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Ask Danny
If you are thinking about taking part in Simplify, but have a few questions I'm here to help. Have a look through the answers for more information on how to get started and any challenges you might face during October.
If you have a question that isn't answered below just use the form to ask me and I'll try to help where I can.
How much do I have to live on?
That depends on whether you live on your own or with a family, your allowance is greater for a married couple and if you have children. Some costs, including housing costs, council tax and current giving, are exempt so you do not have to pay for these out of the benefits you receive.
For more information see: What is Simplify?
What should I give away?
The aim is to be as generous as possible, but this shouldn't replace your current giving. If you use the budgeting sheets this will help you.
For more information see: What is Simplify?
Where does the money go?
It is up to you or your church to decide where the money should go. However, I would suggest giving to charities that help people who are struggling financially either in your community, nationally or abroad. If there are people in your church in financial need you might want to give directly to them.
For more information see: Generosity
When should I give the money?
By working out your month's budget beforehand this will enable you to be generous as soon as you receive your pay check. Giving in the Bible is referred to as the 'first fruits', and there is also a danger that even if we have the best intentions to give a certain amount we might find that we have various reasons to spend a little bit more if the money is available.
Can I still go to the cinema?
Yes, if you want to do something special then you might need to save money elsewhere. Simplify is a great opportunity to reassess where your money goes, but having fun is still important so you might want to budget in some treats.
Why should I do this?
Regardless of our comparative wealth with those directly around us, we are all rich on a global sense. So while our employment may be more fragile let's not take for granted what we have. This is a chance to take some of the clutter out of our lives and focus on what is important, see some of the tips for help on where to start. By living simply you may be able to be more generous and support those who are experiencing financial hardship.
But I have a family to feed?
The more children you have, the more money you would be entitled to if you received benefits. Actually, because Child Benefit takes into account the cost of raising children throughout their childhood if you have children you would be comparatively better off during the Simplify month. This may mean that you are able to give away a little bit more.
It’s my child’s birthday in the month?
This is a commitment that you have made so it shouldn't negatively affect your children, so when working out your budget include a sum for presents under the exemptions. If your children are a little older they may want to play a more active role in helping the family live simply.
What about emergencies?
When working out your budget for the month include a buffer that can be used for emergencies, if something crops up during the month then you can use this amount but if it isn't needed it can be added to your giving.
I have bills due during that month
It may be that you have no choice but to pay some large bills during October, however, have a think about how you would deal with the bills if this was a permanent situation. You may be able to use direct debit to pay over the year, but perhaps think about some permanent changes that you might be able to make to your life. There might be some long term decisions, such not using a car that would reduce the bills you face.
What about my Sky TV package?
As you work out your budget you may have to make choices about what you are able to spend money on. Something like a Sky package may be on a contract that you can't get out of and you may be able to find room in your budget for it. Simplify is less about what you can afford but more about how you live. There may be things in your life that you are able to afford, but if you can try to de-clutter your life in October see how it goes, and it might become a permanent change.
Can it be done?
What would you do about contributions to a pension or other regular savings that are made?
Pension contributions and any other payments (such as student loan repayment) that are taken directly out of your salary are exempt. Take your salary after tax and these other deductions, and this is the figure to work with.
If you want to make any additional savings this will need to be a part of your benefit budget. We want to allow for flexibility, so if you regularly save for annual big ticket items, such as a season ticket for the train or professional indemnity insurance, it might be appropriate for these to be counted in the exempt category.
I am married living in our own home with no children. How much should I have to live on and what are allowable expenses?
For a married couple we have approximated the benefits as £411.67 each month. This is how much you will have to live on after costs which would either be covered or not incurred if you were out of work and living on benefits have been paid. In particular this includeds housing costs - such as rent/mortgage and council tax, childcare and travel to work. This form helps you calculate how much you have to live on, and what you will be left with that you can give away.
How much should a person living on their own have to spend each week?
The amount that a single person gets on income support is £67. For simplify we are suggesting that this covers your spending apart from housing costs and other expenses that you would not incur if you were working (such as travel to work, or childcare). So the £67 would include utility bills, phone and television costs as well as food and any luxuries such as entertainment.
This is only a guideline, and we realise that it might not be practical to stop some of your monthly expenditure, such as Sky TV packages, for just a month. So maybe you will need to exempt some of the payments that if you really were on benefits you might have to cancel. This is not about a set of rules but rather thinking about how we treat money and the affect it has on our lives.
Sorry, two spreadsheets have confused me. How do I relate the possible amount I have to give away - £650 (living and giving) to the outgoings (budgetting) at c£900? Have I missed an explanation sheet somewhere or am I just missing something obvious because I am tired?
Hi Kevin
It is best to use the budgeting sheet after you have worked out how much you have to live on and give away. You will then see if it is necessary to make changes to you current outgoings. For the basis of Simplify regular payments for housing, either rent or mortgage, should be excluded from your outgoings. If there are outgoings that cannot reasonably be reduced for just a month don't worry too much about it, but perhaps think about the whether it is worth making changes over a longer period of time.
Danny
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