Tightening the budget!

Being newly married with one child I have been anticipating the emergency budget and its impact on my family.  My first impressions are that Osborne is hitting hard with this one, with VAT at 20% from January 2011 this will hurt.   How can this be fair for the poorest people in society.  I agree the deficit has to come down but does it have to be so harsh and so fast. 

As for freezing child benefit for three years and removing the health in pregnancy grant, it really testifies to the fact that the coalition Government don't know how much a box of baby milk costs.  If the costs of baby goods were not so high maybe people would not have to apply for child benefit and tax credits to top up their income.  The lesson in all this is that we can't depend on welfare, after all this is the Tory ethos so what can we expect. 

There are good things about the budget, e.g. housing benefit reforms, Bank Levy's, state pensions being linked to earnings and child tax credits reduced for families on 40,000+ (only fair).

I have already tightened my budget being on maternity leave, but with this killer VAT rise it might be easier to do this as I am loathe to pay 20% in tax for my goods.

It's all in the name!

I love the rich meanings behind many names, particularly African names.  Nkiruka is my middle name from the Igbo tribe in Nigeria; It means 'What is in front is bigger.' My mother gave me this name because I am the first born of five children.  I prefer to add my own interpretation to the name so that it also means 'a great future is ahead' or 'the best is yet to come.'

What is the meaning behind your name? Does it inspire you? Does it even matter if your name has a meaning.  Share your views!