I hope you can help - SoA included

donnaessex

Hi everyone.

I am a long term lurker to this board and others. I have been plodding along paying off debts left right and centre for some time now.

We got into the majority of our debt in 2002/2003 when we moved in together and bought a 3 bed "fixerupper" - our house was a nightmare from start to finish and we soon started drowning in major building works that needed doing.

We have a 12 month old girl and I am 7 months pregnant. Everything was fine, but I got some news yesterday which has shaken me. When I had my little girl I was given 50% pay on top of my statutory maternity pay as well as accrued annual leave and this meant that I was only about £100 a month worse off while on leave. I had just 4 months off before returning to work full time. Then we fell pregnant again (we were supposed to be going down the IVF route when we fell for our little girl as we are both "challenged" in the fertility arena apparently) which was a huge shock. We didnt think we'd have one child, let alone two but of course are over the moon.

My good friend the HR Manager had a short meeting with my boss when I told work I was pregnant again and she told me that I would be getting the same package again. Yesterday my boss called me in and said that he was unable to provide me with the same package due to me having two maternity leaves so close together. I was and still am distraught. I know its because this time I will be taking 6-9 months off instead of the 4 I took with my girl.

Here is our SoA - any advice would be very much appreciated. The majority of loans etc are in my name, apart from one card (Egg) which is in my husbands name. Obviously the £200 a month I pay to my sister who cares for my daughter will stop soon too. Oh, and SMP is £109 a week but you get taxed on that. I also accrue 2 days holiday per month and get paid that and my salary is £27,500 - not sure how you work that out though sorry.

If I've forgotten anything I apologise. Please ask any questions and I will revert as soon as I can.Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 1620
Partners monthly income after tax....... 1400 (he gets overtime 30% of the time which boosts our income by £100 a week)
Benefits................................ 75 (child benefit - we were overpaid tax credits last year so we arent getting them at the moment.
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 3095

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 847
Secured loan repayments................. 0
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 109
Electricity............................. 43
Gas..................................... 62
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 24.5
Telephone (land line)................... 17
Mobile phone............................ 40
TV Licence.............................. 11.75
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 38 (this will have to be cut I know)
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 433.33 (this includes clothes, nappies, toiletries etc)
Clothing................................ 0
Petrol/diesel........................... 216.66 (two cars - 1.6 focus and 1.7 diesel astravan)
Road tax................................ 23.33 (both cars)
Car Insurance........................... 45.83 (both cars)
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 16.66 (both cars)
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 200 (my sister cares for her)
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 16.66 (and contents)
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 9.09
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 50
Haircuts................................ 20
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Husband Money........................... 216.66 (he gets £50 a week to do with as he pleases - pub/newspapers/clothes)
NSPCC................................... 5 (I know this has to stop)
Savings Account for baby................ 21.66 (this too unfortunately)
Sewer Rates............................. 15.26
Total monthly expenses.................. 2482.39

Assets
Cash.................................... 1600 (was savings for new windows but needs must)
House value (Gross)..................... 150000
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 5500
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 157100

Secured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 120000...(847)......5.9
Total secured debts........... 120000....-.........-

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Halifax........................19000.....292.1.....7.9 (7 years - finishes 12/2011)
Northern Rock..................15000.....215.8.....5.9 (7 years - finishes 06/2012)
Egg Card.......................1955......54........0 (0% til Jan 09)
Car Loan (Mum).................4000......125.......7.2 (3 years finishes Nov 11)
Sofa...........................900.......30........0 (4 years finishes Apr 10)
TV.............................500.......52.98.....17 (10 months til Oct 08)
Overdraft......................2250......20........0 (this is interest payment, not capital)
Capital One Card...............1800......60........0 (0% til Jun 09)

peb

I didn't want this to drop off the front page.

First of all, congratulations on your little girl and your new little one.

As you say, savings and charity donations have to stop now - you can set those up once you are back on your feet again. Also your husbands pocket money will have to stop; anything that he is to buy will have to be considered from now on. I see that your tv pauyment is to finish son and you will need to get rid of the Egg card before January.

I see that you are taking longer off work this time - I don't want to upset you (not being a mother!) but is this necessary; your husband doesn't appear to earn as much as you so could he take time off instead?

WIll you now get tax credits with having another baby?

Other than that the groceries are really high; you need to seriously cut down there; clothes I see are included but hopefully you will still have maternituy clothes from last time and the new baby will be able to use the little girls clothes for a while.

Finally; d you need two cars?

HTH

donnaessex

peb wrote: »

I didn't want this to drop off the front page.

First of all, congratulations on your little girl and your new little one.

As you say, savings and charity donations have to stop now - you can set those up once you are back on your feet again. Also your husbands pocket money will have to stop; anything that he is to buy will have to be considered from now on. I see that your tv pauyment is to finish son and you will need to get rid of the Egg card before January.

I see that you are taking longer off work this time - I don't want to upset you (not being a mother!) but is this necessary; your husband doesn't appear to earn as much as you so could he take time off instead?

WIll you now get tax credits with having another baby?

Other than that the groceries are really high; you need to seriously cut down there; clothes I see are included but hopefully you will still have maternituy clothes from last time and the new baby will be able to use the little girls clothes for a while.

Finally; d you need two cars?

HTH

Hi thanks for posting!

I spoke to my husband last night and he agrees his pocket money has to go which is great, but I feel so guilty. Still, needs must!

As for taking time off work I dont think I'll be able to to be honest. I wanted to take 6-9 months off because I was breastfeeeding my baby exclusively when I returned to work last time (department of health recommends until baby is 6 months) and I was just so exhausted constantly trying to express milk off for her etc I wanted to last 6 months at least with time off work and am so upset that it wont be possible this time. Here come the tears!!! Oh god.

Shopping and groceries - I've left this figure as is as I think its doable (bearing in mind our clothing allowance is in there too). I am a great fan of home cooking and trust me when I tell you we eat no convenience foods etc and my daughter has never had any processed foods touch her lips so far. Tonight - chicken casserole with mash which costs me about £4.00 to make two full meals for the three of us.

Maternity clothes etc - I havent bought anything this time anyway - I'm not a big clothes shopper - never have been. Hopefully this baby will be a girl so there will be lots to hand down. I pity any boy who will be wearing his sisters dresses!!!

Two cars - yes I think so. My husband has an astravan with two seats that he needs for work so we wouldnt be able to get rid of that and then I need a car to get to work too.


Here is my updated SoA showing what I will be earning etc when I am on mat leave using entitledto.com.

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 537.75
Partners monthly income after tax....... 1400
Benefits................................ 210.12
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 2147.87

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 847
Secured loan repayments................. 0
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 109
Electricity............................. 43
Gas..................................... 62
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 24.5
Telephone (land line)................... 17
Mobile phone............................ 20
TV Licence.............................. 11.75
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 433.33
Clothing................................ 0
Petrol/diesel........................... 170
Road tax................................ 23.33
Car Insurance........................... 45.83
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 16.66
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 16.66
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 9.09
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 0
Haircuts................................ 20
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Sewer Rates............................. 15.26
Total monthly expenses.................. 1884.41

Assets
Cash.................................... 1600
House value (Gross)..................... 150000
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 5500
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 157100

Secured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 120000...(847)......5.9
Total secured debts........... 120000....-.........-

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Halifax........................19000.....292.1.....7.9
Northern Rock..................1500......215.8.....5.9
Egg Card.......................1955......54........0
Capital One Card...............1800......60........0
Overdraft......................2250......20........0
TV.............................500.......52.98.....17
Sofa...........................900.......30........0
Car Loan (Mum).................4000......125.......7.9

lincsdan86

Hi,

Just readng your thread and I was wondering why your employer wasn't going to pay you maternity pay as before? Have you checked your contract/employees handbook to see what the companies policies are?

donnaessex

lincsdan86 wrote: »

Hi,

Just readng your thread and I was wondering why your employer wasn't going to pay you maternity pay as before? Have you checked your contract/employees handbook to see what the companies policies are?

Yes its basic SMP which is 90% pay for 6 weeks and £117 per week after that. I have checked it out and as my extra pay wasnt in my contract they are under no obligation to pay me the same amount again - it was just a goodwill gesture.

I've been here 6 years.

WorkingHardDFW

Congratulations on your pregnancy:

Occupational Maternity pay (what companies choose to pay) as opposed to Statutory maternity pay (what they have to pay) are different.

I would check out the following:

• What's in your contract and/or whats in their maternity policy
• What have they done for others in the firm apart from you ie do they generally pay a discretionary OMP payment therefore are they just discriminating against you - since having two mat leaves close together it perhaps not ideal for them but thats how it is! Sounds out your HR Mrg friend.

Once you have that information you'll be better placed to negotiate if you have to.

Good luck

donnaessex

WorkingHardDFW wrote: »

Congratulations on your pregnancy:

Occupational Maternity pay (what companies choose to pay) as opposed to Statutory maternity pay (what they have to pay) are different.

I would check out the following:

• What's in your contract and/or whats in their maternity policy
• What have they done for others in the firm apart from you ie do they generally pay a discretionary OMP payment therefore are they just discriminating against you - since having two mat leaves close together it perhaps not ideal for them but thats how it is! Sounds out your HR Mrg friend.

Once you have that information you'll be better placed to negotiate if you have to.

Good luck

Hi Working Hard.

I've checked this out and have been told that a woman who is pregnant with her second baby is not getting additional pay this time either so I think they've set the precedent now that first maternity leaves can be given discretionary extra pay, and second pregnancies will be treated to the basic money. Our handbook just states that we will be paid the basic package, as prescribed by local laws (we are a global company) so we are entitled to 90% pay for 6 weeks, then £117 pw from then on.