Starting a family

lovecake

Yep! Similar to me too - 7months pregnant. Only entitled to child benefit of £20 and as Claree says, because they don't count the first £2500 drop in income while you're off on mat. leave we'll still be just over the threshold for tax credits.

Just get saving while you are trying so that you'll have something to top up your mat. pay and I'm sure you'll be fine. As HBS says - you just make do! Once the big purchases are out of the way like the buggy and car seat they don't cost as much as you might think believe it or not - although I think some people can get carried away...

Second hand baby sales are great if you have any locally!

I'm sure you'll get given loads of clothes and hopefully you can breastfeed so no need to buy formula. We made a list of things we need so that if people ask us what we'd like as a present we can put their name beside an item on the list and we know we won't have to buy it.

As long as they are clothed, warm, fed, have a clean bottom and are loved they'll be fine!

Good luck!

Bangton

Umm..worried this will sound harsh but I guess here goes...

I think when you decide to have a child you should do it knowing you and your partner have the finances to cover it rather than assessing what benefits you may or may not be entitled to.

From what you describe you have £700 a month disposable (unless your not counting food from this figure) so earning an SMP at around £550 a month (assuming your eligible) would still be doable as you have this £700 'safety net'. Plus you do, as everyone does, earn £20 a week in child benefit. When you eventually return to work would this £700 a month, again not cover childcare costs (it does for me anyway but not sure where you live). Meaning it is quite doable without even considering what benefits you may get?

I don't want to come across as too critical because I know things happen, but I think if your planning a family around potential benefits it's really silly. What if the government stop the handouts? Focus on your own earnings is my advice

lottie0311

im not relying on any benefits at all, i am aware that we would manage on our own wages even at the reduced rates. We have no debt and have never claimed benefits, not because we dont agree but we have always been as sensible as possible and never needed to.

All i was doing it exploring all avenues. I know what we will bring home from employment but was looking at the bigger picture as if i am entitled, i will claim. I will then return to work and will only ever live to my means.

Claree__x

lottie0311 wrote: »

im not relying on any benefits at all, i am aware that we would manage on our own wages even at the reduced rates. We have no debt and have never claimed benefits, not because we dont agree but we have always been as sensible as possible and never needed to.

All i was doing it exploring all avenues. I know what we will bring home from employment but was looking at the bigger picture as if i am entitled, i will claim. I will then return to work and will only ever live to my means.

Don't take it to heart - honestly, people are just trying to help

You're both on decent wages and as you say, you'll go back to work. If you really want it to work out there are people in far worse situations than you are

Gigglepig

Claree__x wrote: »

Don't take it to heart - honestly, people are just trying to help

You're both on decent wages and as you say, you'll go back to work. If you really want it to work out there are people in far worse situations than you are

These wages are well below the UK average, and in many parts of the country would not be a great basis for starting a family, especially if one needed to rent a bigger house privately?

Depending on OPs and partners age, it may be a good idea to at least put up some decent savings first and move on with their careers?

Bangton

lottie0311 wrote: »

im not relying on any benefits at all, i am aware that we would manage on our own wages even at the reduced rates. We have no debt and have never claimed benefits, not because we dont agree but we have always been as sensible as possible and never needed to.

All i was doing it exploring all avenues. I know what we will bring home from employment but was looking at the bigger picture as if i am entitled, i will claim. I will then return to work and will only ever live to my means.

I worried it would come across harsh and be upsetting which is not my intention. I'd never say don't claim if your entitled but I'm also trying to say you should be planning a family around what you know you have...anything else is a bonus if you see what I mean.

What if it takes you 1 year, 2 years to conceive and those benefits are no longer available anyway?! So in a nutshell if you can afford to have a baby with your wages as they are then go for it and if you can get some benefits fine but to me if your worried about finances you don't think 'Great, let's look to the government to fund my family' you post asking 'how can I cut back, how much should I save.'

It does sound harsh, especially when your working and there are other people who quite happily live off benefits but I can't help but marvel at how many people look to benefits and assume some sort of entitlement to them the moment they decide they want a baby...

sorry

Dunroamin

Claree__x wrote: »

Don't take it to heart - honestly, people are just trying to help

You're both on decent wages and as you say, you'll go back to work. If you really want it to work out there are people in far worse situations than you are

Since when has £12,000 been a decent wage?

Person_one

Bangton wrote: »

Umm..worried this will sound harsh but I guess here goes...

I think when you decide to have a child you should do it knowing you and your partner have the finances to cover it rather than assessing what benefits you may or may not be entitled to.

From what you describe you have £700 a month disposable (unless your not counting food from this figure) so earning an SMP at around £550 a month (assuming your eligible) would still be doable as you have this £700 'safety net'. Plus you do, as everyone does, earn £20 a week in child benefit. When you eventually return to work would this £700 a month, again not cover childcare costs (it does for me anyway but not sure where you live). Meaning it is quite doable without even considering what benefits you may get?

I don't want to come across as too critical because I know things happen, but I think if your planning a family around potential benefits it's really silly. What if the government stop the handouts? Focus on your own earnings is my advice

Both partners are earning above the legal minimum wage, should children only be a privilege that the better off among us can afford? Not for the commoners? If everybody on NMW got a better paying job the country would be in a right mess!

There's no shame in a lower paid job, the shame is on the employers and the government who keep wages so pitifully low.

Op, ignore this. You work hard and you want a baby, that's fine and normal and there's nothing wrong with accepting the help that is available to you.

Dunroamin

Person_one wrote: »

Both partners are earning above the legal minimum wage, should children only be a privilege that the better off among us can afford? Not for the commoners? If everybody on NMW got a better paying job the country would be in a right mess!

There's no shame in a lower paid job, the shame is on the employers and the government who keep wages so pitifully low.

Op, ignore this. You work hard and you want a baby, that's fine and normal and there's nothing wrong with accepting the help that is available to you.

But, particularly in the current climate, it is good advice not to make decisions based on benefits that are available at the moment.

Person_one

Dunroamin wrote: »

But, particularly in the current climate, it is good advice not to make decisions based on benefits that are available at the moment.

True, but I don't think the OP is, she's just a bit anxious and looking for some reassurance.