Baby Steps: A three stage plan for expectant parents to manage your money

Transcription

1 Baby Steps: A three stage plan for expectant parents to manage your money

2 A big thank you to all our model mothers, fathers and babies; Conor, Kim, Carragh, Andrea, Damien, Susie and Eli

3 Contents Introduction 3 Stage One: Planning for your baby s arrival Sorting out your money 5 5-step plan to control your finances 6 Changing your spending habits 8 Money Saving tips 11 Working out how children affect your pension 12 Considerations for unmarried, co-habiting and same-sex partners 14 My to-do list 15 Stage Two: Money matters when you have children Money planning 17 Preparing for unexpected emergencies 19 Saving and investment for life goals 19 Borrowing money and using credit wisely 21 Money worries 23 Where can you go if you have serious debt problems? 28 One parent families 30 Separation/Divorce 34 Illness/Family bereavement 37 My to-do list 42 Stage Three: Planning for your child s future Teaching your child good money values 45 Opening an account for your child 46 Saving and investing for your child s future 46 Planning to protect your dependents 48 Life cover and other protection/insurance products 50 Pensions and retirement planning 53 Wills and estate planning 56 My to-do list 57 Useful Information Jargon buster 59 Baby expense planner 64 Budget planner 66 Useful contacts 69 Your feedback and a chance to win! 71

4 2 Baby Steps If you are planning to have children, big changes are on the way, not least to your personal finances. Having a baby is wonderful though it has the potential to be financially stressful. But you can take steps to manage your money and plan ahead to prepare for this important life event.

5 3 Introduction Your children will have different needs at certain stages of their lives, so early planning and research is important to help you cope with additional expenses. While it may seem low down on your list of priorities at the moment, spending a bit of time thinking about these things and making plans will really pay off in the future. The National Consumer Agency (NCA) is here to help you. Our information is free, impartial and in plain English. We can give you the guidance you need to understand financial products, so that you can ask the right questions and make the right choices about your personal finances and stay in control. This guide is made up of a 3-stage plan to help you develop the financial habits that can really make a difference in managing your money if you re starting a family and/or planning for the future. It covers a range of practical personal finance topics relating to having a family. Some of these you will need immediately and some you may need as your family grow and their needs change. Throughout this guide you will see words highlighted in bold and underlined in orange. This means that there is an explanation in the Jargon Buster on page 59. You will also find a list of useful contacts and websites on page 69. This includes the NCA s website which has personal finance tools designed for you such as cost comparisons, calculators, shopping around checklists and budget planners. If you don t have a computer you can get free access at your local library.

6 4 Baby Steps Stage One: Planning for your baby s arrival Your bundle of joy can also bring big expenses, even before he or she is born. Spending a bit of time planning your finances before your baby arrives will really help you prepare for the cost of pregnancy and beyond.

7 5 Stage One: Planning for your baby s arrival Sorting out your money Having a baby means making lots of changes, including decisions about your finances. You will need to consider things like: 1. Medical costs: this will depend on whether you choose public, private or semi-private care. If you have private health insurance, review your policy entitlements under maternity cover; 2. If employed, taking additional unpaid maternity leave or changing your working arrangements after your new arrival; 3. Increased spending before and after your baby s arrival, e.g. maternity clothes, baby equipment, clothes, baby food, nappies etc; 4. Ongoing large costs such as childcare; 5. Future costs, for example for your child s education; and 6. Emergency fund savings. In this part of the guide we will look at how to manage your finances effectively during your pregnancy and beyond by looking at how having a baby will affect your income and expenditure. We will also discuss money saving tips to make the most of the money you have.

8 6 Baby Steps 5-step plan to control your finances Having a baby is a very emotional and happy time. However, it brings new pressures on your finances. In the current economic climate it is more important than ever that you know how to budget and plan ahead for your children s future. The best time to start this is before your baby is born, so you have time to prepare for the financial changes and can start to form good money habits, which in turn you can pass on to your children. Use our 5-step plan to control your finances: 1. Keep a spending diary Record everything you spend your money on each day, for four weeks. This will show what you are actually spending your money on so your new baby friendly budget will be more accurate. There may also be things that you are spending money on unnecessarily and can cut back on if you need to. 2. Complete an income and expense check If you have a bank account you can use the information on your statement to track money coming in and going out. 3. Identify your personal goals You may want to set a short term goal such as paying for baby-related expenses, more information on setting goals is on page 19 of this guide.

9 Stage One: Planning for your baby s arrival 7 4. Prepare a 12 month budget plan Examples of items you may include are on pages Make sure you include your additional income from child benefit and consider any other benefits you may have in the next 12 months. If you are working, you should check your contract with your employer to find out exactly what pay you will receive when you are on maternity leave and the impact, if any that maternity leave may have on your other employee benefits. Make sure to also factor in unpaid maternity leave if you are considering this. Tip! Our website also has a yearly budget planner and a baby budget planner on 5. Keep your finances under review Regardless of your circumstances, you should review your financial situation at least once a year and this is even more important when your financial situation has settled down after the birth of your baby.

10 8 Baby Steps Changing your spending habits How did your budget look? If you have more money going out than coming in, you ll probably end up using your savings or building up debts. Consider how you can better control your spending. Everybody can do with some tips on saving money, especially when you are preparing for a new baby here are some helpful ideas and tips to help you make the most of what you have got! 1. Paying off your debts (if you can afford to) Paying extra off your loans or credit cards could save you money in interest. Consider paying off debts with the highest interest rate first. The example below shows how this works. Always check with your provider first to make sure there is no charge for repaying your debts early. Savings/debt Interest earned/paid in a year 1,000 savings interest rate 3% 30 earned on your savings 1,000 credit card debt interest rate 19% 103 added to your debt Use our loan calculator on to see how much you could save if you reduce the amount you owe. If you are having trouble repaying your debts, read our Money Worries section on page 23, which includes an action plan to help you take control of your debts. Tip! Before you use your savings to pay off your debts, think about whether you should keep some money for an emergency fund, to help you deal with unexpected events see page 19 for more information.

11 Stage One: Planning for your baby s arrival 9 2. Reviewing your income If you are employed; Currently, all female employees in Ireland, no matter how long they have been working, are entitled to take maternity leave for a period of 26 weeks. Your entitlement to pay during the basic 26 weeks maternity leave depends on the terms of your contract of employment. Employers are not obliged to pay women on maternity leave. You may qualify for Maternity Benefit from the Department of Social Protection providing you have sufficient PRSI contributions (see for more information). In some cases your maternity benefit will be paid to your employer and they will continue to pay you your wages. If this is the case you may be entitled to a tax and PRSI refund, you can see for more information and talk to your employer. Tip! You may be entitled to a tax refund if you have changed your working arrangements, for example by moving to part-time employment, job sharing, or taking unpaid maternity leave. You can get more information on the Revenue website

12 10 Baby Steps You can also avail of an additional 16 weeks unpaid maternity leave. Generally during unpaid maternity leave, you are not paid by your employer and you do not receive Maternity Benefit. But your tax credits may accumulate if you take unpaid maternity leave, so you should check this with your employer. If you are not in employment; If you are pregnant and receiving Jobseekers benefit you may continue to get this throughout your pregnancy. You are considered capable of work unless you have complications during your pregnancy or you are ill. You should inform your local social welfare office that you are pregnant. For more information on entitlements and on signing on in pregnancy, see and Everybody Child benefit Currently, whether you are working or not you are entitled to claim Child Benefit. This payment is payable to the parents or guardians of children under 16 years of age, or under 18 years of age if the child is in full-time education. If you are having a baby in Ireland there are various benefits and entitlements relating to both employment and social welfare you may be able to avail of depending on your circumstances. It is important to be aware of the various supports available. Rates payable and more information is available on and

13 Stage One: Planning for your baby s arrival 11 Money saving tips Baby-related items Shop around for baby equipment before buying as prices can vary significantly from one shop to another. Look online for deals on used items and auction websites such as ebay (see our online shopping FAQs nca/shopping-from-home for tips if you are buying online). Think about borrowing pre-owned items from friends and family members who may have clothes and equipment that are still in very good condition. Consider asking friends and family to buy gifts from your list of baby essentials. Consider registering for free samples and coupons you can find more information in your free maternity information pack. Deal websites often have baby related offers. See tips for using online deal websites on Use parenting and other websites that have classified sections to buy/sell/swap baby equipment, which may be worth investigating such as Tip! Think about the size of clothes and nappies you need, babies grow very quickly so don t buy too many newborn sizes also remember that friends/family may give clothes as gifts.

14 12 Baby Steps General Cancel any unwanted subscription services (for example will you or your partner have time to use that gym membership once your baby arrives?). Save on your utility and phone bills. Check out the energy saving tips on to help you cut costs. And has useful tips to help you save on your phone costs. Our money saving tips section on has information about ways to save money on your groceries. Cut back on non-essential/luxury items. Remember to be realistic don t cut out all your extras because if your budget is too tight it will be harder to stick to. Check out our Economiser tool on The Economiser analyses your spending in key areas, such as groceries, energy, mobile phones and will show you how much you are spending compared to others with a similar profile to you. It then gives you helpful tips on how to reduce your bills. Working out how children affect your pension Having children is likely to affect your income and, as a result your pension. If you change your work arrangement, for example take a career break, move to part-time employment, job share, or take extended maternity or adoptive leave, these could impact on your benefits. See for more information.

15 Stage One: Planning for your baby s arrival 13 If you change your working arrangements Employer pension plan Personal pension plan Personal Retirement Savings Account (PRSA) Ask your employer what effect, if any, your new working arrangement will have on your retirement benefits. If you envisage a shortfall, for example due to taking a career break or working part time, you should consider topping up your benefits with additional voluntary contributions (AVCs) or with notional service purchase (NSP), if you are in a public sector superannuation scheme. For further detail on NSPs from the Irish Civil Service Pensions Information Centre go to Some personal pension plans allow you to stop paying contributions for a time or to increase or reduce your contributions, although this may be subject to a minimum level of contribution and a charge. With a PRSA you are free to stop, start, increase and decrease your contributions at any time, although your provider may require prior notice of a change. However, if you don t pay into a PRSA for two years or more, and the balance is less than 650, then the PRSA provider can cancel your PRSA and refund the balance to you, less tax. The provider has to give you three months notice before doing this. With all private pensions (Personal pension plans or PRSAs), the benefits you receive depend mainly on how much is contributed, so if you stop or reduce your contributions, you will end up with smaller benefits when you retire. Depending on your circumstances, you could top up your benefits with additional voluntary contributions (AVCs).

16 14 Baby Steps For further information on how having children can affect your pension options, or to get an idea of how much more you will need to save to meet your expectations in retirement, check out the information and pensions calculator on the Pension Board s website You should also speak to your employer, trade union, pension provider or a financial advisor. Considerations for unmarried, co-habiting and same-sex partners Legislation came into effect on 1 January 2011, which in certain areas, gives the same rights of married couples to same-sex civil partnerships. Under this legislation, a court based redress scheme (allowing you to apply for orders relating to property, pensions, maintenance, etc) has been introduced for co-habiting couples who meet certain criteria. This scheme has been designed to protect financially dependent members of a couple, if your long-term cohabiting relationship ends either through death or separation. Get more related information on the Citizens Information website and on Check your social welfare entitlements on the Department of Social Protection website Life insurance and pension policies may provide a lump sum or regular incomes to be paid to a nominated partner when you retire or die. However some policies only provide this to legally married couples or civil partnerships. So, if you are a cohabiting couple, you need to check your policy document or check with your provider. Contact your solicitor to make a will, outlining provisions for your surviving partner and family. If you are a union member, check if your union offers a wills service for free.

17 Stage One: Planning for your baby s arrival 15 Get advice from your solicitor/free legal Advice Centre (FLAC) (if you are buying a home), on which type of home ownership to choose. This will impact on your ability to pass on your share of your home to your partner (or other people) should you die. You can get more information on the Citizens Information site My to-do list If employed, talk to my employer about the impact of maternity leave/adoptive leave on pay, pension and other benefits. Check out my entitlements from the Department of Social Protection on Keep a spending diary. Complete an income and expense check. Draw up a budget (and include a plan for my period of unpaid leave, if taking it). Work out if I should/can pay off some debts. Start a savings plan. Make a plan to top up my pension benefits if I need to. Stagger spending on big items like baby equipment. Search for good deals.

18 16 Baby Steps Stage Two: Money matters when you have children As your family grows and your children get older, the more they cost to feed, clothe, educate and entertain. You may also need childcare and when your children go to school there will be many expenses to take care of. Careful planning will pay off and help you to manage your money and stay in control.

19 17 Stage Two: Money matters when you have children Money planning Creating your family budget plan and managing new expenses There are many predictable expenses that come with having young children, such as nappies, equipment, childcare and school expenses, which you will need to work into your family budget. So it s a good time to review your finances by completing a spending diary and an income and expense check before you work out a new budget. Make sure to keep your budget up-to-date as your children grow and their needs change. Tip! Include a review of your overall household spending our economiser tool on works out what you are spending compared to other households on key areas such as groceries, energy and mobile phones, as well as helpful tips on how to cut back. Our cost comparisons on compare.nca.ie compare banking products from the main providers and show you how you can make savings. Get the best value and don t pay more than you have to. You may also be able to negotiate discounts, particularly on insurance products.

20 18 Baby Steps A new addition can make it harder to keep control over your budget, so to help you: Use a weekly budget plan to help avoid unplanned spending; Stagger your spend on annual and occasional expenses like birthdays, Christmas, school uniforms and books, holidays, car and house insurance, car tax etc; Review your non-essential spending if you need to cut back, making small adjustments in a number of areas can add up and make a real difference see pages 11-12; Compare grocery and other costs across providers take advantage of promotional offers but only if they reduce your shopping bill; Teach your young children good money habits and help them to see the difference between wanting and needing things (see page 45 for more details); and Limit yourself to one credit card, and always avoid using credit to meet day-to-day expenses unless you know when you will be able to pay it off (for example, if pay-day is just around the corner). Tip! If you don t have the resources to meet your family s day-to-day expenses without using a loan or credit card, you could be facing serious debt problems in the future. If you need help see pages

21 Stage Two: Money matters when you have children 19 Preparing for unexpected emergencies When you have a family it s more important than ever for you to build up an emergency fund to cope with unexpected expenses such as doctor s bills or significant car/home repairs. Having some money put away could get your family through some hard times if you lost your job or were unable to work because of illness or disability. Aim to build up 3 months salary or more if you can, to tide you over. Think about putting some money into a savings account with an interest rate that matches or beats the rate of inflation and resist the temptation to dip into it. Use your budget planner to help you identify where and how much you can afford to save. Use our regular savings cost comparison on compare.nca.ie to compare current rates and offers from the main providers in the Irish market. Saving and investment for life goals In Stage 1, your main saving goal was to set aside enough money to pay for once-off baby related expenses. When you have your child, your next goal may be to save for occasional expenses such as birthdays, Christmas, back-to-school or plan for your child s future. If you can, try to start now, by saving even small amounts every week or month, as it will lessen the burden in the future.

22 20 Baby Steps Before you start to save, you need to decide how much you can afford to put aside and for how long. The budget you have prepared (see page 66) will help you see how much is left over to put away. You can then set about drawing up your savings plan. To do this, you need to decide on your savings goals. Examples of goals for new parents are detailed below: Short Term Save for once off baby related expenses (equipment and necessities) Save for medical expenses Save for bigger car 0 to 3 years Medium Term Long Term Save for home renovations 3 to 10 Save for starting school costs, books, uniforms, years etc Save for children s third level education Pay into a pension to save for retirement income 10 years and over Once you know what your goals are, work out how much it will cost. Once you have drawn up a budget plan you can work out how long it will take you to build up the amount of money you need and what you need to do to get it. For example, you may need to start a regular savings plan, or adjust some other spending so that you can pay extra off a loan each week or month and clear it more quickly. If you decide to start a regular savings plan take a look at our regular savings accounts cost comparisons at compare.nca.ie/regularsavingsaccount to help you decide on what product suits you best.

23 Stage Two: Money matters when you have children 21 Tip! You should check out the information on If you find it difficult to discipline yourself to put money aside, you might consider using a standing order to pay into a separate savings account so you don t have to think about it. Borrowing money and using credit wisely Having a family can be a strain on your finances, so it s not hard to imagine why some families take on extra debt. But there are some questions you should think about before you decide to borrow. Some questions to think about before you borrow Do you need it? How much can you afford? How much can you borrow from your lender? How long should you borrow for? Complete our 5 step plan to control your finances which is detailed on pages 6-7. You may simply need to readjust your finances by changing your spending habits and saving a small amount regularly. Your new budget plan will help you work out how much you can afford to repay. Think about whether you could still afford to meet the repayments if you or your partner s circumstances changed and you had to cope on a lower income. This will depend on your income and job security, whether you have savings, your credit rating, if you are borrowing on your own or with someone else and if someone will act as guarantor for you. Match the term of your loan with its purpose. For example, aim to pay back a holiday loan before your next holiday.

24 22 Baby Steps What are the cheapest forms of credit and loans? What are the cheapest forms of credit and loans? How will you plan your repayments? Are you borrowing to meet your family s day-today expenses? Do you fully understand the terms and conditions of the credit or loan? Check out our website to get more information on the main types of credit available and the costs and benefits of each. Check out our website to get more information on the main types of credit available and the costs and benefits of each. Use our personal loan calculator on to work out the cost of loans with different rates and terms. Make sure to adjust the family budget to incorporate repayments. Credit cards and loans are generally not suitable for funding day-to-day expenses, unless you know when and how you can pay them off. Make sure you understand how much interest you will be charged and what could happen if you miss or are late with repayments. Note! If you miss repayments, fail to clear a loan or credit card or settle a loan for less than you owe, it will show up on your credit record for five years after the loan is closed. This may affect your ability to get a loan in the future or could force you to borrow from lenders who charge higher interest rates. You can request a copy of your credit record for a small fee by contacting the Irish Credit Bureau (see If there is a mistake on your credit history you can request that your lender corrects it.

25 Stage Two: Money matters when you have children 23 Money worries It is not something that anyone wants to think about, but if something unexpected were to happen to you or your partner, wouldn t you like to know that your family would be looked after financially? The following section relates to information you may need if your circumstances have changed due to a drop in income, bereavement, separation etc. You might not have the need to read this information now, but keep it as a handy reference, should you need it another time. Dealing with a drop in income Your income might fall for many reasons and you may be facing uncertainty about what the future holds, however you can take control of your finances to prepare for a sudden drop in income if the worst happens. Our Family budgeting section on pages and our information on may help you think about ways to cut your spending, prioritise your bills and maximise your income.

26 24 Baby Steps Tip! Check if you have Mortgage Repayment Protection or Payment Protection Insurance. This may cover some or all of your mortgage or loan repayments for a certain time (usually a year) if you re unable to work due to an accident, sickness, hospitalisation or compulsory redundancy. If you are having difficulty making ends meet there is support available. Contact your lender as soon as possible if you re having difficulty meeting loan or mortgage repayments. There are options that you can discuss which make your loan repayments more expensive in the long term but more manageable in the short term such as payment breaks, interest only or other lower payments; or increasing the term of your loan/mortgage. See pages for more information on the Central Bank Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP). Use our Managing your money section on managing-your-money for tips on managing your money. You can get career advice and practical information about employment from FÁS on If you have serious debt problems, have a look at the Dealing with debt section on the next page which includes an action plan telling you where to start.

27 Stage Two: Money matters when you have children 25 Dealing with debt The strain of dealing with debt can have a very bad effect on family life. The most important thing to do is to take control as early as possible and the action plan below tells you where to start. Action Plan Step 1 Make a list of all your current debts List your debts in order of priority, starting with your mortgage or rent, and utility bills. You need to pay these first because you could be at risk of losing your home, being evicted or your gas or electricity may be disconnected. Then look at your other debts such as credit card debt, overdrafts and personal loans. List your debts in order of the highest annual percentage rates (APR). The rates should be on your statements. The highest APR loans should be paid after your mortgage or rent and utility bills.

28 26 Baby Steps Action Plan Contd. Step 2 Make a new budget/check your entitlements Revisit our Sorting out your money section on page 5 this will help you work out how much you can afford to repay each week or month and how you can spread your money to get more from it. Make sure you are claiming all that you are entitled to. If your circumstances have changed since having a family, for example cutting back on work to look after the new baby, redundancy or short-time working, you may be eligible for mortgage interest supplement, family income supplement, other occupation related tax relief and more. The following websites are good starting points: Revenue Commissioners Department of Social Protection Citizens Information Board Step 3 Contact your lenders to discuss your options If you are worried about your repayments, contact your lender as soon as you can to explain your situation. Have all of your facts and figures to hand including your list of debts, rates and how much you still owe. Outline to your lenders how much you can afford to repay each week or month using your family budget. Discuss options your lender may allow including: debt consolidation, payment breaks, or extending the term of your loan. This will make your loan more expensive in the long term, but it will make things more manageable for you in the short term. Read up on the options then contact your lender immediately.

29 Stage Two: Money matters when you have children 27 If you are in home mortgage arrears If you are having difficulties meeting your mortgage repayments or think you will in the near future, your first step should be to contact your lender as soon as possible to discuss your situation. Your lender must have a specially trained person in each branch to deal with your case and any meetings between you and your lender to discuss your situation must be conducted in private. If you would feel more comfortable and need some support, bring a relative or friend with you to discuss your mortgage arrears situation with your lender. Since 1 January 2011, all lenders must have a Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP) in place. This sets out how your lender must communicate with you, provide information to you, assess your mortgage arrears situation, come to a resolution and manage appeals. Your lender must give you a copy of the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process which is a booklet of related information, or refer you to their online information. You can get more information on the Central Bank of Ireland s website, Your mortgage lender will: ask you to complete a standard financial statement with your information; and assess your case (through your lender s Arrears Support Unit) and decide whether or not to offer you an alternative repayment arrangement.

30 28 Baby Steps If they do not offer you an alternative repayment arrangement your mortgage lender must notify you of: the reasons why in writing; other options available to you; your right to appeal to your lender s Appeals Board. If you cannot pay a car finance or car loan If you are having problems making your car repayments, your options depend on what type of finance agreement you have. Your ability to end the agreement and how much you owe will also depend on how much you have already paid off. You can get more information on your options on Where can you go if you have serious debt problems? If you find yourself struggling with debts, you may need help in trying to regain control as quickly as possible. The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is Government-funded, and is the only impartial, free, independent and fully confidential service in Ireland, providing one-to-one advice to people struggling with debt.

31 Stage Two: Money matters when you have children 29 The MABS process for dealing with debt is widely recognised for being comprehensive and fair in working with clients to manage their commitments. For more information: log onto MABS website, call their helpline on ; or drop in to one of their 53 offices nationwide to speak to a MABS advisor. There are other organisations that can offer you support if you are in emotional distress, including the Samaritans. For more information: Log on to Call Commercial debt advice or debt management companies These are commercial companies that can try to re-negotiate lower loan repayments with your creditors on your behalf in exchange for a fee. These fees can be high and could make your situation worse. They do not require permission to operate and are not regulated (correct at the time of print). Any money you give to a debt management company is not protected. Note! Debt advice firms cannot guarantee a successful outcome for your case. They can only negotiate on your behalf. Even if you are paying fees to a debt management company, your lender could still progress your case through the usual legal channels if you continue to default on your loans.

32 30 Baby Steps One parent families If you are a lone parent, managing money can be more difficult. You may prefer to stop working or go part time using parental leave when you have children, or you may have little choice. But there is help available to deal with the financial pressures you may be facing. Budgeting With only one income, having a realistic and well-planned budget is even more essential. Making a budget and sticking to it will enable you to pay close attention to how you spend money to make sure you have taken steps to take care of day-to-day needs and longer term financial goals. There are lots of useful money saving tips included in Stage 1 of this guide on pages Benefits and entitlements As a single parent, you are entitled to a range of benefits and allowances, depending on your circumstances. Log on to or for more information and see our useful Action Plan on the next page.

33 Stage Two: Money matters when you have children 31 Action Plan Check out your entitlements Are you are claiming all the tax entitlements you can? You may be entitled to benefits which you are not claiming, such as those listed below: One-Parent Family Payment (OFP). Family Income Supplement. Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme (ECCE). Fuel Allowance. Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme. Medical card. GP visit card. The Parenting alone section of the Citizens Information website and the Department of Social and Family Affairs website have full information on what benefits and entitlements you are entitled to claim as a lone parent. If you are finding it difficult to meet the extra costs of your kids returning to school, you may be entitled to a back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance. This can include mortgage interest relief, union subs, medical costs, annual transport tickets etc. The Revenue website is a good starting point, or contact your local Citizens Information Centre. You may also be entitled to back-claim for previous years.

34 32 Baby Steps Action Plan Contd. Have you sought maintenance from your child s other parent? In most cases, it is the parent with main custody of the child who may look for child maintenance. If you and your child s other parent cannot come to an agreement about maintenance you may apply to the court to order the other parent to pay child support. You can contact your nearest Citizens Information Centre for more information or log onto The Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC) have produced a number of useful information leaflets which can be downloaded from the FLAC website Getting help There are a number of organisations out there that can help with information, advice and support services if you are a lone parent: OPEN The national network of one-parent family support groups. OPEN assists member groups in providing information, services and supports for one-parent families. Telephone:

35 Stage Two: Money matters when you have children 33 Onefamily Provides direct training, support and information to one-parent families. They also lobby policymakers to ensure equality for oneparent families in Ireland. If you are concerned about anything, from social welfare to parenting issues, or you are thinking about getting back to education or work, get in touch for advice and support. Besides offering a listening ear, they can also refer you to local services in your area. LoCall: info@onefamily.ie Treoir The national federation of both statutory and voluntary agencies, which provide information and other services for unmarried parents. Their information pack is available to download at or may be ordered free of charge from Treoir. The pack provides key information on guardianship, access, custody, being single and pregnant, one-parent family payment and cohabiting parents. LoCall: Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC) Provides legal information to the public including access to free legal advice centres and legal information leaflets explaining such issues as separation, maintenance, wills, probate, enduring power of attorney and maternity leave. LoCall:

36 34 Baby Steps Separation/Divorce Separation and divorce can have huge implications for your personal finances, including: dividing assets and debts; managing post-divorce budget (including child maintenance); reviewing retirement benefits/life insurance/health insurance; and updating your will to revise beneficiaries etc. Tackling your finances as soon as possible can help you take a positive step towards getting your life back on track. Consider the following steps: Action Plan Make mortgage matters a priority Complete a financial health check Contact a solicitor for advice on dividing your home, dealing with mortgage issues and dividing the contents of your home. If you want to stay in the house and take over the mortgage by yourself, you will need to apply for a mortgage in your own name. It is not possible for the other party to just take themselves off the mortgage and you both are liable for the mortgage even if one person moves out/stops paying. If your home is in negative equity, you need to discuss your options with your former partner and your lender. You will need to complete a personal finance overhaul now that your circumstances have changed. Use the Sorting out your money section in Stage 1, page 5 to help you.

37 Stage Two: Money matters when you have children 35 Action Plan Contd. Make a proper budget You will need to get used to new income and spending patterns. To help, review your family budget and make changes to manage your post-divorce budget. Revisit the section on our family budgeting section on page 17 for help on drawing up a revised budget. Splitting your joint finances Sort out maintenance payments Review your insurance and other policies If you have a joint bank account, the first thing you will need to do is pay off any outstanding household bills from this account. You also need to agree whether you will close your joint account and split any money in it, or whether one of you will keep the account. If you are going to keep the account open, contact your bank in writing asking them to change the account into one name. Both parties will have to sign this letter. In most cases, it is the parent with main custody of the child who may look for child maintenance. If you and your child s other parent cannot come to an agreement about maintenance you may apply to the court to order the other parent to pay child support. It s also a good idea to review your insurance policies as you may need to amend an existing policy or take out a new one. For example, if you have a joint life insurance policy, you will need to consider if you still need it and decide how you pay the premiums.

38 36 Baby Steps Action Plan Contd. Dealing with your debts Consider any outstanding non-mortgage debts that you and your former partner hold jointly, including any credit cards, loans or car finance agreements. Talk to your solicitor if you need to. If your debts are in joint names, you are jointly responsible for them and missing repayments will affect your credit rating. List out all the debts and decide who is to pay what. Contact the lenders and let them know what you have decided to do. If debts are not met, a lender can take you both to court. The Family Mediation Service offers support to separating couples in negotiating an agreement for separation, including the financial aspects such as maintenance as well as a shared parenting plan. See the information on family mediation service under the Services section on The Citizens Information website also has a section on separation and divorce which has information including legal options following marital breakdown, applying for divorce, family home, guardianship and a lot more. You can get more information on personal finances and your rights on our site

39 Stage Two: Money matters when you have children 37 Illness/Family bereavement Unfortunately, family illness and bereavement requires making financial decisions. Find out what assistance is available to you to help you through this difficult time. Family illness If you or your partner is faced with illness, you should consider taking the following steps: Action Plan Check out your entitlements Find out whether you are entitled to some of the following benefits or assistance: Medical Card GP Visit Card Mobility/disability allowance Invalidity pension Illness/injury/health and safety benefit Drugs payment scheme Long term illness scheme Treatment benefit scheme Contact the Department of Social Protection to find out what types of social insurance and social assistance you may be entitled to if a family member is sick. You can also get information from your local Social Welfare Office.

40 38 Baby Steps Action Plan Contd. Insurance If you or your partner have become ill or had an accident, check through your insurance policies to see if you can make a claim that will pay out a lump sum for the type of illness (for example critical/serious illness cover) or that will provide a taxable income if you can no longer work due to illness (for example income protection/ permanent health insurance). You should also let the insurance company know of any changes to your or your partner s medical condition, as it may affect any claim you might need to make. If you are travelling, check your policy you may have medical cover. Pension Some employers provide an enhanced illhealth pension for their employees if they have to retire early due to bad health you should check with your employer what your entitlements are. Check your retirement benefits they may be lower because your contributions to your pension are stopping early and the money in your pension fund will have to last longer. You may be able to draw on your personal retirement savings account (PRSA) or personal pension plan if your situation is more permanent.

41 Stage Two: Money matters when you have children 39 Action Plan Contd. Working while caring for an ill relative Find out if your employer can help you, for example by allowing you to work flexibly. You may be entitled to Carer s leave or special leave arrangements. Tax Dealing with family finances Check to make sure you are paying the right tax. Contact the Revenue Commissioners on (list of lo-call local numbers available on their website). Notify the Revenue Commissioners of any changes to your situation. For example if your partner is ill and can no longer work, this may affect how much tax you pay. You may have to manage on a lower or single income, if you or your partner is unable to work due to illness. Use the section on Family budgeting on page 17 for help on drawing up a new budget. Tip! The Citizens Information website has a dedicated Health section that has lots of information on healthcare in Ireland and includes information on children s health.

42 40 Baby Steps Family bereavement The Citizens Information Board has an information guide on bereavement which deals with the practical and material matters that arise following a death and a list of agencies that may be able to help you with support and counselling. The table below outlines some things to consider during this difficult time. Action Plan Make sure you can access your accounts Assess the tax implications Contact solicitor and executors to administer the estate If the deceased person s money is in a joint account it is easier to get access, although you may have to await the grant of probate. Money in other personal accounts are usually part of the deceased s estate and are distributed in the normal way. If your partner dies you will need to let Revenue know as it may affect how much tax you pay. The executor or administrator of your partner s estate will sort out the deceased person s tax affairs. Contact Revenue on (list of lo-call local numbers available on their website). Contact solicitors directly about the deceased person s estate. has information on the rights a person may have to a portion of the deceased person s estate. This depends on whether or not they have made a will. See page 56 for more information on wills and estate planning.

43 Stage Two: Money matters when you have children 41 Action Plan Contd. Rework your family finances Look at the list of family bills and other day to day matters to ensure everything is covered, if certain financial affairs were previously looked after by your partner. Review your insurance cover to make sure you and/or your family still have appropriate cover through existing policies. Take out new insurance cover where needed. Check the Department of Social Protection website or your local Social Welfare Office to make sure you are receiving all the financial assistance/benefits you are entitled to. They can include: bereavement grant; death benefits under the Occupational Injuries Scheme; payment for six weeks after death; and payments for widowed people When you have the time, you should revisit the family budget and work out a new budget to take account of your changed circumstances. Use the section on Family budgeting on page 17 earlier in this stage for help on drawing up a revised budget. Review your Life Insurance policy If an insurance policy names you as the beneficiary, then you may claim it directly from the insurance company. You will need a death certificate. If there is no named beneficiary, then the proceeds of the policy form part of the overall estate of the deceased and are distributed with the other assets.

44 42 Baby Steps Action Plan Contd. Check any occupational and personal pensions If the deceased was a member of an occupational pension scheme, you should contact the employer or former employer or the scheme administrators to find out if there is a pension for the spouse and/or children. If the deceased had a personal pension, the value of their plan passes on to their estate for the benefit of their dependents, depending on the rules of the plan. You can get more information on pensions on or on the Pensions Board website My to-do list Revise your family budget. Start a weekly/monthly saving plan, including an emergency fund. Start planning to protect you and your family against drop in income, illness, bereavement or other changes in family circumstances.

45 Stage Two: Money matters when you have children 43

46 44 Baby Steps Stage Three: Planning for your child s future When you have a family looking ahead and planning your finances into the future is more important than ever. This stage of the guide gives you some pointers about the importance of planning to protect and provide for your own and your family s future.

47 45 Stage Three: Planning for your child s future Teaching your child good money values If you can, take the time to teach your children how money works, why to save it, and how to make the best of it just as we have outlined in Stages 1 and 2. By doing this you are passing down important information that will instil good attitudes and money habits from a young age. Make it relevant to them in practical ways, for example: Show them how to save for a bike or computer game. Get them to estimate how much it is and how long it would take to save for it, based on how much they get for pocket money. Have a look at the saving goal technique on pages to help you. While it can be hard to say no at times, try to encourage your children to see the difference between what they need and what they want, helping them to spend wisely. When your children are old enough, you could involve them in discussions about household budgeting decisions and how to prioritise between what is most important and those things that are optional. Make sure you do this in a way that is positive and does not cause them worry. Any good habits that you pass on to your children will help them become money smart and this will benefit them enormously throughout their lives. It will also pay off for you by managing their expectations as they grow up and as they reach their teens.