The Chancellor sparked wildly different reactions from industry and unions, drawing praise and criticism.
Business groups welcomed measures to cut energy costs and promote manufacturing, but unions attacked the "obsession" with austerity.
The single mother
Mother Lisa Allen, 22, receives child tax credit but, despite recently introduced tax breaks for working parents, she believes she is better off staying at home with her son.
Living in Gloucester, she looks after her son Alfie, who is amost two.
The Government is trying to give incentives to get parents back into work but Lisa, a former chef in Longlevens, says the budget hasn't had a real influence on her decision.
She said: "Money isn't a cure – it's can't bring you happiness. It's obviously helpful but it is money at the end of the day. As long as I can put food on the table.
"I recently left my job to watch my boy grow. Out of work, you have to make sure you put your savings away instead of paying stuff you don't need.
"My decision to leave work was a toss-up as to whether I should to pay for childcare or not."
The Family Man
John Gough, from Abbeydale, said: "It is great to hear that the Government will be spending money on potholes. It is about time. That is what money should be spend one. One driver who recently passed her test swerved so she didn't go into a pothole, because it could have damaged her car. It can costs some drivers up to £400 to replace their wheel and suspension.
"I think my son, who is 28, will be pleased to hear that the Help to Buy Scheme is being extended, because he is looking to get on the property market. It is just a matter of what he can afford.
"It seems the Government's plan to pensioners may not be so good for the young people because they are having to work until an older age. My wife who recently turned 62 just got her pension, she would have preferred it at 60 though.
"I have only come across one petrol garage in Bristol Road that does cheap disease prices, so the fact that fuel duty rise due in September has been scrapped, will be welcome by a lot of people but I am all for more money to be spent on potholes."
The pub landlord
Pub landlord Mike Huysinga reckons a cut in tax duty for a pint of beer will not stop drink prices going up.
But he is pleased to see personal tax allowances to be raised to £10,500 next year as it will hopefully allow people to spend their savings on the High Street.
"Duty has gone down by a penny but that doesn't mean that prices won't go up," said Mike, who is the landlord at the Exemouth Arms, The Royal and the Strand in Cheltenham.
"Some of the wholesale prices have gone up by 10 pence and, although tax duty has been cut, that doesn't quite cover inflation.
"It is obviously good news that the budget is concentrated on helping pensioners and, because a lot of our customers are pensioner age, that will hopefully free up some more income.
"Tax duty and the wealth of our customers go hand in hand and, if our people feel wealthier, the more they will hopefully spend.
"I am no rabid Tory or Labour supporter but the more the Government can do to put money in people's pockets, the better."
The pensioner
Pensioner Murray Watson from Chalford, near Stroud, said the budget could have gone further for older people.
"I don't play bingo so it doesn't affect me but for those who do, it will be a boon," he said. "I was disappointed nothing was done about stamp duty because raising the level at which it is paid would have really helped house buyers – younger people moving up and older people downsizing.
"If you look at areas around Stroud, there are not that many houses under £250,000 and changing stamp duty could help the housing market get moving.
"It's obviously an electioneering budget – Mr Osborne is trying to help some pensioners but not all."
Christina Snell of Age UK Gloucestershire agreed.
"We would have liked to have seen more done for the poorest pensioners," she said.
The haulier
Gary Ball from GBS Light Haulage, Ashchurch, near Tewkesbury, said fuel duty needs to come down.
"Freezing fuel duty isn't enough," he said.
"The cost of fuel has risen and risen and I cannot put up costs at the same rate.
"It really eats in to my profit margin – like anyone, I have to make a profit to make a living and keep the business running.
"I'm not jumping up and down with joy at the fuel freeze.
"I would like to have seen more help for married couples and on the business side, there is more that can be done to make it easier to employ people.
"I would like to take on trainees but I need experienced staff. I can't afford to take on a trainee but if there was more help in that area, I could do that."
In reaction to Chancellor George Osborne's Budget today, Fiona Andrews, director of Smokefree South West said:
"We welcome the rise above inflation in tobacco prices announced today. However, given real concerns over hand rolled tobacco use in the South West, it is disappointing this Budget has not narrowed the gap between manufactured and hand rolled brands.
"Seven out of ten smokers want to quit. Saving hundreds or even thousands of pounds each year can be hugely motivating in today's climate when household budgets are over-stretched.
"Smokers are five times more likely to quit successfully using our free and effective local Stop Smoking Services than by going cold turkey."
![Budget 2014: Reaction in Gloucestershire]( "Budget 2014: Reaction in Gloucestershire")
