Maternity Leave Money Planner 2026/27

How long can you afford to be on maternity leave? Find out for £6: every week of Statutory Maternity Pay or your employer's scheme turned into monthly take-home pay, set against your bills, with the month your savings would run out (if they do) and how much to save before leave. Google Sheets and Excel, plus a printable workbook.

Enter your due date, leave dates, pay and your employer's scheme (full pay, half pay, or half pay plus SMP). SMP is worked out for you: 90% of your average weekly earnings for 6 weeks, then £194.32 a week (or 90% if that's lower), then any unpaid weeks.

What you get:

- Dashboard: can we afford it, the lowest monthly household income, the month savings would run out, and any extra to save before leave

- Weekly pay and Monthly plan: weekly pay turned into monthly amounts, with tax, National Insurance, pension and student loan estimates

- Budget: your bills on leave, monthly baby costs, your partner's pay and Child Benefit (£27.05 a week, added automatically)

- Baby kit list: new, second-hand or gift, with a running total

- Return to work: compare going back 3, 4 or 5 days after nursery costs, funded hours and Tax-Free Childcare

- Key dates from your due date: qualifying week, MATB1 and notice deadlines

- Printable A4 workbook and a START-HERE guide

Works with: Google Sheets and Excel. For employed parents in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

FAQ

Can I compare 26, 39 and 52 weeks off? Yes. Change the weeks of leave and everything updates.

Is this financial advice? No. It's an estimate to help you plan. Rates were checked against GOV.UK in October 2026.

Pairs well with: the Bills & Budget Planner (£7) for your monthly bills: payhip.com/b/JGDzk

Free tools: maternity pay calculator: tidylife-tools.pages.dev/maternity-pay-calculator/ · new baby costs: tidylife-tools.pages.dev/new-baby-costs-uk/

Also in the 13-template bundle for £19: payhip.com/b/D7IUA

If a file won't open or isn't as described, message us and we'll send a fixed file or a refund.

Made with help from your friendly neighbourhood AI.