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Original poster

MATERNITY LEAVE & finances

43 replies

ShimmyYay · 02/08/2021 16:23

Hi all

Just a general question to get an idea of what is “normal” practice… when on maternity leave would you expect your DP|DH to cover mortgage and bills when you have no income bar for the SMP coming in?

Just trying to get a consensus here.

OP posts:

DaisyChain16 · 02/08/2021 16:27

Absolutely. If it's going to be a struggle I would sit down and talk about perhaps saving a little to add to your pot beforehand.

qualitygirl · 02/08/2021 16:27

Yes I would and he did. But I also saved and had OMP as well as SMP so that helped

ThisIsStartingToBoreMe · 02/08/2021 16:29

Yes. Otherwise it's you taking all the financial hit isn't it? You're also losing a year worth of pension on top of everything else. He's not though

mowly77 · 02/08/2021 16:31

Yes. They should if they are working & you are not. Mine did. SMP - I am self employed so that was all I got – was negligible. You can use 10 KIT days too so if you are able to work here and there as your baby gets older you can utilise these wisely too. They count any amount of time as a KIT day though - from a few hours to a whole day. I get paid by hour/day so I did full days when partner able to look after baby to boost my income.

Zarene · 02/08/2021 16:32

Yes, absolutely.

And if you're working or earning less after mat leave he should be covering more household expenses, too.

Sunshinedaisymeadowsxx · 02/08/2021 16:35

Yes as it’s a team having a baby not just one of you. That being said we couldn’t afford it on SMP so therefor I went back to work with my 2nd at six months as our outgoings outweighed his income and mine was needed. With my first we saved (out of our joint account- our only bank account) for maternity leave so I could have 12 months off.
Both our wages go into the same account though… and all our outgoings and expenses come out of there

ElizaDoolots · 02/08/2021 16:38

I think it depends on your financial situation, but you absolutely should discuss and agree an approach beforehand.
I like to still feel as though I have an income during mat leave, so for both maternity leaves we’ve calculated how much I would need to be able to have a reasonable monthly income that would still cover my share of the mortgage/bills and allow me some disposable, and have saved that amount in advance, then I paid myself a set amount each month out of the savings.
For the first mat leave we saved 50:50 into that pot because we were earning similar amounts, for the second mat leave I’ve saved all of it because I now earn double what DH does.

BlairWaldorfLovesShopping · 02/08/2021 16:44

Before maternity leave: my income + his income - money into savings for mat leave = the family pot which everything is paid from
During maternity leave: my income + his income + money from savings for mat leave = the family pot which everything is paid from
After maternity leave: my income + his income (- nursery fees!) = the family pot which everything is paid from.

And I only get basic SMP.

stopknockingonmydoor · 02/08/2021 16:48

I don't expect him to cover all of it, no. I'll still put a couple of hundred pounds a month into the JA from my SMP and keep the remainder to cover my car loan and day-to-day spends.

Will all depend on your finances though 🤷🏼‍♀️

Nix32 · 02/08/2021 16:49

Absolutely, without a doubt, no question.

Before maternity leave starts, both of you save and contribute to a joint pot specifically aimed at covering your maternity leave.

When on maternity leave, calculate your joint income, subtract all shared bills/outgoings, then divide the surplus equally between you.

Surely that's the only fair way to do it?

SmidgenofaPigeon · 02/08/2021 16:50

Yes. But I’ve saved £7,000 of my own money, because I don’t want to feel I can’t go and get my hair cut, go out for lunch etc occasionally while all DH’s wages goes on bills and rent etc. He wouldn’t make me feel like that. I just had a freak out that I wouldn’t have my ‘own’ spends anymore.

InpatientGardener · 02/08/2021 16:59

We added together his salary and whatever I took home each month, minus his petrol to get to work then divided what was left so we had equal amounts then paid the bills as usual, then we had an equal amount of free money each. Saved probably a lot of arguments and resentment.

Dyrne · 02/08/2021 17:03

Agree it needs to be a conversation - it’s not necessarily easy for someone to suddenly be responsible for 100% of everything - would their wages stretch to cover everything?

Personally, we had a conversation and worked out what we’d need to save to cover for “my” reduced income during maternity leave - then played around with a few figures to get a “bare minimum” then a “allowing treats” figure. We’ve both been saving up to get that figure before we start TTC.

The “family pot” works both ways and both should be responsible for discussing how to cover things off and save accordingly if needed. In my opinion it’s just as unreasonable to automatically expect the man to pay for everything as it is for the man to expect the woman to keep paying her share without any support. Fair enough if it works best to go one way or another but it should be a joint discussion and a joint decision.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 02/08/2021 17:18

We saved in advance so as to cover the drop in income and extra so that there was plenty to cover socialising etc whilst on maternity as knew I would spend far more than when at work. We had joint finances as married.

Vbree · 02/08/2021 17:18

Yes of course!

cptartapp · 02/08/2021 17:27

All household expenses should be proportionate to your income at the time. As a % set up by direct debit so yes, he'll pay a lot more. Maternity leave or not.
And what about your pension??

Original poster

ShimmyYay · 02/08/2021 17:37

@cptartapp apparently work will continue to pay my pension in while I’m off work which is great news !

OP posts:

LittleBearPad · 02/08/2021 17:38

Yes of course

Original poster

ShimmyYay · 02/08/2021 17:40

Out of the ten months that I am having off he’s only having to cover 2 of those to be fair as I saved and had three months enhanced MP so it’s not too bad but I was just wondering because he looked a little shocked when I said the next couple of months don’t forget you’re covering our mortgage and bills , clearly some miscommunication on our behalf !

OP posts:

felulageller · 02/08/2021 17:46

Of course. You make it sound like he's doing you a favour.

LittleBearPad · 02/08/2021 17:48

Has he saved any money for your joint baby?

LittleBearPad · 02/08/2021 17:49

I’d warn him about childcare costs or will those only be your cost too OP

Dyrne · 02/08/2021 17:52

@ShimmyYay

To be fair I’d be pretty shocked to be suddenly told with zero notice that my mortgage and bills payment was going to double!

It’s good that you’ve identified a communication issue - might be worth taking the opportunity to see if there’s anything else you need to discuss if you’ve assumed one way or another (ongoing childcare costs, pick up/drop off responsibility etc).

LittleBearPad · 02/08/2021 17:54

To be fair I’d be pretty shocked to be suddenly told with zero notice that my mortgage and bills payment was going to double!

The positive pregnancy test might have been a clue things might have to change

5475878237NC · 02/08/2021 18:07

Mine has been all "yes I'll cover whatever so you can take the whole year" however, so far has been rather when I've bought things for the baby. Luckily I have saved a few thousand to contribute when I'm not earning.

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