Should £1900 be enough

Catty89

Hello,

I am due to have my baby on the 4rth of July, currently 10 weeks pregnant

I will just get statutory maternity wage and £20 child benefit per week.

This means between me and my boyfriend we should have around £1900, we currently have around £2400 between us so a £500 loss.

Do you think realistically i will be ok? Our mortgage and essential bills are about £1000.

If we werent going to cut any bills at all then they come to £1500 per month (including food)

I feel like this should be ok as i can imagine some people live on less but some people have made comments that this is quite low.
We would have about £350 left for all baby things, savings and personal items.

Do you think il be fine? i mean we wont be going out often and i hope to breastfeed.

Thanksss

fly_dragon_fly

I think that will be fine as long as you can budget, you will always find a way to survive it's just life obviously you can't have take aways weekly and you have to meal plan more but once you get into a routine you'll be ok

Catty89

Thanks, after xmas im going to try and save all the extra money we have so we can use it as a little top up each month when im off work. Trying not too think too far in the future as if i think of after 9 months when i have to go back to work i dont even know how that would work paying for childcare!!

Student_Mrs

Congratulations! We got pregnant early so currently have a 3 month old on stat maternity allowance and my husbands student loan. Not ideal but currently breastfeeding (hello again 3am) and this website showed Mse ways of having a baby so finding him the cheapest thing. Even though you're apparently 'not doing anything' be prepared for heating and elec bills to rise and to make cakes- meet friends for cake lots too

The best advice I read on here was to actually live off that budget for a month or 2 to a) save the excess and b) see how doable it is. If we were having a big income drop we would have done that. Are there any debts you need to tackle before bubs is here? That's a big outlay for us.

Were you born in 1989? Me too x

Mummy_Moo

Hi,
That sounds manageable to me. My daughter has just turned one and we have got along quite well on less than that. Don't forget you will also get Child Tax Credits & Working Tax Credits while you're on maternity leave (if you were too young to claim them before then you can start claiming once baby is born), they made a huge difference to me and really topped up my SMP. If you're anything like me you'll also save a fortune by not having such an expensive social life while pregnant & with a young baby.

Good choice on the breastfeeding too, good for baby, good for you, and good for the family budget. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you're struggling, your health visitor will be able to hep with all kinds of things, and even if they're not sure they can point you in the right direction to find more information. If you're in Stoke on Trent there is a fabulous breastfeeding support network called Mum 2 Mum - your health visitor / midwife can give you their details (I'm sure there are similar services in other areas of the country).

If you're happy to buy second hand, consider eBay, there are some fantastic bargains, nearly new equipment in good condition going for pennies. Look out for the collection only items in your local area.

Congratulations on your news, and good luck x

mummyroysof3

i think it is different for everyone depends on what you have to pay etc..we are a family of 5 and could pay bill and eat for a lot less than that for example.

Racheldevon

Hi,
Also register with your local sure start children's centre - they run free groups, activities, services etc from the antenatal period through to the child's 5th birthday - and you can get guidance on financial things through to counselling, and breastfeeding support - good luck

fly_dragon_fly

Catty89 wrote: »

Thanks, after xmas im going to try and save all the extra money we have so we can use it as a little top up each month when im off work. Trying not too think too far in the future as if i think of after 9 months when i have to go back to work i dont even know how that would work paying for childcare!!

When i was first pregnant i was really worrying about after maternity but I've decided to just enjoy the baby when she is here and worry about it a bit closer to the date, not much i can do really either way is there? I do a weekly shop for about £35 a weeks ( my 7 year old has dinners at school so that is just evening meals and packlunch for hubby and dog food lol) i do love the tesco 3 for £10 meats, i can do 5 dinners out of those at the moment and then a pack of sausages and bag of chips and pizza is a weeks work of dinners ( obviously i have buy veg aswell but you get what i'm saying) x

Catty89

Thanks, when i think of £1900 against our bills it sounds doable. But then i think wel have £500 less and even know we are quite tight with money. We will just have to make things work, thanks for the advice:)

fluffnutter

Is that take home or gross?

Catty89

That would be my boyfriends wage (£1300 take home) plus maternity wage (£135 per week) and £20 per week child benefit.