Single mother Linda Lewyckyj is a learning support assistant at St John the Baptist Primary School, Brighton.

She has an 11-year-old daughter, Soraya.

Miss Lewyckyj, from Brighton, said she was lucky to have no childminding fees to find because she only worked during school terms and felt better off than many other single parents.

She gave up smoking after the 2001 budget, saving herself more than £20 a week, but has returned to smoking 15 to 20 cigarettes a day. She does not drink.

She said: "I don't drive and when I go into the city centre, I walk if the weather is good. I'll catch a bus if I'm in a hurry or I'll cycle in during the summer."

From her weekly take-home pay, in the £150 to £200 bracket, and one-parent child benefit, she has to find £65 a week for the family shopping and about £21 for council tax.

Gas, water, electricity and the phone take a further £40 a week. Miss Lewyckyj spends about £2 a week on fares.

She said: "My main concern is council tax has rocketed and my pay won't match it."

Matt said Miss Lewyckyj would receive the child tax credit of about £30 a week.

She could also be pleased to hear of the Government's commitment to more affordable mortgages.

The Chancellor had indicated he wanted to improve the lot of lone parents through changes in the benefit system and encouragement for training. All in all, it was a promising budget for Miss Lewyckyj.