Sahm

[lemontree12]

Hi ladies, ok it happened my employer refused my flexible working hours of 25hrs and offered nothing inbetween. i work in a children and families centre, which i find rather ironic that she turns down a single mother, trying to better herself and expects me to put my daughter in nursery full time. i am appealling this and have seeked legal advice etc, but if it still doesnt go my way, i will work my notice and leave. my daughter has only got me, she doesnt see her dad, and my family live far away, im not prepared to leave her in nursery where she wont be anybody special, then the 2days we are off together at the weekend, she fight for my attention while i do housework etc. i want her to never feel like shes missed out on having a dad and i dont think full time nursery will do this.
i will actively look for work but full time wont be for me.

anyway how do you manage? will it be tight etc? iv decided the last month of my maternity before im due back il stock up on wipes and napppies to try last me while i look for work?
i just keep telling myself that watching my daughter grow is the most important thing, and im angry those 2months im working of my notice are 2months of my daughters life i cant get back.

the chanlenges me and my daughter have faced the first year of our live together and still we are happy

 

[Shezza84uk]

I think you are making the right decision hun, she needs you as she is so young. You can make it work if you stock up with essentials now, is this your 9th month maternity or the full year? Financially you can budget to make things easier for yourself for me I have always just worked enough to keep me from going on IS or JSA so about £500 PCM and I claim Housing benefit and council tax benefit to pay some of my rent. I think you might get about £400pm if you are on IS and full rent and council tax paid so you would be better off.

To make things work I save my Tesco points and use them for nappies and wipes. I get frozen veg to stop them going off quickly, I asked to have my tax credit and child benefit weekly so I have enough to cover us every week. I spend my child benefit on our weekly shopping and the child tax credit to cover everything else, to prevent high bills I pay £5 weekly on my electric and £20 weekly on gas, I find this really works because by the 3rd month in the quater I am in credit by £40 for my electric and £160 for my gas I now get letters saying they owe me! I get high end clothes when its end of season and is marked down and after all that I still have plenty for other bills, transport and rent so you can make it work xx

 

[lemontree12]

i think its 71is 62tax credit and il get 484 towards 550 rent, but i love our home and only planning to be out of work for a short space of time so dont want to move. when i found out i couldnt stop crying when looking at my daughter, its disgusting that they allowed others when i actually need it more. im really not happy with them.

i pay my gas and electric off monthly and last time i was in credit so it was reduced, but it being the winter and having the heating on, i guess it will be high again.
ever since iv went on maternity my work have screwed me over either with my wages every month, making me go to a training day and putting my little girl into creche for a full day, when im on maternity now refusing full time. im so cross about it all.
im going to try and take it to a tribural

 

[ravenmel]

You should be fine if you budget.

Put my old work skills as a PA to good use and made a budgeting spreadsheet. Cut off anything you don't really need like cable TV or line rental phones, if you have any credit cards with high balances call the creditors and explain and offer a payment plan you can afford. I switched to anything I could to pre pay, it's a lot easier. So gas,electric and mobile phone, so I can see what I'm spending and don't get surprise crazy bills. You can pay water and TV licence monthly, but if you can clear the balance as soon as possible it's better.
Shopping for food online saves me loads of money too, as I'm not in store picking up junk I don't need,you don't have to carrying around screaming kids and try to stuff shopping on the stroller.
Not sure how old your LO is, but as you mention nursery you should get healthy start vouchers for milk and veg with help alot.

 

[fairydust87]

Im a SAHM by choice. Its hardrr then when I was working but my child deserves my time and attention for now. I claim income support at £71 a week child benefit at £20 a week and child tax creditd at £62 a week. FOB gives me £120 a month for LO (more if I need it) so were comfortable for now. You can do it. x