September 2021 - Thread 6 is here!

[Bubbles1st]

Can you Adam and Eve it we are are on Thread 6! Hope I included everyone on the update!

@Noodles4Me - 26th Aug 💙
@Scotti84 - 30th Aug 💖

@Sceptre86 - 1st 💖
@primhutch - 1st 💖
@RaeRae84 - 1st 💙
@KHR1 - 1st 💙
@CherylLW - 3rd 💙
@GWhiteley - 3rd 💖
@deedeebythesea - 3rd 💙
@Allicit - 3rd 💙
@Poppins2016 - 4th 💛
@2021mumma - 5th 💙
@Squibble84 - 6th 💛
@leftitlate37 - 7th 💙
@SillyBry - 7th 💛
@LouiseJayne23 -7th 💖
@bewitchingnight - 8th 💖
@SK28 - 8th 💛
@Taralweaver - 8th 💖
@AdventuresAwait - 9th 💖
@mumof23188 - 9th 💙
@Bubbles1st - 10th 💙
@Catkin7 - 10th 💖
@FTEngineerM - 12th 💙
@CobleCloud - 13th 💙
@Maybebaby29 - 14th 💙
@Taybz - 14th 💙
@Bigdreamer9 - 14th 💙
@Eppy123 - 14th 💛
@Kirky658 - 15th 💖
@Hopefulmummie - 16th 💖
@Mamabearwhere - 17th 💙
@HollyMoore - 17th 💖
@aurora2021 - 18th 💖
@Bluespace - 18th 💙
@ErrolFinn - 19th 💖
@xsjrx - 19th 💛tbc
@unicornpower - 20th 💖
@Moominmiss - 20th 💙
@Sophieandtiger - 20th 💛
@bluemagicalsky - 21st 💙
@Clouless - 21st 💛
@Jay3004 - 22nd 💙
@SP2Bx - 22nd 💛
@Geegee20 - 22nd 💙
@Holly91 - 22nd 💛 tbc
@Rach921 - 23rd 💙
@LittleCatDog - 23rd 💖
@SproutingSprout2021 - 24th 💛
@LittleAurora -24th 💙
@RadDarwazeh - 25th 💛
@crobo87 - 25th 💙
@d0nut - 25th 💖
@GummyBear91 - 25th 💛tbc
@AdriannaP - 25th 💛
@MrsTD88 -27th 💖
@MrsBrett20 - 27th 💛
@marshmallowmode -27th 💙
@ams92 - 30th 💖

No idea why all my paragraphs disappear when I post, sorry!

ah @SillyBry sounds like an entertaining morning! No i would agree with defo not being the agile spritely thing i think i am! We were away the other weekend and the bed was like between 2 walls (like a glamping hut thing) and was also raised higher than norm - oh my....i was like a whale trying to get myself in and out of it! how long will u be able to ride for? hope all the aches and pain ease!
thanks for the reassurance on the planning :) although, hospital bag, what now? i know the name but have NO idea what the contents should be - other than ill be taking snacks! and my phone! this might be one for what, thread 8!?
exciting @Kat1112025- sounds a big one though, so feel for you. hope it all goes to plan, still 2 months after that to get sorted for baby so panic not! be amazig to have it done and enjoy it for the future :). we are having kitchen and utility done - hope wont turn into a nightmare, doesnt need structural stuff so keeping everything crossed!

It's good to know and reassuring that we all feel unprepared 😂❤️

I got my mat leave confirmed today, finishing with annual leave 13th August, start mat leave 1st Sept and return 1 Sept 2022. Scary!!!! I've asked HR how it works with keeping in touch days (I'm allowed 10 at full pay apparently), and if they can give me an estimate as to take home pay after the first 6 weeks at 90% as I know tax, NI and pension have to come off it too so want to plan to see if we need to dip into our savings or not.

Talking of being incapable... I've just changed our bed and now I feel like a lie down 😂😂

This is a great website for trying to work out what money (or lack thereof) we'll actually have: maternity.money/maternity-pay-calculator

I used my KIT days very strategically to bolster my pay in the last few months I have to say!

I suspect I'm nearing the end of horse riding now - my friend is competing my horse at a championship at the weekend, so all my energy has been geared to keeping her going for that. I will see how I feel going forwards - there comes a point where getting on and off is too uncomfortable and your balance just disappears. I'm only riding 2/3 times a week anyway as my friends have both been riding for me, so I don't feel too pressured to keep going. I'm just amazed I can still pull my riding leggings up!!!

@Kat1112025 We've just come out of the other end of a kitchen/dining room conversion. It took us 6 weeks from demolition to completion. It was fairly hellish in the middle, but SO worth it now. I LOVE my new open plan space! And feels so much more family friendly having space where my daughter can play where I can see her etc.

@sillybry sorry to hear about the horse riding you'll be having to stop soon. I know how you feel as I felt awful stopping running. Looking forward to a swim this weekend especially as the weather is vile!

Just had a chat with HR on the pay and he's basically said to take the £600, deduct about 25% and that's what I'll take home roughly each month but he's going to get me a figure off payroll. Unfortunately for ti's tax year I'll have earned over the low threshold based on my tax code before I finish so I guess I'll just pay the standard taxable amount which sucks!

Regarding Maternity pay... I’m so lucky in my job that I get 6 months full pay, 3 months half pay and then 3 months Statutory pay.

Does anyone know what the Statutory pay is? Does it vary from job to job? Is it what work or the government pay you? I have no clue!

Statutory is 6 weeks of 90% of your average weekly pay, then 33 weeks of £157.97 a week or 90% of average weekly pay (whichever is less).

It is only for the first 39 weeks of maternity leave, so if it's "statutory" for the last 3 months, after 9 months enhanced pay then that will be £0. No pay, but your job is legally protected for the 12months

@CherLW that’s amazing that your company pay your full salary for 6 months! When I was on statutory last time, I was getting £600 a month, I can’t imagine it’s changed much as that was from Sept 19. The government only pay stat for the first 9 months though, the last 3 months are unpaid which sucks!

I was pretty happy with our maternity policy, 6 weeks @ 90%, 33 weeks statutory and then another 13 weeks which the company pays us the equivalent of smp effectively giving us 12 months off paid (at least a bit!).

BUT I'm an area salary manager, which means I complete a self assessment tax return each year to negate home working/mileage... and because I didn't go anywhere last year due to COVID-19, it means I owe tax.

Ordinarily they change your code and so you'd just pay it back over the next few months... but how will they do that when I'm on SMP? Or will they wait until I'm back on full pay? Or will they just give me a bill?! I'm worried they're just gonna cripple me on tax and my monthly take home is going to be £0! 🤯

Area sales* ... must re-read before pressing post 🤦🏼‍♀️

Is anyone planning on not returning to work after maternity leave or is anyone already a stay at home parent?
After working since I was 14 and nearly 37, I think it's going to be a massive shock to me to not work!

It’s just very confusing... I need to track someone down at work who can clear things up for me. I’m just going to try and save as much as I can so I have money to last me those last 3 months 🤞🏼🤞🏼

@CherLW definitely check with work as it’s helpful to know roughly what your monthly take home pay will be. It could be that your company pay you the equivalent of statutory for the last 3 months? When you’re on 50% pay, you’ll also get statutory on top of that which for me worked out as only a few hundred quid of my full salary anyway!

@RaeRae84 I will definitely go back, I love working. You'll be amazed at how quickly maternity goes and how busy you'll be. With my first I went on mat leave at about 37 weeks but she was 2 weeks late so had already used up 5 weeks before she even arrived. I'm being more strategic this time so I have longer with baby and I know roughly when she'll be here due to an elective section this time but will absolutely go back to work. Not sure in what capacity yet I.e. full time/part time but will discuss that nearer the time. I ended up applying for new jobs last time on maternity leave as I had time to realise I hated my job. I went back for a month to work my notice then started somewhere new full time. Best decision I ever made as they are such a family oriented firm and I'm never made to feel guilty if I have to take time off last minute for little one being sick etc. They are so flexible and I love that.

@CherLW you are entitled to 10 keeping in touch days too which are paid at full pay so you could strategically place those over the last three months which would help too.

@Squibble84 thank you, I’ll definitely check with them, will be handy if they can explain it all to me so I know kind of what to expect 🤞🏼

@MrsTD88 ooo yes, I keep forgetting about those! I’ll definitely save those for my last three months. Where I work really promotes that you use them so I’ll make the most of it and make use of the few extra pennies.

@MrsTD88 that's my problem, I hate my company. I don't know how I've got through 12 years with them 🙈 They are absolutely not family oriented and not a progressive company. Me and DH already decided I wouldn't go back after maternity. They don't employ many women I think purposefully because of the children situation.
We are planning to relocate before they start school so I'm thinking of not bothering and just enjoying a few years at home.
Will definitely look for a better company in the future.

@RaeRae84 good for you, you absolutely have to what is right for you and your family. I think if I hadn't stumbled upon the job I'm in now I'd have left my old place and not worked for a while. They were not a progressive company either and I couldn't see myself there long term with a family. You will honestly be so busy you'll never run out of things to do. I loved going to lots of classes with little one on my time off and plan on doing the same this time. I got to spend so much quality time with family and friends too which was great.

@RaeRae84, my contract finishes at the end of August and I'm doing the same as you and am going to enjoy a couple of years at home before getting another job. I've also worked full time for years (I'll be 40 this year) so it will be strange at first but I can't wait! It just feels right for us as my contract ends the month before baby is due. I've worked overseas for a few years so looking forward to seeing my family a lot. Love my job so will find a new workplace here in 2 or 3 years as can't imagine not going back to it, but will enjoy some time off for now xx

Jealous of you ladies I'd love to not have to go back to work 🙈 just don't think financially we are in a position to this time, but I'd like to think if we're lucky enough to have a 2nd one day, that things might be different!

When is everyone planning on making a start on baby's bedroom? I remember some already have from previous threads... we've just about finished doing up the entire rest of the house AND garden which have been ongoing since we moved in in January, so might have a month off from home improvements in June and start in July! Can't wait 😁

My husband and I are fairly equal earners so I will be returning to work.
I’ve been in my job 13 years and whilst I’m a bit out of love with it at the moment, I know I can return post baby and it won’t be too stressful or difficult to fit back in. They are very good at flexible working and allowing you to fit family around work etc.
I found my first maternity leave hard as I didn’t like giving up my financial independence or feeling I wasn’t worthy as not working. Funny - I didn’t see that coming at all.

I’ve just booked my Covid jab. I was on the fence, but I think I’ve made the right decision now. Eek, got to wait 2 weeks for it though. 2nd dose booked for 38+3... joked that hubby could leave me at the hospital for delivery 🤣

@CherLW I get 6 months full pay too! I thought that was fairly average but realising now its really generous! Feel very lucky.

@sillybry I had mine last week! My arm was sooooooo sore after but felt fine other than that

@unicornpower I’m really pleased to hear it. I spent lots of time talking to a medical friend of mine today, plus watching the Stella creasy webinar and I feel a lot better about it.
The only thing I found a bit worrying is that the NHS website didn’t ask me about pregnancy. It said it would only offer an appropriate site according to age, pregnancy etc. But I feel a bit paranoid that it might not have me down as pregnant or something 🤣

I'm a lucky one with 6 months full pay also. My company add up all the money that you'll receive and divide it into equal payments over the time you have chosen to be off for. Very handy. HR gave my info to payroll and they've given me the projected monthly figure. Very handy and definitely worth an ask. The uncertainty was not sitting well with me!

@MrsTD88 yes I thought about doing some classes and I'm not worried about filling the time as I think I would have no problem even without a baby 😆 it's sad in this time that companies aren't more flexible for families. As long as you do the work I don't see why it's such an issue. I don't want to be made to feel guilty every time the kid is sick or it's school holidays.

@AdventuresAwait I'm glad I'm not alone. I think it will be really nice to have those few years years. My sister in law has done it with my nephew who is nearly 3 and his development is incredible. She spends so much time with him and constantly interacting. It's been amazing to see him grow up and come on so fast.
@SP2Bx I do feel in a lucky position but I know a lot of people who think I'm crazy for not wanting to go back to work. I don't feel that work gives me my identity or a real purpose so maybe that's why I don't feel the need 🤷 it will mean going without the luxuries but I am happy to (maybe I will change my mind after a year of it 😆)
We had the baby room done pretty much but only because we redecorated it last year and I actually think it is perfect nursery colour. Got a mamas and papas nursery furniture set off eBay last weekend. We've been doing up our house as well so totally understand you wanting a break!

Very envious of everyone getting 6 months pay!!

6 months full pay is insane! My company is a great company to work for in many respects but it seems their maternity policy is slacking!!! Although I do feel fortunate for being able to take a full 12 months with SOME pay I guess.

@RaeRae84 We painted the nursery room a perfect nursery colour when we moved in before we knew we were pregnant too so I at least don't have that to do! Just need to get a cot and accessories 😁