I'm pregnant

esio_trot

it's definitely worth thinking about and means you get more mummy baby days which can't be a bad thing!

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

You should check http://www.entitledto.co.uk/Default.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 Both sidekick and esio trot. If you play around with dates, and figures, say for example imagine baby has just been born and what both of your pays will be. Obviously it changes slightly but does give you a good idea what you are entitled to and how much you'll get.

Until you have a child and understand what is due to you it is very very daunting. I was scared my daughter was going to cost a fortune but you soon realise it doesn't at all. Don't get sucked up into the hype of expensive gadgets, and clothes, primark is perfect as babygrows and vests is all they'll need until learning to toddle. Too many people think you have to shop in the likes of next or mothercare but you really don't. Of course by all means get a few nice bits, i did, but just a few or you'll never use them

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

There are ways to get cheaper child care though - or rather help with cutting costs. Working tax credit will be available to you. For the first year you'll get the baby element of Child Tax Credits which is good too. Also childcare vouchers, claimed via work, means they come out of your pay completely tax free. Saves alot over the year. I never paid as much as £800 a month and i was living in London - it's about making it work around you! But you have 7 or so months to get ready and gather all the info so you'll have everything sorted by the time bbay is here.

But i find everything i ever needed was covered by the £20 a week child benefit (in terms of nappies/wipes/baby lotion/and formula when i stopped breast feeding as they don't drink as much) I barely ever needed to pay a penny over. Breastfeeding is also a godsend - totally free!

To be honest after having baby we found we still had money at the end of the month - the reality was we were more careful and more occupied, so drinks/meals and random expensive days out happened a lot less It was a blessing on our pockets in a way too!

Sidekick2

what a great link. Thank you. I had no idea i could possibly be entitled to council tax benefit. woohoo.

Glamazon

Sidekick2 wrote: »

HI Money Savers,

I have just discovered i'm pregnant. Congratulations :jIt 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.

Depends how much your outgoings are
I didn't get any generous packages just SMP even though I'm a manager (damn you boss! )
From January to September I saved the amount in my signature - this amount allows me to add £400 a month to my £500 SMP = £900 which covers all my bills, food, fuel etc. I am having 9 months off.

I would say use the MSE Budget Planner and plan how much your outgoings are now, how much they will be on a reduced income and how much you NEED to save to have the maximum time off.
Bear in mind, when you're on mat leave you will use less fuel and generally spend less. I have managed to feed 2 of us for £100 last month by batch cooking and I tend to walk more and without driving 18miles back and for to work every day I use less fuel.

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?

It can be expensive as you want!
My babe has been kitted out from car boots and eBay - cot and car seat new but in Sale. I have bought way too many clothes, you probably need about 5 newborn outfits for when you go out - the rest of the time he's in a babygro!

I wish I hadn't bothered buying a baby bath or a moses basket as he has now grown out of both of them and is only 9 weeks!
He now goes in the big bath and sleeps in his cot in our room which he could have done from birth.

I bulk buy nappies when they are on offer in ASDA but don't go through many - I change his nappy maybe 5 times in 24 hours. Buy nappies when they work out at less than 10p a nappy.
I formula feed (cos I can't BF due to breast surgery), it costs between £7 and £9 for a tin which lasts about 5 or 6 days.
Other than that I don't spend anything else on him - oh except Infacol for wind which is about £2.50 and lasts a week - 10 days.

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 you book in with the Midwife they will give you the form to complete and then they will sign it. Some GP practices do it instead of the Midwife, just ask them. You get free prescriptions and free dental care until your baby is 1 years old (well, a year from your due date, mine runs out on 22nd Sept 2010 but Jack was born early on the 3rd)

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

Childminders are generally cheaper - around £3-£4 an hour. I have applied for a creche at the hospital where I will be employed and it costs £30 a day.
Thanks in advance :-):A

At 25 weeks you get £190 - Health in Pregnancy Grant and you might be eligble for the £500 Sure Start Grant. Don't forget you will get £20 per week Child Benefit which more than covers the cost of nappies and formula so if you BF you'll be £££ in!
You can also apply for Child Tax Credits which will help towards your childcare costs when you do go back to work.

Check out www.entitled.co.uk - check out what you are entitled to now and what you will be entitled to when you have the baby!

Oh and join every baby group going - I get sent Pampers vouchers regularly and got a free changing bag from Boots.

And join the MSE Pregnancy Thread - it has changed my life and I have met people who are now my friends that I meet up with outside of this forum. I have learnt sooooo much from the girls that are now on the Parent Thread.

Good Luck with it - it truly is amazing!

Glamazon

crossed posts with Ellie-Belle!

tandraig

hun - as your OH is a policeman - I imagine he works shifts? this may mean that on certain days a week he would be available for childcare? I am also aware that policemen get certain perks - ask him to find out if childcare is one of them? if you could go on flexitime that would help too! I am sure you will work it out (currently my son and his partner use myself and her mum as free childcare - but as they are on working families tax credit they would get vouchers for child care. (I think as you are both working your combined pay may be over the threshold - but dont count it out as you can get it even though you earn up to 30k a year. and you may decide to go back part-time.
keep posting on this thread if you want - or start a new one - dont know of any law which states otherwise!

mrbrightside842

Hi! Congratulations! I was 21 when I fell pregnant. I only had a part time job, as I was at uni, and my boyfriend had a really poor job in a garage. We had a bit of a worry with the money, especially when we found out we were expecting twins, but money wise, things just seemed to work out. He got a better job, and I left work. It made more sense for me not to work and stay at home with them, than for us to pay double childcare costs.

I'd never have thought we'd be able to afford it all, but we did, and we've never stuggled. Our girls are 4 this month and now have afternoons in nursery. I've started to train as a teaching assistant so that I can do what I want to do, and I'll be qualified for when they start school which will be handy. We bought our first home 3 years ago, but we'd have been just as happy if we'd contiuned to rent.

There's many things I'm sure I'll regret in life, but having my children will never be that. I didn't want kids before I fell pregnant, and now I honestly can't imagine my life without them - wherever we'd be now it wouldn't be as much fun as it is now.

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

See it's already looking a bit easier than you thought????

No, over £30k combined you should still get some help - not sure of the percentage but it's the Child Tax Credit that they have a lower cap on!

Entitledto is really one of the best guides about though - i use it to figure out if certain jobs are worthwile (i left my job when my DD was 2, and now a SAHM - quite lucky as now i am PG again so can extend my time off and will go back to work once the new little one is a bout a year old) , or check the website before planning to have any change in circumstances, etc i always do a quick run through!

Sidekick2

Glamzon thank you for your helpful advice. I Shall be printing this entire thread!

You have all helped me feel much more positive about the whole thing. I can't wait!