Looking for a serious work at home job - childcare costs killing us.

ButtonF1Fan

Good evening money savers.

I have just returned to work after 9 months on maternity pay. I'm now worse of financially then when i was on SMP (maternity pay) due to childcare.

Childcare for my baby is £290 per month, when this is deducted from my wages i "take home" 400 a month, say 100 a week.

What jobs can i do where they offer free childcare or i can take my child with me, or work at home, maybe online??
My wages after tax/NI are £700 ish. Varies slightly as i have to clock off for breaks. therefore, in thoery i should be able to get £100 a week, and quit my normal job, and still be financially the same, BUT cricially with my family.

i earnt 34.47 yesterday, 26 to childcare for that shift, minus bus fare and tax.... i'm on around 1.20 an hour. i'm having to work sunday (which really upsets my oldest) as that is a day his daddy doesnt work. so then its the only day i'm really earning.

advice gratefully recieved!! How can i earn £100 a week with a baby?

DCFC79

do you claim any benefits for the little 1, what about working tax credits, work in a nursery where you could look after other kids plus your own,

ButtonF1Fan

Tax credits, benifits etc, I'm not eligable as partner earns too much allegedlly. (in reality we've 7 pounds spare this whole month between us, based on average/expected bills and outgoings)

I've looked at nurseries nearby, they only want qualified staff sadly. i cant seem to get my foot in that door, great suggestion though. thank you.

slummymummyof3

How about doing a part time (evening) child care course? What about becoming a child minder.....think you have to be registered by OFSTED and sorry don't know how you go about it.
Can you get a nursery to fund a day release for you if they were to employ you as an unqualified member of staff?

cazziebo

I think you have to review what's important to you. Do you want to work or stay at home?
Why are you deducting childcare costs from your wages alone? I think you should look at your incomings and outgoings as joint - and then make a decision as to what is best. If you are over the limit for WFTC then it might be worth a look at DFW and OS for some money saving tips. It might be possible that if your choice is to stay at home then you can review your finances and make that possible. If it's your choice to work then maybe some "rebalancing" is necessary.

bid2win

JulieJesta wrote: »

Good evening money savers.

I have just returned to work after 9 months on maternity pay. I'm now worse of financially then when i was on SMP (maternity pay) due to childcare.

Childcare for my baby is £290 per month, when this is deducted from my wages i "take home" 400 a month, say 100 a week.

What jobs can i do where they offer free childcare or i can take my child with me, or work at home, maybe online??
My wages after tax/NI are £700 ish. Varies slightly as i have to clock off for breaks. therefore, in thoery i should be able to get £100 a week, and quit my normal job, and still be financially the same, BUT cricially with my family.

i earnt 34.47 yesterday, 26 to childcare for that shift, minus bus fare and tax.... i'm on around 1.20 an hour. i'm having to work sunday (which really upsets my oldest) as that is a day his daddy doesnt work. so then its the only day i'm really earning.

advice gratefully recieved!! How can i earn £100 a week with a baby?

Well the one ive just been accepted for is Teletech, which is a work at home call centre job, up to 30 hours a week working evenings, there is a thread
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1106277

chika

Could you go to college and get a childcare qualification? I know that when my youngest brother was a baby my mum went back to college and studied and the college paid for his nursery fees.

Caroline73_2

I stopped working as I was earning £90 a month after travel and child care which was ridiculous. I knew I would rather be at home. OH wages paid for bills so I was earning our spare money.

I did consider childminding but didn't want our home invaded! It's quite small. I started with a direct sales company and I love it. I take my youngest along with me and work evenings and weekends if I want to. Last year I earnt enough to pay our mortgage, working part time and with no child care.

I'm not sure if I can say what it is but you can visit my website through my profile.

ButtonF1Fan

Caroline73 wrote: »

I stopped working as I was earning £90 a month after travel and child care which was ridiculous. I knew I would rather be at home. OH wages paid for bills so I was earning our spare money.

I did consider childminding but didn't want our home invaded! It's quite small. I started with a direct sales company and I love it. I take my youngest along with me and work evenings and weekends if I want to. Last year I earnt enough to pay our mortgage, working part time and with no child care.

I'm not sure if I can say what it is but you can visit my website through my profile.

Sadly the 400ish a month I'll earn (if i even get sceduled the shifts we requested!)
My hubbies wages pay mortgage, car insurance/taxes etc, home insurance, life cover, gas, electric and phone bill. also debts come off his income.

my money covers childcare (simply becuase if i work we need the kids in care, if i dont they would be looked after by ME), food shopping, my phone (which i never go over the inclusive deal on), petrol so hubby can get to work, council tax and anything unexpected, like if my 6Year old wrecks his school uniform and NEEDS new stuff.

I will be looking at your ideas.
To Cazziebo. Its not so much i want to stay at home, as i'm not willing to leave my baby for a couple of quid a day. for now i'm going to have to beg my boss to alter my shifts so i work nights from when hubby gets home until 12.30am when store is closed down and cleaned. i dont want to work nights, but as i'm not far above min wage, childcare really hurts us. i'd be very happy to do a normal 9-5 on better wages that balance out the childcare fess.

flea72

JulieJesta wrote: »

Tax credits, benifits etc, I'm not eligable as partner earns too much allegedlly.

to not be getting any tax credits, then your family income has to be over £60k, so either your award hasnt been worked out right, or you do have that sort of income?

If you have 60K income, then you really need to think hard about where your money is going, and what options you have. try the oldstyle boards, or post a SOA on the debt-free-wannabees board, that way you can work out how to save money, and also where its going. If this still means you are struggling, then perhaps its time for big changes, ie moving to a cheaper area, changing jobs/lifestyle

With kids, if you cant afford childcare, then you just have to accept that you will have to work evenings and weekends, doesnt do much for your relationship, but its an option if you need money

For a parent the only way to stay at home with your kids and earn decent money, is to become a childminder (most in my area earn £1K a week on average!!). There are grants available to help you set up as one, so the outlay is minimal too

Most work from home jobs dont actually work out that well with kids, as you still need someone to watch them whilst you work, so usually you end up working through the night whilst they are in bed. which is ok if the job you do, doesnt have time constraints, but alot of home based jobs, require you to be available during office hours

Flea

ButtonF1Fan

Flea, gosh no. 60k i wish. 27.5 to 31k with overtime. thats pre tax... take home 1500 monthly. pension and tax taken out before he gets it.

The working tax credit thing, we were told now we have 2 children we would still only get the same childcare "help" which i believe was 300 a year. Thats only about 2/3 weeks fees covered! and nurseries have a nasty cluase where you have to pay even when you are on holiday.... so thats immeadiatley cancelled out.