Will I be just as well staying at home to look after my own children?

happy_mummy_2

I am on mat leave and get smp while off and also have a child who will be 3 in April and a child who is 8,currently work 32hrs but on low wage of 10k when return back to work and partner on 35k - my childcare cost are going to be £140per 3days - 8.30-3pm - I'm thinking it's not financially viable for me to go back if I'm just going to be handing over wages and more to childcare - we don't get much help with credits due to partners income - can anyone advise what i'm better off doing....it's driving me crazy at the thought. Thankyou

sassygirl_2

I am going through exactly the same at the minute. I am planning on going back to work and i will be working 16 hours a week for £10! as the rest is eaten up by childcare for my 2 yr old and 7 year old.

The question is, are you happy enough to stay at home all day ? or would you prefer to be out working for your own sanity?

Ive decided to go back to work for my sanity and because i want to get my foot back on the ladder now, rather than being in this same position in 5 years time.

DYNAMICPINK

I know that feeling well! I work 20 hours a week and I'm not allowed Rent or Council Tax benefit-so along with all the others bills and childcare I'm not left with much either. Its not worth me working but its a small price to pay for my sanity! Yes I get Tax Credits, made up with Childcare element for the youngest (12 & 6yr old).
As always the workers suffer somewhere down the government line cause we should not be asking ourselves Is it worth it? We are willing to provide the best for ourself and children on our own two feet, without much Government help, by going out to work so they should be supporting working people so they are not asking if it is worth it!

zaksmum

happy_mummy wrote: »

I am on mat leave and get smp while off and also have a child who will be 3 in April and a child who is 8,currently work 32hrs but on low wage of 10k when return back to work and partner on 35k - my childcare cost are going to be £140per 3days - 8.30-3pm - I'm thinking it's not financially viable for me to go back if I'm just going to be handing over wages and more to childcare - we don't get much help with credits due to partners income - can anyone advise what i'm better off doing....it's driving me crazy at the thought. Thankyou

If I were you I wouldn't bother. I'd stay home with the kids.

backinbusiness

They stay small for such a limited time - you can make it a worthwhile experience - doesn't need to be drudgery! You could perhaps combine it with some work from home?

BAFE

Having been in your position and decided to jack in work and become a SAHM I would strongly advise against it - it is nigh on impossible to get back into the workplace and I have ended up taking minimum wage rubbish jobs in care and retail. It stinks.

Hold on to your job. Accept the fact that for a few short years you're probably not going to see any financial benefits for doing so,but as soon as all your kids are in school it'll start to pay. The childcare bill for your 3 year old will decrease shortly too.

Don't do it, please, keep your job. It's my biggest regret in life.

Anacrusis

Why not stay at home looking after your children (it's a full time job anyway!) and take some courses related to your job, to keep you up to speed for when they're older and don't need you so much? If you sign up to a course at college you'll still be getting out + meeting other adults like you would in a workplace... you could sign up to evening/Saturday courses so that your OH can look after the children. Also looking after your kids doesn't mean you need to be stuck at home, you can take them out and about and do loads of things together! (Or you might find it better to get together with other families rather than going out on your own - I always have a better time when there are other adults to chat to etc.)

Plans_all_plans

Such negativity about being a SAHM! I have found it to be the best experience I have ever had! I am now working part time again, since my DD has gone into a school nursery since being 3.5 yrs old: I found getting a decent job after a few years away very easy.

I spent my time off work caring for our DD and taking on voluntary work in the evenings in order to keep up my skills/show I was still worthwhile employing when the time came for me to return to work. You have this option open to you, or you could take a course if you decide to stay off.

There's no way I'd want to work for nothing in order to pay someone else to bring my children up! They are young for such a short period of time. And 35k is a good wage really.

mrsspendalot

I was a SAHM when mine were little and loved it. I used the time to do an OU degree so that when my kids were at school, I would be in a better position to get back into work, and sure enough I got a job straight away. I am now back in work and loving it. However, I am due to go on maternity in the summer and am not so sure I will be as happy about going back to work, and think I will crave being a SAHM again.

kerrydrobertson

im in the kid of same situation just now. really dont know what to do. we currently get £78 a month CTC. i used the calculator to see what it would change to if i was on around £13K a year and paying out not very much childcare due to my son being at school and the other at part time nursery and would get £198 a year. to put my son into nursery for the other half of the day and for childminders before nursery and school and after school clubs etc it comes very close to £198 a week.
How do they work this out?!

happy_mummy_2

I know I will love staying at home as I enjoy my childrens company and love getting out and about with them and also the fun of staying in and doing crafty things etc. I work in travel so it's a poorly paid job and I have done it now for over 10years but just don't know if financially I should go back and just grin and bare it (it's the thought of paying out so much for someone else to look after them)! I think whats making matters worse is I have always worked full time then only reducing down to 32hrs last year and I have always had it drummed into me to work work work and provide for yourself which is what I have always done & think if I stay at home then people might look down on me - especially when the government is trying to get people back into work. However on the flip side I know of a few people who are SAHM's and they get so much paid to them that you can see why they don't want to nor need to go out and work! I just feel like your damned if you do.....

I very much agree dynamicpink