Good god, what one sided morons populate this forum! You think all mothers are begging for scraps, children in rags! Well I'm going to blow the whistle for you. I'm a single mother. I left my partner, not married, because he would not commit to me - and I could afford a new house. We have a daughter, which he pays for weekly. Voluntary agreement. I work full time, have good childcare [at school] and live in a quiet village so all in all, life is good. And there is no way on earth my girl costs what he pays! Because he messed me around, now he's paying. I earn a decent wage - does it matter? NO! Brilliant I'm rolling in money, and cant lose. The more he earns, the more I get! and the BEST thing about it, is that I could go crying to the CSA or next incarnation of it the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission which demands much more money, from GROSS income so he cant even reduce it with mortgage, etc! So, while bleeding heart do-gooders like you are around, there will be intelligent people like me profiting.