It's worse than I thought!

MrsTinks

beccam wrote: »

I have to speak to employee relations but I'm guessing about £300 lower per month for the last 4mths.



Can I afford to buy 2 notebooks?? :rotfl:
You're right, I'm off work this week and intend to be as much "no spend" as possible but too easy to miss £1 here and there when back in work again.



Yep it's me who earns more. LikeI say I need to do calculations with employee relations people but I get full pay for first 8 weeks then half pay plus stat mat pay which should equal around £1200/mth.

Hence why the lightbulb came on.....I NEED to get our outgoings reduced significantly or else we are in the poop. One thing I did find out was we can take a mortgage holiday i needs be (wouldn't want to unless we REALLY needed) but at least I know if things haven't improved and maternity is lower than I have planned then it is an option for a few months.

Ok you need to check the maternity pay because normally your stat mat pay is NOT on top of the half pay. I thought it was too but nope How many weeks do you get half pay for?

ETA half pay is £780 so £420 less than you thought - this is why you need to check this! And ASAP!
Obviously you might then qualify for more tax credits etc - not very well versed in that area as we don't qualify for them

MrsTinks

OK... you want a scary figure for your hubby? He earns £700 pcm - he spends £130 on fags and booze (and I'm going to guess this is conservative...) - that leaves £570 - when you go on maternity then he CAN'T afford to spend this money on fags and booze - whether it's good for him or not.
This is a telling off for him not you btw - but he needs to grow a pair and stop acting like a spoilt child! Kick his bottom and point out to him that even a mortgage holiday won't be enough if he doesn't change his spending habits too.

RAS

I suspect that you also need to check www.entitledto.com with the figures for your early mat leave and then the period when you are on half pay.

Norman_Bean

I've not read all the responses to this thread so apologies if I'm repeating anything...
I can't help re debt but just a thought about presents:

Since becoming MSE my H and I have agreed to forget giving each other any cards or presents for the next couple of years - we bought a token present from our children for them to give us at Christmas €2 each but that's it.
Sounds like your Daughter is quite young? If so she really won't be worried about the cost of something and you can get away with cheap gifts for a couple of years? You can pick up great kids toys and books from charity shops.

I have also stopped buying expensive cards for all and sundry - either make your own, send a cheap postcard or cull people from your card and present list.

This Christmas I am planning on being more organised and making the majority of gifts.

Good luck and I hope it helps a little bit

Norman x

QueenBeruthiel

While on maternity leave you might have a few minutes here and there to do daily clicks, scatchies, etc. It's not much, but if you ear mark the money for Christmas, maybe, and let it mount up, it will prove a welcome bonus.

Also, I assume that you will be saving your £150 pm childcare costs while you are on leave?

Don't forget Mumsnet for selling and buying baby stuff.

beccam

RAS wrote: »

Will you need nursery when you are on mat leave?

dancingfairy wrote: »

Does your nursery accept childcare vouchers and does your work do them? basically you pay for childcare vouchers before the tax is taken off of your pay. It does affect certain benefits though - think it might be working tax credit - might be worth reading up on it - I think Martin has an article on it somewhere. Also depending on the age of you child can they get a free session per week - I know the government gives free session for children of a certain age.
df

Nursery is preschool so £52 per month is for lunches and school fund, the remainder is for childminder which I won't need while on mat leave though I do not want to loose her so may have to pay a small retainer fee in order to keep her on, she really is very good and will probably take baby when I do return to work as DD will be starting primary school in Sept.

beccam

MrsTine wrote: »

Ok you need to check the maternity pay because normally your stat mat pay is NOT on top of the half pay. I thought it was too but nope How many weeks do you get half pay for?

ETA half pay is £780 so £420 less than you thought - this is why you need to check this! And ASAP!
Obviously you might then qualify for more tax credits etc - not very well versed in that area as we don't qualify for them

MrsTine wrote: »

OK... you want a scary figure for your hubby? He earns £700 pcm - he spends £130 on fags and booze (and I'm going to guess this is conservative...) - that leaves £570 - when you go on maternity then he CAN'T afford to spend this money on fags and booze - whether it's good for him or not.
This is a telling off for him not you btw - but he needs to grow a pair and stop acting like a spoilt child! Kick his bottom and point out to him that even a mortgage holiday won't be enough if he doesn't change his spending habits too.

I'm pretty sure about the mat pay as I was with same employer when I had DD (NHS).....8 weeks full pay then 18 weeks at half pay plus stat mat which would be roughly £700 + £500 per month.

You are totally right about hubby...have him on the phone now asking about his Argos card to query the interest on it, something he never would have done and he hasn't even got his coat off yet after work!:rotfl:

It really is the cigarettes that are the big one....10/day is roughly 4 packs a week at £6 per pack :eek:
If that could be cut down then I could 'allow' him the £10 on beer each week.
I haven't even mentioned to him about the mortgage holiday option, partly because I don't want to see it as an easy way out or something to really be considered but also because I don't want him to get lax about things either.

RAS

He could start by transferrign to roll-ups?

beccam

RAS wrote: »

He could start by transferrign to roll-ups?

Do you know is it worth it.....is it really cheaper?? I suppose it couldn't cost anymore than what it does now!

MrsTinks

Yes it's cheaper - and if he has to roll one every time he wants one he might just cut down too
As you're pregnant though he should really be quitting, not cutting down. Your MW will throw enough stop smoking leaflets at you to sink a small battleship - try to get her on board to help support you in getting hubby to quit all together
Financial things aside it's seriously bad for not only your daughter but this little new bubba too... I know you know that but maybe getting the MW on your side will help get the message home to him?