoyed you, but the data I was using only analysed single mums. As I said in my article, it was not the best survey ever, so we need to both take it with a pinch of salt and extrapolate it further as required.

Neil

I agree with JGHarney, since my husband was made redundant just before Christmas last year we have claimed benefit as a couple and have suffered greatly as a result. The couples rate is less than for two single people (even then it is breadline). We never go out, we don't have a Plasma TV taking up half the room and it is a daily struggle simply trying to exist. Even my mother, who is a pensioner does not understand why people in our cirumstances should receive less money. On another note, I know very few people who actually defraud the benefits system. This is some kind of urban myth perpuated by certain types of people. It is bad enough claiming benefits in the first place without the social stigma attached to it as well.

Hi all. As a single mum who worked right through my kids childhoods, I always feel a bit exasperated at the attitudes of single parents who think that having a job (or not) is their only option. What about starting a small business from home, that would fit with kiddies routines? I taught myself how to use the internet, and as well as training as a life coach, initially, building up that business, I learned how to do internet marketing, recommending other people's products and services to my ever-growing mailing list, before finally writing my book The Money Gym. All around me, people are making money with small businesses, like gardening (I wish I could find a reliable one!), ironing, cleaning and starting ironing and cleaning companies, babysitting businesses, delivering leaflets (again, someone reliable would be fabulous!). There are the network marketing companies like Virgin Vie, Avon and Nuways, that can bring in extra income too and provide training, and there are online versions now like Success University that are very good fun. There is evidence to show that over the next 10 years, over half the population will become self employed, the USA has already topped 50% I believe, and being self employed is so much more flexible. You have to be willing to turn the TV off and learn new skills though, but you can do that while the babies sleep and they can be learned from books which are not expensive or online videos which are usually free. I saw a great article on this site somewhere about attitude and that's what needs to change. A job = Just Over Broke and worse, you are dependent on your employer - horrendous! No security there. Best wishes to all from a fellow mum of two! Cheers, Nicola (http://www.themoneygym.com)

As a father who is currently about to go through a seperation/divorce i fail to see why a father would not want to pay for his childs welfare and safegaurd their future. If im honest I would much prefere my daughter to live with me as I have been her primary carer for the last 5 years anyway, but that is something I will have to deal with as it seems widely accepted that a child should live with the "MUM" despite not really having been there for the last few years (Dont get me wrong, work and circumstances force her back to work)but i managed to bend my work life around looking after my daughter, why could`nt she?

Even so, its moving away from the point, any father worth being called that would be more than happy to pay, i know i would (Just need to figure out how as i`m being left with a huge mortgage to pay, and for all of the other things as my partner no longer works).

Really, the government needs to do more to safegaurd Single parents rights to look after their children and make life easier, I mean lets face it, they put the welfare of illegals and other visitors to these shores before us!!!

Good luck to all single parents out there, men and women.

hi all,l've just joined.l'm also a single mum..also got another on the way..problem is my x hubby claims benefits,works on the side and doesnt pay a penny for our kids yet goes away on holidays with his g/f and her daughter,has a lovely life whilst l'm struggling to make ends meet.l was on a course to get a job but then found out l was pregnant...l certainly could write a book lol.plus if l was to get a job once the baby is older and my x take me to court again over contact then l'd have to pay but he wouldnt..it's so annoying!!!