Coping on maternity pay

ClareEmily

Hi I am very happily nearly 17 weeks pregnant, but my hubby is getting very stressed how we are going to cope with the loss of my wage for 6 to 9 months.

He is a self employed taxi driver and work is very slow, he never has any spare money and is paying off a car loan and credit card debts.

I currently earn £22,050 as a company PA, obviously I am trying to save as much as possible but most of my money goes on petrol, rent and a loan (£260 a month), I am not spending on any unnecessary items. Last month I managed to save £300 but this month I am already struggling.

We privately rent so we can't take a morgage break.

We earn too much for benefits, and I have calculated I will be at least £400 short a month for essential bills once on maternity pay.

I am not so worried about baby items as we have been given lots of things and I will use the government £190 towards a pram, it is more the loss of my wage.

How are other people coping?

Could I sell some items? and if so what?

Thank you an emotional pregnant lady boo hoo

AlwaysWorking

Hi! Firstly, congratulations on your pregnancy!! You could consider doing out your SOA and posting it on the DFW board? Then the clever people over there could have a look and see where you could perhaps save money?

Best wishes, xxx

Glamazon

Clare - I lost 9k in the last tax year due to being on SMP since August.
I managed to save £3k between Jan 09 and August so have been living off that money plus my SMP - £500 approx. You'll get Child Benefit which is £20 a week and probably CTC as well - I get the minimum but its still around £80 a month until J is 1.

I used the MSE budget planner and had 2 saved - 1 with our earnings as they were when I was pg and another with the ways things would be when pg.

Don't forget you won't spend as much on fuel or lunches when you aren't in work.

I picked up most of my baby stuff second hand so didn't cost much

ClareEmily

Thanks folks, I will do what you have both suggested, thank you xx

rach83

I am in the same boat here. I dont earn as much as you so it will be a smaller drop down but I am still concerned. I have managed to save £2,000 since I found out I was pregnant which isnt as much as I would like to have saved but my other half is a nightmare with money and has a big loan payment to make each month. He has also experienced a drop in income as well due to his income being mainly commission based. I am nearly 35 weeks pregnant now and I must admit I didnt save whilst we were trying to get pregnant as I had given up hope of it ever happening due to me having PCOS. It took a year and ironically I got pregnant whilst on a holiday which in total cost £3,000!!

I was lucky that my parents bought our pram. To be honest I havent really bought that much even now. I have the bare essentials and I am going to assess matters as and when they arise. I have been lucky that people at work have lent me a lot of items (a crib, baby rockers, sterliser) and I have just bought basic clothing from Asda/Tesco/Sainsburys. I understand that Asda have their baby event on from the 20th April to 8th May and during this time they have really good offers on nappies, clothing etc etc.

I am thinking about possibly getting involved with doing Kleeneze when I am on maternity leave to top up the loss of earnings but intitally I am just going to do my best to make cut backs (particularly on food shopping, takeaways and eating out and avoiding car use as much as possible, I have even been considering getting rid of my car altogether, it would be tough but I think I would survive (just!). As others have said if you drive to work you will save on fuel, lunches and if you are like me random lunchtime trips to the supermarket.

You are on the right route just continue to try saving as much as possible now and start making small cut backs its amazing how it all adds up.

money_saving_diva

I am a SAHM so we lost my wages completly. It wasn't as bad as we thought - as people have said some of your spending habits change. I would now try and cope on what you will be on when on maternity leave. Save the rest. We put all my wages into a savings account for most of my first pregnancy so we could get use to the change in money coming in while still actually building up savings.

old_motters

Maybe hubby needs to get a job that will work around the taxi driving and leave the taxi-ing to the more lucrative times of day.

sammy_kaye18

I have no idea how I am going to cope on maternity allowance - have just put in the claim - I don't work enough hours to be able to qualify for SMP though as I only work 12 hours a week so I am at home for my son in the week - and extra shifts are a no go at the minute as my job is physically demanding..

AM awaiting to hear how much I am likely to be getting for Maternity Allowance now and have sent off my 4 highest pay cheques as the man on the phone suggested so will wait and see and cross that bridge when I get to it.

Have been looking and planning lots on the old style board though to help reduce bills etc.

I'm sure you'll be fine and there is always a way x

rach83

Dont know how true this is but I have been told that if you work and get under 50k a year you can apply for the Sure Start Maternity Grant (£500) but you must do this after baby is born and you must do this within 12 weeks as you will get the baby under 1 years of age amount it will be higher than the tax credit family element and you will qualify. You need to register birth, send off for child benefit and tax credits then apply.

old_motters

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/moneytaxandbenefits/benefitstaxcreditsandothersupport/expectingorbringingupchildren/dg_10018854

eligibility as linked.

xmaslolly76

rach83 wrote: »

Dont know how true this is but I have been told that if you work and get under 50k a year you can apply for the Sure Start Maternity Grant (£500) but you must do this after baby is born and you must do this within 12 weeks as you will get the baby under 1 years of age amount it will be higher than the tax credit family element and you will qualify. You need to register birth, send off for child benefit and tax credits then apply.

The extra a baby gets is included in the threshold for the family element when claiming the sure start grant so she would have to get any amount above the standard + baby rate. this is from the form itself

You may be able to get a Sure Start Maternity Grant if ● [FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss][FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss]you or your partner are getting [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss][FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss]– Income Support, or – incomebased Jobseeker’s Allowance, or – incomerelated Employment and Support Allowance, or – Pension Credit, or – Working Tax Credit which includes a disability or severe disability element, or – Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element. From April 2010 to April 2011 this means a rate of £548 a year or more, or more than £1095 a year if you have a baby under one. These figures are for a whole year and will be less for partyears. Your tax credits award notice will include a breakdown of your award. If your Child Tax Credit total is greater than the amounts shown as the family elements you may qualify for a Sure Start Maternity Grant. Note that your tax credit award is based on your previous year’s income. If your income reduces you can ask for your tax credit award to be reviewed. [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss][FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss]SF100 04/10 .[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss][FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss][FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss]Make sure you get the tax credit claim in ASAP once baby is born and then prorata it out over the year if the figure is above the £1095 then you can claim the grant :-)
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