12-24 weeks pregnant (part2)

becsxxx

we are relatively worried about money but trying to plan sensibly at the moment. I earn substantially more than my DH and my work's maternity package is nowhere near as generous as a lot of you ladies (I can only dream of 6 months full pay! I get 6 weeks full pay, 12 weeks 1/2 pay and then statutory). This will make a massive difference to us and is the main reason I'm only planning on taking 6 months off (although I then get holiday leave added to that so in effect will get about 7 1/2 months). We are considering whether DH will take some of my remaining leave after that, but that will depend on money.

mysecretalias - like you, we are currently trying to buy a house to be in before the baby comes!!! we rent a similar sized house at the moment so are used to the general outgoings, but a mortgage will be double the rent we pay! we've got substantial savings at present and before getting pregnant were going to put a 15% deposit down on a house, but this plus a huge amount of stamp duty would wipe out our savings. we're now thinking of putting only 10% down and getting a less good rate, but having savings to cover the maternity period.

we don't live near either of our families so it will be full time childcare for our baby, as we'll both need to work full time. we both have quite good employers though and should be able to work flexibly at times (eg: if baby is ill), retaining our salaries.

PLAIN CHEESE SANDWICHES are the way forward (plus obligatory packet of crisps!) Lol x

jen_1985_04

Becs my maternity pay is poor too

Just the basic rate for me which I think is 90% of my wage for six weeks then the statutory £124 per week (or whatever it is lol).

I'm kinda relying on a good xmas bonus this year as last year I got a great one (worked out at almost 3 months pay - but after tax more like 2) so that would cover my back for a while! fingers crossed!!

laurabllue

My maternity pay is 12 weeks full pay, then 6 months stat and 3 months unpaid. Luckily I'll also be getting my bonus in my March pay so that should be a bit extra.

I'm a bit worried, as H is in the process of getting a new job, so we won't be eligible for child benefit if he gets it. So our two decent wages will just be one, and with an expensive mortgage to cover it'll be tight when I go down to statutory maternity pay (even tighter when I'm on no pay!).

In the long term, my plan is to take the full 12 months off but then I won't be coming back to my current job. With the commute and no real option of going part-time it's just not doable. After 9 months I'll start to look for something local, ideally part time. In a perfect world, I'd like to do three days a week, but we'll see. Annoyingly H's parents are retired but too far away for childcare, whereas my parents are only 20 minutes away but both still work. Saying that I don't want to rely on my parents as they're still young and have their own lives and I don't want them to feel like they have to check with us before making plans/booking holidays etc.

Obviously I'll be telling work I'm coming back, so won't be burning any bridges in case I need to return, but I've 98% decided I won't be coming back.

sjlou

jen_1985_04 wrote: »

Becs my maternity pay is poor too

Just the basic rate for me which I think is 90% of my wage for six weeks then the statutory £124 per week (or whatever it is lol).

Me too! Its just one of things, you cant ask HR what maternity packages are like when you apply for a job! One way to get your application put in the bin!

claire16c

laurabllue wrote: »

My maternity pay is 12 weeks full pay, then 6 months stat and 3 months unpaid. Luckily I'll also be getting my bonus in my March pay so that should be a bit extra.

I'm a bit worried, as H is in the process of getting a new job, so we won't be eligible for child benefit if he gets it. So our two decent wages will just be one, and with an expensive mortgage to cover it'll be tight when I go down to statutory maternity pay (even tighter when I'm on no pay!).

In the long term, my plan is to take the full 12 months off but then I won't be coming back to my current job. With the commute and no real option of going part-time it's just not doable. After 9 months I'll start to look for something local, ideally part time. In a perfect world, I'd like to do three days a week, but we'll see. Annoyingly H's parents are retired but too far away for childcare, whereas my parents are only 20 minutes away but both still work. Saying that I don't want to rely on my parents as they're still young and have their own lives and I don't want them to feel like they have to check with us before making plans/booking holidays etc.

Obviously I'll be telling work I'm coming back, so won't be burning any bridges in case I need to return, but I've 98% decided I won't be coming back.

Make sure you check your maternity pay policy before you decide about going back or not - often if you have enhanced pay you have to go back for at least 3 months or you have to pay the money back. Although I guess it would only be about 6 weeks pay if you did so that's not too bad you could always stick it in the bank & earn interest on it! Getting a bonus in march is good timing!

It's one of the reasons I don't mind only getting the statutory pay because I don't want to go back to the exact same job.

Id love to buy a house before the baby came but we need to wait until I'm back at work full time. House prices are depressingly expensive here.

jen_1985_04

Exactly!! I've been here 7 years so i'm hoping they might offer me a better package - I doubt it but it would be nice

squ1rrel5

I just get stat mat pay which is pretty rubbish isn't it. I don't have an amazing wage now bug always managed to cope. We just need to work out where to cut down. Hubby is awaiting the outcome of an interview for promotion which would mean more money... I am getting so impatient! A pay rise would take the pressure off slightly!

becsxxx

i'm hoping to get a bonus payable in May too - if i get the max then after tax it's about a month's salary, so every little helps!!!

on another note, is anyone having any problems with moles? I have quite a few, but recently two of them have started being painful and one in particular has grown substantially and is now hurting. i now some change can be normal in pregnancy, but this does seem quite a lot?

laurabllue

Already checked that out Claire! Fortunately it's fine and we don't have to pay back any of the extra so I'm covered on that. I also got in writing the details of accrued holiday pay for while I'm off (as that's almost an extra 6 weeks money) to make sure I don't lose anything by not going back.

sjlou

becsxxx wrote: »

on another note, is anyone having any problems with moles? I have quite a few, but recently two of them have started being painful and one in particular has grown substantially and is now hurting. i now some change can be normal in pregnancy, but this does seem quite a lot?

I'd get that checked out if I were you.

I'm quite moley, and try to keep an eye on them for any changes.

Edited to say: I just realised that Im 23 weeks today, so will be going up to the big girl thread this time next week! EEEEK! So not ready for that!:eek: