Help!!!!

[ManNeedsHelp32]

Hello all.

Coming up to the 12 week scan on Friday and the realities of becoming a first time father are really starting to sink in.

Me and My partner have been together 7 years we own a house and we are both 32,, our joint income was 65k, we own our own home and our mortgage rate has come down a bit so we thought it was a good time ( if there is any ) to start a family.
We were very fortunate to conceive first time. However about a week later my partner Sarah got notice of redundancy at her job. Her offices due to close in October, she does have a 3 month notice period however they may pay her in lieu of notice meaning NO SMP!!!!!

Yikes

So now what do we do ?
I am panicking, I have spent the whole day searching “childcare costs” in google and MY GOD!

My salary is 31k per annum, I worked out that after everything comes out currently we will have no money left over for the month maybe £50-£100 at a push.
Sarah has been unfortunate with redundancy’ over the last few years being made redundant twice over the course of 2 year period, previously was in continuous employment for 10 years with the same company ( the company I work at now and have done for 3 years ).

What do we do? Can we afford to do this? our bills can be paid but that’s it, is there any help available, I have a horrible feeling that Due to Sarahs working history in the last 2 years or so she might not have worked enough to claim maternity allowance.

This scenario is really stressing me out I am staying calm for sarah because she is suffering with really bad morning sickness, mood swings, you name it so I need to fix it or give her some assurances so that we can BOTH look forward to the baby rather than just worry, Her parents unfortunately are pragmatic to the extreme and have only spoken about worrying things rather than positive things, Sarah is very attached the opinions of her father and this has created a negative vibe.

Any advice would be welcome, Am I overreacting? I want to be able to re assure Sarah to turn all this into a joyful / exciting occasion for the both of us and reduce the stress for her .

Hopefully she would be able to claim maternity allowance or contributions based jobseekers allowance as I assume she will be looking for another job whilst pregnant once the morning sickness has eased ? Even if she could just get some temp work. Employers are not allowed to discriminate on the basis of pregnancy. Unfortunately on your wage you won't get any help form child tax credits once the baby is born as you are over the threshold but you would get child benefit of £20 a week once the baby arrives.
Maybe is things get tough you could ask your mortgage provider if you could go interest free for a while? Sorry I don't have anything else to suggest but babies can be cheap in the first year or two and hopefully your partner will find another job soon. Depending on joint income you may get some help with childcare costs but would depend on joint income I think the cut off I around £40k but not absolutely sure. Or you could do what thousands of couples do to avoid childcare costs and work around each other, so once your baby arrives , your partner could look for a weekend/ night/evening job so you don't pay childcare. We have done this for many years to avoid high childcare costs but obviously it does depend on availability of jobs .

Sorry in regards to the mortgage I meant to say interest only !!

The way to look at it is people manage on a lot less and you will manage on what you have , she may find another job relatively quickly if not you will cope . Babies do not have to be that expensive , relatives may help out by buying the large items and friends / family may have stuff you can borrow .

There are other things you naturally cut back on,

For example - you don't need as many clothes, you cut back on luxuries and night out, reduce takeaways.
You have more time to shop round and save pennies on every decision!

My friend used to do surveys and enter competitions (won loads!) and a secret shopper

She obviously has a decent occupation and a good worth ethic so it may be a case of battening down the hatches and see what happens when the baby comes

oooh interest-free might be a great option
thank you for your reply