Maternity pay

[sunsetlover]

I've just received the rate for my maternity pay which is just standard SMP. My company isn't offering their own maternity package. Tight buggers haha

I am panicking now as I'm only getting half of my normal monthly pay and could I afford to take all this time off. I live with my OH so I'm not on my own but I'm stressing.

Anyone feeling the same? My due date is 9th Jan

Hate to be the first to say it but did you consider your maternity package and costs when you were trying for a baby? Apologies if it was a surprise / happy accident but maternity pay is usually available for people to look at quite easily. Also, you will spend much less money when pregnant and when the baby is here, except necessary costs like nappies, cots etc. Also second hand baby stuff is absolutely fine, except a car set. Good luck!

Sorry - car seats and mattresses, sheets etc. Otherwise I'd be looking into second hand bits.

You'll get 90% of your pay for the first 6 weeks then standard SMP for the remaining 33 weeks. The upside is you won't be getting paid enough on SMP to pay tax or NI so you may well get a tax rebate that will kick in

I agree with pp, you'll spend a lot less while pregnant and with a new born probably due to going out less etc. Also don't forget you get child benefit on top, it's not much, only about £80 a month but it all helps!

Yes tbf child benefit really helped me whilst I was on mat pay!

I’m in a different position to you, but if you’ve not already started, now’s the time to save as much money as you can! Almost everything can be bought second hand (excluding car seats and mattresses) and you’ll be surprised at how much stuff you’ll be given; I know we certainly have been!

You’ll probably spend less when you’re off, and depending on your income level, you might get child benefit and other options.

The other thing to remember is that it’s not just your responsibility to fund this period (assuming you’ve not chosen to go this alone). Lots of women seem to fall into the trap of thinking baby stuff and childcare (whether own provision or paid for) is their sole responsibility rather than a joint expense.

Good luck!

Totally know how you feel - my work is just the stat maternity pay. I have been through all my outgoings already and cancelled anything unnecessary - goodbye gym membership! My other half will cover the mortgage and bills etc and not drinking or going out is helping save a lot at the moment!
Also Ebay is amazing for second hand stuff, I've been looking at prams on there and will then send it off to be professionally cleaned and checked over before I use it. Saves you hundreds. And there are lots of baby clothes on there that haven't been used or have been worn once.

try and reduce your monthly outgoings as much as possible, and also try and save some now so you've got abit of back up if you need something urgently while you're off. You and your dp will need to combine your money at least while you're off and probably for the foreseeable future as you will have childcare costs/lower income in the future due to having to stay home with the baby

OP I was the same , sadly I will be a single parent , my partner walked out on me , I'm due in sept and I am furloughed so money is tight , I have managed to sell a lot of bits that I used to collect and scraped together enough to get everything I need for the baby and got a few things second hand. Unfortunately my job is low paid and I'll just get SMP but I've cut back on a lot , not deprived myself but found that's helped out a lot. I also have done a spreadsheet of my income and outgoings which has been so helpful and helped me realise where I wasting money

yeah its been a massive problem for me! i'm losing about 2.5-3k a month when i go on maternity in september. coupled with my oh being made redundant just before lockdown....