to not understand how you can get 8 months into maternity leave before you realise you cant afford to take a whole year?

[JRmumma]

Seem to have had the same conversation a few times recently where someone has suddenly realised that when SMP stops, they will have to return to work when they had originally planned to take the full year off as 'they wont have enough money coming in'.

To me, it just seems sensible to add up the total amount you will receive in maternity pay and divide it equally between however many months you plan to take off and just spend that.

I just don't understand how, if you don't do this, you imagined that you would get by if you already know you cannot do it on 1 wage? Maternity pay is usually front loaded and so surely its a no-brainer to put some aside for the months you receive 0 pay.

Some people aren't very good at maths.

Sometimes babies cost a lot more than people realise.

Some people aren't good at planning ahead. Head in the sand?

My friend had to return to work with very little notice after her husband's employer went bust leaving them with no income! If he had kept his job they would have been ok.

Sometimes things happen that mean you just can't afford it any longer.

Some people don't tell the truth about their own desire to go back to work before a year because they think they'll be judged.

Others maybe rely on a partner's bonus or salary increase which doesn't come through.

Some people aren't very good at budgeting, or their roof falls off, or their car dies.

Many people think 'oh, we'll be ok' and then are faced with the reality of £120 pw in their pocket (minus tax) and then shit an actual brick.

There are lots of reasons - unexpected higher bills, car breaks down and you need to pay for a new one, partners promised payrise turns into dust. Also possibly they don't like being at home and it's easier to blame money than say that or they simply stuck their head in the sand. I would advise you not to judge people for being fallible tbh. Likely to bite you on the behind one day.

X posted with Wilson - I see we are of one mind!

Mind meld Northern

It also can be because it's more acceptable to say it's all about the money than say you're not taking maximum leave for any other reason.

Generally YANBU but things can go wrong!

Although I was talking to a colleague who is on mat leave the other day who said they 'haven't budgeted' for when the pay drops - and it's not because she's minted. I managed a smile and absolutely no horror in my eyes (I hope). I am probably too much of an organiser though, it would keep me awake at night.

My friend had this problem, and it was because they had woefully underestimated how much their weekly spend would go up.

They pretty much just budgeted for nappies and clothes, so they didnt allow for increased utilities as she was at home all day, doing more washing, using the tumble dryer more etc. She took the baby out most days so spent more on coffees, lunches etc, their shopping bill went up too because of "nipping" to the supermarket.

It all adds up in ways you may not consider pre-ML. So she had to go back after 6 months as they simply couldnt support a SAHP.

I get the unforeseen stuff, but its the assumption that they will just manage and then suddenly realise that their partners wage doesn't cover costs that I don't understand.

I personally wouldn't count on payrises and bonuses either tbh but i get that for some they might be more of a 'sure thing' and then to suddenly not get one would mean money was tighter than planned.

Maybe they can cover costs, but actually would like to have a bit more for some 'luxuries' and don't fancy sitting around the house doing not a lot (if you can only cover the basics) for the remainder?

I have no idea how some people are so lax with budgeting. It makes my mind boggle control freak

I planned 9 months but have taken the full year. The last 3months have been good for us as it's meant we've not wasted money - and survived on savings, DH and the small leak on the roof went on the credit card (as do most home emergencies).The biggest struggle IMO was going down to stat mat after 10weeks.

Once we'd gone down to that dropping to nothing didn't seem too bad.

I know what I'm entitled to in maternity pay but working out what you will actually get is a nightmare. I'm confident with maths and even had a spreadsheet last time and my pay packet was never ever what I worked it out as. It's a shock when they tax SMP too (I don't think this is made clear enough! I thought it was like child benefit etc so not taxable).

Did not expect to move homes, that was pretty expensive.

What does it matter to you? It's not your life and none of your business. Meh!

I am anal about budgets and planning but still no idea how long I will take off because:

a) due discretionary bonus(es) AND payrise but not guaranteed
b) HR is rubbish at explaining how holidays accrue so I haven't factored in
c) recently remortgage and changed fuel supplier
d) not sure about what holidays and summer activities we will do
e) not budgeted for baby stuff at all as we have everything already BUT you never know...
f) childcare hours might change
g) will costs of going to work (clothes, commute, naice lunches) be offset by costs of being at home (fuel, tea, toilet paper, entertainment )
h) plus...life, boiler could go, car could breakdown, childcare costs could rise

Could be 7 months, could be 9, could be 12 (unlikely)

Unless you are their maternity cover OR they are your financial adviser then I don't know why you are bothered to be honest.

I agree that people should be saving / budgeting etc and therefore know where they are upto, but as others have said, until you've actually had a baby, it's hard to anticpate how your outgoings will change precisely and whether you'll enjoy taking a full year of maternity leave.

I started saving as soon as I got pregnant. Unfortunately, 9 months planned saving turned into 6 months when my twins turned up 3 months early. Add in H's critical illness (and 3 months in hospital) where he only got statutory sick pay when you're only half way through your maternity leave, and suddenly the "comfortable" year off you'd anticipated goes down the pan and plans need to change.

So in an ideal world, people should be budgeting, but don't be so quick to judge those who are unable to do that - you don't know what is going on behind the scenes.

I think there is a lot of talk about how people "manage" - years ago I had a termination as my partner had left and the maths didn't add up. People insisted I'd manage though.

I am self-employed and currently on mat leave (such as it is). It is impossible to budget/predict anything other than that I will have virtually nothing coming in for months after I go back. Is your friend self-employed?

I simply asked our payroll for details of what I would get if on maternity each month, it's very easy for them to work out. Added to that SMP is a set amount and there are hundreds of calculators that can work out tax and NI?

Some people believe babies cost nothing so go into it very blind and then start to moan re costs especially if a school dares ask for money!

Yabu. You don't know what else is going on in people's lives. You can't budget for absolutely every eventuality and people's circumstances change all the time. I budgeted for a year. However, serious complications from the birth and a major family crisis meant we had to change our plans.

If you've made it through maternity leave without any unexpected changes in fortune or circumstances, you should just be grateful for how lucky you are.