39 TTC - potential redundancy

[Kitkat369]

Hey, hubby and I are trying for our first for about 5mths plus process of selling our flat to buy a house. I’ve just learnt that my dept are going to restructure and so myself and 3 other members are going to have to reapply for 3 roles, which means one of us will be made redundant.

I’ve only been here shortest only two years and tbh it’s been awful but maternity leave benefits has kept me going (6.5mth full pay) and I figure we try buy place have a baby hopefully, take mat year out then see where I am there.

A part of me wants to take the money £12k and try find new job ASAP but my concern is mat leave and that if I get pregnant so soon I’d be given the push. Plus I don’t want to assume I’ll find something so soon. I’ve been made redundant before but luckily found this job so never pay gap.

Whilst I’m unhappy at work I feel best I apply for one of three roles for sake of mat leave and house to buy but reality I will be still unhappy OR do I brave it out temp and try get perm job whilst ttc though house buying will be hard. Given I’m 39 don’t want to hold off trying so a risk. I guess I’m worrying about things that haven’t happened but feel very torn.

Ultimately if job came along with what I wanted I’d take Money and run

Not sure what to do. Any advice would be great.

[Ohladedah]

Really tricky situation for you - it could take ages to get pregnant and you'll wish you'd then redundancy and got a great new job, if you get pregnant quickly you'll wish you stayed. This must be racing around your mind. Perhaps a bit more info might help? You could do the routine blood tests that are then at the start of fertility treatment. If you have low ovarianreserve (egg supply), it is an indication your journey to pregnancy could be longer or mine difficult

[Ohladedah]

Oops didn't mean to post. As I was thinking that that info won't really help - do you stay somewhere stable and familiar as you go on your journey or do something new and distracting. So ignore it completely....

Think about how it'd feel if the decision was taken out of your hands - either going or staying. You gut reaction would tell you a lot.

Good luck.

[Kitkat369]

Iweve both recently had tests done and hope to have more clarity next couple weeks then I was going to see specialist if it came to it. I’m 40 on March plus if I am terminated at work after not being successful in getting one of the three roles (despite me deep down not wanting) then I’d be out in March too but with bit of saving net. I’m applying but also looking

[schmagetti]

Tricky, but I'm sure it would be doable. I certainly wouldn't put off TTC at your age, what will be will be but you'd want to have given it your best shot (I assume). Look into maternity allowance for if you get made redundant and start a new job. It might not happen straightaway. Look at worst case scenario and budget for that, where can you make cutbacks etc.

[Ohladedah]

6.5 months pay is appealing, but think about how much that is after tax and how it compares to statutory maternity leave + £12k tax free redundancy combined? If it's higher, think about how much higher it needs to be for you to stay at this job indefinitely (as you go on your ttc journey, then return from mat leave, etc). Your happiness is worth something, looking at the numbers in this way might help you decide?

[Kitkat369]

6.5mths mat is more than 12k after tax do makes sense to stay put and lump it but depends if I get opportunity so see I guess. Certainly would be easier staying put

[Shmithecat]

Redundancy money, up to £30k, is not taxable.