Child support laws were created to ensure that the non-custodial parent’s money is actually being used for the benefit of the child. While child support is typically intended to cover a child’s basic needs and expenses, exactly how the funds are allocated will typically be left to the custodial parent. The custodial parent may decide to spend the child support payments directly on food and other items specifically for the child, or they may choose to combine the child support payments with their other household funds in order to pay for rent, utilities, or purchase groceries and other essential items for the family.