Budget bonus for moneylendersSince I was delivering training this afternoon I didn't get a chance to hear the budget being delivered. On the way home in the car trying to catch up with developments through the commentary on the drivetime programmes I heard a mention of the cutting of the Christmas bonus. I figured that civil servants may have suffered a slashing of a bonus - just as most in the private sector have come to expect. But no, how wrong I was. As I listened to more I came to the realisation that it was in fact the extra payment at Christmas to welfare recipients that had been cut. I really could not believe my ears. Most of us find Christmas an expensive time. If we're careful most of us can afford it by saving a bit in advance or if we're not so careful we overspend on the credit cards. If you're bringing a family up on social welfare payments imagine how hard it is. Your kids want that toy for Christmas and to have a tree with lights like the other houses and to have a turkey and crackers at dinner. These families find it impossible to put money aside and they can't access credit easily so they turn to money lenders for a quick fix trying to put from their minds the exhorbitant interest (even worse than the most expensive credit card) they'll be paying. People working in charities with such families will tell you that they struggle to keep them out of the clutches of the money lenders. It's been a tough job even with an extra payment for Christmas. Now it will be impossible. We all faced that today's budget was going to mean a bit of pain but it turns out that money lenders have just been handed a big bonus. Add a CommentYour comment will appear once it has been approved. |