You're about to listen to a BBC podcast, but this is about something else you might enjoy.

My name's Katie Lecky and I'm an assistant commissioner for on demand music on BBC Sounds.

The BBC has an incredible musical heritage and culture and as a music lover, I love being part of that.

With music on sounds, we offer collections and mixes for everything, from workouts to

helping you nod off, boogie in your kitchen, or even just a moment of calm. And they're all put

together by people who know their stuff. So if you want some expertly curated music in your life,

check out BBC Sounds. Welcome to the download of Moneybox Live, the program about

your money. Today we're talking about money and starting a family, a question that really puts

the personal in personal finance. Balancing the books when you're bringing up a baby can be a

challenge at the best of times. And for many, the COVID situation may make it even harder.

Perhaps that's why, even

though couples might be spending more quiet nights in, there's some concern that worry about the

pandemic actually risks a baby bust rather than a boom. One country is even offering a bonus to

people who have a baby despite the crisis. Before we meet our panel, let's take our first call. Hello, Amy.

Hello. So what's your situation?

So I am a freelance public relations consultant. I am the sole director and sole employer

of a limited company. So I work for myself through a company. And my partner is employed. And we are hoping to start trying for a baby next year around

spring and we're really trying to work out how to get ourselves in the best position right now

bearing in mind that we also have some levels of debt but also would like at some point to buy a house. So lots of

different concerns, but I guess my most pressing one is how the sort of best plan for maternity leave

in the situation we're in. So lots going on in your lives then, lots of plans that you're making.

Well, listening to that is our panel. We've got Nick Hill from the Money Advice Service, Njadzo Nykatawa, a solicitor at Gorvins, who also works with the charity

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