SMP

[Parispapillon]

Hi everyone

I'm brand new and just got my school's maternity policy.

I Will have been working there for 2 academic years by the time I go on mat leave but they offer no enhanced mat pay only smp.

I suppose my question is how do other ladies manage such a massive wage drop? I'm so exhausted with a 6am wake up 35 mile commute 9 hour school day before even thinking about marking I was desperate to leave early. But how can I!

My worries are compounded by two things:

Husband is self employed and works two/ three days depending on weather and it's not something we can rely on.

People have said get benefits but I am not eligible.

Any tips for making it stretch?

Thanks xxx

Is it a non-teaching role? All teachers (in state schools) get enhanced mat pay.

In terms of prepping for it, we’re well off but still did our research and planned for things in advance. We found out about maternity terms and conditions, costs of childcare/returning to work, cost of equipping the baby (furniture, clothes etc). Then factored that into our budget to make sure we’re comfortable with the numbers. We also live in a house that we can afford very easily as we’d like more children in the future and don’t ever want to feel stretched.

On a micro/short-term level, you can make sure you tighten your belts and save up loads and do things like asking around for hand-me-downs or buying second hand. One of my friends managed to get pretty much everything second-hand and spent literally a 1/4 od what it’d cost new.

If your oh only works 2/3 days then are you going back full time?

Missed the part-time husband. It would make sense for him to step up to the plate and work full-time given he's got a family to provide for. Unless you'll be the one working full time and being the main bread winner and he does the childcare and a little bit of paid work on the side.

Thanks for replies both :-)
My husband is a tree surgeon, so it isn't something he can force more days with. He's signed up with about six different companies and they call on him as and when they need him. He is French so would find it difficult to suddenly go get an office job. He is trying to make a go of it as a wedding photographer and spends all his free time working towards that.

I've found a few bits for free on FB, but I am very worried about the mortgage and council tax. We live in a small flat (2 bed) and currently rent out one of the rooms to try to boost things but this will have to stop when the baby comes. I've had to pay my parents' mortgage because they remortgaged their house to help us get a deposit. They're very kind and flexible but I don't want to let then down. I am a teacher, but it's an independent school so they are free to set their own pay and benefits. The pay is also lower than in state.

I can't see how I can go back full time based on the cost of childcare etc vs what I earn minus petrol per day. My family live 100 miles away.

Gosh this all sounds very miserable :-) I didn't mean it to be - was just after some tips. I'm actually feeling very positive and excited about the baby and I know we can make it work if we try :-) :-) :-)

Could you manage on just your salary? And dh doink wedoing photographs on a weekend and maybe put lo in nursery on a Friday to allow dh that days working as well?

It's really good that you've got a lodger - that does add up.

Realistically, with fixed bills and if you're frugal day-to-day but still struggling, you'll need to generate extra income. Perhaps DH could register with some agencies - often it's possible to do odd days in factories, warehouses or evenings in catering etc or could he branch out into garden maintenance? It'll be very tricky if his days are unpredictable and differ from week to week.

Or perhaps you could start doing some tuition? I think you're allowed even if you're receiving maternity pay (but that would need checking). By the time tuition starts in the afternoon, your H could be back from work to take over childcare?

But yes, it's pretty sucky in the UK compared to the rest of Europe: maternity pay is peanuts and childcare isn't funded. So you'll probably find that the money is tight until you're eligible for the 30 free hours when the child turns 3.

And I know some people who moved or will soon move abroad to cope. I think in most of Europe nurseries are funded so parents only add 300-400 Euro a month for a full-time place. I'd thought I'd mention in case you decided to do sth pretty radical ;)

I've been on smp 4 times. I've made it work by budgeting and not spending on rubbish like coffee out and extras like that. I have never found it that hard as you will have hardly any travel expenses from your commute to work, no lunches to buy etc. You won't need much to spend with a baby as you will be at home a lot in the first few months anyway lots of other things like babu groups are free or very cheap. Only you can decide if returning makes sense financially for me it didn't so I work in the evenings once husband gets home so we don't have childcare. If your a teacher how about tutoring?