Baby on the way - questions

dantheman2010

Hey all,

I am delighted to announce that my OH is now expecting our first baby :j:j:j:j:j:j

However we do have a few questions finance related.

I am in a job earning about £26k, thankfully its a family business so getting time off etc wont be a problem and I am hoping my Dad will let me work atleast one day from home to reduce child care costs. My partner works full time ATM on minimum wage.

She does want to return to work after maternity but we are concerned by the huge amounts child care costs and wonder whether it would be worth her staying at home to avoid such costs and having longer with the child herself, but I dont think we would be entitled any more than the standard £80 per month child benefit due to my wage, is this correct?

I have calculated so far we would be entitled to approx £20 per week child benefit and about £500 per year child tax credit.

Is there anything I am forgetting or missing?

First baby and everything is a bit confusing for us.

Thanks guys and gals.

nannytone_2

youre calculation looks right to me.
i assume you work a 5 day week? if so your partner could try for evening weekend work to minimise the need for childcare?

iamana1ias

dantheman2010 wrote: »

I am in a job earning about £26k, thankfully its a family business so getting time off etc wont be a problem and I am hoping my Dad will let me work atleast one day from home to reduce child care costs. My partner works full time ATM on minimum wage.

You can't work from home and look after a baby at the same time.

nannytone_2

iamana1ias wrote: »

You can't work from home and look after a baby at the same time.

what a silly thing to say! of course you can!

many self employed people do this routinely to keep costs down!

iamana1ias

nannytone wrote: »

what a silly thing to say! of course you can!

many self employed people do this routinely to keep costs down!

The OP isn't self employed

Working from home where you are being paid by someone else should involve working, not internet shopping, household chores or looking after a baby.

viktory

nannytone wrote: »

what a silly thing to say! of course you can!

many self employed people do this routinely to keep costs down!

I would have to say that working from home and being sole carer of a baby/toddler would certainly mean a significant conflict of interests. If you are supposed to be working and the baby needs feeding/winding/changing or won't stop crying - you are hardly going to be able to fulfil your work obligations while doing all that are you? Unless, of course, you choose to care for the child during the day and work all evening when your partner is home to take over the child care.

nannytone_2

many 'employed' people also work from home. if the work is computer/telephone based there is no reason to sit in an office all day.

ERICS_MUM

The OP works for a family business and his Dad has agreed to him working at home one day p/w, so I'm sure he will have some leeway as to when he does the work e.g. he might be able to work outside of "business hours" when his OH is at home.

iamana1ias

ERICS_MUM wrote: »

The OP works for a family business and his Dad has agreed to him working at home one day p/w, so I'm sure he will have some leeway as to when he does the work e.g. he might be able to work outside of "business hours" when his OH is at home.

Depends what the work is, doesn't it!

michelle1506

A lot of employers will insist that you have a 'quiet working environment' when working from home. That's going to be very hard to achieve with young children.

nannytone wrote: »

many 'employed' people also work from home. if the work is computer/telephone based there is no reason to sit in an office all day.

koloko

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