Potential future child

stinabean

Hi all

My partner has finally become ready to have a child

We will be starting trying after a few months, however our main concern is finances.

I've tried to use the entitledto site as if I had a 1 week old baby to see what I'd be entitled to, and if it wasn't "enough" to save into a pot beforehand to help while I'm on maternity.
However, the questions are insanely confusing for someone who has zero understanding on benefits and has never had to apply before.

Does anyone have any tips or alternative resources they could point me in the direction of? I just want to go into this prepared and save up to help us in those months of leave to make it less stressful.

Thank you for any help.

xylophone

https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/benefits-and-entitlements-to-claim-when-you-have-a-baby

https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs

Spendless

As well as looking into any tax credits/Child Benefit you'd be entitled to, I'd also look at childcare cost, if you will get any financial help towards it and whether if it's going to be feasible for your OH to return to work or work part-time once childcare fees are factored in.

NYM

Putting your finances under such a strain especially as you've only just put in an offer on a house purchase, could be risky.

IAmWales

Also keep in mind that one baby may be two, and there's also the possibility of your eligibility reducing in the future. Could you manage if one of you became incapacitated (do you have insurances)?

teddysmum

Babies are also very expensive, as they have a nasty habit of growing out of clothes, very quickly.


To me,who had children back in the days of washing nappies, disposable ones seem to cost a fortune, especially with the trend for children to stay in them for longer than was the case with terries


Stress from only just managing financially and the stress of sleepless nights the first months, followed by sleepless nights because of teething would be enough to drive anyone to distraction, so not to be taken lightly. (I am every even tempered, but do remember having some sympathy with those who do nasty things to their baby, after having one cry for hours on end, for no apparent reason.)

Cheeky_Monkey

teddysmum wrote: »

Babies are also very expensive, as they have a nasty habit of growing out of clothes, very quickly.


To me,who had children back in the days of washing nappies, disposable ones seem to cost a fortune, especially with the trend for children to stay in them for longer than was the case with terries


Stress from only just managing financially and the stress of sleepless nights the first months, followed by sleepless nights because of teething would be enough to drive anyone to distraction, so not to be taken lightly. (I am every even tempered, but do remember having some sympathy with those who do nasty things to their baby, after having one cry for hours on end, for no apparent reason.)

JHC :eek: I can't believe you just said that :mad:

xylophone

Babies are also very expensive, as they have a nasty habit of growing out of clothes, very quickly.

But the clothes don't have to be new?

xylophone

JHC I can't believe you just said that

I imagine that the poster meant that after enduring sleepless nights with a constantly crying infant, she could understand (but not excuse or condone) how a carer might snap?

Diary

stinabean wrote: »

Hi all

My partner has finally become ready to have a child

We will be starting trying after a few months, however our main concern is finances.

I've tried to use the entitledto site as if I had a 1 week old baby to see what I'd be entitled to, and if it wasn't "enough" to save into a pot beforehand to help while I'm on maternity.
However, the questions are insanely confusing for someone who has zero understanding on benefits and has never had to apply before.

Does anyone have any tips or alternative resources they could point me in the direction of? I just want to go into this prepared and save up to help us in those months of leave to make it less stressful.

Thank you for any help.

It sounds like you have wanted a baby for a while and now your boyfriend/girlfriend has finally agreed.
How much have you saved so far as you seem to have had plenty of prior warning as it were?

teddysmum

xylophone wrote: »

I imagine that the poster meant that after enduring sleepless nights with a constantly crying infant, she could understand (but not excuse or condone) how a carer might snap?

Exactly. You can feel a small part of what makes these people snap, but you are able to control yourself.