Head & Heart Situation - What To Do! :(

Pepperoni

I have debt and savings (see signature!).

Currently on maternity leave, original plan to take 9 months (this amount meant that I was entitled to some of it at full pay) - meaning the savings can go on the debt. This is what my head knows is the best thing to do.

My heart wants to take 12 months though. This means I'd have to pay back the enhanced pay plus have enough money to get us through the 3 months of no pay. Basically means my savings would be non-existent. But I'd be able to take 3 extra months with my child that I'll never get back (when else do you get the opportunity of that length of time off and guaranteed employment afterwards?!).

What would you do? When I'm back working the debt will be clear-able... we just haven't been as stringent as we should have been in the past which is why its still there

FBaby

You need to decide whether you'll be more stressed and unhappy at work knowing that you could have had a bit more time with your baby, or stressed about your debts to the point of keeping you up at night. Consider it also long term, ie, in two years time, do you think you will look back thinking that the debts have been paid anyway since and you are so glad to spend a bit longer with your baby, or will you still be with your debt stressed feeling that it was still as dreadful to go back to work after 12 months and the extra 3 months went too quickly to really make a difference.

justme111

Not sure 3 more months will make any difference. You would never get another year /dozens of those back with your child either. How long are you happy not to work and on what to live during that time ? Where do you draw a line in the sand ? On not going into any more debt but maintaining your current one ? I would not see it as head versus heart , I would see it as changing priorities. Or being lazy :P:p only you.know which one it is .