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Expectations of Working Mums Are Outdated: We Need A Change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

Career change

I’m looking to change careers now that I’m a mum. I’m 35 and have spent most of my working life in hospitality, mainly in management roles. The hours aren’t ideal anymore, so I’m hoping to move into something different—but I’m unsure what options are available to me.

I have a degree in Social Studies, though I’m not sure how I could use it in a new career. I’d really appreciate any suggestions or hearing about similar experiences from others who’ve made a transition.

Income?

All I know is work been doing so since I was 15, now I’m pregnant with my second and expenses are crazy.

Are you a sahm but still generating an income? How!? What options are there? Are you posting content?

At what time you guys did the health insurance for your baby and choose a pediatrician?

Im 26 weeks, and trying to prepare myself ahead of time with things cuz I have the tendency of relying that I have time and ended up forgetting them ( bad habit I know ) I know they told me I have to have a pediatrician before my baby is born, but how do I do it if the baby hasn't have an insurance, I went and Google and to have and insurance its after the baby is born. IM SO CONFUSED. HELP PLEASE !!

Biab at home? 💅

Has anyone managed to figure out how to do BIAB at home? Is it an affordable way to do it? Maternity leave means salon trips are out of question for now! Tips welcome!

Maternity pay

Hello all, just wondering if anyone knows. I'm a stay at home mum for my little one due to the extortionate childcare fees and not finding a job that would cover even half a day. If I got pregnant with a second child, would I still get the government maternity pay? Or because I'm not in a job, would I not get anything? Whilst I'm not pregnant now, I'm just stressing about the future because we do want more children...

Which would you choose ?

Im a sahm my husband & I want to quickly save money we live in expensive Canada but his parents own property / air bnb in another country (a tropical place) where I can live with our toddler for 6 months without paying rent & buy our groceries for literally half the price in Canada due to the Canadian dollar being almost double times the worth of the money there

He would move out our current expensive apartment down grade for 6 months I’m talking a bachelor apartment for $900-$1000 a month so he could save $15,000 dollars in 6 months. Our expenses are through the roof right now he makes good money but our savings right now is not that much right now and we need to be sitting on savings.

When we came back he would get a new apartment for cheaper than our old one and we could resume our regular life’s with $15,000 added to our savings for safety

Or I could get Full time job, my toddler would be enrolled in preschool, we would just make more per month together but wouldn’t save that much so quickly.
?
The problem we do not want to leave each other for 6 months I am greatful to have that vacation like vibe with my toddler but he would just be working without his family in a small cheap apartment. He’s happy to do this as he loves the chance to savings so quickly but 6 months apart is wilddddd!!!

The reason we don’t just downgrade with him is because it’s impossible we wouldn’t fit into n the tiny apartment and my grocery bill in the foreign county I’d be with my toddler plus his alone here in Canada would be less than all 3 of us staying here in Canada paying groceries we spend over $1000 on groceries alone here when we leave the country it will be $150 Canadian dollars for both me and my toddler monthly grocery bill his would be $200 altogether that’s $350 on groceries compared to $1000

I need opinions????

Working/ SAHM

Which is more difficult?

Cash surveys

Hello all
Does anyone have any genuinely good survey sites where you make pocket money? I'm finding i need an extra fiver here and there but my budget is so tight already.
Something that genuinely works please. I do Yougov but it takes almost a whole year to get the £50 voucher! I do have a lot of spare time to do these
TIA x

Studying based in UK

Just looking to pick the brains of any single Mums that are studying full time in uni? Or part time?

I’m really trying to figure out how to better my situation. I’m 28, my son is 5 so in school now. I wfh 23.5 hours a week and get some commission so it’s a really good job for my current situation, but not a forever job. I also need to earn more ofcourse. Currently I come out with just over £2000 total combined from work and UC. I can’t manage dipping below this, I barely make it work as it is as I’m still paying off a credit card for my Car.

Id love to study, I have the grades to get into uni. But I understand UC deduct 100% of your maintenance loan. Does anyone know what the bursary for single parents looks like? Or any additional grants?

The reals on sahm life ??

Thinking about becoming a sahm. Anyone else here currently a sahm. Can anyone give me the insights ??

WFH

I’m looking for WFH Jib anyone got suggestions or anyone hiring?

WFH

I’m looking for a work from home job so I can be able to be closer to my kids any WFH Jobs anyone can help me find or suggest

What's everybody's life insurance plan for themselves and their kids right now?

My head hurts with trying to understand all this and what's the best plan in monthly contribution like what is even ideal??

Birth plan

First time mum here and my midwife has asked me about a birth plan and I have no idea what I need to tell them in regards to what I want etc... as long as my baby gets here safe.... Any advice or insight as to what your birth plan was/is

Tax-free/funded hours/student finance question…

Currently working but starting teacher training and have just applied for student finance, course starts end of August. I have a will be 4 year old (who starts reception in September so that’s not an issue) and a will be 3 year old who will be joining pre-school nursery on the 30 hour funded scheme in September.
My course is full time so I will have to give up my job and won’t have any money coming in (other than maintenance loan if I’m approved for it), my husband obviously is still working and this has all been taken into account with student finance.
My question is, will my 3 year old not be eligible for the 30 free funded hours if I’m not earning anything?
Didn’t even think about it when I enrolled him and honestly the thought of having to fork out full time nursery fees when I’m going to be a student again is mildly terrifying when we’ll be relying on 1 income 😬😬😬

Maternity Leave

A little back story….. so I’m hitting 28 weeks. I been dealing with headaches, back pain, and just feeling extremely tired. I’m drained at this point, regardless if I go to bed early or not. This is all ‘normal’ according to my doctor. I was told to start wearing a back brace & take magnesium. I’m working 4 days a week, 10 hour shifts, and commuting a little over 2 hours a day. I also mentioned this to my doctor because I’d hate to go into labor while at work or during my commute. Apparently, she’s not concerned about me not being able to reach a hospital in time if this happens. Not to add that I recently failed my glucose test & have to go in for the 3 hour sometime soon. So in a nutshell, I’m over it. I’m with Kaiser & have already spoken with my OB & another OB. They’re not going to take me off until 36 weeks due to their ‘policies’ & all the fraud that goes on. I’m dreading waiting that long. What did you say or do to help you get leave sooner? I’m tiiiiiired.

Fact-checked by experts

We work with acclaimed women’s health experts and leading voices in fertility, motherhood, and pregnancy to ensure our content is medically reviewed, expert-approved, and written with care.

Learn more