We are looking at duty of 57.95 pence per litre. That's so obscene. The big smokescreen is the news stories related to the current chaos on the railways. Not everyone travels by train. No train drivers equals no trains. That information is being suppressed.

the cost of living is quite scary. To break even and raise any kind of a family and fit in all the requirements is simply mind numbing and back breaking. We have two full time jobs in our house and 2 younger children and we cant get by beyond making the ends meet. And like most I suspect, the debt we have and the pensions and insurance will just about cover costs. you are born with nowt...

Fuel all round is becoming a luxury item. I imagine many state pensioners and lower earners and such simply get by on fumes in the summer and blankets int he winter.

perhaps global warming will at least lower winter bills...if you believe its not a conspiracy of course !!!!!

yep. I, well aware of the territory .

You gotta have a very supportive childcare network which often involves bringing together a plan similar to a deep covert international spying operation with informants, safe houses and miracles of planning and rescues as the seconds to disaster tick down.

I know there is some controversy and difficulty working out the value of benefits vs working hours and salaries. The middle class and the average salary are both woeful if you happen to have raised a family. so to the single parent.

The difficulty of doing everything well or adequately is so stressful.

I know that a single parent of 2 for example working 24 plus hours can have a net income of way about the average single person salary.

However, even thought this may to some at times to be unfair when compared to say a professionally qualified graduate with 10-20  years working experience; one really has to look broader and deeper berfore arriving at a reaction

The single parent is often totally alone and has the great responsibility of raising the next generation of our great civilisation. In many ways I applaud a social and civic system that meets the thresholds of market values that children need to have access to. The issue as always is that there are good custodians , not so good, and down right charlatans. This is however true no matter who you are or what class you belong to.

I know a single parent of eastern European recent immigration of 3 children who takes home almost exactly what I do working 24 hours in a warehouse.

I wish her good fortune and luck with every decision she has to make because its still not enough to raise kids on.

-- Edited by ian on Tuesday 12th of June 2018 10:33:05 PM

Ian that's exactly true, if only more people had your views. I'm totally isolated down here, you don't think about these things in your early 20s when you meet a southern lass and up sticks. I've got friends of course, all Dads and work fulltime. It's 'usually' the mum that gets the kids, who tend to have a network of likewise individuals, either stay at home / work part time married etc, or single mum parents. This society is not geared up for the dude to have the kids end of.

If the ex ever said don't wanna see them anymore I'd be off back to Rotherham like a shot, it's the only thing keeping me down here, the children, having a continued part time relationship with their mother.

I don't know if people remember, might have been back in the MM days, she had a brain hemorrhage back in 2011 a year after getting married when the kids were toddlers. She came out pretty well from it in the context of what it was and others you see with similar. Up to that point I had a thriving I.T. business and was self funding an I.T. degree course.

Life throws these things at you, what really gets my goat is the help or right structures aren't there to get out of the hole. My biz suffered due to the care of her, the 2 little ones and the elder step son, and all I want now is time to build up again. Even getting a job is nightmare, not only for kids care, school hols etc. Seems everyone want you available 12hrs a day 6 days a week. I'm not even going into the nepotism I've experienced the last 3 interviews, talk about making up the numbers it really is infuriating.

As your point about the next generation. I have sacrificed no end, to make sure my 2 who are bright as buttons have the drive and ambition to succeed, they already do and will be going to university, mortgage and be outstanding members of society, that I have no doubt whatsoever. They know the mistakes I made and will be better adults for it, they also know life changes and throws you curve balls. OK, I won't have material things to leave them by way of inheritence but I'm giving them something more valuable. Besides when I retire in 25yrs it will be commonplace that what you have the government will take for care, they're already doing it and it will get worse.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will discuss oil and other issues today as their teams face off in the World Cup.
Oh, the irony. And here's me thinking it was all about the football.

A drop in the wholesale price of oil means Asda’s new national fuel price cap is now 122.7p a litre for unleaded and 126.7p a litre for diesel.
Esso and BP will not like that.