Pregnancy savings.... I'm really worrying!

[Biooilandcarbs]

I'm nearly 27 weeks pregnant and now I'm so close to the final trimester I'm starting to worry about EVERYTHING and money being the main thing.

During my pregnancy we've had a lot of house renovations going on plus baby shopping (in 6 months we've decorated and painted 3 rooms, re-floored the downstairs, had carpets and furniture cleaned, new doors throughout the house, had blinds put in, new built-in wardrobes, new bed, mattress, new living room furniture, pram, cot, changer, all the baby accessories, garden furniture set, decking and so on) which has seen our savings absolutely depleted.

Currently have around £2k in savings and we still have about £1k more worth of house stuff to do and finish and I've only got two more pay days until I'm on maternity.

My husband and I have gone through our outgoings and whittled down what we can cancel, what we can cut back on etc however each month will still be quite tight.

I really wanted to have at least £5k saved up and now I'm panicking as it'll be likely that I have about £1k (with around £1k due to me in a bonus at the end of the year).

Can you do maternity leave with minimal savings?

My husband can earn extra working weekends but I don't want him working all the time missing out on precious time with baby and neither does he.

🤦🏼‍♀️, so far I have spent every penny on bloody cars! Nearly £4000 and now my air con has just gone 😭. (Which I will need as baby isn't due till September). We need to do our room which will be about £2000 (as we need storage for baby in our room). Then we have promsided the kids a summer house 🤦🏼‍♀️😂. Now I can't seem to afford any baby bits when I work my future money out 😭.

I think you can do it. You just need to budget and with the money you mention it doesn’t have to be a struggle.

To be fair garden furniture, decking and "so on"
Is hardly critical is it?? I get why you'd want the inside of the house ready for the baby with carpets etc but outside? Bit gratuitous but you sound like you can't take advice anyway even though you've come here looking for it 🤷‍♀️

If you can't afford it then you'll have to go back to work early and full time - that's what lots of people have to do to afford their children

Goodness @PerveenMistry you’re a more than a little unpleasant. The OP was asking about managing on maternity leave, not to be attacked for her choices.

Mat leave can definitely be managed on a limited budget. Personally I did enjoy lunches and coffees out and the more expensive activities, but equally playgroups are a couple of pounds, hopefully free activities at places like libraries will start again and you’ll be able to find things to do that are affordable.

Sorry you’re getting some unpleasant replies. I really don’t see the point in telling the OP off for money already spent. It’s hardly advice she can use now.

The point is some of these items were hardly essential and could have been purchased later with a decent pool of savings and a better idea of what the apending is after baby is born.

Since there is more to be done, it's something to keep in mind. Is it really necessary? Can it not wait? Can i find cheaper?
It's about budgeting and being more careful to avoid the stress later on, of not having enough aside.

I am sure you will be ok OP. And you've had some useful suggestions. In the months when you have 1K extra, set some aside.

OP it sounds like you won’t need to do much else with your house (I would be the same as you and want it finished). We had 7k saved for Mat leave and I finished Mat leave 10 months later still with 7k. I was only on SMP and we had £500-600 left a month for food, petrol, general spends, savings. We found we weren’t going out much, I meal planned so much more, sold a lot of the baby stuff as they grow out of it. I think you will be fine, you have a little behind you in case of emergencies. Try not to worry OP, ignore the negative and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy. Try put away what you can between now and baby arriving. I found when DS arrived I just learnt what was needed more than what I wanted. Xx

@perveenmistry If the timing isn't right financially, then abort.

WTF

I’ve only got £1000 saved for mat leave and am on stat pay for 5 months after my company pay finishes.

I think you have more than plenty left each month. Some
Families have so much less to live by day to day. My mat pay will just cover all my
Bills so I’m hoping to live off £250 a month for my own stuff including days out, coffees, bit of petrol.

I’ve managed on less and you will to. You learn to live by your means.

Unsure why you're going off so early? Surely if your worried about finances, go off at 39 weeks and just use annual leave