Making Maternity Pay Last... Any tips?

[heylottie]

Hello all
I am exactly half way through my pregnancy with baby due start of October, yay me.

But am starting to wake up at night, not only to wee, but also thinking about how I can stretch my 6 weeks work maternity pay and the SMP for as long as possible.

I suspect the key is that you maybe spend much less on life than you expect when you have the baby. Or you get into debt. Or you end up going back to work earlier than you would like.

Ideally I would like 6 months off. This is likely to be my only child and I have waited a long time for him/her to come along. My DP earns very little- I am the main breadwinner.

Basically, has anyone got any tips - like stocking up on things now? Or things they wish they had accounted for but hadn't?

Or- even better - will I just not care once the baby is here and all the debt will be worth it???

I would start saving some money now/try to get debts paid off.

Also when you do your weekly shopping, put a few extra non-perishables in so you build up a store of food. You could also start stocking up on things like wipes and nappies now.

Ebay is great for clothes.

If you are bought lots of presents I took a lot of them back and bought nappies if they were from Mothercare, or got gift cards and waited for the sales to make the money go further.

I found I spent practically nothing when I was on mat leave compared to how much I spend when I am at work.

The taking things back also gives you a couple of cheap days out to the shops, one to take the stuff back and then you can go shopping for free when sale time comes.

I buy stuff like shoes new and buy all other clothes 2nd hand from ebay.

I would really consider cloth nappies. They have made my life much easier as I don't have to keep traipsing to the supermarket and struggling home with massive packs of nappies and have saved me a fortune. There's no need for fancy baby toiletries or clothes so you can give those a miss if you want to. Don't stock up on wipes or washing powder, as your baby may have sensitive skin.

I stopped spending money that I really didn't need to spend and saved up quite a large amount(from around 4/5 months pg)before I started mat leave. It meant that I had a years worth of mortgage payments in the bank even if I couldn't pay anything else.

Have to add that I wasn't on mega money, and I was lucky enough to get a full 6 months full mat pay, so was saving throughout those months too.

There is a one off payment called sure start(I think), which you would probably be entitled to by the sound of it.
£500. Not that much, but it should help a bit.

Don't get into debt heylottie. You could have a look on freecycle.

Can you say what area roughly you are in? I may have some baby vests/grows in white/unisex colours you can have.

Also, don't get sucked into all the things Mothercare etc tell you you need. I think first baby, the shops really suck you in to buying things you'll probably never use!

We also cheekily directed generous parents and IL offers to help into them buying the big stuff- pram, cot, carseat.But DM and DMIL did enjoy the shopping trip to coo over baby stuff!

If you have a mortgage, you could ask about a payment holiday? Many lenders will allow you to have a few months off, which may be worth it for the peace of mind?

Start saving now, Im due in November and am currently living like a pauper whilst saving approx £300 a month to go towards making my maternity leave last, as like you I will only get 6 weeks at 90% and then SMP.

Agree that there are loads of things you dont need to buy:

Baby bath: use sink if necessary
Nappy bin: wtf???!!!
Lots of clothes: people will buy as pressies or pass on to you from theirs, just get basics, babygro's and vests etc.
If possible get grandparents to buy big stuff like pushchair and cot

Ah thanks everyone for such a speedy response!
I like to think I am quite organised but have not managed to save anything yet. I am not badly paid so expect that I can make my 6 weeks last double but after that... and I would be forever resentful if I had to go back to work sooner than I wanted.
SOLO I am in the southwest and your offer is very kind, thank you. Don't want to put you out!

Apparently you can have up to ten back to work days or something that is in addition to your SMP, that may help. I guess the most important thing is not to go back to work owing more money than you could ever pay back, else I will be forever chasing my financial tail.

Also is it true that the Govt reimburse 90 %the firm's 6 weeks, so in effect they are paying out 6 weeks x 10 % of my wages? Doesn't seem very generous for years of service.

I will send baby up chimney or something...

I would transfer directly a percentage of your income by direct debit to a savings account. A 90 day notice one is good as it stops impulsive stuff.

Agree with others -- there isn't that much you actually need. But do invest in a good mattress for the baby. By all means get a used cot/crib frame, but spare no expense for the best mattress.

I am aiming to get off MN go through stuff to sell on e bay this week haha!! and things like vests and grows aren't usually wanted on there, so you can have them(I'm assuming I still have them somewhere)for post if you want them.

Hi all,

my two penny worth, currently 29 weeks with 2nd child ( 1st being 8 years old). I learnt last time around that I took too much leave before I had her and needed to work as long as possible this time (whoch subject to health etc I intend leaving work 2 weeks before he is due)

Friends might laugh, but me and hubby have beens tock piling nappies and tins of milk! We picked a brand we wanted to use ( Tesco own nappies on friends recomendations) and we have been stock piling size 2 packs whilst they are currently on 3 for £10, I think we have 8 or possibly 10 packs. And also milk, we have added a tin of Milk to the shopping each week ( checked and they had a good date on them).

I learnt last time there are LOTS of things you think you need and in reality very few that are actually essential! I did want a storage box for the lounge for the nappies etc but when we looked we found one only £5 dearer then the one I was looking at which was packed full of Johnson products to use for baby, so was worth the extra £5 as the stuff alone would of been £18.

Like people said we have got lots from Ebay, as soon as I knew it was a boy I used auction sniper to bid on "lots" of clothes, 0 -3 and 3 - 6 so that we had some and we got black bags full of clothes some with the labels still on them for under £20 delivered.

I am also planning on stock pilling some food in the freezer ready made to take out for quick dinners so no need for take aways if you are tired etc.

I got the only cot mattress available for my M&P secondhand cot and it was £38. It's foam and has a removable, washable waterproof cover. I don't think you actually need to buy expensive.

I've found I am spending much less than normal while I'm on maternity leave, things like not going out as much, so not needing to buy new clothes, etc.

There are loads of baby groups (baby massage, etc) advertised which can be quite expensive, but if you live near Sure Start centres they often have similar groups for free.

You don't need to buy much for a new baby either - just get the basics and then get other things if you find you need them. People tend to buy clothes as gifts for new babies so don't buy many clothes as you probably won't need them! And if most people buy newborn clothes exchange some of them for older ones.

Also sign up to Boots parenting club, I got loads of freebies from there while I was pregnant and loads of money off vouchers, plus you get a free changing bag.

The Sainsbury's club you get a free changing mat that is very nice.

Clarity what will you do if the baby is milk intolerant or doesn't get on with the milk you've bought?

Which, lottie is another thing to save money ~ and lots of it. Breast milk is free! (no offence to anyone that chooses not to btw)

Me too - I get the 6 weeks then SMP which is scarily so much less than I earn... DP is not very much of a DP and can't decide if he feels like contributing financially (he lives overseas) and I am really worried about money I have saved up enough for the rent, but only just, and only if I don't need anything else. Not helpful at all, sorry, just wanted to empathise!

Make sure you apply for things like your Health in pregnancy grant (non means tested) it's £190 so a pretty decent amount, which you could use towards a pram. See if you are entitled to tax credits, also factor in your child benefit - it's currently £80 PM for first child, and I think it's going up a little as well (but could be wrong)
If you're using disposables, you can't go wrong with Aldi's own brand nappies and wipes - much cheaper than Pampers and Huggies and quality just as good if not better.
Breastfeeding as SOLO has mentioned is free- see if there are any BF groups local to you - you can get to know other mums, and get some advice on how to make it as easy as possible for yourself.
If you have a freezer, start stocking up!
Finally, all babies really need is a clean bum,somewhere to sleep, milk and loads of cuddles. It's so easy to get swept away buying things - talk to other mums about what was useful and what they regretted wasting money on. Good luck

Make sure you apply for things like your Health in pregnancy grant (non means tested) it's £190 so a pretty decent amount, which you could use towards a pram. See if you are entitled to tax credits, also factor in your child benefit - it's currently £80 PM for first child, and I think it's going up a little as well (but could be wrong)
If you're using disposables, you can't go wrong with Aldi's own brand nappies and wipes - much cheaper than Pampers and Huggies and quality just as good if not better.
Breastfeeding as SOLO has mentioned is free- see if there are any BF groups local to you - you can get to know other mums, and get some advice on how to make it as easy as possible for yourself.
If you have a freezer, start stocking up!
Finally, all babies really need is a clean bum,somewhere to sleep, milk and loads of cuddles. It's so easy to get swept away buying things - talk to other mums about what was useful and what they regretted wasting money on. Good luck

baby no.2 on the way..

we're saving a little each month (it's actualy the difference between what our mortgage was and is now due to rate cuts)

we're not buying as much 'stuff' (still have dd1's cot, moses basket etc) so not as many clothes, no outfits at all, not as much maternity clothing and we aren't botherng with decorating a 'nursery' as we did with dd. this one will be in with us then in with dd.

i've factored in additional child benefit and the extra bit of tax credit you get for having a child under one

i will be bf again

i will get health in pregnancy £190 (towards pram)

we'll ask for a mortgage repayment holiday if things get really tight

plus i do get full pay for i think 14 weeks so a little more generous than the minimum