BUDGET 2011: How will the spending squeeze affect you?

12 April 2012

How will the spending squeeze affect a family facing benefit cuts, a young family, a professional and a jobseeking graduate?

Family facing benefit cuts

Dominic Ceraldi, 39, personnel manager at Pimlico Plumbers

Family: Married to Paula, also 39. They have a five-year-old son, Calum, and their student daughter, Nicola, 21, lives at home
Home: Two-bedroom house in Silvertown
Annual salary: £45,000.
Monthly outgoings: £600 rent. £400 on food. Recently sold his VW Tiguan for £12,000 and the whole family now travels by public transport. He buys a £32.50 weekly travelcard. No family holiday this year.
Do you trust the Coalition's plan to boost Britain's economy? The big thing last time was middle-income people being hit and the super-rich non-doms getting away with it. The fact they are now targeting them with the rises in charges for being here, and with air passenger duty on private jets, makes it feel a lot fairer at least.
How does the Budget affect you? I feared the worst but it is not all bad news. The extra 200-odd quid in my pocket because of the change in allowances is a nice thing. I've been cutting back during the last year, and even though VAT is high, I'd rather have that money to spend if I want.
Although I've had to get rid of my car, scrapping the fuel rise is good as I may need to get another vehicle in the future. Still, this is the worst budget for families I've known. My wife runs a tight ship but it's expensive bringing a young boy up and there isn't much left at the end of the month.

Young family

Caz Nicklin, 32, owner of Cycle Chic in Shoreditch

Family:
Home:
Joint annual income:
Monthly outgoings:
Do you trust the Coalition's plan to boost Britain's economy?
How does the Budget affect you?

Professional

Robin Landman, 58, chief executive of the Network for Black Professionals, a career development, training and policy-advisory firm. Has government department contracts

Family:
Home:
Annual salary:
Monthly outgoings:
Do you trust the Coalition's plan to boost Britain's economy?
How does the Budget affect you?

Jobseeking graduate

Jennifer Morris, 27, MA graduate in fashion design and technology from the London College of Fashion

Family:
Home:
Income:
Do you trust the Coalition's plan to boost Britain's economy?
How does the Budget affect you?

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