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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask anyone with 2+ kids & working…

40 replies

FrenchSquirrel · 13/08/2025 19:33

How did you afford a second mat leave?
Coming near the end of my first maternity leave, and I’ve realised just how expensive it is. I know there is talk of a review of maternity pay in the UK but who knows how long that will take. I am going back to work part time. Did you wait to TTC until you had enough in the pot, or did you just go for it and make it work and aim for the age gap you wanted anyway? I’m not quite having a year off this time and next time would definitely like at least 12 months.

OP posts:

redskydelight · 14/08/2025 19:05

Saved a lot pre first child, including making sure all house maintenance type jobs were completed to minimise expenditure later on and overpaying mortgage.

Had long maternity leave with second so that the time without the oldest on free hours was fairly short. Also took oldest out of childcare when on mat leave.

It's not actually just about saving for maternity leave, but saving for the period when you have 2 pre-schoolers in expensive childcare as well (think we were better off when I was on maternity leave).

TaxDragon · 14/08/2025 19:09

School age doesn't mean without a cost, the school holiday vs annual leave is an expensive headache.
You have to reevaluate your household budget for a while and take advantage of things like tax free childcare, universal credit top up for childcare, dependent leave, etc
Somehow it works but you don't know how, there is a 2.5 yr gap between mine, no family support, both parents work, you cut your cloth accordingly and muddle through best you can!

MissHollysDolly · 14/08/2025 19:15

Probably too late for you OP but posting here in case anyone else had the same question!
I went back already pregnant. I used my accrued annual leave to go back part time - ie working 3 days a week taking annual leave for 2 but being paid for 5. So when the second maternity came round I was paid based on my full time hours.

BKBH · 14/08/2025 20:55

We had a surprise second baby so there was no planning or saving. It might be controversial but I’m of the mindset we can’t get this time back so we have taken cash out against a 0% credit card and accepted we will just have that debt for the next few years.

I think putting off a family you really want for a time in the future when you’ll have the money is a bit daft if you have the option to have that family sooner and just take out a loan if needed.

BKBH · 14/08/2025 20:55

I think putting off a family you really want for a time in the future when you’ll have the money is a bit daft if you have the option to have that family sooner and just take out a loan if needed.

Didimum · 14/08/2025 20:57

Had twins so got two for the price of one!

OublietteBravo · 14/08/2025 21:00

I have a 19 month age gap. I achieved this by only taking short maternity leaves. 6 months with DD, and 8 months with DS. I also went back FT after both (in fact I’ve always worked FT - mostly to avoid the pension gap that PT brings).

Bluecarded · 14/08/2025 21:02

Never really understand waiting til first is in school. If money is that tight, aim for when first is 3 and save a year of nursery costs while you're on mat leave.

Angelil · 14/08/2025 21:03

We had a 4.25-yr age gap. Children are now 6 and 2, love each other, and are not in nursery simultaneously 🤗

user2848502016 · 14/08/2025 21:08

We have a 3.5 year age gap so DD1 left private nursery when I started maternity leave with DD2, and she just had her free hours at playgroup then started reception while I was still on maternity.
Never had to pay 2 sets of childcare.

Iocainepowder · 14/08/2025 21:12

3 year age gap so had 30 hours funding at nursery

Paid full pay 6 months and half pay 3 months

Have savings from being made redundant in between kids

DH could afford the mortgage

Mrscharlieeeee · 14/08/2025 21:18

We had a 3 year age gap and as I went back full time after my first, the loss of salary due to childcare costs meant by the time I had a second mat leave I wasn’t that much worse off just being on mat pay. I only sent my oldest in for his 30 hours when I was on mat leave so it worked out well and meant I got some alone time to bond with the baby too.

Btowngirl · 14/08/2025 21:23

It’s much more affordable if you are entitled to the 30 subsidised hours from 9 months old. I’m on mat leave at the moment, DD1 is 4 in October. There’s 3 years between her and DD2 (almost to the day). I get 6m paid MAT then 3 months statutory & 3 months unpaid. I saved through pregnancy to pay for all of my personal bills and my wife picked up my share of the joint bills when my salary dropped.

Iris2020 · 14/08/2025 21:33

Just went for it but had to return to work very shortly after having DC2.

vickylou78 · 14/08/2025 23:30

We also had a 3.5 year age gap to minimise nursery fees at same time. Also only had 9 months off for maternity leave so didn't have any unpaid time off on maternity leave.

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