Does your monthly income comfortably cover your outgoings?

[katycam]

We are left with about £50 for the month once bills are paid, and thats to spend on food.

 

[LankyDoodle]

Thank you loads jlosomerset. It is great to have some local knowledge. I work in Bridgwater and drive past the livestock market every time I am on shift, so there is no reason I couldn't go there. Also, thanks for the tip about the hair; I might try that place!

 

[jlosomerset]

Thank you loads jlosomerset. It is great to have some local knowledge. I work in Bridgwater and drive past the livestock market every time I am on shift, so there is no reason I couldn't go there. Also, thanks for the tip about the hair; I might try that place!

Your very welcome

Also Taunton Pram & Nursery Centre have an excellent pre-owned section, they only buy really decent stuff, also have new stock that is discontinued or last seasons colours - like the baby worries

Good luck

 

[MotherBear]

People always seem to manage when it happens it's just what we do. I have been there and know how it feels and in the past have had to cut back on those things I would have preferred not to.

Luckily I am in a fortunate position now but I still have to save to be off and would never have the luxury of staying at home with my children. I will have to go back to work when LO is 4 and half months. My hubby now works from home so is able to pick our 3 children up from school and will have this one at home once I go back to work.

We have a combined income of between £4,000 - £5,500 net per month, I usually take home £15-£20k bonus at the end of the year, which sadly I won't receive this year as I will be on maternity when my accounts are finalised.

I still intend to visit the hairdressers weekly, beauty parlour monthly, spend lots of time at our place in Spain and buy as and when I want it, so we are saving hard as by the time I pay my company car tax, my maternity benefit will be virtually nothing.

Our monthly outgoings aren't huge, only around £2k per month, so this is perfectly doable short term.

I am sure that you will manage, there has been some great money saving tips posted here.

 

[daisyfflur]

I earn a very decent wage - £3700 p/m (but I did just get a 20% payrise last month and a bonus - did I say I hate my job? Because I do and its no life for a new mother!) and my OH earns maybe just under £1700ish p/m. When all is said and done and I'm on SMP we wouldn't have been able to afford our mortgage £1200 a month, plus our cars, petrol, food and bills on his wages. This bothered me for months so we agreed before TTC that I would set myself a target and try and save enough to give me a monthly income i.e. my wages before payrise for the entire time I was on maternity leave (target 6 months). I've just managed to reach my target with 7 months to go before the baby is due so everything else is additional time off work. I have a number of company shares to sell which will also add to the time off I can take. I really hope they will let me go back 3 days a week

I save on average £1100 a month so its not all peed up against the wall on frivolous stuff but I don't have any debt (except car loan) or overdrafts so I'm in a very fortunate position.

This was my preferred method of handling the situation, to be comfortable and have no worries on a reduced wage. I'm good with money, my OH, umm not so much....