Made redundant @ 9 weeks pregnant

Catherine_Johnson_2

Thinking about it a different way....what were your plans for after the baby was born, even if you weren't being made redundant? Ok, you would have had money coming in for some time, but presumably not your full wage. And what after that? Were you planning on going back to work? If so, you would have had childcare costs, which can be considerable. If you were planning to give up work to look after baby then you'll be no worse off.

What I'm getting at is that it might not be the financial disaster that you think at the moment. Chances are, if you hadn't been made redundant, you would have been a lot lighter on disposable income a year or so down the line anyway. Babies are expensive and many women who go back to work after giving birth feel like they are simply working to pay for someone to look after their baby.

It seems like the wrong time to be retraining for a new career, to be honest. I'd advise doing as other posters have said and have a rethink of your finances. Honestly, you'll need to do that anyway for when the baby arrives.

Chickola

I was planning to take 3 months off and then continue working. I work from home and my boss was happy for me to fit my hours around the baby as needed (so not 9-5, just tot up the hours over the week as possible). In that sense it was perfect and it's part of the reason I'm so devastated to lose it.

With the retraining I am thinking that I spend a year getting classroom experience as and when so that I can start a course in Sept 2013 as opposed to this year. I just don't see how I will manage it though financially. Even going through them we will be short each month, just not sure what he option is apart from getting a loan now while I still can say I am employed.

katskorner

I don't know if this will help any but here is my story. I was in my dream job after being headhunted by the company I worked for. I was working on a lucrative project as lead designer and loving every second of it. I found driving to work a joy. I was on more money than my OH who also worked in the IT field in an good role for another company.

We decided it was a good time to start a family. It all worked well and I announced my pregnancy and everyone was happy for us. The company even wrote a new maternity policy with me beacuse they didn't currently have one. It had been a fast growth period and a lot of men worked for them so they hadn't needed one to that point. Anyway, all going swimmingly.

Then it happened. The company lost a massive contract that forced them to need to downsize by 2/3rds overnight. I was made redundant at 7 months pregnant and there was nothing I could do. We lost my salary, I just qualified for my SMP but that was all. I lost the generous deal they were going to give me and any chance of part time work once my baby came.

To cut a very long story short, that baby is now eight and I have had two more since. I may not have the money (I have freelanced and tried to find work since) but I have time with my boys and they need me to be there. There is little family help so I have to be there. Financially it was a shock but you do cope. I get child benefit (well at the moment but come next year who knows) but I don't get tax credits any more because my hubby has managed to push his salary up a touch. But it a nothing compared to what we earned combined.

The bottom line is I now don't have time to work and I need to wait until DS3 is at school (18 mths at least yet) but my IT experience of over ten years and being at the top of my game when I left isn't going to help me. I need to work around the kids. They need me more. Money isn't everything - believe me I don't like having less but I do OK! You can survive and enjoy what you do have. In my case, three very special, beautiful children whom I am priviledged to be able to be at home with.

Chin up, it will get better. Stress won't help that baby of yours. Cherish them.

BobQ

OP, are you the only employee of the firm? Are you the only one of the staff made redundant? Its not sufficient for an employer to say you were not made redundant because of pregnacy. If you claimed discrimination,they would have to prove that they had objective reasons for the selection made. THe fact business has been tailing off is a reason for making someone redundant but they still need to justify the selection. Were you less productive than colleagues? Were you the most recent recruit ?

Techno

On a previous post the OP said that they owner was going to move overseas and set up as a one man band.

Chickola

I am the only employee, other staff were freelance. There may be the opportunity to do a little freelance work in the future but it is likely to be minimal.

Kats, thank you for sharing your story, it is reassuring to know others gave up a career and managed on the one income.

After sending out my cv in a panic for 3 positions I have been offered two interviews. Both are a bit of a commute (45 mins and 1 hour) BUT I haven't mentioned the pregnancy and will be almost 11 weeks by the interview date. I plan to mention it at the interview, which will most likely scupper any chance I have. I don't honestly know either is a job I would want to return to and I can't imagine working in the industry still by the time I am 45. It is very much a young persons industry so I do wonder if I am better off working out the rest of my redundancy period, getting SMP and then looking at retraining in a years time.

Still feeling very confused.

davross

So sorry to hear what you are going through. My wife had a similar experience when she was pregnant with our daughter 4 1/2 years ago and was made redundant from her job as an executive. We knew that she was unlikely to get another job while pregnant and certainly not one that would be as flexible as her old job once the baby arrived. After weighing up our options she decided to become a childminder as has been doing this ever since. It's not an easy option with lots of paperwork and hard work but has suited us well and meant she could be at home with our daughter and earn a good income while avoiding childcare costs.

gibson123

Chickola first of all congratulations on your pregnancy, a baby is truly a blessing. Now don't panic and remember that 50% of the emotion is hormones not worry. The best advice I can give is re-do your budget and wait until the baby is in your arms before trying to make any life-changing decisions. In other words apart from maximising your budget do nothing apart from preparing for a baby. I was in a very difficult position when pregnant ( i will not go into details), but it left me jobless, homeless and partnerless. Amazingly I look back now and think that despite the difficulties and the grief, this was when my life changed for the best. To be able to start anew with a new baby and new circumstances is actually a very positive thing, as you can design your life around your child and partner. Just do some positive things, I learned to sew and made all my babies clothes, bought all the baby stuff second hand ridiculously cheaply and in amazing condition (some not used), and just lived differently. Years later I have restarted my career in a different direction and now have a masters degree to supplement my first degree, I also have a lovely home and a house abroad, so not doing at all badly, but most importantly my child has grown into a lovely young lady who I cherish and love. Good luck.

property.advert

I'll leave the finding another job issue aside for now but as SEO optimisation is a hands off thing you can do from anywhere then there must be opportunities in that field. Perhaps the net is where you need to focus, not the physical company.

As to the dynamics of work and kids, there isn't much opportunity without lots of support to work full time. Initially your child needs you on call and you don't get many free periods to work. Later your child consumer even more of your time as they become mobile. When they go to nursery you can "get rid" of them for a full day (we did 8-5/6) but that is expensive (full time fees now £1200 a month for ours) but your day is your own again, but only for a while.

Once school comes (age 4), your day is totally screwed. You need to drop them off around 9am and then pick them up at 3pm. There is little assistance with after hours in the reception year I find (YMMV). So your "free" time consists of a few hours in the middle of the day. And somehow chores and stuff start to fill these up as you want to spend more time with the kids after school.

So in the end you either outsource your child to care givers or you take the hit on the chin financially and at best work part time. Or you can get an au pair to live in (not as cheap as it sounds to be strictly legal and you lose a bedroom).

As others have said, revisit all finances. Now potentially your boss could forget about your impending redundancy I guess if you were to remortgage. You may have a feel about how things are going to go and once you stop work you may not be able to remortgage and any deal you are on will leave you on some rubbish SVR at the bank. You have to think this one forward over years.

For different reasons I live on around 20% of what I used to earn and yet certainly I do not miss 80% of what I had or did. I bet 50% or more of your expenditure could be cut if you really have to. So do it. Heck, when I didn't have an income I managed to get online survey companies to give me a few hundred a month within a few months of starting and working out what type of answers they wanted ! If you think about money saved as money earned and you buy in bulk (can cut essential costs such as toilet rolls prices in half) then you could perhaps be £1000 or more a month better off.

The last thing to consider is that your priorities change completely, both yours and his. What seems important now will pale in comparison with what is to come.

ALIBOBSY

OP from your other thread it appears you actually have quite alot in savings (you mention 10k) and whilst you may not want to spend all this, surely this is the sort of thing we put money away for?
You also say you have no debts (other than a mortgage) and that the mortgage isn't huge 9although its always relative).
I suspect if you post a SOA ther will be alot of slack in there.

I really think you should concentrate on the baby and worry about possible careers/pensions/savings later on. I had 2 babies in my 30's and it was much harder than the 2 I had in my 20's, you may well find you are glad to be at home resting.

Perhaps a possible work from home is some kind of small buisness/freelance work.

Good luck and relax, enjoy being a mum first.

ali x:)