The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published the results of a consultation which asked ordinary people about what they feel is needed to achieve an acceptable standard of living today.

The findings showed that:

• a couple with two children need to spend £370 a week, not including rent or mortgage.
• To afford this budget on top of rent on a modest council home, the couple with two children would need to earn £26,800 a year before tax
• For families with no adult working, state benefits provide for two-thirds the minimum budget for those with children.

The report can be downloaded from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation website.