Universal Credit ?

Could you get a 0% credit card instead of your overdraft for future purchases? Look on Facebook marketplace place for free baby things?

@Hannah where would I get one of those from just my regular bank? Sorry I’m clueless when it comes to these things 🤣 I do definitely keep an eye on Facebook marketplace I know you can find some great things on there!

I’m sure there is a maternity grant you can apply for when your income is below a certain amount, I’ve seen others post about it before. May be worth looking into? I second the 0% credit card - I have gotten these by searching through my ClearScore account in the past and checking which ones I’m eligible for x

Some questions from my spouse who works in the department: 1. Do you rent? 2. How many kids? 3. How many weeks full pay? 4. Are you single or in a marriage/partnership 5. If you are in partnership does your partner earn?

@Halima yes renting, £575 a month, we have no kids but due our first in October, I get 8 weeks full contractual pay, however that I assume would be just my contracted hours and wouldn’t include any enhanced payments that I would usually get (for working weekends, before 8am/past 5pm) so would be a little less than what I usually get anyway. I live with my partner, he works full time and earns a little more than me but equally has his own bills on top of the shared bills (car etc to pay for) so doesn’t have anymore extra to give to me than what he already does x

@Sophie thank you! The maternity grant from what I’ve seen online is only for people who claim some sort of benefit already so I don’t think I would get accepted :(. Is a credit card better for credit score do you know?x

Try doing a calculation on turn 2 us with the details you’ve mentioned to me. They’ll be able to give you an exact figure on how much you’re eligible for to see if it’s worth it. My husband calculates you might get £200 which is not much. He also mentioned you could call the car loan company and get a affordable payment plan just sell them a sob story

With your partners income too, I very much doubt you'd be entitled to UC. I would try a calculator though just to make sure.

Look at money saving expert. He lists the best one and then you just apply! Banks, supermarkets, ect. Just avoid store cards like Argos

I can’t really help with advice on financials however I have a next to me crib for you (will be second hand) a brand new changing mat, a tommee tippee bottle maker. I’m sure by end sep I’ll have a few more things. I know it’s your first and I’m sure you don’t want second hand stuff (I didn’t with my first) but if you want these things message me and I can arrange to deliver to you depending where you are.

Are you eligible for the sure start maternity grant? You get it for your first child and I’m sure it’s about £500.

@Kristen this is so kind thank you so much honestly! I just looked at your profile and it says you’re in London, I’m in Nottinghamshire unfortunately :( but thank you I really do appreciate it X

@Nikki I don’t think I’m eligible, from what I can understand online you need to already be claiming some sort of benefit :(

Maybe call citizens advice? They helped me massively. You can get your finances back under your control and learn about your budget so you won’t need your overdrafts any more. Also, money saving expert is good xx

I would look at the car as that's a fairly large expense compared to your income. Can you call your car insurance and tell them you'll be doing a lot less miles in it as you won't be commuting? They may readjust for you if you explain the maternity leave and decreased miles as well as decreased income. Also the diesel you're spending on commuting will be less so that's a small saving for you.

If possible lean away from things that charge you to use it (like some overdrafts). If you physically cannot help but be in your overdraft right now, try to shorten expenses elsewhere till you're back on your feet. Ie. If you pay monthly for gas and electric, could you lower payments while things settle, or even better - do you have credit on your account that could be refunded? Are there any bits around the house you don't need (could help clear space) and could sell on? Would speak to step change and citizens advice, especially if you already have a loan to clear. They could help negotiate how much you pay to make it more manageable. My little one will be 6 months November so I may have some 0-3, 0-6 things (next to me crib etc) for you. I'm in derby so not too far, feel free to pop me a message and I'll let you know of any bits that we no longer need if you're interested in them x

I can’t remember from my first but can you not get a universal credit top up while on maternity leave? Then you might be eligible? Give citizens advise a ring that’s what they’re there for, I hope you get some answers soon there’s nothing worse than money troubles ❤️

@Charl thank you so much! In terms of clothes we luckily have a few family members that have handed down theirs, so up until about 9 months we have plenty of clothes. If you’re positive about giving away the crib I would be interested, but I also could get this on very to pay off next year so if you can sell on then please don’t worry! But I appreciate it so much honestly thank you, that’s so kind X

@Nikki from what I can see I would be eligible when baby is here for a top up 🤞🏻 but I think I will ring citizens advice in the meantime and see what they say about the situation before going on maternity leave, thank you!x

@Charley I didn’t think about miles but will definitely see if I can lower that thank you! I explained the decreased income and unfortunately they couldn’t bring the price down anymore :(

Honestly fine by me, pop me a DM - if your baby isn't due to October/Nov it could work out nicely x

I'm in Nottingham, we have some of the best public transport in the country. Can you not use public transport for work and reserve the car for necessary trips like food shopping and hospital trips? Having a car is a luxury in this economic climate so I'd start there and seriously consider whether you can justify the cost of keeping one. Buying everything new and setting up payment plans for them I'm assuming is done now? Unless you can still return stuff? You can get everything you need for the baby secondhand in immaculate condition because they don't use stuff for long. Vinted is a treasure trove of bargains for clothes, baby monitor, bottles, cloth nappies, literally every postable item. I got my next to me and graco swing off my local Facebook community page for a fraction of the cost. I see cotbeds and drawers etc on marketplace every other day for sometimes as little of 20 quid! You're not entitled to anything as a couple until you have the baby, it's shit but it is how it is!

Also, if debt is stacking up and you're having to make too many payments to different places try calling Stepchange and see if they can help. They've offered to consolidate my debts into one payment which will cut my monthly outgoing by £200 a month! At the very least them and Citizens Advice will have far more accurate and detailed financial advice than any of us here x

@Amber Thank you! @Amber unfortunately I work in derby but live in Nottinghamshire (more Mansfield way) and often start work at 6 in the morning, the only reasonable thing I could do would get a train but they don’t run that early so it’s just impractical. Ideally I need a new job but obviously being pregnant, I want to wait until after maternity to make sure I get a good maternity pay! We have had a lot of things given to us luckily, not everything is on a payment plan. We had already managed to pay off furniture and have that, but the travel system we have ordered from a local business (that sells them for a fraction of the price already) offers a pay what you want when you want kind of thing, so we were happy doing that. Everything else though I will still keep an eye on Facebook marketplace, and I haven’t heard of step change before so will definitely give that a go thank you!x

@Sarah perfect thank you so much!X

You should be entitled to UC once on maternity leave. I was earning around a similar amount to you and only get standard government SMP so 90% of my average wages for the first 6 weeks then £184p/w after that for 33 weeks. The last 13 are unpaid. If you are living with your partner you have to claim as a couple. As a couple with one child you get allowances of just over £950. For example with my smp and my partners wage totalling £1700 we get approx £300pm on universal. Fuel cost will go down as you won’t be driving too and from work once on Mat leave. Car companies should allow you to lower payments if you explain to them that your income is going to be lower. If you get UC you should also be entitled to the maternity grant as well x

This is not benefits related but what I’ve been doing whilst my pay has been a bit lower whilst I’ve been pregnant (due to illness etc), I’ve been selling on Vinted and then using the money I make to then buy all my baby bits and you can get good stuff on Facebook too. Everyone always has loads they can get rid of around the house and it’s nice you get a bit clearer before baby comes ☺️