How did you cope & for how long?

Spendless

honeypop wrote: »

Silly question from me, who has been on this site for quite a while now... where should I post my SOA? I'm intrigued by people (not on here, in real life) telling us that we MUST be able to cut back and be able to save for when i need time off with baby, when literally we just cover bills and other outgoings, which are regularly checked to see we are getting the best deals, and have a minimal amount left over. I'd love to see if I am missing something, just in case.

Personally I would put it on the debt free wannabe's board (even if you're not actually in debt- explain the situation to them.) The reason I would choose this board is the members posting there are very good at going over SOA with a fine toothcomb and finding savings even when the OP didn't think there were any to be made.

nadnad

skintchick wrote: »

Gosh. What if everyone decided NOT to have babies,because the money would fall? What would society do then?

Society as a whole should support mothers to have babies and stay at home with them during the early years because it benefits society to have well-adjusted, happy children growing into well-adjusted, happy adults who can contribute to society.

A selfish, 'your baby, your problem' attitude erodes a civilised society and betrays an unpleasant personality.

On a personal note, I was made redundant and so will also miss out on SMP and get MA only. Luckily, my parents have financially supported me in buying a house (before I got married) and we therefore have no mortgage, so can survive on one wage. If that weren't the case, I really don;t know what we'd do.

But the attitudes of some people on here really surprise, sicken, shock and sadden me.

i'm not saying "your baby, your problem" - what I've said is that the government provides ample maternity benefits, and if this isn't enough for you in your circumstance then you must decide to either work more/earn more before you've had a baby so you can save, and/or cut back once baby arrives.

the government cannot provide a maternity benefit which keeps everyone at the same pay they earn - that would be impossible and frankly I don't see why they should. Alongside maternity benefits as you obviously know there is child benefit and tax cradits.

you've said that society as a whole should support mothers to have babies - well society as a whole does - as everyone pays tax and NI which goes towards the benefits above. I do think that rights that are too lenient for mothers can be damaging in the workplace - and can increase discrimination, as previously stated who would hire a woman who may go off for a year to have a baby if there was a man equally as talented?

Women decide to have children and to be honest before I had mine I thought it was possible to "have it all" - ie a family and a great career, but I now realise that is not possible without causing detriment to one or the other, and at the minute I'm choosing to put my child first and therefore earn less (or nothing - i havent decided yet). Thats my choice no one elses and I don't see why society should have to support me in that choice any more than I am already.

Jaycee1972

Hi and good luck with everything

Tips for moneysaving:-

- Save as much as possible before baby arrives
- Buy big things second hand (try freecycle, ebay, NCT nearly new sales)
- New babys don't need fancy clothes. Baby grows are comfy and easy and if you want new, are very cheap in Asda/Tesco.
- Breastfeeding is fantastic and free! You can express/mixed feed when you return to work.
- Don't buy things which you don't need. For me, that included nappy wrappers, changing tables, etc. Didn't decorate a nursery as baby was in with me. Some say you don't need a baby bath but I used mine until M was nearly 2, saves on water

Do try to take extra time if you can. 6 weeks is NOTHING when you have a new baby. You will barely know where you are by then. You won't be getting much sleep (something you will get used to lol). You will miss out on so much.

When thinking about how you will manage not being at work, don't forget to factor in what it costs you to go to work! Things like petrol/bus fare, buying lunches, coffees, work clothes, etc. You will probably not really socialise for a few months so you will save any money you used to spend on this. It is surprising how it all adds up.

Good luck! Being a mum is the best thing in the world
Jane xx

knithappens

jellyhead wrote: »

Spendless mentioned nursery vouchers - might be worth looking into for when you go back to work. I think there's an article about it somewhere.

If you get the family element of tax credits (it's about £10 a week for those whose joint income is approx 28-66k I think) then it will be doubled until baby is 12 months old, so that's an extra £547 over the first year.

When you claim tax credits (when baby is born) you give your income for the previous tax year, or you can give your estimated income for the current tax year. Most of the SMP is ignored I think, around £100 a week - so your income for tax credits purposes is going to be lower than usual during the tax year when you're on maternity leave. Useful if your joint income that year might fall below the threshold of around 28k-ish. If it does you can also claim the surestart grant of £500.

The healthy pregnancy grant of £190 (I think?) is for everyone regardless of income, so that's a bit more help, maybe enough to buy a set of washable nappies.

I earn 30K a year, I always give the current years salary somy tax credits are always accurate, i am tryign to work out my aprrox salary for next year so in April i can give an estimate for that tax year so my tax credits are worked out properly. £100 a week of SMP is ignored, as soon as you start recievign it ring tax credits and let them now, and they will alter yoru claim.

I am saving as much as i can, back to being single again and looking at divorce, so need every penny as already have 2 and this will be my third. am getting no finanical support from OH. I have gone old style on everything.

Also freecycle, and what you cant get there go to ebay, i got a £400 mamas and papas cot bed last month for £50 local pick up. It can be done you juts have to cut your cloth accordingly, i want to take 6 months off, that is what i am aiming for at a minimum.

the_other_mce

skintchick wrote: »

Gosh. What if everyone decided NOT to have babies,because the money would fall? What would society do then?

Society as a whole should support mothers to have babies and stay at home with them during the early years because it benefits society to have well-adjusted, happy children growing into well-adjusted, happy adults who can contribute to society.

A selfish, 'your baby, your problem' attitude erodes a civilised society and betrays an unpleasant personality.

On a personal note, I was made redundant and so will also miss out on SMP and get MA only. Luckily, my parents have financially supported me in buying a house (before I got married) and we therefore have no mortgage, so can survive on one wage. If that weren't the case, I really don;t know what we'd do.

But the attitudes of some people on here really surprise, sicken, shock and sadden me.

I don't think anyone is saying people shouldn't have children - it's just that you can't expect to maintain the same lifestyle that you had before having them. Some people seem to think that popping out a child is doing the country a favour and that they shouldn't have to make any adjustments to their life. You do have a choice. Mums can't expect to take a long time off work and get paid as if they were there. The current system is fairly generous - and don't forget working mums can get most of their childcare costs back in tax credits. They will also be getting child tax credits of £500 a year and child benefit from the government. Here's a radical idea....perhaps this country could move towards implementing 'baby farms' where busy parents can choose a child, borrow it for a couple of hours a night and have an extended loan at weekends(for photo's, trips to the zoo etc). This could go on until the child can be slotted into the early years FREE education programme (with cheap wrap-around care before and after school) when the parents can keep the child permanently. That way the childcare would be cheap and easier to manage and the parents can feel they have done their bit for society without it having an impact on their pocket!! Could be a way forward....

galvanizersbaby

the_other_mce wrote: »

Here's a radical idea....perhaps this country could move towards implementing 'baby farms' where busy parents can choose a child, borrow it for a couple of hours a night and have an extended loan at weekends(for photo's, trips to the zoo etc). This could go on until the child can be slotted into the early years FREE education programme (with cheap wrap-around care before and after school) when the parents can keep the child permanently. That way the childcare would be cheap and easier to manage and the parents can feel they have done their bit for society without it having an impact on their pocket!! Could be a way forward....

Bit OTT but I see where your coming from

moneypanicker

The current system is fairly generous - and don't forget working mums can get most of their childcare costs back in tax credits.

While I agree that the system is fairly generous you certainly do not get most of your childcare back. I get nothing!! I am lucky i work for NHS and their maternity package is very good however you have to be of quite low wages to get any help with childcare therefore for the majority of people childcare is a real issue as it takes most of your wages.

I am hoping to have a year off and while i get paid well for 6 months i am not spending all of this money but saving some to fund when i am on SMP and unpaid. I would advice as soon as your know your are pregnant or start trying save some of your wages to fund your time off.

galvanizersbaby

moneypanicker wrote: »

While I agree that the system is fairly generous you certainly do not get most of your childcare back. I get nothing!! I am lucky i work for NHS and their maternity package is very good however you have to be of quite low wages to get any help with childcare therefore for the majority of people childcare is a real issue as it takes most of your wages.

Don't you have to be on over $45K a year in order not to qualify for tax credits? if so I wouldn't consider this a really low wage) - or have I got that wrong? - I know you need to work a certain minimum number of hours per week and use an OFSTED registered childcare provider

Nikabella

"The current system is fairly generous - and don't forget working mums can get most of their childcare costs back in tax credits"

"Don't you have to be on over $45K a year in order not to qualify for tax credits? if so I wouldn't consider this a really low wage) - or have I got that wrong? - I know you need to work a certain minimum number of hours per week and use an OFSTED registered childcare provider"

I believe you need to be on less than £60k per year to qualify for CTC, however, what you are talking about is working tax credit. My partner & I only earn around £40k between us know that I am working part-time and we do not receive WTC, which is meant to help cover childcare. We enquired as to whether we would be entitled to WTC if I quit work (so that I was able to return to uni full time) & was told that even on £25k we would not be entitled, so you need to be a very low income family to recieve this.

Our childcare for one child 3 days per week is £400 per month (which is cheap around here) & my salary after tax is only about £800 after pension, flexible benefits etc. Once we have two children I will effectively earn nothing if I return to work. Luckily at the moment we get Childcare Vouchers which means we do not pay tax or NI on £243 worth of our DD's childcare, saving us £80 per month.

So, the other mce, I'm afraid the system is nowhere near as 'generous' as you think.

A.

galvanizersbaby

Nikabella wrote: »

I believe you need to be on less than £60k per year to qualify for CTC, however, what you are talking about is working tax credit. My partner & I only earn around £40k between us know that I am working part-time and we do not receive WTC, which is meant to help cover childcare. We enquired as to whether we would be entitled to WTC if I quit work (so that I was able to return to uni full time) & was told that even on £25k we would not be entitled, so you need to be a very low income family to recieve this.

Our childcare for one child 3 days per week is £400 per month (which is cheap around here) & my salary after tax is only about £800 after pension, flexible benefits etc. Once we have two children I will effectively earn nothing if I return to work. Luckily at the moment we get Childcare Vouchers which means we do not pay tax or NI on £243 worth of our DD's childcare, saving us £80 per month.

So, the other mce, I'm afraid the system is nowhere near as 'generous' as you think.

A.

I'm confused (doesn't take much!) wouldn't you qualify for CTC then if your joint income is under 60K?
When my 2 were at nursery the bill used to be just over 1K a month - they are both at school now and I feel quite rich in comparison!