Babies are expensive, and if you or your partner cut back on work, you’ll have less money coming in. But a little planning can help you keep on top of things. Our Budgeting and baby calculator can help you work out your new budget.

If you’re working, you may be entitled to statutory maternity or paternity pay from your employer. Your company may pay you more than the legal minimum, so find out what they offer. If you don’t qualify for statutory maternity pay there are other allowances available.

Having a baby can put a strain on your budget. But there are a number of benefits and tax credits to help you before and after the baby arrives, so see what’s available.

It’s important to look after your health as well as your money when you’re expecting a baby. You may be able to get a one-off payment to help you stay well and healthy, and to meet extra costs during the later stages of your pregnancy.

This is a savings or investment account for children born on or after 1 September 2002. They will get a £250 voucher, which you, the parent, can choose how to invest. The account belongs to your child, and can’t be touched until they turn 18.

Parents, family and friends can pay up to a certain limit each year into the account, and the government will add another £250 when your child is seven.

You can start a savings account or investment (a friendly-society account, unit trust or stakeholder pension) for your child as soon as they are born. They generally work in the same way as adults’ accounts, but some are specially designed for children.

Now that you’ll have someone depending on you, you may want to think about putting some money away for their, or even your own, future. There are different types of savings and investments to choose from, depending on what you’re saving for, and some let you receive your interest tax free. You can compare savings accounts on our impartial savings tables.

If you’re not paying National Insurance contributions because you’re bringing up children or caring for someone, you may be able to get Home Responsibilities Protection to protect your State Pension.

For information on women's pensions, call The Women's Pensions Helpline on 0845 600 0806.

If you’ve been unemployed, or employed but on a low income, you might need to make up the gaps in your contribution record to get more State Pension.

Breaks from work or reduced hours could cut your eventual work pension. Depending on the type of pension scheme you belong to, you may be able to continue making contributions while you’re not at work, so check with your scheme.

If you have a personal or stakeholder pension, you can still contribute to it even though you’re not working.

It's always a good idea to have some savings that you can dip into in an emergency. Shop around to get a good deal but make sure that you can get at your money when you need it.

You may want to think about taking out insurance to provide for your family if you become ill or lose your job. But make sure you know what it covers. For example your insurer may not pay out if you have a pre-existing chronic medical condition that you did not tell them about when you took out the policy. Also find out how much the policy will pay out and how long for.

It’s not nice to think about, but how would your family cope financially if you died? You might want to consider taking out life insurance. This pays out a lump sum or an income when the person insured dies.

There are also other types of insurance you may wish to consider to cover your health, travel abroad or dental costs. But make sure you know what’s covered and what isn’t.

It’s easy to put off making a will, but it’s important to make sure your family will be provided for if anything happened to you. You also need to think about who would look after any children under 18, if something happened to you and your partner.

If you're thinking of returning to work for at least 16 hours a week and would like a rough idea of whether you'll lose or gain financially, check out our Return to work and Childcare calculators.

If you decide to go back to work there may be help available, depending on your circumstances.