How much maternity leave are you having/did you take?

honeypop

gizmodo wrote: »

That's good to know it's going up to £123.06, every little helps.

Don't forget this is taxed, so I'm told.

gizmodo_2

honeypop wrote: »

Don't forget this is taxed, so I'm told.

Are you sure? I will double check in the morning, but I thought I read that the 90% of your pay is still taxed, but the SMP isn't. That'll be rubbish if it is Will need even more money saved up.

//Edit - you're absolutely right. Looks like it is taxable.

elle_gee

Yes, it is taxed and NI'ed (I work in payroll).

hamstercheeks_2

things were a bit different when I had my boys but with both i went off 4 weeks before my due date and returned when they were 12 weeks and 16 weeks old

not very much but by that time the money had ran out

i think things are very different now tho thankfully for others


i don't regret going back when i did as both my boys are very sociable = probly cos they've been in a nursery/with childminder from a very young age and therefore circulating amongst other kids

if i had my time again i think i would have went back when they were about 8 months old

Js_Other_Half

Just something else to consider - my DS slept from 11pm- 7am at 5 months, but I know of one child his age who is only just sleeping through the night at 2...

charlottecarter

I work for a charity - only 6 members of staff for a national charity and I worked up until 10pm the night before my twins were born at 10.02 and 10.04am the next morning for a planned c-section. I went back to work when they were 6 weeks old. :-(
We knew we would have to do this when we started ttc - we weren't planning on twins!!
I was lucky because they let me work from home as much as possible and bring them with me into the office (by the time everyone had cuddle each one of them it was time to come home again!!) but it was tough.
I stopped breastfeeding at 6 weeks because of it - breastfeeding twins is not the easiest thing to do discreetly!
It did mean that I worked really hard to get them sleeping from 11-7 by 6 weeks (and 7-7 by 12 weeks) which I did manage.
As time goes by - they are nearly 4 now - I regret taking such a short time more and more. They will start school in September this year and I feel so short changed!
Needs must - but my advice is to do everything you can to enjoy your baby being at home with you for as long as you can.
My kids are fabulous (says their mother!) and I don't think it has harmed them me working when they are so small - but it makes me sad!
Sorry - this isn't very positive! My point is do what you can - the kids are really fine - but you will find it hard!

TurnaroundSue

With my first child I worked up until the week before he was born and returned full time when he was just 13 weeks old. Maternity pay wasn't as good as it is now and my hubby's wage wasn't very good at that time either. I have lived with that guilt ever since. My son is now 15 and I always always feel guilty that I have never done enough for him, never given him enough, have had to split myself in many guises etc etc.

My second child was born 4 1/2 years later, my OH was much better paid and I had 7 months off with her when I returned full time. However, I then went part time when she was 2 and my ds was nearly 7. I always feel that she has had more of my time and it was because of her that I went part time, as couldn't cope with 2 children and working full time etc etc. I know it might be an irrational thought, but that is how I feel and even to this day I still live with it.

On my experience I would say to take off as much time as you can, as they are only small for a very short while. If I had my time again, I would definitely do this and just cut my cloth accordingly. I would look into working in the evenings, weekends etc so that my OH would then take over the childcare. My only saving grace is that I had excellent childcare for both my children - don't know how I would have managed with the guilt had they not have been happy as well.

Sorry for rambling and hijacking your through, but it isn't until the time has gone that you realise you can't get it back.

Good luck with whatever you decide x

gizmodo_2

elle_gee wrote: »

Yes, it is taxed and NI'ed (I work in payroll).

Thanks for that. I've just been told you can work 16 hours a week without it affecting SMP. Is this true? It'll be nice to know there would be a fall back if we needed the money. Someone on page 1 said I'd be able to continue Mystery Shopping, can you confirm this and would this be part of the 16 hours a week? I wouldn't be able to do much mystery shopping as most jobs don't allow children in tow. But there are phone call style jobs that come up.

Charlottecarter, don't apologise for being negative. This is what I want to hear and I don't think you were being negative anyway. I am 29 now and OH 32, we want to get started soon as I worry for if there are problems conceiving. But I think waiting 6 months and saving more money for more leave would be worth it. Need to speak to OH as he's wanted a baby for years now.

TurnaroundSue, you shouldn't feel guilty at all. You did the best thing for your baby at the time. *Big hugs*

honeypop

gizmodo wrote: »

Thanks for that. I've just been told you can work 16 hours a week without it affecting SMP. Is this true? It'll be nice to know there would be a fall back if we needed the money. Someone on page 1 said I'd be able to continue Mystery Shopping, can you confirm this and would this be part of the 16 hours a week? I wouldn't be able to do much mystery shopping as most jobs don't allow children in tow. But there are phone call style jobs that come up.

This website should give you all the info you'll need about what you can and can't do work-wise while in SMP: Direct.gov.uk

Have you been doing mystery shopping long? You'd need to be doing a LOT of jobs to get £100 a week as in your OP, I do several a week and don't get anything near this after expenses have been reimbursed.

gizmodo_2

honeypop wrote: »

This website should give you all the info you'll need about what you can and can't do work-wise while in SMP: Direct.gov.uk

Have you been doing mystery shopping long? You'd need to be doing a LOT of jobs to get £100 a week as in your OP, I do several a week and don't get anything near this after expenses have been reimbursed.

Thank you.

Yes, been MS for about 8 years. If I said £100 a week, I meant a month.