Am I worrying too much?

[anonymouswriter]

First time here. I’m currently 7 weeks pregnant with my first child (unplanned) and am absolutely sh myself. Me and partner are 27 & 29, live in our own home, both earn 61k between us and live a very comfortable life.

I don’t get anything other than SMP during mat leave and my partner has recently started a new job so although gets enhanced paternity unsure if he will qualify for that by the time the baby arrives.

We currently have around 2k disposable income a month, on leave this would reduce drastically and we would have approximately £800 - probably less between us to share (after all bills, food etc) as I would only qualify for £688 SMP. I would have to rely solely on my partner for income and live off of his wages for 9 months.

Question is, is this doable? So many people seem to do this, but the idea is absolutely terrifying me. We have no savings other than £2k, no debt other than £700 on my credit card and I just don’t know if I’m over thinking and over worrying but I don’t feel this is the ‘right’ time to be starting a family, as everyone else seems prepared. Or is this the way that it is and people just seem to make it work?

Unless you are a millionaire you will never be financially ready for a child, childcare costs are at an all time high, as everyone knows energy/food etc also is.

Yet you will manage by making adjustments and spending wisely and maybe not buying every baby hype item going haha. Making adjustments now will make the transition to SMP easier.

I'm doing it solo after paying thousands for treatment and will also go down to SMP with a very tiny benefit top up but nothing compared to your partner's income. Due to saving for the IVF I've become used to budgeting a bit closer than normal but there's still other things I'm doing now.

To help cover the costs during that time I have started saving money on gift cards for supermarket's, sent off for vouchers to try free nappies and also sanitary products for after birth such as incontinence pads/pants (FB and insta pops ups) and trying to work out what I would be willing to buy secondhand to save.... Cot - No, changing table and wardrobe yes. I will be buying maternity clothes from vinted or looking in sales - maybe even consider selling some of your unwanted clothes on vinted and leaving the money on there for baby stuff, can get some great deals.
Long life food items such as tins of tuna/beans/tomatoes/jars I will be adding an extra tin of each on every food shop or buying the multipack if it's in offer and pop them in a box in the attic (it's a dry boarded out space).

In the kindest possible way, look around you.

do you think most people have 2k a month spare? Do you think a lot of people even have £800 a month spare?
asking if it’s doable is silly, clearly it is. Wether it’s doable whilst maintaining a standard you’d like is a different question.
you’ve got 6-7 months to save up now with your spare money each month, to supplement your £800 if you’re worried about that whilst on mat leave. Childcare may reduce your spends too once/if you go back to work. But of course it’s doable. I do appreciate the money worries so don’t mean to be insensitive but As pp said unless you’re a millionaire you’re always going to notice the financial cost.
ofc if you don’t want to do it you don’t have to either, for whatever reason, if that’s what you’re asking.