As if having a child isn’t stressful enough, there’s the fact that paid maternity leave isn’t a given in the US. According to a 2016 Bureau of Labor Statistics study, only 13% of Americans working in the private sector have access to paid family leave.
If you’re among them, a personal loan might help you offset some of the costs of taking time off to care for your new baby, allowing you the breathing room to enjoy your new life as a parent. You may want to look into other ways to save as well, such as deferring your student loan payments or government assistance.
A personal loan can help make up for lost income when you’re ready to take unpaid maternity leave. You have two options to consider: term loans and lines of credit.
Term loans offer lump sums of cash that you repay over a specified period in fixed installments that often include interest and fees. Typical term loans allow you to borrow from $1,000 to $100,000, depending on your income, credit score, debts and other factors.
A term loan could be an option if you’re looking to borrow just enough funds to cover living expenses or make up for your lost salary. Your first payment is often required 45 days after you receive your lump sum.
A solid budget that factors in your repayments can help you take care of your little one without worry of default.
A personal credit line is similar to a credit card. You get access to an approved amount of funds that you can draw from as you need, typically from $2,000 to $100,000. You repay only what you borrow plus interest and fees through minimum monthly payments or a schedule like that of a term loan.
If you own a home, you can consider a home equity line of credit backed by your mortgage. HELOCs typically give you access to higher amounts and lower rates than an unsecured credit line.
Opening a line of credit is good when preparing for unexpected expenses. It can help cover hospital costs if you experience complications or your baby needs extra care. But it’s a double-edged sword: You might end up spending more than living on a fixed budget and could potentially have trouble with repayments when you’re not bringing in income.
How personal loans and lines of credit compareIf you’re anticipating maternity leave, it’s a good idea to apply for a personal loan before you leave your job. Loan approval can be difficult if you can’t prove a steady income. And if you are approved without income, you likely won’t qualify for the most competitive rates.
Applying early also means you’ll have the funds on hand for unexpected medical emergencies if you experience complications or your baby arrives early. Premature babies often mean large hospital bills, which you might have trouble paying while you recover.
If student debt is a part of your monthly costs, you may be able to defer that while you focus on covering expenses for your newborn. Federal loans disbursed before July 1, 1993 are eligible for parental leave deferment. You can fill out a parental leave deferment request form.
Otherwise, look into applying for forbearance to temporarily reduce your monthly repayments, if it’s an option. If you have federal loans, consider switching to a graduated or income-based repayment plan to reduce your monthly repayments indefinitely.
Another option is government assistance. You might benefit from temporary assistance programs like the SNAP, which you can use like cash to purchase food. New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Hawaii and California also offer temporary disability programs that cover maternity leave. Check with your local government for details.
Costs vary widely depending on where you live, your family’s needs and your overall priorities. When budgeting for your baby’s care, keep in mind the items and services you’ll need after bringing home your bundle of joy:
The first year of caring for and raising a child can easily cost $20,000 or more — on top of your regular personal expenses.
When considering a personal loan for maternity leave, you have two main costs to think about: interest and fees.
Interest rates on unsecured term loans and lines of credit tend to range from 4% to 36%. Term loans typically come with fixed rates that stay the same over the life of your loan. Lines of credit come with either fixed or variable rates.
Because you won’t have regular money coming in during your time off, you might want to look into longer terms for more manageable repayments, depending on your budget. Shorter loan terms can help you save on interest in the long run — after all, there’s less time for interest to pile up — but you’ll have higher monthly repayments, which might be difficult to afford.
You might pay an origination fee when you get a term loan, which your lender typically deducts from your approved funding amount before you receive it. Origination fees typically range from 1% to 5% of the loan amount. Lines of credit can also come with monthly or annual service fees, as well as a fee each time you make a withdrawal — similar to an origination fee.
Some lenders charge fees for paying off your loan early, meaning you won’t save much on interest — if at all. However, you can find lenders offering no-fee personal loans, especially if you have good or excellent credit.
Amanda learned that her company offered five months of unpaid maternity leave. She and her partner could afford to set aside $300 a month, allowing them to save a total $2,700 after a nine-month pregnancy. Amanda also took out a short-term disability policy, which paid out two-thirds of her typical monthly take-home salary of $3,000 — or $2,000 per month for the first eight weeks.
To prepare for the extra and unexpected costs, Amanda applied for preapproval on a $20,000 unsecured term loan from three online lenders.
| Lender | Term | APR offered | Est. monthly repayment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 years | 9% | $415.17 | |
| 3 years | 8% | $626.73 | |
| 5 years | 8% | $405.53 |
After comparing her choices, Amanda moved forward with her SoFi application for the provider’s additional benefits. And the monthly cost wasn’t much more than Prosper’s.
The birth of a child is a milestone to celebrate. But babies can be expensive. Even after you’ve saved and taken out insurance, you still might not have enough money to cover everyday costs while you’re not working. A personal loan can bridge the income gap of maternity leave and even cover unexpected costs before you little one arrives.
Learn more about your options and expectations in our comprehensive guide to personal loans.
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