Dont know what to do!

belfastgirl23

You could try posting your SOA on the debt free wannabe board - they might be able to help you spot some loopholes. I'm assuming you've checked out child benefit and tax credit enttitlements?

Katie-Kat-Kins

Check all your benefit entitlements, you will probably be able to get a bit more if you aren't working.

Could you consider a smaller house, or a cheaper area? Or having a foreign student stay with you for extra income?

If your OH needs his van for work is he claiming all the tax breaks and expenses possible? Can you cut the use of your car right down? Or change the van for a vehicle that he could use for work and would also have room for you and baby for social use? Maybe a 4 seater pick up, might cost more to buy than a van but be cheaper than having two cars.

Approach your work about part time/job sharing/flexitime/working from home, if they agree to this then that is a great compromise. If not keep looking for an alternative right up until the date you have to go back.

Consider jobs that are compatible with baby, if you have exhausted all avenues of evening/weekend work locally (make sure they keep your name on file) look at other ways you could earn more without needing childcare like mystery shopping, avon, childminding, ann summers parties etc. Caring jobs are quite varied, perhaps you wouldn't fancy working in a nursing home but maybe you could manage being a home help.

For weekend and evening work have you considered restaurants, pub kitchens, or hotels, not the same as bar work in your OH's eyes but similar hours and similar high turn over of staff that means they are always recruiting. Also would he consider bar work if it was more the quiet country pub type? What about cleaning jobs, office cleaning is early evening, again people are always needed. Also consider things like royal mail and local factories, they might have an evening shift that is suitable for you or weekend work. My FiL delivers meals on wheels on the weekend, only minimum wage but a good supplimentary income, there is lots out there part time!

And do post your SoA for us all to look at, it is amazing what people with different lifestyles can spot!

mookiandco

I completely sympathise with the OP as my baby girl is 5 wks old and I will have to return to work in 7 weeks time. I too am struggling to make the figures add up but I know I dont have any option but to return to work soon. Hubby has just had to take a pay cut from 22000 to 8000 a year and he will still be working full time. child care will cost us atleast £600 per month even if I work 4 days a week as we have to pay for a full time child minder.

You do what you have to do to get by. If I work hard in my profession now I know that in 18 months time my earnings could potentially double and there will be greater job opportunities. I will then be in a position to give my daughter the future she deserves.

Although the numbers may not add up, I strongly believe that things have a way of coming right. I was going to have to return to work next week but then I received a cheque with a small inheritance from my grandfather who died over a year ago. There was no reason why that cheque should turn up now but I am so glad it did as its given me another 6 weeks at home.

I am also selling my maternity stuff, unused baby stuff amd other things on ebay. I used to shop in Waitrose and have take aways a couple of nights a week, that has all stopped. I have changed energy suppliers, called sky and got my phone and broadband free, got a cheaper mobile deal but intend to sell the new mobile that comes with it and use my old one for another year etc etc.

I hope things work out for you OP and in the meantime, enjoy your baby girl x

hope_strong

Just a quickie.... as well as your regular budget cuts have you looked at cutting back on baby items? Top of my hit list is disposable nappies! Ditch any premium brand ones, go for supermarket own (about a third of the price - I was shocked!) and if you can, why not try terry squares, I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to fold and fasten one with a newfangled item called a nappy nipper (no nasty safety pins involved). Ditto for lotions and potions and readymade baby food.

I will be the same as you soon, want to stay off work but the mortgage says no. It was our choice to buy based on two incomes, but it's going to be hard to hand over my baby and go back to work - but it has to be done! Meanwhile I am going to be looking at anything I can to extend my maternity leave as long as I can hold out.
-Hope

Katie-Kat-Kins

Could you look at changing your mortgage? Extending the period or taking a payment holiday or something to decrease your outgoings for a while? I know not all providers allow this but might be worth checking.

iamana1ias

MrsTine wrote: »

Depending on what you do for a living - could you try negotiating working from home part of the time at least? I've requested to return to work doing 3 days from home and 2 in the office/on client sites - But I'd settle for 2 days a week (leaving room for negotiation ) and DH is requesting the same which would mean we'd only need child care 1 day a week hopefully...

If you're working from home you're supposed to be working, not looking after your kids!

iamana1ias

mookiandco wrote: »

I completely sympathise with the OP as my baby girl is 5 wks old and I will have to return to work in 7 weeks time. I too am struggling to make the figures add up but I know I dont have any option but to return to work soon. Hubby has just had to take a pay cut from 22000 to 8000 a year and he will still be working full time. child care will cost us atleast £600 per month even if I work 4 days a week as we have to pay for a full time child minder.

How can that be? That's below minimum wage?

mluton

carkeyz wrote: »

Hi all.

Im really confused about what we are going to do! I am currently on maternity leave after having my first daughter but just dont think I can go back to work. I need to be around for her and the only option is to go part time and even then it would be pointless money wise cause I will just be paying for someone to look after my daughter.

But we wont be able to survive either way. I have tried looking for work and am still looking for evening jobs but am struggling and my DF wont let me work in a bar or a club!

What do I do? I want to be a good mum but this is hard!

Any help would be appriciated!

C

I know how you feel. Yesterday we went on SMP and we have had to tighten things up finacially already to prepare ourselves.

Once SWMBO goes back to work its going to be worse, full time or part time we are at a loss.

No help at all from tax credits, we earn to much ????????? F****** stupid, we should get the same as anyone else claiming.

---

EDIT: Sorry, I need to calm down, topics like this stress me out at themo. ******* = lipping

mookiandco

iamana1ias wrote: »

How can that be? That's below minimum wage?

Its a means to an end i'm afraid. The job will eventually lead him to qualify in his chosen profession but the company technically cant afford to pay him for a full time position so pay him for a part time position but he has to work full time hours. Its long and complicated so wont bore you with the details. But suffice to say it has left us in a difficult financial position.

Bitsy_Beans

I've become a CM after the birth of my second. And NO it is most definately NOT an easy option with the new EYFS. You can forget notions of just playing with the kids it's all obs and planning etc. Plus I've been registered 5 months and it's only now I've managed to get a part timer for 1 day a week. You would need to check for the demand for childcare in your area too. I have to compete with wrap around care provided by local schools etc. If you're in a area of high unemployment you might find that CM's aren't needed.

Congrats of becoming a mum. There is no easy answer to your question I am afraid.