There may be no easy answer to this since I suspect mine and DP's financial setup may be unusual. Basically we have always kept our finances entirely separate (partly because he is financially incompetent and partly beacuse I need to feel independent due to long dull backstory concerning parental divorce). We each pay half mortage, half childcare, half bills, half groceries, half hols and I tend to buy children's clothes whilst he pays car expenses. I am in a self-employed profession where I receive no maternity pay bar maternity allowance but tend to receive money due for at least a few months after I go off work. What we have previously done whilst I have been on mat leave is that he buys all thr groceries and we carry on as normal re the other finances. Third time round this has begun to feel unfair, especially as my reserves, such as they were, have dwindled. What would be fair? I feel awkward raising the whole issue because I have always supported myself entirely. (