I'm pregnant

Sidekick2

Thank you :-)

bestpud

Sidekick2 wrote: »

These responses are so great - Thank you very much ladies!

I will moosey on over to the pregnancy thread as well to get some more tips from you all. I will most certaintly be around here more often.

Is it okay to keep asking questions on this topic or should I do it on the other thread?

I think, if it's related to the original question, they'd prefer you keep it to one thread. Please someone correct me if that is wrong though!

andrealm

Congratulations!

1. Hard to say, depends on how much your outgoings are. You're probably best at looking at the budget planner on this site and seeing where you can cut back/ how much you'll need to save.

2.Depends on what sort of nappies you use, maybe £20-£30 for disposables, I use own brand nappies and wipes and stock up when Sainsburys has them on offer. Cloth nappies can work out cheaper in the long run. I don't know about formula costs as I didn't use it, when they go on to solids making your own food is cheaper than jars although they can be handy if you're out and about.
Accept all offers of hand me downs, try Freecycle, charity shops, car boot sales etc for baby equipment.

3. Prescriptions and dental treatment are free during pregnancy and for a year after birth. Also you now get a Healthy Eating Grant of about £190? Not sure how much as it wasn't around when I was pregnant but ask your midwife about it, everyone is entitled to it.

4. Nursery costs vary a lot ,£600-£1000+ some areas are more expensive than others.

Sidekick2

Healthy Eating Grant? ohh what's that??

LJM

congratulations i have 2 girls and they are an absolute joy

esio_trot

I don't have any children, but I'm pretty much in exactly the same place as you - my OH and I found out I was pregnant (very unplanned!) almost three weeks ago and we were in a panic too! The financial bit was what was troubling us, still is, though now we've both come round to the idea and I'm actually letting myself get a bit excited now.

Sidekick2 wrote: »

HI Money Savers,

I have just discovered i'm pregnant. It was not planned and I have mixed feelings at this stage as i'm still in shock but I wanted to hear from other people who already have children. I have a few questions and I would be really grateful for some advice.

1. I work for the local government and our maternity entitlement is generous. I can take up to a year maternity leave (first 6 weeks 90% pay, followed by 12 wks half pay (or there abouts) then the rest SMP - How much would you say I should put aside each month if I want to take the full 52 weeks break? I earn just under 20k a year.

I work for the local authority and we also get a fairly good package. That said, I will unfortunately have to go back to work after my 14 weeks full pay runs out - though I do plan to take my months worth of annual leave straight after to eek it out a bit. I suppose what you need to put aside is up to how you want to live.

2. Is having a baby expensive? I am going to rely on hand me downs and second hand baby equipment for the most part. How much per week would you say nappies, food, other necessities cost?

Yes, it'll be fairly expensive, though I gather it's about as expensive or as frugal as you want to make it. Check out the nappy money saving link at the top of this board and this post for some tips on what you'll need - I'm 8 and a half weeks and already doing price comparisons! Try your local freegle/freecycle too - there's always a lot going on my local one.

3. What is the deal with free dental on the NHS whilst pregnant? Does my GP write a letter of confirmation that I take to the Dentist? I'm currently not registered with a dentist! Are prescriptions free as well?

when I went to my GP to have my pregnancy confirmed, I was given a wee slip to fill in that the practice sent off to get me free prescriptions / dental care. So I'd say, ask your GP or midwife, whoever you're likely to see first. The exemption form runs up until your child's first birthday.

4. Childcare - On average how much does it cost to put a child in a daycare centre when I go back to work?

A lot! We were looking at it and on average, it was almost 800 a month for all day private nursery care :eek: your area may be better - just do a bit of research and remember to use the care commission (or your local equivalent) website for inspection reports.

Thanks in advance :-):A

good luck and congratulations

zoesmummy_2006

you can also apply for the sure start maternity grant, i got rejected before i had my son, applied again as advised when he was born and tax credits set up for him and cos we were getting the baby element for him i was accepted for it-£500 goes a long way towards helping out with things!!!! you can get the forms from jobcentre, and my hv signed mine while doing one of his newborn home visits x

Sidekick2

^ 800 a month! woah that's pretty much my whole paypacket gone!

i wish i could rely on my parents/grandparents but they all live in Australia :-( My OH is a police officer so he'll be doing odd hours as well but luckily he will most likely have days off in the week while i'm at work, and i'll have the weekends off etc. His grandparents live here so hopefully they will want to look after their first great-grandchild some times!

esio_trot

Sidekick2 wrote: »

^ 800 a month! woah that's pretty much my whole paypacket gone!

mine too! So, I had a rethink. I'm going to request a change to my flexible working hours and try to condense my working week to four days. OH is going to do the same and there may be some family help (thankfully) so we'd be looking at 2-3 days per week which is FAR more manageable. Could you look at changing your hours in a similar way?

Sidekick2

^ that's a very good idea. Yes I am sure I could do some flexi time i.e. 4 days per week. I know quite a few women at my work have come back from maternity leave part-time. My OH is a policeman and they pay pretty good so hopefully we will manage.

I can't believe child care costs so much money! They're robbing us blind!