scared about going to 1 income when bubs comes

[GlitterMum]

hi i am so stressed and scared about going to 1 income when the baby comes. I am the primary income earner and i am so scared that we are going to struggle. My partner earns half of what i do. What if after 3 months i have to go back to work and i am breast feeding. What do i do? Has anyone been in the same situation? Please help. I am really scared

[Lulu]

You better get a budget together chick - had you discussed how you were going to survive before?

[Amaunet]

Can you start to "practice" living on the reduced income now? Or put aside some of your current income to "pay yourself" some maternity leave? Don't forget you will have the baby bonus and may have some other parenting payment entitlements - perhaps investigate what you will be entitled to so you can get an informed budget together?

[GlitterMum]

thanks so much ladies lulu a budget is on my list for sure. Will start one tomoro. CF what a great idea. I will allow myself a dollar amount a week and put it in another account and use that as my pay for maternity leave. Thank you so much. Any other tips i am grateful for xx

[GlitterMum]

hi rayray we are pretty much in the same situation. My dp earns enough to pay the mortgage and car payment only. I am going to try control freaks suggestion and put some of my pay away for maternity leave and def do my budget up tomoro. I was thinking of either doing tupperware or family day care or something like that to get a small income when bubs is about 6 months old. Any suggestions?

[GlitterMum]

any other tips on how anyone did it i would be grateful

[Pandora]

Hi there.
Im in the exact situation you're talking about.

Its difficult, DH earns enough money to cover our mortgage, just, but nothing else, Im ean nothing - food, bills, fuel etc

We tried to save up $ to pay the mortgage so we could live off his wage and the baby bonus, family tax benefit.

However with one thing or another this pretty much eroded the savings and we are now at the point where Im trying to time my tax return so I get back $ in time for mortgage payments.

Talk to centrelink about what you are entitled to, family tax benefit etc, and anything else.
Start trying to put away what you can now, which you are still working.

It's very daunting. Im looking at, best case scenario, going back to work in November when DS2 will be 6 months old, when I really wanted to be off for a full 12 months.

You do what you can. You can still feed with breastmilk even if you arent breastfeeding, check out the ABA booklet on expressign and returning to work.

If you have a mortgage you may be able to get repayments put on hold, some bank so this.