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trixie (Tania) 
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: New Zealand
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 Topic: Maternity Leave & Budgets
Posted: 26 September 2006 at 4:29pm |
Hello all,
I am a real newbie to all of this, of course am very excited about being a new Mum (yes it's my 1st  but am a little concerned about mortgage payments when I am off and not working...
Can you ladies all give me some hope that it will all be fine?
I am just back home in NZ after a few years in the UK and me and my English husband are very excited about our impending arrival, BUT I am not really sure I understand NZ Maternity leave...can you all give a little advice?
I am working fulltime and have been since arriving home in February.
Thanks in advance all.
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emeldee
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Joined: 01 January 1900
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Posted: 26 September 2006 at 4:34pm |
Congratulations on your news and welcome to the site.
This site is absolutely awesome for parental leave questions... http://www.ers.dol.govt.nz/parentalleave/employees/index.html
or if you want to get all fancy in the post and click on a proper link rather than cutting and pasting... Parental Leave
Also check out any entitlement you may have to family support and/or accomodation supplements once the baby arrives...
Working for Families
Just remember, the NZ government will be getting taxes from you for a long, long time...best to get all the assistance you can possibly qualify for while you can. (Spoken as a true former govt employee)
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littlejo
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Posted: 26 September 2006 at 4:37pm |
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Hi Tania,
Not sure how long you've been back and working in NZ, so that will determine if you get the paid maternity leave for 14 weeks. Have a look at:
http://www.ers.dol.govt.nz/parentalleave/
Also have a look at http://www.workingforfamilies.govt.nz/
And I think (still sorting it all out myself) that if you don't qualify for paid maternity leave, you can get the parental tax credit from IRD.
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Jo
Jo
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AnnC
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Posted: 26 September 2006 at 7:59pm |
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You know looking at the family support its not worth me going back to work next year part time and paying childcare costs if I can get $250+ a fortnight by spending more time at home with kids. Might take another person up on her offer on part time work as not much hours... alot to consider really.
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Ann
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10)
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sparkle
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Posted: 27 September 2006 at 9:08am |
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This is also one of my big worries, can we actually afford a baby? Money is probably the biggest hurdle i'm trying to get over before TTC.
I know it's a case of changing our lifestyles etc, I also know that "there is no right time" etc
We won't qualify for any assitance, and that's ok. And while I am babyless, the idea of going back to work sounds fine (I know this may change when I actually have my own bubba!)
I'll stop blabbing now and ask my question! On average, how much is childcare?
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Andie
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Posted: 27 September 2006 at 9:42am |
I think you only get paid maternity leave if you've been working for the same employer for at least the past 12 months, and you have to keep working through to so many weeks of your pregnancy (OK not much help since I don't know how many, but I'm sure those links answer it all anyway!).
Dunno about childcare costs, sorry. Porse seem reasonable from what I've heard.
About the money - I agree, there never is a 'right time' to afford a baby, but that said maybe there's no real 'wrong time' for it too?? We all adjust - it's amazing how a one-income lifestyle doesn't really sting that much at the end of the day, especially if you make the adjustments gradually. Sometimes it's our expectations that we need to change (like for me, expecting and wanting to have everything we'll need for baby's first 6 months or year, before she's born... it wasn't realistic, or necessary, and getting over that eased the money worries a lot).
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Andie
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shelleybean
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Posted: 27 September 2006 at 9:49am |
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In Chch - I think an average cost is $36 a day - from memory.
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Roksana
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Posted: 27 September 2006 at 10:01am |
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Congratulations and welcome to Oh baby!!
You have to work for a company for 6 months and then you are entitled to 14 weeks paid parental leave (was 13 weeks when I gave birth). You get after tax $285 (I think a bit more if you dont have a student loan).
I bought a house in May 05 and had Zaara Oct 05, so we had a brand new mortgage and managed fine. Mind you we had a speacial savings and we used quite a bit of that.
However we were fine because I went back to work after 15 weeks for 30 hours (for 3 months) and then full time.
I am lucky as my Aunt looks after my daughter, I do pay her (tho she always refuses)...Zaara will be going to day care from November and it will cost us $185 per week. This includes food and nappies. Not bad I say!!
And it is close to my work...
Edited by Roksana
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trixie (Tania)
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Posted: 27 September 2006 at 10:34am |
Thanks all,
I will be entitled to the 14 weeks, I was just concerned that loosing my income and surviving on one lower income & ML payments, how the mortgage and other bills would get paid, but chatting to you all seems a bit of money reprioritisation maybe needed and that it can be done.
Andie, thanks for you tip too that everything is not needed before bubs is born
keep the advice coming
Thanks
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Roksana
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Posted: 27 September 2006 at 10:59am |
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Yah Andie is right....I had preactically nothing for Zaara before she was born (more a traditional thing then money thing) and I recvd loads of pressies. My parents bought the Cot and the Matress and what ever bits and pieces I recvd at baby shower....
After bub was born MIL bought us a pram, BIL bought us a Changing table, work mates bought us a bassinette and loads and loads of cloths from other family and friends!
But yah you could buy what ever you can for baby now (if you can manage) this way all the expensive items are out of the way while you have the dble income, dont worry about the smaller things....once you go back to work you can buy the other stuff.
I found that we want to buy this and that for the baby and yet for the first 6 months baby does not need half those things and need only your attention, hugs and love. After that yes you need toys and books and etc to keep them occupied!!
but having a savings is a life saver. Have you talked to your bank to see if you can stop the mortgage paymnt for a few months and carry on paying after you go back to work. I know some banks do have that flexibility.
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mummy_becks
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Posted: 27 September 2006 at 11:12am |
One thing to do is during your pregnancy buy nappies and wipes each week at the shopping. I am 19 weeks but have 12 newborn bags a nappies (all sorts of brands) and 10 bags of the next size up and about 8 bags of wipes and 16 cans of baby food (that don't expire until 2008, so i'm safe there). I only buy them on sale and usually with the fortnightly shopping, but if there is a baby sale on (countdown quite often do them) I will buy a bit extra that week as they have good sales.
Each daycare is different, I have my boy in daycare everyday but Wednesday and without the childcare subsidy it would be $160 a week ($40 a day), this covers all his food and the stuff he plays with. My friend works at a daycare in Auckland (in Remuera from memory) and it is $95 a day per child no matter how long the child is in care - she said 95% of the people that have children in care there can not get the childcare subsidy, so they must be earning quite a lot as it is $375 a week for daycare.
Another this is to start now paying a bit more on your mortgage and when the baby comes ask for the mortgage holiday, that is when you only pay the interest for a period of time.
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I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived!
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shelleybean
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Posted: 27 September 2006 at 11:15am |
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Hey there,
We are totally different - we have brought eveything now while we have two incomes, Bassinette, cot, pram, capsule, car seat, high chair, clothes, nappies, etc etc. Then you don't need to worry about affording those things while only on one income.
If you can save now - that would also be an added bonus.
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Roksana
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Posted: 27 September 2006 at 11:25am |
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Oh oh and carseat...we hired a capsule from plunket for $95 and got $50 back upon return....so that was 6 months covered. We then went and bought a carseat from baby factory when it was on special! I know babay factory do other things on hire so that you dont have to buy them (my bassinette got used for 2 months and now its under the cot).
When are you due Tania?
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trixie (Tania)
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Posted: 27 September 2006 at 11:54am |
Guys you are great thanks so much,
I knew talking to others was going to help.
This is all great advice!
I should set my profile up properly, shouldn't I?
I am just 13 weeks, and due April 1st!!!
Am very excited, but was starting to get myself wound up on the money stuff, you guys have made me feel a lot better with your tips and thoughts.
Cheers
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mummy_becks
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Posted: 27 September 2006 at 5:13pm |
I would start buying things now then. You have plenty of time to get everything ready and people are always willing to help you with other stuff. I brought my capsule when we had Andrew and then my friend borrowed it when she had her baby last year.
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I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived!
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Paws
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Posted: 27 September 2006 at 5:25pm |
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We bought everything we needed before rather than wait to see what we were given (combination of excitement and didn't want to rely on people buying the big stuff for us.)
We got given loads of clothes both from the baby shower and people passing things along in the great baby chain.
We also refinanced our loan and borrowed extra to get rid of most of credit cards as this was cheaper than finding the minimum repayment each month. B's student loan should also be gone by the time my maternity pay runs out so that will be a huge help!!
Finally we re-did our budget and crossed out everything that was not necessary. It is hard but I'm sure it will be totally worth it in the end!
Good luck!
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Roksana
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Posted: 28 September 2006 at 10:53am |
Out of Topic But Goodluck for today Paws!!
Edited by Roksana
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cat
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Posted: 01 October 2006 at 11:33am |
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We have just found out that we are going to have to move in Feb/March from Nelson to New Plymouth which means I will have to leave my job, which means no maternity leave... I can't imagine I'll be able to get a job being pregnant other than a bit of temping, my question is, do I get some sort of assistance from Winz instead of the work sponsored maternity leave? I'm due in mid May.
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mummy_becks
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Posted: 01 October 2006 at 1:29pm |
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You can get the parental tax credit
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I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived!
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AnnC
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Posted: 01 October 2006 at 3:43pm |
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Hey cat welcome to the Naki in feb/march......
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Ann
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10)
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Maternity Leave & Budgets
