Working mums- does all your income go on childcare?

mrsbez_2

Hi all,

I'm not sure if i'm in the right place so feel free to move me.

I'm a SAHM, 2 children ages DD4 & DS2. Hubby is self empl. I am looking to increase the famly income and as DD is starting school in sept i thought this would be an ideal time to do some part time work.

But after working out how much i will earn, taken off childcare and the tax credits we will lose then i would be about £110 better off per month for working 16 hours a week. If i didn't pay for childcare i would only be £180 better off.

I don't want to go full time yet whilst my children are still small. DS starts school in a couple of years then i suppose i won't feel guilty going out to work more when he is in school.

My question is, is this the same for everyone?? And how does everyone else manage it??

thanks

chinatown_2

Like you I looked into this (I have 2 children, one is 7, the other is 2 and wont start nursery until shes 3), and was only going to be £100 aprox better off so I felt Id be missing so much out with my children by paying most of my earnings for someone else to bring up my child, all to come out with just £25 a week. In my eyes it wasnt worth it, though some people have better incomes so its worth it for them.
I did however sign up for Avon and every 3 days I spend 1 hour (or less) walking round my local estate delivering/collecting books, then I spend 3 hours at the weekend (only once every 3 weeks) putting up orders and delivering. I make aprox £100-£150 comission every 3 weeks, the kids sometimes come with me when I do avon or I wait til hubbys home. This is a better option for me. Might be worth looking into.

alliwantforchristmas

Hi there, I'm in exactly the same position as you, 2 children aged 4 and 2 and hubby self employed. I've been working 3 evenings a week at Domino's 6.30pm - 9pm and earn just over £100 a fortnight. Its not ideal and I know its certainly not a lot of money but I get to see my children every day and don't have to pay someone else to bring them up. It also gives me a bit of child free time away from the house. My youngest gets his free nursery sessions in January so I'm going to start looking for part-time work (3 days a week) then.

scotsbob

mrsbez wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm not sure if i'm in the right place so feel free to move me.

I'm a SAHM, 2 children ages DD4 & DS2. Hubby is self empl. I am looking to increase the famly income and as DD is starting school in sept i thought this would be an ideal time to do some part time work.

But after working out how much i will earn, taken off childcare and the tax credits we will lose then i would be about £110 better off per month for working 16 hours a week. If i didn't pay for childcare i would only be £180 better off.

I don't want to go full time yet whilst my children are still small. DS starts school in a couple of years then i suppose i won't feel guilty going out to work more when he is in school.

My question is, is this the same for everyone?? And how does everyone else manage it??

thanks

Well as you have invited opinions.

Look at this in a positive light, you going out to work means that I, and other tax payers, don't have to support your kids.

Now that has to be good surely.

lynzpower

Not really, society is clearly seeing the ramifications of poorly attached children, who knows where it will end. It is also moot that caring for your own children at home, will place less pressure on the state in the long run.

lindsaygalaxy

You may not lose tax credits it depends on your OHs income, check with https://www.entitledto.co.uk.

It is also not just about money, do you think working would improve your life, I know that I enjoy adult conversation. Also my DD loved her nursery and it encourages independence and social skills.

culpepper

Dont forget you would also be fitting in the household chores around a job,including feeding the family and shopping etc.its easy to spend to cut corners when time is limited.
I found it was cheaper to be home full time and make meals from scratch,shop around etc.
When I did a betterware round for 6 months, we managed to clear a debt of around £1200 and then the washing machine broke and we bought a new one .The more I did(had 2 rounds at one stage) the more I was having to buy convenience food and there was far less time for the kids or for going to the market for the cheaper fruit and veg.
Being self employed needs quite a lot of balancing as far as time is concerned.

hilstep2000

You can claim childcare when on tax credits.

MoaningMyrtle

This is why I worked evenings in a shop for 10 years, no childcare costs, hubby made sure he was home on time the evenings I worked.

Now mine are older I can pretty much choose the hours I work, including days, evenings and weekends. I keep my contract to 15 hours a week so I can work this in the holiday but do overtime during term time.

carolan78

scotsbob wrote: »

Well as you have invited opinions.

Look at this in a positive light, you going out to work means that I, and other tax payers, don't have to support your kids.

Now that has to be good surely.

Not really helpful, her husband is self employed where does it say she gets benifits Get off your high horse you pompous twit!

lindsaygalaxy

One more thing, think about your career long term, you will be getting back on the career ladder.