Running out of money on maternity leave

[Wantswhatnot77]

Not sure if I’m posting in the right place. I need a rant. I am 10 months into maternity leave, currently unpaid. I was treated really badly when I was pregnant by my current employer, underpaid, and there isn’t many hours. I have been looking for a new job but so far unsuccessful. I pay for my own bills and cover the food and DP pays the bills relating to the house. I know that my savings will run out soon. I don’t know whether to return to a job that I hate and one I would struggle to cover the nursery bill with (that’s if I can even get DS in nursery with the irregular hours), or continue looking for a job. It’s so stressful with how expensive food is now and with no money coming in it’s ramping up my stress.

Would you clarify the arrangements with your DP?
how much does he earn?

Have you spoken to DP about it? You shouldn’t be stressed re £ when you are a family unit.
Also nursey fees are a joint responsibility not just yours, DP needs to pay an equal amount for these too .

why isn’t your DP helping?!
he’s watching you struggle and eat into your savings …
do you get child benefit?

Can you chat to your partner and see if he can cover your bills and food too giving you time to look for a new job

When does your maternity leave end? What’s the plan if you can’t get DS into a nursery?

Go back to work earlier - even if you don’t like your job, it’s a job and you can get your LO settled into nursery and then start looking
Lots of people cannot afford to take the unpaid part of maternity leave off - I went back after 6.5 months and 8.5 months with my kids

Every post above asks the important question.

If your answer is that he thinks this is all your responsibility then you are better off leaving him and claiming universal credit. You will get funded childcare and access to other help. Try and entitledto calculator if he is unwilling to help you.

If he is willing to help you but neither of you earn much then again I would say use the calculator and see what you're entitled to. They have a "better off" calculator which can show you what option you have to change your hours etc.

Household bills and costs should be a joint expense during maternity leave. You’re had a baby with a partner, so should be acting like a partnership.

why can’t you return to your old job, but also continue looking for a job? That seems the most sensible option.

it’s not going to make you huge amounts of money but are you selling on vinted? When I was on mat leave I got into a really good vinted routine and made about £750 in a couple of months

Ask (tell) your partner to contribute more?

For the same reason as you, I returned to the job I hated when my baby was 6 months. We simply needed 2 salaries to pay a London mortgage. That was 16 years ago. I am still with the same company but I looked for a new job internally pronto and found one 3 months after returning from my mat leave.

If your dh is letting you survive on no money because you are on maternity leave , that is financial abuse. You need to sit down and talk to him about how your job is looking after his child and that that costs money.

Thanks all. I wouldn’t necessarily label it financial abuse it’s more so that he’s stretched with his finances already. I think you’re right in saying I need to return to my previous job. I was so sure I’d be able to find something else in time but the cost of everything is increasing. Hours in my old job are varied so I could go in one day and there could be 3 hours work for me - it’s a zero hour contract which is part of the reason I didn’t want to return

Why isn’t your partner contributing to the cost of your home? Why is the pressure on you to use your savings to keep a roof over the house of you both and your child?

He is, it’s the food and my bills I pay for but I’m struggling with the cost of food and know that money will eventually run out

It sounds like you need to claim Universal Credit as a couple - have you done this yet? If no, is there a reason why not?

I would also strongly recommend a joint current account for couples who live together - it is more transparent.
It is much better than the kind of split whereby he pays for some bills and you pay for other bills plus the 'shopping' - because the shopping can vary enormously week to week, and the costs keep going up.
Both pay into the joint current account according to your income, and all bills and household and childcare costs come out of the joint account.

Have you done your KIT days? I used the money from them to cover the last 3 months of my year of mat leave. You then have your holidays in lieu to take after that which is fully paid.

Can’t he contribute more?