I remember the year I had to give up work following having my first child. We had done our homework and thought we could manage, but hadn't bargained on the taxman deciding we hadn't paid enough tax the year before. Suddenly our out goings were greater than our income. We had no one to turn to who could afford to help, so went to see the bank manager, who told us 'custom like ours they could do without!' I was angry, as we were being responsible and for all he knew, DH could have been a future chief constable. I heard rumours that he lost his job! We muddled through and we kept our home. We had holidays thanks to my in laws living in a beautiful place by the sea. My daughter will not be able to buy her own property, without our help, but other than that they now have more disposable income than we had, partly because they manage the money they do have very well. Children's clothes are cheaper, other than shoes, plus she is given a lot of second hand stuff. And it's gives me pleasure to buy them stuff and they are only to happy to let me have my fun!