By: Katrina Deciding whether cloth diapers or disposable diapers are right for your baby budget takes some research. The more you plan the better you will be able to make informed decisions before your baby arrives. Easier said than done, I know I was once in that position and with so much information in books and online it’s hard to figure things out. Sometimes testing out products is the way to go and the only way you will know what’s right for you and your baby. That’s probably why I like to get free product samples because it gives me a chance to use products before I purchase them. Just don’t give up as easy as I did when it comes to deciding on which diapers to choose. When the pregnancy test confirms you are pregnant all sorts of new emotions and thoughts scatter in you mind because you now have to think about a baby. A couple of weeks after my son was born my mom convinced me to give cloth diapers a try. We went to a local baby store to research the cost of cloth diapers and more about how they might work for my baby. I learned one […]
Surviving A Lower Income On Maternity Leave In Canada
Most parents-to-be struggle with the thought of living on a lowered income or some put off having a baby altogether for fear they can’t afford a child. I survived two pregnancies and two maternity leaves and made it through the after baby financial changes to our net income. I also have to mention that my marriage survived as well. You are laughing?? Just imagine, in a matter of seconds, you have more expenses and a lower-income. I am not going to lie, this is probably going to be the hardest thing you have done in your life. Lack of sleep, no time to eat or take a shower, not to mention the financial worries but I am proud to add, an enormous sense of accomplishment. I like to think that the worst is now behind me. There are so many things I wish I knew before I had kids but here I am now and I will share with you some of my precious findings. Here are some tips on how to enjoy parenthood instead of worrying about your finances and your sanity. What are EI parental benefits? EI parental benefits are offered to parents who are caring for […]
Making Money on Parental Leave In Canada
Can I make money while on Parental and Maternity leave? This is a frequent question my Canadian Budget Binder fans want to know. So, I went to Mom Expert Sarah Deveau, Author of Money Smart Mom to share the inside scoop for our fellow Canadians wanting to learn about making some extra money while they are off work caring for their new bundle(s) of joy. Parental Leave Earnings Here’s what Sarah has to say…. If you’ve just had a baby and are living on the reduced income of employment insurance maternity or parental leave payments, you might be wondering how to bring in extra income. If you earn income while on the maternity leave portion of the benefit (the first 15 weeks), your earnings will be deducted dollar for dollar from your benefits. If you work while you’re receiving the parental leave benefit, after the first 15 weeks, in the past you’ve been allowed to earn $75 per week or 40% of your weekly benefits, whichever is higher. Any income earned above that amount will be deducted dollar for dollar from your benefits. However, due to the new Working While on Claim (WWC) pilot project, once you have served the waiting period, if your earnings are equal […]
