Family Life and Costs

Your results suggest that you either have a family or plan on starting one soon - congratulations!

Your CTF could now be really useful for a variety of different purposes. All of which depend on your current financial situation.

If you're finding your maternity pay/benefit income isn't enough to cover your childcare costs, you could use your CTF to supplement this. Also, if you don’t live with your partner who is having the child, it could go towards caring costs in your absence. Check out the Money Advice Service's guidance on budgeting for a young family

Alternatively, you could use your CTF towards deposit for a home or for family/renovation costs if something is unsafe. If you are saving up for a house, you could open a 'Lifetime ISA' - a savings scheme designed to help you save up for a house, where the government contributes an additional 25% for every £1 you add the savings that account. Read more about the scheme here: GOV - Lifetime ISA

Another option is using your CTF for driving lessons (which can be expensive!). This might help you transport your family and could even help with jobs!

Thinking long term, you could keep saving your CTF for childcare costs in future if you want to go to study or train in some capacity! If you’re really financially stable you could even use your CTF to start a Junior Isa for your child!

At the moment, the best interest rates on savings account are available through 'Regular Savings Account'. These are bank accounts which are paired with a normal everyday bank account that you have where you have to save a certain amount of money a month.

To maximize your interest, you could move your CTF into an 'Easy Access Savings Account' and then 'drip feed' it into a 'Regular Savings Account' or any bank account you have with higher interest.

That way you'll get double the interest!

For more information on what 'drip feeding' is, and the best 'Regular Savings Accounts' available at the moment, visit: Money Saving Expert - Best Savings Accounts