Palmerston mother of two and full-time student Alice Tocher was barely making ends meet and having to rely on student support to feed her children.
The Budget did not offer extra financial assistance for parents and she felt she was being "punished'' by the Government for "bettering myself''.
"To be honest, I'm actually looking at giving up study to find some full-time work,'' Miss Tocher said.
"I'm feeling guilty. It's just getting to a point now where we have to suffer because of it.''
Miss Tocher moved to Palmerston after spending four years with children Xavier (9) and Lilly (4) in Housing New Zealand accommodation in Wakari.
The home made her and her children "continually sick'' and a safe and secure home in the city was not affordable. Her income amounted to $380 per week with $320 put towards rent.
"My whole intention of going back to study was to further my skills and experience. It's frustrating,'' she said.
The $60 Miss Tocher had left each week went towards providing for her children and she said the Budget needed to include more assistance for struggling parents, especially those who were trying to get out of a hole.
"We don't have the same things as John Key or Paula Bennett had when they were going through [struggles] themselves,'' she said.
St Kilda solo mother Tracey McCauley said the Budget focus was "absolutely disgusting'' and would not help her or daughter Skyla (1) "at all''.
The family lived on about $500 a week from part-time work and benefits.
"There's nothing in it for people that are trying to get ahead ... those solo parents who struggle,'' Ms McCauley said.
"We just live day-to-day.''
The latest Budget targeted the "wrong people'' and left out those who were making a concerted effort to make their lives better, she said.
Most of Ms McCauley's income went on "ridiculous'' rent prices and child care, and food was increasingly expensive.
"It's a struggle,'' she said.
Brockville mother of two Leah Sumner, a full-time health care support worker, said she agreed with putting money into health and education but hard-working people like her and husband Michael had never seen the results of Budget announcements.
"We're just the lowly second-class citizens,'' she said.
Yesterday, Minster of Finance Bill English said social investment was one of the "key tools'' in improving the lives of vulnerable people.
It was about assessing "what makes the most difference to people's lives''.
