Hi, I am a young mom of a gorgeous 9 month old girl. My fiance and I recently found out we are pregnant again...something we definately did not expect. Normally this is a time to be excited but for us it has been hard to think of all the good when we are stressing about money. I am currently on maternity and parental leave from my full time job. My soon to be hubby works full time as well. We barely are making it month to month at the moment with my maternity leave and are very worried about what will happen once it runs out in May. I am 2 months along with baby #2 and because I had a very difficult pregnancy and very premature birth of the first baby the doctor does not want me to work.  
We do not know what to do. In order for me to receive a maternity leave and benefits a second time I will have to go back to work now to accumulate the 600 hours needed to qualify. But now I have my doctor telling me not to work. We barely make it every month with his wage and my maternity benefits as it is. We do NOT have a lot of luxuries, and do not treat ourselves often. We live in a very overpriced 2 bed apartment (like they all are in brandon) and pay our normal bills, and insurance for our 1 vehicle, groceries, student loans etc. We wont be able to make all of our payments with only my fiances wage.  
We are searching high and low for a cheaper place to live, but everything we have come across is more expensive than where we are.  
Are there any benefits or aids out there for situations like this? I am planning on going down to Service Canada this afternoon to talk to them and see if there is anything that we can do.  
Any help would be really appreciated! thanks so much.

You could try and get into mb housing...it goes according to your income. Hope all goes well for you!!!

you can defer student loan payments until you go back to work, that should save you a little bit of cash. Talk to the nice ladies down at the loan office...they can get you all the paper work you need

I had my first son, and did not make enough hours before i had my second. And sorry to say when i went looking for help, there was nothing they could do. if you don't have the hours, you get no pay. Only thing is that your child tax payments will go up.

take a look into the Shelter Benefit. I would also apply for MB housing, but this can help you out while you're waiting.  
 
http://www.gov.mb.ca/fs/housing/shelterbenefit.html#content

I live in a 2 bedroom right now and i'm moving at the end of the month, my rent is 700 and theres on site laundry and a dishwasher and lots of storage. pm me for my landlords number!

You are entitled to 15 wks sick leave... You need a doc note for proof... Unless you used it int he first pregnancy?? But if not, you could have it switched to sick pay, then switched back...  
 
You guys could also apply to family services fro undue hardship... they will give you a little more money per month, but I do believe its owed back.  
 
 
I also think that you should call manitoba housing to see about getting into a cheaper place.  
 
Good luck!

does you hubby do? would you look at moving outside of brandon? there are houses for rent w/in an hr of brandon for under 400. in my small town a couple of moms work in the daycare and have their kids with them, for after baby is born.  
 

If you are interested in Mb housing you have to apply soon. There is a long wait list. I had to wait for 7 months to get a house. I had to go back to work and if your income is low enough you will qualify for childcare subisidy which helps so much. Your child tax will increase alot if your income is very low. Plus there are extra tax benefits and credits you can apply for. IF you just talk to the people at the Service canada building they can help you. Good luck

Turn off cell, cable, internet. Maybe sell the car and take public transit for a few months.

Have you applied for Healthy Baby? It is a program through the Manitoba Government. Depending on what your income is you may qualify for a little bit of extra money through them while you are pregnant. The link is:  
 
http://www.gov.mb.ca/healthychild/healthybaby/index.html

take in a child or two to care for in your home? That might increase your income a bit?  
 
you won't believe how little you can live on when you have too. It will all be worth it in the end things will get better! And after this second baby you may find that daycare for 2 just isn't worth going back to work.

TEN said "Turn off cell, cable, internet. Maybe sell the car and take public transit for a few months. "

not a good suggestion when you have a little one and one on the way. I cannot tell you how many late night trips to Shoppers or even the emerg because of sick kids. Not a fun prospect to lug kids on a bus late at night (do Brandon buses even run at nigh?)  
I think it is easy for some people to call a car a luxury, but in this climate and for the above reasons already mentioned, a car is not a luxury.

Your husband would qualify for paternity leave if you were willing to go back to work and leave the kids home with him. Hard I know, just a thought.

annoyed said "    TEN said "Turn off cell, cable, internet. Maybe sell the car and take public transit for a few months. " not a good suggestion when you have a little one and one on the way. I cannot tell you how many late night trips to Shoppers or even the emerg because of sick kids. Not a fun prospect to lug kids on a bus late at night (do Brandon buses even run at nigh?)   I think it is easy for some people to call a car a luxury, but in this climate and for the above reasons already mentioned, a car is not a luxury. "

I wouldn't have made that suggestion if my wife and I hadn't been there and done that ourselves. I know it is easier to make excuses why we cant do something and look for ways to get "free money", rather than give up some of the things we deem as essentials these days. We have become a very spoiled society.

TEN said "    annoyed said "    TEN said "Turn off cell, cable, internet. Maybe sell the car and take public transit for a few months. " not a good suggestion when you have a little one and one on the way. I cannot tell you how many late night trips to Shoppers or even the emerg because of sick kids. Not a fun prospect to lug kids on a bus late at night (do Brandon buses even run at nigh?)   I think it is easy for some people to call a car a luxury, but in this climate and for the above reasons already mentioned, a car is not a luxury. " I wouldn't have made that suggestion if my wife and I hadn't been there and done that ourselves. I know it is easier to make excuses why we cant do something and look for ways to get "free money", rather than give up some of the things we deem as essentials these days. We have become a very spoiled society. "

I'm very proud of you and your wife for doing without and not being spoiled. I am going to assume you still do not have a vehicle because of your distaste for the "spoiled society".

Student loans has a ton of repayment assistancce options, such as interest relief and debt repayment assistance. So try there and see if you can get either of those, they should help with student loans! Other than that, do talk to mb housing and look into healthy baby etc.. good luck!!