Second baby on way, what will benefits be?

skintio

KrissKross

I cant get any help from my daughters dad as he now lives in america and hasnt seen our daughter since she was one. I know that my partner will provide for the baby but as I said hes got a mortgage and his own bills etc to pay for, but hed never not help me with money, and i know hell pay his way for the baby, Im not sure how itd work if we aren't living together about him paying financially, would it be child maintenance or would we work it out seeing as we're a couple but just live apart? Like i said though it might all change and we may be living together when the baby comes but it isnt financially practical at the moment for him... This baby has took us both by surprise!

welshcakes

viccig - no one has asked any one to justify anything but it honestly was my first thought because I'm also a mum who's been through the financial struggle that comes with being a new parent (and, after a divorce, a single parent).

skintio

Thanks viccig, have to admit i did feel like i was being judged a bit but i guess ppl are entitled to there opinions.. The way i see it, theres always circumastances and a short post asking for help doesnt reveal them, but i hope now ive explained my situation ppl will get a better view off why i was asking.. Thanks again x

viccig

welshcakes
TBH I thought your post sounded a bit judgemental, and irrelevant to the request in the OP.
I just didn't think

why on earth have you gone and got pregnant again

was a fair comment.

viccig

skintio

http://www.entitledto.co.uk/

is quite good to get a rough idea of what you can expect to recieve

welshcakes

It wouldn't have been fair comment if I had actually posed the question "why on earth have you gone and got pregnant again" but I didn't viccig. Place it in context of the entire sentance. My post answered a direct question by the OP regards child benefit and also positively assured her of concerns about the low pay of her proposed career in respect of continued benefit assistance.

I humbly take your judgement of my post on the chin .

3plus1

No contraception is 100% effective, even when used 100% properly. I'm sure everyone here realises that, and that no one is actually judging you. If anything, I think you're really brave going ahead with the pregnancy, knowing that it's going to make your life more difficult. Congratulations and I hope your little girl is looking forward to having a little brother or sister:) If you're really lucky, she'll help you out with her new sibling when she's big enough to do so!:)

Just because you're pregnant doesn't mean you have to rule out working... Of course you'll need time to let your body recover and to bond with the new baby, but you sound like you really do want to work, so don't write it off altogether.

You've mentioned your new baby's father, but is there anyone else who can help you out a bit? Any grandparents living nearby, for example?

It might be an option to work from home. I realise you'll only be newly qualified and without a client base already, but you could maybe put an advert in your local community magazine and/or local newspaper fairly cheaply, and attract clients that way. Maybe offering beauty treatments locally, in people's own homes?

You could even offer a special "mums' package" for those who have given birth lately and need a bit of cheering up. From experience, you would know which treatments to suggest for a bit of well deserved pampering! I think you could attract some real interest from people flicking through local publications, and they wouldn't even think about asking when you got your qualifications.

I don't know how practical this would be for you to do, but it's maybe worth considering? You could set your hours to tie into when you could get someone to help out with the children.:)

welshcakes

I know someone who works from home as beautician- the only thing they didn't do which was wrong imo was that they did not ensure health and safety standards eg using electrolysis needles etc. This is extra important when there are children around. With regard to your concern about having start up funds, there is a lot of financial assistance for young people starting up their own business. I started a small client-based business on just £200 a few years ago which did very well and I found it suited being a busy mum very well.

https://www.businesslink.gov.uk is another good site and they will provide free advise with regard to financing the intial hiring/2nd hand purchase of basic equipment.

The secret is to start off providing a small range of the most popular seasonal treatments and to offer an incentive such as 25% next treatment when you bring along a friend. Do a few things really well as your business is mainly working on word of mouth recommendation.

Perhaps you could also offer to do a few hours teaching assistance at the college? If you've got a local superstore/ hospital, contact them and offer a special discount for staff.

skintio

Thanks welshcakes and 3plus1, youve both given me some really good advice to go on, I did have one idea that to gain experience after college i could offer free treatments to people in nursing homes or hospices etc as a volunteer, i know i wouldnt get paid but it would help me gain experience and provide something else on my c.v.
Unfortunatly my mum died when i was 16 (from cancer, Hence the hospices..) and i see my dad but he lives 3 and a half hours away so no good for day care lol, My sister lives nearby but works full time and so does her hubby and they have 2 children, Hopefully my partners family will help out if we need a sitter but no one as such for day care..
The college have a creche which my daughter goes to now and they take babies from 3 months so i could maybe go back in january 08 when she/he would be old enough. One good thing is my daughter starts school in sept, She'll be 5 in nov, so like you say im sure shell enjoy helping out and is already excited about having a brother or sister (i think shed like the latter lol)and is quite a good age for heping mummy do nappies etc ..

The electrolysis insurance is really high i think, same as ear piercing, i didnt do it,i opted out as laser hair removal is meant to be getting really popular and they are doing a seperate course for that. In practicality me being at home, we are in a 2 bed house and i dont think id have the space here but could def look into going mobile, would just depend on childcare..

I have also done a creative nail course (acrylic nails) and am fully qualified to do this, so could just do that on its own as it pays well, but if baby was around would have to be carefull because of fumes etc as you need proper ventilation, but i suppose theres always a way round it as i could do it in the evenings a partner watch the baby and ashleigh. x

3plus1

My big sister was about the same age as Asleigh when I was born, and she helped our mum out loads. It's pretty lucky she was born first, as if I had been the older sister, I would have been no help at all, lol!

My mum started working part-time when I went off to school, and timed her job so that whenever I was home, she was there. She even walked me to and from school, so as a five year old, I never realised she had a job. Quite clever of her, really. You could do the same sort of thing, but obviously you'd still need to sort out childcare for Ashleigh. It's a shame that no one can help you out during the day, but fingers crossed you can find an alternative. Or, as you say, it might be possible to do some evening/weekend work when there's someone home to look after both the children.

Maybe when your little girl starts school and you get to know the other mums, you might find a mum willing to mind your children at certain times, if you mind hers at others? It would give you both free time to work, or just relax. Obviously depends on you befriending someone you trust enough to look after your two, but I think it's a definite possibility.

Focus on finishing your qualification this year, and I'm confident the rest will work itself out. You may not have close family living nearby, but you do sound as if you have a really positive attitude, and that'll do great things for you.:) Enjoy your pregnancy for the moment!