Babies and Budgets

We talk a lot about birth plans, hospital bags and breastfeeding but hardly anyone talks about money… And let’s face it maternity leave and a baby can hit even the most financially organised households like a truck. 

You go from two full-time incomes to one, or drop to statutory pay. Add nursery costs, and suddenly even the most solid salaries start to feel stretched. 

So what helped / What would Mums do to help next time?

Here’s what Mums in the group shared, and a few things worth checking out if you’re pregnant or planning ahead...

1. Map your income before you go on leave

“Nothing prepares you for that drop in money on maternity leave. Even if you get enhanced pay for a bit, maternity income often drops sharply after the first few months.”

– Walking Mum, Carla

You can check what you’ll get using: Maternity Pay Calculator 🔗

Even a basic spreadsheet can help you see where your pressure points are and how much you might want to save ahead of time.  

2. Understand nursery costs early (even if you’re not there yet)

Childcare came up a lot in the chat – not just in terms of cost, but just how few of us really knew what to expect. Here’s a rough guide to What are the costs of full-time nursery in the North of England in 2025: 

Child’s Age Monthly Cost With Free Hours (if eligible) 

Even with the government’s free childcare hours (which start at 9 months for working parents), it doesn’t really mean free… For a start it only covers 38 weeks of the year, therefore most of us still pay hundreds each month especially once you factor in meals and admin fees. You can check your eligibility to free hours here:  🔗childcarechoices.gov.uk

What can still surprise many is not everyone qualifies! If just one of you receives over £100k in salary you may not be eligible for any support until your child is 3, further details on this can be found at point 7 on this blog 👉 https://www.walkingmums.com/working-mums-rights-rules-and-the-realities-of-work-live

3. Don’t overbuy for baby — especially not new 

“I learned the hard way – second-hand is absolutely fine! All you need new is a car seat and mattress.” 

– Walking Mum, Helen

There’s so much pressure to buy everything. But honestly? Babies grow out of things so fast, and there’s so much available second-hand in amazing condition. I’m not sure anyone actually uses a whole travel system… 🥰

✨ Top tips: Vinted for baby clothes and hit Facebook Marketplace for cots, chairs, play gyms, prams, etc 

Ask friends with slightly older kids before buying anything new and ask the Walking Mums Community! We have a dedicated Buy and Sell WhatsApp Chat, there will be so much kit amongst us that is no longer in use! 

4. Check your employer benefits (and use them)

Some mums mentioned being caught out by returning earlier than they wanted because their enhanced pay ended sooner than expected. Others didn’t know about return-to-work support until it was too late. 

Look into: 

• Enhanced maternity pay terms
• Whether you accrue holiday while off – most do and this leave can really help you returning to work, many of our Mums use the extra holidays to plan reduced days for the first few weeks of their return.
• Phased return or childcare support option

5. Build a buffer, even if it’s small

£100/month during pregnancy can make a big difference once SMP kicks in… Some Mums said they created a pot just for Nursery deposits – tip most nurseries require a deposit plus the first month in advance prior to nursery start so be prepared. 

Final word – The true cost of raising children can feel like the hidden secret that no one really warns you about. But once we start talking about it, we realise most of us are figuring it out as we go. So if you’re planning a baby, or in the thick of maternity leave, I hope this helps you feel a bit more prepared or a bit less alone. If you’ve got tips you’d add, please comment below, the plan is for this blog to be continually updated so we can all benefit from what other Mums figure out.

This is just the start of our conversation on this topic, if there is something you’d like to see added or a tip you’ve discovered works please comment below or share in the WhatsApp