to consider making us skint so i can take longer maternity leave?

[MeconiumHappens]

Am now working out maternity leave and have to decide how long to take. I'm the main earner in our family so our household income would take quite a dip when im on maternity. Hve always just assumed i would take the 9 months option where some money comes in. Now im faced with putting dates on paper im not so sure.

We would be relatively comfy if i take 9 months. If i take the full year it will be a bit of a squeeze but would be able to afford the essentials (mortgage etc), but very little money to spare for every day things. (This is baby no 1 so we're used to having money for every day dwindling) Still, depite financially it being more logical to go back after 9 months, i had a mini meltdown today (ahh wonderful pregnancy hormones!) at the idea of handing over an 8 month old baby to the parents and going back to work :( 8 months seems so little.

Would it be unreasonable to aim for skint and home above the more 'sensible' (!?!) option of going back sooner. It would put more pressure on OH to bring home the bacon (self employed so more pressure/less reliability) but he says i should do whatever i think best.

WWYD?

I'm on maternity leave and looking at my previous spends I couldn't afford to still be off but I actually spend much less money at the moment (no car parking, daily sandwiches etc)
Also I stockpiled nappies and wipes before DD was born so I haven't had to buy any yet (she's 22 weeks old now)

As for tax credits it depends on how much you and your partner earned last year but then you ring them up and tell them you are on maternity leave an they will recalculate so you'll end up with more

Oh god what did I say?!

Is there anyway to discover this without purchasing said book? I'm barely here, just a wandering soul!

Tell them you hope to take the full year, you still have the right to return earlier.

Everyone is different, but I would take as much as I possibly could! I'd find a way to cut back to make it work.

Obviously I meant in your situation. As for others whose DH's have been made redundant and are having to return much earlier... it's a real shame, but needs must & all that hey :( ... and for those who just want to go back then :) it's just not for me.