Is it enough money to live?

[henrythesloth]

Hi all, I’m about to start my maternity leave in one months and feel a little bit upset because of the money. My husband and I live in Leatherhead. Rent is £1200 and on the top of that - bills. His monthly income is £2800, mine is £1900. All was fine until now. I’m not sure how will it work when I go on mat leave. My company only provides SMP which is pennies. Husband is saying he cannot earn more - other companies offer the same salary as he already has got. No savings, no backup plan. Any advice? Feel so upset.

Well it kind of has to be doesn't it? After bills and rent are gone you'll have £1000 ish for food, toiletries, travel etc. You presumably knew this would be the situation when you found out you were expecting, so have had some time to prepare. You might want to start looking for a childminder as they are less expensive than nurseries so you can return to work sooner than you may have hoped.

Have you not been saving for the last 6/7 months?

Have you applied for UC you may get a little help towards your rent.

Have you gone through your expenditure with a fine tooth comb and looked at where you can start cutting back.

Get everything 2nd hand for the baby, they don't need new and shiny stuff as most baby stuff barely gets used.

Well it's a bit late in the day to be getting upset about this now. With no savings or forward planning you'll just have to cut your cloth accordingly and somehow manage.

yes, I knew it will happen. Wanted to have a kid because of the age (I’m 41 already). Of course understand I was stupid not to save up.

Have you looked at whether you might get Universal Credit?

A rough/ready check says you might.

I went to job Centre and they said I won’t receive UC as they consider my husband’s income is high enough for 3 people to live

£184 pw is not exactly pennies. You get 90% of your earnings for six weeks then smp for 33. Less than you normal wage but you may need to consider shortening your ml if it is tricky. Tbh if your oh earns £2800 won't you still have at least £1500 to cover expenses after rent and utilities? At that level of income unlikely you can get UC,

I have to pay for my professional studies - each month around £300. Also, have some Klarna purchases and debts that around £500 per month. All of these are going to stop next month.

Job Centre staff do not understand how UC works. Did they ask about your rent? Check the LHA limit in Mole Valley?

As ever, try Help to Claim

Have you actually worked out a budget what you will get each month
Written it down?
It's really not the end of the world for 9 months
Just relax and enjoy your baby!

It's not pennies for the first six weeks it 90% =£2368
SMP @ 172.48 x 33 weeks =5692.84
Child benefit @ £24 x 39 weeks = 936

Total is £8997

It's around £1000 a month.

Total family income of £3800
Rent £1200
Remaining £2600

Why are you so upset?

You are being unreasonable asking your partner to change jobs so you can have a baby.

Get a calculator and start working out a budget.

they asked about rent and said that UC is just for people who have no money after paying rent and bills. And if we still have some, I won’t get UC :(

Thank you! I just probably feel scared if something goes wrong and we don’t have any financial support and savings.

That's so wrong its almost worthy of a complaint.

PLease, for your own piece of mind, call or webchat with Help to Claim tomorrow.

I'll post my workings later. Am I right in thinking this is your first child and that it will be you, hubby and baby only after he/she arrives.

You need to do some research into UC yourself as you've obviously not done so far. Check your bedroom entitlement and LHA and work it out on entitled to just incase. SMP isn't 'pennies' and remember you will also get child benefit which isn't much but it all helps. You need to avoid klarna or similar debts racking up now and do a proper budget. You might have to cut maternity leave short but you will survive OP.

Honestly OP you you need to pull your self together and start managing your budget so you enjoy one of life's greatest gifts.

Pay off Klarna and then save and emergency fund of £1000.

You will have more quiet time at home on mat leave to manage your money.

Look up Dave Ramsey 7 steps it's so good

Do a budget on MSE

Set up some saving account one for Christmas and car and holiday find
One for life savings
One for you child

Be frugal learn to cut your clothes and pick your treats.

What is professional studies? Can you suspend for 9 months.

I think you can get through six months with your SMP and then you can go back to work if things are tight. I think at your age you made the right choice to just crack on and have a baby without delaying, and you will not regret it.

You could try Citizens Advice to help you plan your budget for your ml . Take along the letter from your employer detailing what you will be paid and any expenditure such as utility bills. UC is claimed as a household so your oh income (which I assume is over £40k pa) is likely too high, for all except Child Benefit. Entitledto will give you an idea of any eligibility to UC. You will save on some of your work related expenses - travel, lunch, clothing - and can do KIT days which would be paid.

That's complete rubbish. I know of people who have income up to 35k a year whose rent is 1200-1500 and they claim UC. Unless their lying and claiming it fraudulently.

What childcare plans do you? Can you start saving childcare vouchers or will UC kick in once you have childcare costs to pay.

@henrythesloth also see if you are entitled to free milk tokens

She is 100% not eligible for those

That is a very odd thing for job centre staff to say and they should very much understand how UC works as that is part of their job. Go on entitled to and put the figures in.

Maternity leave is the easy bit. What about when you finish and go back to work and have to pay for childcare?

You need to get used to living on much less. So many families with young children have to survive on very little. It's doable you just have to adjust your thinking.

It gets easier again when they're in school, but those first few years are a struggle in many ways, including financially.

And you may be eligible for a small refund from HMRC if you have overpaid tax in this tax year by April.

£2600 is plenty to live on if you budget

£500 serving debt is not affordable

Assuming that is paid off

You have £2600 left each month

£600 on utilities bill (water, energy council tax, house insurance, internet and TV insurance)
£500 Food and household. pet baby essentials
£300 professional fees
This leaves £1200

Fixed costs:
Cars? Phones? Gym? Subs?

Variable: clothes, entertainment, hairdressers, gifts,

Annual costs
Christmas
Holidays
Days out
House purchases
New technology
Special occasions.

Before mat leave you have another &900 per month.