subject: The Financial Squeeze is felt by new mums [print this page] The Financial Squeeze is felt by new mums
Recently released Government data indicates that new mums are finding it impossible to spend the time they would like to with their new born child due to the financial need to return to work too soon after they have given birth
The data shows that the number of stay at home mothers has dropped to just over 2 million with around 50,000 stay at home mothers returning to work this year alone. These figures mean that the number of stay at home mums has reached an all time low
This sudden rush to return to work is a result of the financial difficulties that families through-out the United Kingdom face under the current economic conditions and more specifically due to the general rise in the cost of everyday living and also the burden of Mortgage payments. Quite simply, many new mothers simply cannot afford the reduction in income that comes as a result of stopping work in order to look after a child
The decision to return to work is not an easy one for most mothers in both emotional and financial terms. Many mothers fear that the reduction in time they will be able to spend with their child if they return to work will have a negative effect on both their relationship with their child and even their child's development. Financially mothers find it exceptionally difficult to balance the benefits of returning to work and generating an income with the high cost of child care that their return to work will force them to meet
Further to recent findings it is expected that the number of stay at home mothers will fall even further once the planned changes to child benefit take effect from 2013.
The impact of the changes to the numbers of stay at home mums and of course the changes to child benefits remain the focus of Government officials and of course the general public and will do so for some time to come.
With new mothers being forced to return to the work place or face severe financial difficulties, competition for jobs may become even fiercer and may even force a higher level of unemployment in other demographics. This will not be welcome news to the millions of people who are already struggling to find work
Mothers who return to work due to financial pressures will of course be extremely relieved by the reduction in financial pressure which they are subjected to as a result of the extra income that their return to work will enable them to generate. However, it is also likely that many of these new mothers will be very concerned about the consequences of their return to work in respect of the time they are able to spend with their child
In truth, the financial impact of such changes may be relatively easy and quick for all to see. However, the long term consequences of these changes that the future generation will have to bear may take a while longer to register
