For those who ONLY get SMP....

[toffee87]

Do you have much disposable income left?

I'm thinking ahead (we're TTC) and we'd only have £150-200 left a month to spend on days out etc. This won't change whether we do it now or in 5 years time, unless I got offered an amazingly paid job.

 

[jazzandru]

SMP is only 1/3 of my normal salary after the initial 6 weeks so nope, no spare money here. I actually have no idea how I will live as it seems child care will be nearly all my salary. My usual wage is enough to live on with maybe £50 a week to spare. I am saving what I can now to fall back on but I need to find a way to balance paying for child care against working to earn enough to live on. I work on the theory I will be too knackered to want a day out anyway!

 

[catty]

We will be getting smp and child benefit which is £20pw iv worked out rhats about £620 pm and used to get paid £1150 so pretty much half my wage.
Boyfriends wage will cover bills and the £620 is for food petrol, savings for xmas and bdays, weekly bits n bobs and any fun days etc. worked out food and petrol are almost £300 so should have around £300 left for entertainment and saving.

If we had less we would still be having baby but life is just going to be a bit tight!

 

[jazzandru]

I think you just somehow manage. SMP and child benefit will be the only income I have. It doesn't even cover the bills. But other people don't seem to starve to death so....

 

[purplespecs]

I only get SMP and child benefit and it doesn't even cover my share of the bills. We saved whilst we were TTC and pregnant to cover the loss of my wages and we managed to save £3000. Now we are using our savings to keep us in the standard of living we are used to.