As a typical Libra I can see both sides.  But as a single professional in my 30's with no kids I have a detached home to run by myself  and feed four dogs and pay for dog shows - I get no help when things get tough and I have to admit it does annoy me that if I had kids I would get help but because I dont have kids there is no help available.  It really annoyes me when I see friends who are single parents with a poorly paid job yet they are out every single night ad always have nice new designer clothes.  I do feel single people are discriminated against in this day and age.
Also wanted to add my father is 79 this year and is not a burden whatsoever, i talk to him several times a day and see him daily in fact as well as being my dad he is also my best friend.  If he ever needed looking after I wouldnt hesitate to move him i and look after him.

>single parents with a poorly paid job yet they are out every single night ad always have nice new designer clothes.

But who knows how many credit cards they have, and how much they owe?

yeah thats a good point...  thats one thing I dont have and will never have - a credit card - i learnt the hard way when I was at University.  I now save up for things and pay cash, if I havent got the cash i go without...  for eg.  my TV broke a feww weeks before Xmas, I am currently watching a portable TV in my front room, yes it looks odd and I could go and buy a huge flatscreen on credit today BUT i wont, im currently saving for a new tv.  :-)  Did the same at Xmas, paid cash for everything so at least I dont have to spend this year worrying about debts to pay off.  Ive got savings but a new TV is not urgent if you catch my drift.

I think you're being very sensible and saving yourself a lot of worry and hassle. :)

Maybe... :-)  but its not much fun watching a postage stamp sized screen when all my friends have huge wall mounted flatscreens.... LOL and yes theirs are on credit... ha ha

Just for informatiuon I think it needs to be pointed out that benefit levels are not exactly enough to have anyone living in luxury.
see here: http://www.parkinsons.org.uk/Shared_ASP_Files/UploadedFiles/A45C75A8-8696-45A9-8F2D-7743B869A468_WB07IS.pdf

Personal Allowances
Single person £57.45 (aged 25 or over)
Couple £90.10 (Both over 18)
Dependent Children £45.58
Child Tax Credit replaced the child elements of
Income Support. However, some existing
recipients continue to receive them.
Premiums
There are a number of premiums, which can
be added to your Personal Allowance.
These are:
* Enhanced Disability
If you, your partner or your child receives the
highest rate care component of the disability
living allowance you can claim this premium.
Single person £11.95
Couple £17.25
* Disability Premium
This is for people under the age of 60.
To receive this premium you normally must
be receiving either Disability Living Allowance,
Attendance Allowance, Severe Disablement
Allowance or the long-term rate of Incapacity
Benefit or be registered as blind. For a couple,
only one person needs to meet these
conditions.
Single Person £24.50
Couple £34.95
* Severe Disability Premium
Single people will get this provided they live
alone and receive Attendance Allowance
or the highest level of the care component of
Disability Living Allowance with no-one
receiving Carer's Allowance for looking
after them.
There are exceptions to living alone.
For example, if you live with someone who
also receives Attendance Allowance or the
middle or highest rate of Disability Living
Allowance care component or with someone
who is registered blind or with a paid helper
provided by a charity or you are a joint tenant
or joint owner and share the housing costs.
Single Person £46.75
Couple, one person qualifies £46.75
Couple, both qualifying £93.50
You can claim Severe Disability Premium as
well as either the disability or pensioner
premium.
* Carer Premium
This is for carers who are receiving Carer's
Allowance. It will also be available for people
who applied for Invalid Care Allowance on or
after October 1st 1990 and met the conditions
but could not receive it because they were
receiving another benefit instead.
Carer Premium £26.35
N.B. If the person you care for receives the
severe disability premium of Income Support,
they will lose this if you are awarded Carer's
Allowance.
* Other Premiums
There are other premiums available subject to
qualifying conditions; you are advised to check
to see if you are eligible for these.
Disabled Child £45.08
Bereavement £26.80

So for those who truly only have benefit income life is not a bed of roses, and you would need to be very stupid to have a child for the £50 odd pound a week which includes your child benefit which is deducted off Income support.

Just a thought Marguerite would your daughter not be better off waiting until after the birth of the baby when she *IS* on a lower income (maternity benefits, working tax credit etc etc) and then claim again?  I would have thought she'd have more chance then since she will be classed as having lower income and dependants?

Hope all goes well for her :-)

Stacey x

Not sure if anyone has already said this (I've got to the end of the thread and forgotten what was at the start), but what about the Citizens Advice Bureau?  Also, ask the midwives and health visitors, they often know a lot about the system and how to work it and also may know of places to get hold of second hand items.  I remember when my daughter was born as was very quickly out of the tiny baby nappies, I had lots left and one of the midwives took them to give to a young mum in another village who was struggling financially.  I also gave her clothes and things to pass on.

Just wondered if the original poster had had any luck at the car boot sale yesterday??

Marguerite,

I've just sent you a message with links to a few cots on Ebay which have P&P options.  One of them is currently only at £16 with a £20 courier charge.  Hope one of these may be OK for your daughter.

Helen

My daughter and myself went to the boot sale yesterday,very windy stormy day, all of 3 cars there !!!!! some of the market traders were out though and I got a nice white velour all in one for her to bring the baby home in, just to knit a cardi now to go with it, and nearly got the shawl finished. Been trawling through the Ad Trader adverts online as well and also e bay. 

So thanks everyone who have helped us. Will keep looking until we find everything we need.

I would definitely join your local Freecycle group - everything is given away there!  Good luck :)

Never heard of Freecycle group.  Whereabouts are they based?  I am in West coast of Scotland.

Absolutely hopeless at links - but if you look here http://www.freecycle.org/display.php?region=United+Kingdom you should find one near to you......or how about starting one up???

Good luck!

Margot

Thanks Margot for the link.   We do have a group in my area and I have just joined it.  Did not know places lilke that existed.  Amazing what you can find on a "doggy board"  I will also be letting my son know about this site as I know they have a lot of things  to "re-home".

Thanks from me too! I'd not heard of Freecycle but have joined the nearest group now. It will be a great way to have a clear out!

Thanks from me also!!! I didn't know things like that existed but have now joined my local group!!:-)

Good to hear the word is spreading! :)

Thanks for posting the link Margot.  The idea behind Freecycle is to keep things out of landfill.  Everything is  locally based so you don't have to go far to collect anything you want.  The rule is everything must be given away, no charges allowed.  You're too far away from me but I noticed tonight that someone in my local group was giving away a carrier bag full of baby clothes 0-9 months in good clean condition.  I've also seen highchairs, cots etc so hopefully you'll get some useful stuff from your own area.  Hope this helps.

I've used it already - have two armchars to collect on Saturday for the hounds! :)

Hope the doggies like the colour! :D

Argos currently have a cot and mattress for £59

Thanks everyone, going to see a cot tomorrow that was advertised on the Freecycle site.

Was the cot any good?

Yes Annie I have the cot here in my home, just need to buy a new mattress for it.

That's great - glad freecycle helped. :)  Hopefully more good stuff will be along soon.