Will my pay packet be smaller?

In the long-term, you are likely to be worse off.

There will be no immediate change, but the chancellor is increasing National Insurance (NI) contributions for employees, employers and the self-employed from April 2003.

This means that people who fall into these categories will find their NI contributions increased by one percentage point on earnings greater than �4,615 up to �30,940.

Extra national insurance costs

Annual salary of �10,700: extra �1.65 a week Annual salary of �21,400: extra �3.70 a week Annual salary of �32,100: extra �5.75 a week

This is roughly the equivalent of a penny in the pound on income tax - an income tax hike through the backdoor.

It will cost those earning up to �30,940 an extra �263.25 a year.

The chancellor has also effectively "uncapped" the so-called upper earnings limit of �30,940.

Taxpayers whose NI payments were previously capped will now see 1% of their earnings above that level paid out in NI contributions.

Someone earning �50,000 a year will pay an extra �190.60 a year, on top of �263.25. In total, they will be �453.85 a year worse off.

Someone on �100,000 a year will pay an extra �953.85 a year.

They may also be affected by increases in employers' NI contributions - some employers might consider the impact during their next pay reviews.

What about booze and fags?

If you are a smoker, you will be hit by another - now predictable - increase in duty.

The chancellor has levied an extra six pence on a packet of 20 cigarettes.

It is better news for drinkers. The chancellor has frozen duty on beer, spirits and wine.

In fact, if you are a cider drinker - duty has been cut by 2%. And, if you like to drink beer made by small breweries, you may benefit.

The chancellor is introducing duty relief for small breweries, with drinkers likely to see a cut of 14p off the price of a pint.

Alcopops drinkers will be less enthusiastic - prices will rise as the drinks will now be taxed at spirits rather than wine rates.

I've got children. Do I get any additional help?

Putting "families first" is one of the catchphrases the chancellor likes to wheel out at Budget time.

Child credit will be raised with earnings for the rest of parliament, which is widely believed to be better than the fad for linking benefits and credits with prices.

Families will receive up to �54.25 for the first child and �92.75 if they have two children.

Families with two children and which earn up to �35,000 will get up to �50 a week childcare help.

The new child tax credit which will be introduced in April 2003 will be payable to families with household incomes up to �58,000.

In the first year of a child's life, the new tax credit will be available to families earning up to �66,000 a year

How much you get from these amounts will depend on your income. The chancellor wants to redistribute wealth to change UK society - and this means that the poor get more.

I want to buy a house. Will I be worse off?

There were no across-the-board changes in stamp duty, although the chancellor did announce an extension to benefits for purchasers in deprived areas.

However, he said he would crack down on tax avoidance measures which people were using to avoid paying stamp duty.

I'm a pensioner. Am I any better off?

There was one piece of good news for all pensioners.

The chancellor announced an above-inflation increase in age-related personal allowances.

An elderly taxpayer will be able to set the first �6,610 of their income against tax - and the first �6,740 for those aged 75 or more.

This means that some pensioners will pay less income tax.

I'm a motorist. Is there anything for me?

Good news, on the whole. Fuel duty has been frozen, and the chancellor has announced incentives for "green" drivers.

The chancellor announced cuts of �55 in the licence fee for the least polluting vans, cuts of �30 for the least polluting cars and cuts of up to �35 for motorcycles.

Cars that will qualify for the new reduced rate will include the most efficient versions of the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Astra and Peugeot 206.