Go Lily Go - Paying off the mortgage

QB_Wolf

Totally agree on the waiting to be financially stable to have kids, and that if you do this you'll never have them.

Just like anything having kids can be as expensive or cheap as you want really and you certainly spend less in some areas of your life. Good luck.

lilyp

Haha I am pretty clued up on not spending any money on kids. Have seen how silly some people can get over them. I also know a lot about childrens products (from a previous life) so I know which ones are good, which ones can be bought second hand etc.

None of you really answered about the birth part. Is it really that bad? oh god :eek:

Also (and Andi Lou I bet you know the answer to this) does anyone know what the standard maternity laws are? I really don't want to stay in my current job but am not sure how long I have to be employed before I get any maternity pay.

QB_Wolf

lilyp wrote: »

Haha I am pretty clued up on not spending any money on kids.

None of you really answered about the birth part. Is it really that bad? oh god :eek:

You'll have to spend some money.:D

As for the birth - the second time was easier :eek:

gallygirl

QB_Wolf wrote: »

As for the birth - the second time was easier :eek:

Let's be honest. It DOES hurt. But you do forget about it immediately afterwards. Right up until the 1st contraction next time, then it all comes flooding back :eek:

HelenDaveKids

It justs smarts a bit!!

I can't complain, 3 easy quick deliveries and all early (but still 38+), my midwife says Im an earth mother! Anyway by that stage you just want them out!
DD2 I had a 4 hour discharge home. I was shopping by lunchtime!
DD3 I was filling skips with concrete posts within days but with hindsight that wasn't sensible!

andrea_louise

lilyp wrote: »

None of you really answered about the birth part. Is it really that bad? oh god :eek:

Also (and Andi Lou I bet you know the answer to this) does anyone know what the standard maternity laws are? I really don't want to stay in my current job but am not sure how long I have to be employed before I get any maternity pay.

In my case it was horrendous, baby in distress, 10lb 6, (damn diabetes) emergency section, but after a few weeks it's forgotten. It was more the distress that baby was in distress than pain. I THINK!! Well that's my recollection anyway :rotfl:

To be eligible for stat maternity pay you need to have been working for your employer for 26 weeks, the 26 weeks must be in before the 15th week before your due date - that's your qualifying week !

Now for the pants bit! You get 90% pay for the first 6 weeks, and then 90% or about £135 (whichever is the lesser) for the next 33 weeks. Think there is a daft bit in about you must earn more than £109 pw to qualify.
BF will also be eligible for some parental leave too.
Holidays will continue to accrue during maternity leave.

Be aware that if you're off work for 4 weeks with a pregnancy related illness, your employer can insist you start Maternity Leave immediately. :eek: which really put a strain on my finances. (Only because I wanted to have a year off)

lilyp

I have heard some its not that bad stories from friends but also the horror kind. :eek: One of my friends gave birth in France and she said it was much easier - contractions started, they gave her an Epi, she hung about all day watching tv and then they told her to push. No stress, hardly any pain. Maybe I will just move over there

Andi thanks for the maternity pay stats. I am still a bit muddled. Does that mean if I were to get pregnant this month and get a new job I would still qualify?

Its so little money - £135 a week is below half what I am paid now.:eek: I can see this savings pot not going near the mortgage for a good few years.:(

andrea_louise

lilyp wrote: »

Andi thanks for the maternity pay stats. I am still a bit muddled. Does that mean if I were to get pregnant this month and get a new job I would still qualify?

Its so little money - £135 a week is below half what I am paid now.:eek: I can see this savings pot not going near the mortgage for a good few years.:(

It all depends on when the new job starts -the sooner the better- and when you fall pregnant, but I reckon to be SAFE you need to be in your new job about 10 weeks. 26 weeks, plus 15 weeks is 41 weeks, you're going to be at least 5 weeks when you find out.

:question::question::question:Is my maths correct here? Cos I am starting to confuse myself? :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

is there no way that you could stay in the job your doing until Christmas? Am thinking with holidays, and scans and medical appointments, it won't be that long, and as they know you??

Don't forget, on top of the £135 ish, there will be child benefit and possibly some child tax credit, dependant upon income.

lilyp

Thanks Andi

Have just tried to reply twice and keep losing post. Will reply later xx

lilyp

Have decided to keep trying and also look for jobs. If I find one we really like we can stop shagging for a bit and I can take a pregnancy test to check before I hand in my notice. Not fool proof but I am unlikely to get knocked up when I am this stressed and miserable after each day anyway. If I do then I will have to stick with it until baby comes.

Have just chucked another £130 from Ebay and £25 for overtime into the pot so its looking like a healthy amount now. Only trouble is I have no money whatsoever in my bank account. We rijigged the finances a bit recently so I must have done something wrong. I know I can take money out of the pot if needed but would rather figure out why and live within my means.