Can I ask how much you saved before ttc?

[Ladyoftheloch]

I’m trying to work out how much I need to save to take a year of mat leave. I’ve listed income and outgoings below for context.

Mat leave policy is 3 months full pay, 3 months half pay, 3 months smp and then 3 months unpaid.

Joint income: £3,600pcm (£2k is my wage, £1.6k is DH’s)

Outgoings:

Mortgage: £900pcm
Gas / electric: £120pcm
Phones: £70pcm
Council tax: £110pcm
Car payment: £150pcm
Internet / tv: £50pcm
Insurance (various): £70pcm
Commuting: £54pcm
Total: £1,500ish

We also spend about £400pcm on groceries, fuel, toiletries, household products etc.

At the moment we save about £300pcm but now increasing this to £500pcm.

We have about £3,500 in savings already.

How much did you need to save for your mat leave? In my head I have £12k as the figure I want, but some days this feels like loads and other days like nothing! I want to start ttc at the end of this year - is that feasible?

@wineandtiramsu I thought you could only legally do max of 10 days kit?

Op forgot to factor kit day wages in, I planned my kit days for when I was "unpaid" so not on mat leave or using up holidays so get max benefit

Nothing, DH's wage more than covered it, we just stopped putting my wage into savings.

Nothing. Another unplanned pregnancy here. I paid off any debt I had so managed quite well.

Didn't save anything! Maybe a grand for the pram/cot etc. We were young and naive I suppose

Planned baby so practised living on one wage for a year before he was born. This was in 1988 though so it was easier financially for mums to be able to give up work. Which I was more than happy to do!

1500 but I only took 3 months off (self employed).