May have to give up work!

Eager_Elephant

Hi

I have been in this situation although it was a few years ago.

My mum looked after my son when he was a baby so I could work, I did not pay her but had to get a taxi to her house every day and a bus home.
My brothers were misbehaving and my mum thought it was to do with her having my son as they were not getting much attention. (There is a 8 yearage gap and I had my son very young).

I then had to use a childminder who lived local to us, she was quite cheap but very good. I managed to claim some help with Tax Credits (used to be WFTC) but we were very skint.

My childminder decided to retrain after 20 years and when I looked for a new childminder they were much more expensive so I asked for a pay rise and was told no so I handed in my notice.

I then went and worked as a shelf filler at Tesco's 3 nights a week and had my son during the day although by this point he had his free nursery sessions.

It was tough as I was more qualified than most but it helped with the finances, once my son went to school full time I changed to days and went into Stock Control which suited me better.

You will be surprised how well you will be able to manage.
Do you have debts? Is this why you cannot afford childcare?

EE

boredandundecided

Thanks again for your replies, will try and remember some as I reply. OK well I spoke to my family member who has been put on more medication. I've decided that they can no longer look after DS as it's far too much and I can see that myself without asking. They may be able to do 1 day a week when better but at the moment no days are an option. I have another family member taking care of him today/tomorrow but can't expect them to keep doing it because they have to travel and not as young as they use to be! As for OH, well he is self employed and cannot give up work (plus I really wouldn't want him to), he's spent 2 years training which cost a lot and has spent the last 2 years getting his business off the ground and he loves what he does, don't want him depressed too! It does make quite a good amount of money but with extortionate outgoings which he's tied into until June he's taking less than I am. Bad decision made on his part but nothing we can do til June on that now.

I was discussing this morning with a good work colleague about giving up work and mentioned about childminding, just not sure I would be good at coping with a certain amount of children. I know they're just all excuses, but I will look into evening/weekend work, although OH works 6 days i'm sure I could get 1 day childcare and he's home evenings although not til about 8.

We are in quite a bit of debt and have no way of accessing anymore money, we already considered selling the house but trying to get round that one at the moment.

I have played around with all the bills and they are all on the least I can get them on too. Groceries are bought at Aldi with £40 cash a week, nappies are bought from Netto in the big boxes and work out quite cheap. Have tried various reuseables but DS always exploded out of them!!!!! yuck..... Just seems to be one thing after another at the moment. Will get on have a look at some evening/weekend jobs and see what I find, did have a look at other part-time work last night but absolutely nothing came up. The car is knackered, it's going to be fixed then sold so that will clear up one debt but wont be that much better off as will still be paying the rest of them! :mad:

Thanks everyone again, will keep you posted. x

littlemissmoney

Have you checked how much more tax credit you would get if you paid for childcare? Don't quit your job until you are have at least checked this out!!

Counting_Pennies_2

Do try a supermarket, as you could end up with money off groceries too.

Before you consider completely giving up work. Ask your work if you can have parental leave. I think this is 13 weeks unpaid leave (not sure on the amount, someone can confirm, or your HR department will have that information.)

That would then enable you to try out other forms of employment and if they don't work out you could at least go back to your job in June when your outgoings go down a bit and afford childcare.

Good luck

jopsey

there is a childcare element to tax credit's that you maybe eligible for in addition to the tax credits you get now , that in some cases pay's upto 90% of your childcare costs if you use a reg childminder or nursery ,I am not an expert but do know some people who get this