Hi,

 
Have the Chancellor’s changes hit you in the pocket?

 
Are you worse or better off?

 
Tell us what you think about Alistair Darling’s first budget in this forum.

Thanks

It's the old favourites again isn't it?

Raise the tax on cigarettes - but hey we are helping you stop! No you are not you are just making me poorer and more guilty about carrying on.

Raise the tax on alchohol - see above.

Raise the tax om petrol but delay it 6 months - see above but in 6 months time.

The working man/woman suffers in the budget as usual.

It isn't only the working men and women who suffer from budget's like this one. Pensioner's suffer too! With a fixed very low income  all the current price rises are crippling!! food has gone up! fuel has gone up! Council tax has gone up! Water has gone up! electric has gone up! The 2008 - 2009 increase in the old age pension has been wiped out by the abolition of the 10% tax rate. and nothing has been done in this budget to alleviate the poverty and misery suffered by pensioner's who have paid contributions for 45 years in the case of women and 50 years in the case of men. One way of reducing the amount paid out in pensions just starve and freeze them off the planet!! its a disgrace!!

It's a good point well made.

I read in the press that by their calculations almost everyone was better of by between £1.50 - £5 per week.

However it never seems to feel that way.

As a small Business, I have been spending on on building work so I can maximise the space I have ready for my busy period in Jan/Feb so all the money I have has gone into this..This morning I need only 1 thousand pounds to settle some small bills and be ready I Have never needed any funds before from the bank and I ask for a small overdraft I was refused..I cant believe it..how on earth can small business cope...other than dont bank with these banks and set up Business Credit Unions...