Being a homemaker even after the kids have left home

DianneB

I have been a homemaker all my married life (eldest child 38 youngest 16) and this has now seamlessly segued into caring for two of my grandchildren a 5 year old now at school and a 7th month old who I will be helping look after when my DDIL goes back to work next month. It's not always been easy but it has suited me. When I was first married childcare was non existent and I don't think I could have left him anyway.

Patchwork_Quilt

Reading this last page on a whim, it did just strike me that it might be important to keep up pension contributions. You can actually pay extra into your National Insurance 'account' for the contributions you miss. You do get credit for caring for children under 18 and so on, but after that, you have to put something in. This was brought to my attention by a friend who can't work and was concerned for me because my job is so poorly paid that I don't pay tax etc. After my son turns 18, I shall have to investigate this further.

Just in case.

sunrise27_2

even though I haven't read every reply I've really enjoyed reading this thread as it's something that I've been thinking about a lot recently.
firstly a bit of background I worked in childcare since leaving college at 19 and when I had my own children ( who are now 22 and 19 ) I took a total of 18 months off ( six months with my first , a year with my second ) I did childminding to start and then worked in creches part time etc where I was able to take them with me
when my youngest started school I was lucky enough to get a job in a playgroup in the grounds of their school , I could look out of one side window and see my daughter at playtime and out of the other side window I could see my son , I was able to drop them off in the mornings and could pick them up in the evening plus I had all the school holidays off which was brilliant
when they started to grow up and didn't need me so much hubby and I started a little handmade card business which although will never make us millionaires certainly helps out , anyway around the same sort of time , hubby who had a stressful job started to suffer from depression and decided to change jobs - by this time I was working part time in the playgroup and part time in a craft shop - I was then offered more hours in the craft shop which was what I wanted as I wanted to come out of childcare but it was more hours than I really wanted and obviously no more school holidays
I absolutely love being at home and running the house , being organised etc but the job helped out financially as my hubby took a huge drop in salary in return for a lot less stress.
anyway fast forward four years otherwise this post will last forever lol
hubby is now in a much better place - he is working for a lovely company and we are more comfortable money wise but I am feeling the strain
working , running the house and keeping card orders up to date is now taking his toll and although this sounds silly hubby now has nearly two weeks off at christmas and often I'm lucky if I have two days , christmas is a very special family time and I always end up so frustrated that I can't be at home more but I'm also feeling that more in a normal week , I so want to be at home more building up the card business and being my own boss so after christmas I will be cutting some hours not many to srart with but its a start and fingers crossed the more time I put in to the cards the more we'll sell and I can give up more hours I've got a couple of mother and toddler groups to visit in the new year and some craft fairs lined up I can't wait

sunrise27_2

Patchwork_Quilt wrote: »

Reading this last page on a whim, it did just strike me that it might be important to keep up pension contributions. You can actually pay extra into your National Insurance 'account' for the contributions you miss. You do get credit for caring for children under 18 and so on, but after that, you have to put something in. This was brought to my attention by a friend who can't work and was concerned for me because my job is so poorly paid that I don't pay tax etc. After my son turns 18, I shall have to investigate this further.

Just in case.

I'm pretty sure that I read somewhere that even if you don't pay national insurance contributions as your wages are too low as long as you earn over a certain amount you are classed as though you have paid them and those years count towards contributing years for your pension I will try and find the link

sunrise27_2

Patchwork_Quilt wrote: »

Reading this last page on a whim, it did just strike me that it might be important to keep up pension contributions. You can actually pay extra into your National Insurance 'account' for the contributions you miss. You do get credit for caring for children under 18 and so on, but after that, you have to put something in. This was brought to my attention by a friend who can't work and was concerned for me because my job is so poorly paid that I don't pay tax etc. After my son turns 18, I shall have to investigate this further.

Just in case.

check out this link
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/48750591#Comment_48750591

VickyVics

This is my first post but I have been lurking for a while now taking hints and tips from here and there. This thread has really taken my notice. I have recently given up teaching (6 months ago) as well to be a homemaker much to the shock of my parents and relatives. My other half was completely supportive as he has witnessed the effect the stress of the job had on me. Since giving up work I have had the time to actually find some hobbies (crafting and furniture restoration). I have even taken a Upholstery course (half day a week). As I have become happier with myself I have become more confident. I have discovered that my attitude is to ' work to live not live to work'. I don't want my job to define me and be my life. I see homemaking as a challenge and I am constantly trying to find new ways of doing things better, save more money and find new thrifty but tasty recipes.
I don't think there is anything wrong with being a homemaker as long as you and your family is all o.k. with it and you can afford it. After all it is you that is living your life. Each to their own. xxx

red_devil

yayyyy more homemakers.

Rummer

I would love to be a home maker but sadly this is not an option for me for financial reasons. What I have done though is reduce my working hours so that I can spend a bit more time with the family and as my DD gets older I am hoping that I will be able to reduce my hours further.

It would be lovely to be able to devote more of my time to my home and family.

red_devil

a few of you came over to the group which is fab. Anyone else welcome.:beer:

prepareathome

I am a oldie but home bod........homeschooled youngest and did plan to go back to work but life didn't agree.....have requested membership of your group if you didn't think I am to old, all my fledglings have left the nest - well the two legged kind we have 3 furbabies(JRTs )that keep me busy