I would like some practical tips on managing my finance

It can feel very overwhelming if your baby is on a neonatal unit and you are also worrying about how to manage your finances. Find out more below.

Or take a step back to I need help with feeling worried about my finances

What can I do to keep on top of my finances?

There are some practical steps you can take to manage your money whilst you're on the unit. This could make things easier for you in the long-term.

The first step can be to identify what is worrying you most about your money. Finding some time to go through your finances, bills and expenses could help you feel more on top of things, and could save time as well as worry in the long-run.

This can be hard to do alone and it can help to talk to someone. There's lots of free support for this, take a look at the options below.

We have some links to national advice and support organisations, but there are also often sources of support working locally too. Usually it is okay for a friend or family member to get advice on your behalf.

Free budget planner

There is a useful free budget planner on the StepChange website. The website provides some tips on managing your money as well as a free downloadable budget planner that you can use to manage your money and track your outgoings.

StepChange is a charity that provides advice and support on debt problems.

Who else can I talk to?

You can ask any of the staff on the neonatal unit as they might also have some suggestions on where to go for support and they will be used to these types of questions. They will be happy to help, and know that you being less stressed about money is good for you and your baby.

We understand that not everyone would feel comfortable talking about their finances with someone they don't know. It's a personal and individual choice and there may be another family member, friend or member of your community such as through a faith group who could support you with ideas and suggestions.

How to cope with the stress of worrying about my finances

It can be very easy and understandable to find it so overwhelming that you just stop dealing with your financial situation altogether. Or maybe with everything going on you just simply don't have the time, whilst your baby is in hospital.

You might find it harder to keep track of your spending, or find yourself using credit cards more than normal, or not opening bills, emails or letters from your bank.

It's really important to be aware of this and try to find ways to address it sooner rather than later. Financial worries can have a huge impact on your mental health and addressing them will give you the support and space you need to focus on your baby.

There's further information on the main Bliss website about parents on the neonatal unit and how it can affect mental health that you might find useful.

It's really important to reach out for help if you need it. You are having to deal with a stressful situation and it's completely normal to need some extra support in place even if you have never needed it before.

Do you need help with something else?