Returning to work after maternity pickle!

Jo_R_2

Haven't been online for a while but arrrgh we're in a bit of a pickle...!

Just gone back to work after maternity leave. Two DDs in nursery three days a week (I work 4 days, look after them for one and the other my parents.) DP works 17 hours per week and full-time student.

Just been doing the old faithful spreadsheet and it's looking rather bad for February and March. Come April, DD1 will be entitled to her funded place at nursery which will take the pressure off but until then we're paying £710 for the next two months, gone up from £270 when just DD1 was in nursery two days a week.

My wages have increased but so has my childcare! I will be getting expenses for my petrol, other stuff paid for because of work so that helps a little. The thing is we have moved house recently for more room and are paying more rent, plus we have changed to a dual fuel tariff having previously only had electricity, so we are paying a fixed amount until (as I understand it) our bills are reviewed and a more appropriate amount is adjusted. So in effect our fuel bill has gone up nearly £20 as well.

I haven't factored in stuff like clothes, shoes for DD1, any going out for us (we don't do much anyway with DD2 being only 6 months, we value our sleep right now as she's not sleeping through :eek: ) as I know we can get through two months, but I know realistically that even then things will still be tight. I don't want to drop my hours to counteract the childcare costs as I'll lose the 30-hour element of my working tax credits - though I am wondering if my parents might be able to do two days of childcare, I just don't want to ask any more of them than I already have/do as they are so good to us, with childcare and helping us out if we're short...

Think a new SOA is in order... I'm thinking short-term of taking a payment break on our loan, not ideal long-term but might help us these two months. A bonus is that we've paid our sofa finance off after three years so it belongs to us - looking at the state of it by now we need a new one LOL!

Also it's DD1's birthday at the beginnning of February and have booked a little party and will need a prezzie - no idea what to get her!

Think I just need some moneysaving hugs - at least they don't cost anything!

Seaxwyn

Hi Jo

No advice but just wanted to give hugs and support to another working mum.

And don't worry about clothes and presents for your DDs. clothes you can get on freecycle (do you have one near you?) and young children don't need expensive presents, I'm sure you can find something she'd love in a charity shop.

Hang on in there and things will get easier

Seaxwyn xx

Mrs_Sparkle

Have a big hug from a worried mummy-to-be too Jo. I start maternity leave next week and am dreading the childcare costs already.

A new SOA might be the best thing then we can have a go at saving some extra pounds for you. Just a thought- have you sold all your maternity clothes? They sell pretty well on eBay and may give you some extra cash in those lean months.

C x x

Jo_R_2

That's the next thing I'm planning on doing, selling all my old maternity stuff now we have the net again.

Am so pleased we opted for cloth nappies - DD2 is a month into the second size up, reused from DD1 so not paying anything for nappies/wraps/liners and just using cotton wool - saving a fortune on all that stuff!

Also breastfeeding - hurrah for not having to buy formula!

SOA to arrive tomorrow evening :eek: