Should we get a credit card?

[Capybaras]

Have had a few credit cards over the years for cash back etc and always paid them off in full - however only managed to pay one of them off with some of the proceeds of house sale, as I would set up direct debit to pay off some of the balance and then something would crop up I would 'need to' put on the cc.

Anyway now my DH and I have a new home and have regular savings etc, however I am due to go on maternity leave in the next few months and wondering whether it's worth is getting a joint cc for emergencies as money may be tight! Has anyone else with a not so great history of utilising a cc managed to do this and kept the cc for emergencies only? Just feel we should have one in case the boiler breaks or something, but don't want it to become an enabler of free money again!

Also will it look bad on our credit scores to have a cc which isn't being used? Both currently have a good rating, but the negative points are account stability (moved house last year so lots of new utility accounts etc!)

If money will be tight I'd say no..its like you said, free money but it's not free or yours it's a loan, it will have to be paid back.
You'll have a little one to look after, extra money worries you don't need.
Save what you can now no un necessary spending check your on cheapest tariffs etc.

No. It won't make money less tight, just get you into debt you'll then have to deal with. Don't do it.

No. Try to build up an emergency fund. I know it’s not easy, but just a little bit aside when you can and try to get to £1000.

If something does crop up, like the boiler breaking down and not a birthday, before you have some savings could you borrow from family?

I did and would do again on the basis that time is more valuable than money, and that maternity leave is an exceptionally difficult time financially. I didn't just use it for emergencies, I used it for everything I could and built up about £4k debt which I then repaid over the next 2 years when I started working. There is of course risk in this thinking but life is a risk in general and I thought that waiting for a financially perfect time to have a baby is a bigger risk than this. I felt that this debt was manageable and ok.