Work & Money

On the blog

Maternity leave shouldn’t cost you your future: what every new mum needs to know about the parental pension gap

Phoebe Corcoran

Why It’s Never Too Early to Start Planning for Your Child’s Future

Phoebe Corcoran

How to Start Saving for Your Child’s Future (Without the Overwhelm)

Phoebe Corcoran

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Help with Childcare Costs

Tassia Agatowski

The Do’s, Don’ts, and Benefits of Teaching Kids About Money

Keshia Sophia Roelofs

Pensions and Divorce: How to Secure Your Retirement Plans

Keshia Sophia Roelofs

5 Things You Need to Know About Your Pension During Maternity Leave

Keshia Sophia Roelofs

20 Essential Things to Do on Maternity Leave

Keshia Sophia Roelofs

Preparing for Maternity Leave: 9 Steps for Success

Keshia Sophia Roelofs

Expectations of Working Mums Are Outdated: We Need A Change

Tassia Agatowski

50 Relatable Working Mum Quotes & Helpful Tips

Tassia Agatowski

Real Talk: Michelle Kennedy on Life as a Working Mum

Tassia Agatowski

Going Back to Work After Having a Baby: What To Know

Tassia Agatowski

11 Hacks & Tips for Working Mums

Tassia O'Callaghan

How To Be a Working Mum: 7 Hints & Tips

Tassia Agatowski

Investing for Your Child’s Future: Get Started Today with EarlyBird

The EarlyBird Team

From the community

Recent discussions

National guard parental leave

Has anyone in the army national guard dealt with taking parental leave and willing to walk me through it?

Firstly, I just wanna say I recognise I’m in an incredibly privileged position and I’m definitely not taking it for granted. Secondly, I also really love my company and my bosses so I’m worried about falling out with them.

I work for a company that got bought out and therefore my contract changes mid mat leave. The first six weeks was under my old contract on statutory pay (90%) and the rest shifts to enhanced/full pay. The statutory average weekly earnings period was actually when I received my bonus so I would be entitled to more pay than a standard month under the 90% period.

I received my first payslip which would’ve had the first couple of weeks of Maternity pay and it was just my normal salary so I questioned it and they gave me the response that they were going to honour my new contract early rather than the statutory 90% of average weekly earnings (as if it’s a favour to me).

I was hoping for the extra money to cover the fact that my husband isn’t entitled to paternity pay but now I feel awkward saying anything to my boss as if I’m fleecing them of money or something and if they genuinely believe they’re doing me a favour by giving me enhanced pay rather than the “90%”.

Would you say anything or just be grateful to receive your normal salary?

Stay home vs Working

I currently work part time, I have 2 toddlers and I’ve been given the opportunity to leave my job and become a stay at home mum.

I’m really torn as I enjoy working but I also feel like I’d like to take some time out to enjoy my toddlers whilst I can because they grow up so fast.

Interested to hear your thoughts on what you would do if you were given the opportunity?

I feel like I’m getting depressed☹️

Im wanting to go back to work and ive applied to soo many jobs😭 not a single one gets back to me ☹️I wanna be able to help my husband financially with bills and all but im just getting tired of not being able to find something that works for me 😢

Sahm

I’m supposed to go back to work soon after having 8 weeks off with my newborn and I’m really not wanting to but I’m afraid that if I don’t we won’t have the money to pay all our bills does anyone know of any ways I can make some money while staying at home?

Hyperemesis gravidarum and working.

I am currently off work with a sick note due to Hyperemesis Gravidarum. I think I’ve had around three weeks off now, and I had to send another sick note for two weeks this morning. I’ve already informed my employer that I am pregnant because of the severity of the sickness and my inability to come into work, as I wanted to protect myself since I only started my job in April.

I’m someone who can’t be sick in a toilet — even at home I have to use a bowl — so coming into work makes things quite difficult when I’m being sick so frequently. I was wondering if anyone else is experiencing the same, and whether my job is actually protected due to pregnancy even though I only started in April of this year. For reference, I work an office job in a law firm.

Pregnancy / Baby Care Books

Hi, just wondering what books anyone can recommend for preparing for birth (for birth partners too) and baby care once the baby has arrived. There are a lot on the market so wondering if there is a clear winner.

Wanna be SAHM

I am pregnant with my first baby and planning on taking 18months mat leave. I know it will go by fast.

My mom was a full time sahm and it was so nice to have her around more growing up. I know it’s not an easy job but I always thought I would like to be a sahm too when kids came into the picture…at least when they are really little.

I have a good career but it’s busy and stressful at times. I am lucky I can work from home 50% but I just wish I could focus on family life for the next while….i just don’t know how to do it or where to start . The world we live in is expensive, kids are expensive so we really do need two incomes unless have a plan on how to make this thought realistic.

How do you full time sahm do it? Have i missed the “trick”?
I’ve looked into starting a business ie E-commerce but there is so much to know it’s overwhelming tbh and still not clear if it’s worth efforts.

Does anyone have any suggestions or am I living in a fantasy thinking being a sahm is even possible?

Work from home

I’m tired of waiting his pay check to pay check and feeling like we are struggling lol. Any moms work from home and are also Staying at home with kids? I have a toddler and baby. Looking for a work from home job that’s doable with kids at home.

Is it bad I’m almost finished shopping

This is not to cause anyone any stress I am just very very impatient and I know I will be working more than full time closer to my maternity leave so had to get everything sorted early but I feel like I am either almost done or I have forgot a million things that are not even in my radar.

Back to work

I’m back to work today!! And baby is going to nursery for her first day 😓 she’s had her settle sessions and now she has a cold and diarrhoea so they said I may have to come get her if the diarrhoea continues. I’m just so upset leaving her 8:30-5:30, and I’m not home until 6:20pm so dad is picking her up. I just feel really horrible about it all even though I’m only part time, also still breastfeeding and trying to switch to combi 😭

Return to work (UK)

I love my little one and am in awe of all the things they are doing. I’m feeling excited about returning to work later in the year (going to sleep with nursery rhymes stuck in my head is not my usual cup of tea and begging for intellectual conversations) but also feeling very very guilty that baby will be in daycare so quickly. Partner and I both enjoy work and earning individually to keep the household running smoothly so it’s unlikely that either of us will take an extended break easily.

Anyone else have similar feelings or is it just me, myself and I?

Do jobs for new mums actually exist?

Looking for a 2-3 day a week role at this point I’ll take anything for the income. Seems like everywhere want 5 days a week 24 hours a day and a bachelors degree. Gosh talk about make it difficult to get back into work. I have 18+ years of property management under my belt and I’m fighting for my life just to work around childcare I don’t want my baby in daycare 5 days a week just so I can work to pay for it 🤦🏻‍♀️ rant over

WFH opportunities?

Anyone have any recommendations for WFH or remote opportunities that doesn’t require putting money in?

Does anyone know where I can get a doctor’s note in Birmingham to complete a pregnancy travel form?

I’ll be 27 weeks pregnant when I travel, and the airline may request a fit-to-fly form/certificate.

Having to return to work

I am currently still on differential pay from my district as well as private SDI and I keep debating when I want to go back. I am also the breadwinner of my family and also the one that pays for the families health care . My husband is a full time student and works 3 days a week as well. I do have PFL left for 12 weeks but at 50% and then that gets taxed too because apparently teachers just get the short end of the stick. I’m really torn I wanna extend cause I don’t wanna miss her milestones but I also need to make money for my family and need to go back to work. What should I do?

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