Budgeting for mat leave - what do you leave to spend per week for baby needs?

[Jellybabie3]

I am trying to calculate how long i can have off work. We calculate our outgoings per month and presently all leftovers have been going into a pot to try and cover as long as poss on leave. I want to try for a year off which after a spell at full pay includes 25 weeks stat (say 100 quid pw after tax) and then 15 weeks unpaid.

So i just wondered what people budget for spending money per week? So to cover nappies, baby stuff (that would be over and above your pre-baby spend)

Can't help but very interested in responses! I feel like you'd spend more than normal going out all the time? No idea, my first due in Nov and in exact same situation as you trying to save for unpaid leave

You won't pay tax on statutory maternity pay, it's below the threshold.
I found when they get past a few months a pack of nappies (56ish) lasted almost two weeks, I use lidl brand at about £3.50-£4 per pack. Box of formula, £10 per week before weaning, lasts a bit longer after.
Then clothes, depends where you buy them I suppose, will need a new wardrobe every few months or so.

You might pay tax on it though depending on how much you've earnt in the rest of the financial year? Is it not worked out pro rats? (I might be completely wrong on this).
Also watching with interest as will be in the same boat with no occupational maternity pay.

Yes i think your right about tax. As im not off til sept i will likely go over.

Formula or breastfeeding?

Any history of allergies or sensitive skin in the family?

Breastfeeding is generally cheaper, although you will really have the munchies so need to factor in food costs for you.

If the baby has sensitive skin you could waste a fair bit of money trying different nappy brands or having to change nappies very frequently, as with my kids.

Have you done much research into groups in the area? Would you be driving, walking or bussing to groups? I go to a lot of free groups or £1 entry, and I walk, so our day to day costs are minimal. Rarely meet friends for coffee out, we go to someone's house.

You'll also get £81 a month for child benefit, which really helps with nappy costs & formula if you don't breast feed.

Ok thats great. I need to look into child benefits. I am planning to breastfeed to 6 months but want to express for OH to feed. I gueds costs go up after BF stops. I do drive but can do a bit of shopping etc within walking distance. I havent looked into groups yet - something else to do!

Yes you may pay tax depending on overall salary for tax year. Child benefit as mentioned above also depends on your partners salary.
You can spend very little. Nappies £8 a week plus formula about the same per week if not breast feeding. If you want to go to baby activity/classes they generally cost between £3 and £10 a time depending on what area of the country try you are in, but there are plenty of free things to do too of course. You can get clothes for very very little money second hand and they really don't need much.

You also accrue holiday pay while on mat leave, so depending on when your holiday year begins and ends you may have a few weeks that you can tack on to the end of your leave to stretch it out to the year but be paid.

Also as you're wanting numbers, here's my costs:

£1.50 a day on nappies, until they drop to one poo a day (about 9m here but very variable), where it goes down to £1 or less

Breastfeeding free until 6m, continued to breastfeed alongside food, I did baby led weaning so no buying purees and the like. I'd say I offer about 1/3 of what I would make for an adult over the course of a day, what with snacks etc. So work out your daily food costs per person and 1/3 it. Plus add a realistic amount for fruit which is expensive - £2 a day?

Travel expenses about £5 a week.

Group expenses about £3 a week.

Cafe expenses probably about £5 a week realistically. Had a piece of cake today that cost me £1.80

Don't attend any classes that need paying for in advance, but ones that do, around here you're looking around £50 for 6 or 8 weeks.

Also have two year passes to two museums which were Christmas presents from relatives.

Look into whether your local library has any regular activities for babies - our local ones had a 'Rhyme time'. This was free and there were two local libraries, so used to go to this twice a week sometimes...but would then go for a coffee with friends afterwards.

My NCT group met up at one of the group's houses once a week for coffee.

I was out a lot a baby groups (baby swimming, baby massage) - but wasn't going out socially in the evenings at all, so although I was out at activities I wasn't spending anywhere near what I'd previously spent on pubs, restaurants, gigs.

Oh and the elephant in the room here is toy cost, and clothing costs.

I've spend an absolute fecking fortune on toys, books, things like playdoh and paint. Only you know how important stuff like that is to you or how much space you have for it.

On the other hand I'm mean with clothes, only buy secondhand or from supermarkets, kids have never had an extensive wardrobe. Maybe you'd want to spend a lot.

Those two things really are a how long is a piece of string type discussion.

Quite a lot!
You'll be in the house a lot more than you're used to so that will mean higher food costs, heating bill (you'll have the heating on a lot more with a newborn anyway, especially one born during winter)
Electricity bill, as your washer will be on a lot more, dryer, lights etc.
We signed up for water babies when both mine were a few weeks old, you may want to go to baby groups etc, visits to cafes etc, having friends over for coffee and cake etc, out for lunch with relatives. Lots to think about!

Also, check you're entitled to child benefit. Not everyone is.