February 2014 - the one where we start to find out if we're team pink or blue!

[jazzcat28]

So I used the magic 1000th post in the last thread... ooops

somany yay for heartbeat! And I'm sorry your midwife wasn't very responsive - it makes such a difference doesn't it, if they are prepared to take a little time and talk through some stuff with you. Can you book an appointment specifically to go through your concerns?

I was wide awake at 3 this morning, pottered around, caught up with the FB of my friends overseas, and went back to bed at 6:30. I'm not feeling tired, but I probably will be, and have the entire flat to clean/tidy for tomorrow afternoon when our picnic will almost certainly be washed out. No antenatal yoga for me!

For those thinking about the childcare vouchers. I've been getting them for 4 years. They work like this:
Up to £243 a month is deducted from your salary re tax, and instead is paid in childcare vouchers. So in effect you are saving the tax you would have paid on that £243, something like £800-900 a year I think). You then pay your childcare provider £243 in vouchers and make up the rest of the bill in cash. It does reduce the net salary, but you are better off than paying the whole bill I cash.
Your employer HAS to continue paying you the same amount of vouchers during your maternity leave. Even if you are not actually getting paid enough to cover the cost, your SMP or MA stays exactly as it would be otherwise (you get the same amount of money) and your employer buys your vouchers for you. Definitely worth doing if you will be using registered childcare after mat leave.

Littlest - I get the kiddivouchers through work. I didn't realise that during mat leave that employer keep on paying even if not enough earned such as in last few months of mat leave. Do I have to pay this back after when I return? X

Thanks littlest - sorry if my question wasnt clear. I get vouchers, have done for years but want to know the implications of getting them 1. In the calculating
Week and 2. During ML.
My concern is that my salary will be calculated minus the
Salary sacrifice. Therefore the weeks I'm on 90% and 50% will be less than it should be.
Secondly if I am receiving for example £200 a month in the qualifying week, will my employer only pay it for me at the point my salary drops under £200 ( eg when smp stops ?)
Wonder if there's a guide anywhere?

Sassy - no you don't have to refund it. It's a loophole, basically free money for you.

If you are getting salary on top of your SMP (eg. My employer pays full pay for 6 months, then it drops to SMP rate) then YOU pay for the vouchers for the months when you are earning enough to do so, after that your employer pays. Yes your salary would be less initially while you are on the higher rate (not the 90% bit of SMP, only of you get proper pay for any time) but worth it in the long run. Does that make sense? I'm babbling a bit!

All the childcare voucher info sounds fab - not sure it's applicable to me though as am not in a scheme as this is first DC. Will certainly check it out for number 2 though!

So my hopes of using my own old cot are now down the drain as it's a strange size for buying a new mattress compared to modern sizing. I could get one made bespoke but it's the same cost as a new cot & mattress!

Think Dad is a little disheartened as he would love to have reconditioned it for us. But this way at least I get to shop for something else now and also won't be worrying that it doesn't conform to modern safety standards.

Chunky bump definitely more round today - this week's bump day pic should be a little better!

16+6

Thanks champagne
I've found a guide but it's so complicated. It does say
That maternity pay will be calculated post salary sacrifice which will counter any benefits. It probably depends on the length of maternity leave / amount of vouchers and salary whether there are any benefits.
I've got my maternity meeting with hr coming up so
I'll push them a bit further.

Cross post - thanks for
The guide champagne, I'll lookout it. And thanks littlest. I see the benefits but just worried about my mat pay being calculated on a deflated salary ( minus the
Vouchers)

Awww Somany - glad your appointment went well - I hope you're able to have a lovely relaxing weekend with your family.

Gosh childcare vouchers etc sounds so complicated - lucky im only DC1!

Yaaaay my new look order arrived. The snood coat is cosy and looks good. It's not super luxurious quality but i'm chuffed with it for 40 quid. It's crazy how quickly i seem to be expanding! I need new bras as there was practically nipple escaping today when i got dressed! Went to ikea and got my button rug today too yippee. Alas I seem to have spent most of the day doing school work though around that and I must stop so that I can do something fun now! Hope everyone is having a fun weekend

That's my plan for tomorrow champagne. And this evening.

ha champagne me too...! just sent dh out on a chocolate run and im supposed to be hoovering!!!

not read thread yet im late joining but ill read now a catch up!

im 18 weeks today and feel massive... also cant really sleep on my front any more

Thanks Littlest - my mat pay isn't great - I get 6 weeks at 90% of full pay and then so many weeks at lower rate. That's really good news that we don't have to pay it back - I might rethink when I go back as a result! X

That's my plan for tomorrow champagne!
Has anyone else noticed their tummy is covered in blond hair? I feel I may be turning into the gruffalo....

Laura my tummy is really hairy it was with DS too!!

DH is out at a stag party, DD is in bed. I am fully intending to retire to bed before 8pm and watch a DVD ( probably a Harry Potter one!) and yet again there is no chocolate in the house. Boooo.

novascotia - thanks v much for that info re childcare vouchers and maternity pay. I didn't know that and can be 100% certain that my work wouldn't know/wouldn't volunteer the information.

For those who are on their first pg: i was full time, had a year's maternity leave then went back part time. As you also accrue holiday I tagged that on to the end of my maternity leave (so had 13 months off rather than 12). One handy hint: when my maternity leave ended i was then a part timer so for a week off only needed to take 3 days holiday not 5. Another sort of loop hole - you accrue holiday as per your full time hours but if you go back p/t you can use the accrued hol as per your part time hours.

Sorry if that's garbled - hope you understand. My work tried to make me take off 5 days a week when i only needed to take off 3. A kind mum at work tipped me off though!

And remember you accrue bank holidays as well!

Dee do u think you could do the opposite and tag the leave that you would accrue onto the start of your leave? Am not a big fan of my current job so it would be nice to be able to go on leave sooner!

Champagne sorry to hear you weren't well again but at least it solved your dilemma for you :)

Oooh dawn that is good point re part time hours and annual leave! Hadn't clocked that one!

winter that is exactly what I'm hoping to do so I can finish work on 23rd December and sit at home in January on leave and getting paid as if I'm at work. Have written to my HR department to ask if possible but no response yet....