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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To use savings to cover extra mat leave?

51 replies

Pinkpiglet10 · 01/03/2022 20:24

Im currently on mat leave for 9 months + 1 month of a/l.
We are not planning any more children so that’s my one and only mat leave ever.
Im started to think to extend my mat leave by one month to enjoy longer time with baby however that would mean digging into savings.
Im going back part time so still plenty of time with the baby but on the other hand I will be working my whole life so may as well use more time off. Esp that my mat leave is ending in Summer so I could have lovely beach days with baby.
Im really thorn.
AIBU - with part time job you will still get lovely Summer with baby. Dont waste savings
AIBNU - stay with baby, whole life ahead of working and saving money

OP posts:
Michellexxx · 01/03/2022 20:27

As long as you are not using all your savings, and can make them up again, go for it! You will absolutely not regret it.

LondonladyTTC · 01/03/2022 20:31

If you can afford it and won't leave you financially vulnerable, I would have extra time with baby. You might not get the opportunity for extended time off again and in my opinion making memories is more important thank more money in the bank/ material possessions (providing it doesn't leave you absolutely nothing for emergencies).
DH and I will be taking the max we can, funded by savings.

BendingSpoons · 01/03/2022 20:36

Depends on your financial position.
Generally comfortably off, decent savings or the ability to build them back up fairly quickly - go for it
Small amount of savings that you have worked for years to get and will struggle to build back up with the cost of childcare - might not be sensible

In general though, it does seem like a one time opportunity so I'd be keen to extend maternity in your situation.

Totalwasteofpaper · 02/03/2022 07:27

I am 100% doing this. It's what savings are for.

You never get the time back. We do have a decent level of savings though.

SecretSquirrel111 · 02/03/2022 07:32

What level are your savings? If your work decides to get rid of you on return (v common sadly) could you walk into another job/survive for several months. Cost of living has rapidly increased so depends on whether you’ve got a good financial cushion or not.

KindlyKanga · 02/03/2022 07:33

If you can and you're enjoying it I would

girlmom21 · 02/03/2022 07:43

These are exactly the type of scenarios we save for. If you can comfortably afford it you won't regret it!

I was furloughed immediately after returning from a 9 month mat leave and it meant I was at home to see DD learn to walk. I wouldn't change that for the world.

Original poster
Pinkpiglet10 · 02/03/2022 07:47

@SecretSquirrel111

What level are your savings? If your work decides to get rid of you on return (v common sadly) could you walk into another job/survive for several months. Cost of living has rapidly increased so depends on whether you’ve got a good financial cushion or not.
I work for NHS so won’t loose job. I would say average savings
OP posts:
timeisnotaline · 02/03/2022 07:48

I’m doing this.dh starts paternity leave and I go back one month later so we get a month of summer both off wiht our dc, then I’ll go back full time when baby is 11.5 months (just because she was born earlier than expected, it was planned to be 11 months)

Neenawneenaw76 · 02/03/2022 07:49

I did it and don't regret it at all, money well spent xx

NeedAHoliday2021 · 02/03/2022 07:51

I took the full 12 months, using savings to subsidise this. Not sure what the point of savings is if you don’t use them when needed, so long as you don’t use them all.

stuntbubbles · 02/03/2022 07:54

That’s the point of savings! To use them for things. You can’t take it with you.

MintyFreshBreath · 02/03/2022 07:58

I regret not having more time with my baby. However, I’ve still voted YABU. The reason being that it’s only an extra month and you’ll already have had 10 plus you’re only going back part time. It’s better having the savings in case something goes wrong.

One idea you could try for the first month if you’d really like more time. Could you ask to work condensed hours for the last two weeks. Eg, not go in for the first two weeks of your first month back and then work full time for two weeks?

Spottybotty20 · 02/03/2022 07:58

Do you get amp for those last few months? Might help.
I took the full 12 months (final 3 only smp) and then an extra 2 months unpaid with my son and it was absolutely the right thing for us.

I didn’t have as long off with my daughter but felt ok going back and only work short days so I’m not missing too much.

felulageller · 02/03/2022 08:05

You are better to take the most mat leave you can bit go back full time. PT will cost you exponentially more than your savings. Also never go PT if you are not married. You don't mention DP? Money should be family money once you are a family. You need to work out your finances together. You shouldn't be taking less leave because he's hoarding his money for himself.

AladdinPrincess999 · 02/03/2022 08:24

I went back part time after my first was born. She was 7 months old. I had to leave work at 24 weeks pregnant, so that's why I returned early.

However, I worked 3 out of 7 days and still got to experience all the lovely things like baby groups/days out etc. So I wouldn't dip into my savings to have more time with baby, when you'll already have time if you're going part time.

Original poster
Pinkpiglet10 · 02/03/2022 08:24

Im only going part time as that way we won’t need child care.
Once DC goes to school I will go back full time.
DH is present, works full time.
Me extra mat leave would be unpaid

OP posts:
FTEngineerM · 02/03/2022 08:26

You never get the time back

You never get any time back?

Taswama · 02/03/2022 08:30

I wouldn't. You can take parental leave over the next few years to extend your annual leave. It will be harder to build those savings back on a part time salary.
The cost of living is going up a lot at the moment (fuel, heating, food) too, so going to work may cost more than you anticipated.

Flittingaboutagain · 02/03/2022 08:34

I don't think I will regret spending this summer with my baby and am using my savings for this. It is what I saved for whilst ttc. You have the rest of your life to earn money as a full timer when your child is at school.

fussychica · 02/03/2022 09:01

We did this, absolutely no regrets other than it was one of the worst summers on record, weatherwise!

BakeOffRewatch · 02/03/2022 09:04

@Totalwasteofpaper

I am 100% doing this. It's what savings are for.

You never get the time back. We do have a decent level of savings though.

This. I did it too, don’t regret it. But I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t have enough to enjoy it, such as coffee, cake, lunch, petrol, train tickets etc. Otherwise it’s tough being in all the time.
Lime37 · 02/03/2022 09:06

I don’t know how people go back to work so soon. I was lucky enough to be made redundant on may leave so didn’t go back to work untill my child was 2.

beenaroundtheblox · 02/03/2022 09:11

I would look at how long it will take to save this money again. Any longer than 6 months and I'd say no. That would be how I decided.

JustWonderingIfYou · 02/03/2022 09:13

Absolutely worth it. I'd take out a loan if I didn't have the savings. 10months is still such a baby. You want to be there for when they learn to walk and talk and have fun days out with then not just do bedtime after nursery every day.