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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to think this is enough for a baby?

45 replies

AuntBeastie · 27/09/2018 11:30

DH and I are considering starting TTC. DH is, however, slightly concerned that we don’t have enough in savings. I think we do, and I would like to get a feel for the savings others made pre-pregnancy!

I would ideally like to take a year of mat leave. My job pays 3 months full salary, 3 months half salary, 15 weeks SMP and then unpaid.

I have 37% of my annual salary in savings to fund what isn’t covered by maternity pay. Is that realistically going to be enough?

DH thinks we should wait until we have nearer 50%. I think we should crack on - it might take years to conceive (and give us plenty of time to save...), and even if it was immediate we would have 9 months of saving. And I think we will spend less on certain things (like going out) so we could put more aside.

Am I being unrealistic?

OP posts:
PinkHeart5914 · 27/09/2018 11:32

I would start ttc, even if you get pregnant first month of trying you’ve still got 9 months to save

HolesinTheSoles · 27/09/2018 11:32

It sounds fine from what you've said. How much are you able to tighten your belts in general? Obviously when you're back at work does your salary cover nursery fees? Will you be able to cover unexpected costs?

explodingkitten · 27/09/2018 11:33

Worst case scenario you can return to work earlier instead of taking unpaid leave.

MrsStrowman · 27/09/2018 11:35

That's a good amount and you'll still be saving until you go on maternity leave. If you fell pregnant within a month that would be ten months savings, how much closer would that get you to fifty percent? Also how much annual leave do you get? I get 33 days I've only taken ten from this year's allowance and won't take any more before I go on mat leave, when I 'go back to work' I won't I'll use my 56 days leave at full pay first, Phys there's ten fully paid KIT days so essentially extending my mat leave. When I then go back it'll almost be the end of my leave year anyway, so it all works out.

Original poster
AuntBeastie · 27/09/2018 11:36

We can definitely tighten belts - we aren’t profligate, but do spend on nice house things and holidays / days out which we can definitely reduce. Once the baby is here I think we would be ok for childcare because we have two very willing grandparents close by and DH gets access to a subsidised nursery through his work.

The thing that worries me a bit is unexpected costs - I think we could cover the costs of baby and mat leave, but we wouldn’t have an emergency cushion except by relying on credit.

OP posts:
tlove · 27/09/2018 11:37

@AuntBeastie is this your first baby? I.e. will you need to buy everything like prams and cots and things?

MrsStrowman · 27/09/2018 11:37

Sorry realise that isn't that clear, my company is similar so I'll take nine months mat leave, then annual leave interspersed with KIT days giving me just over eleven months without getting into unpaid territory.

Original poster
AuntBeastie · 27/09/2018 11:37

Hadn’t even thought about annual leave! I get 27 days, which would definitely help

OP posts:
Poodles1980 · 27/09/2018 11:39

Do it. You will never be fully ready to have a baby. You are in a good position and you can always go back to work a bit early if it’s all going tits up

MrsStrowman · 27/09/2018 11:40

We've also been very spoiled , DHs parents bought our pram/travel system and my parents have paid for all of the nursery furniture so that saved us a good couple of thousand.

Original poster
AuntBeastie · 27/09/2018 11:43

It would be a first baby but my parents bought both pram and cot for my brother and SIL and would do the same for us (we are very lucky in that respect). But we would need to get clothes and other equipment.

I think I will show DH this thread, it might reassure him!

OP posts:
Original poster
AuntBeastie · 27/09/2018 11:43

Do it. You will never be fully ready to have a baby. You are in a good position and you can always go back to work a bit early if it’s all going tits up

All very true!

OP posts:
RevRichardWayneGaryWayne · 27/09/2018 11:43

People manage in much worse situations!

Nothisispatrick · 27/09/2018 11:45

Do it! There is never a perfect time and tbh you sound in a very good place financially. I’m due any day now and only get SMP plus we hardly have any savings. I’m not worried! We can tighten our belts if need be but DP earns well and I think we’ll be fine.

CMOTDibbler · 27/09/2018 11:46

I'd say to give it 3 months, but you both put money into the savings equal to what your childcare bill will be per month for as long as it takes to have a baby. Then you will have plenty in the bank to cover your leave, and will have got used to the financial hit that childcare causes

ileclerc · 27/09/2018 11:59

I had zero, we managed fine, although the last three months were a bot of a slog!

shearwater · 27/09/2018 12:01

I didn't have anything saved as I was still paying off student loan and credit cards, both of which I managed to clear just before going on mat leave. There are loads of outgoings associated with work that you don't have so you save money where you might not expect. I managed to have 13 months off with DD1.

Zoflorabore · 27/09/2018 12:01

There is never a right time op, go for it!

shearwater · 27/09/2018 12:01

Also, it's not like you are having loads of nights out- I saved a lot there!

Smishsmash · 27/09/2018 12:04

Are you the same poster from AIBU yesterday, who said your DH was not ready to start TTC? Op sounds very similar.

BlueBug45 · 27/09/2018 12:04

Just get on with it. You can't plan everything in life.

Smishsmash · 27/09/2018 12:05

...If you are, your DH is still not ready...

Aspergallus · 27/09/2018 12:05

You are unlikely to need to cover your full salary to cope on Mat leave. I have the same terms as you and manage with that. One thing Mat leave teaches you is how expensive it is to actually work -fuel, lunches, clothing, not to mention reliance on convenience foods etc. On Mat leave you can get out and walk and buy only small essentials/perishables each day rather than doing a big shop with more waste.

DeepfriedPizza · 27/09/2018 12:06

We had a little bit saved when we started trying. We then both got made redundant when I was 6 months pg and everything was a bit stressful at the time but we managed fine.

tlove · 27/09/2018 12:08

@AuntBeastie I can probably write you a list of thing to not bother buying! I bought all the things that supposedly help but a lot of it was a waste of money!

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