How on hells earth are we supposed to manage!

jtktb

This is probably more of a rant than anything but please, any suggestions!

I currently dont work as we chose for me to stay home after having DS1, 3 years later we now have DS2 also. DH currently works full time and earns about 17500 before tax. We are really struggling each month.

After tax, NI and CSA have taken their cut he brings home 980 a month, our mortgage luckily is only 350 but once everything else is paid we are in a minus figure. The 350 we get in tax credits tops us up, but we cannot get anymore as they calculate on the figure before the CSA get their chunk.

I have been looking for a job but we are really stuck, I need to earn 350 to replace the tax credits we will lose, then another 800 to pay childcare for two children so I need to clear 1150 after tax to even break even! and will not see the children as by the time I get home they'll be ready for bed!

What on earth are we meant to do?!? I have tried all lines and cannot get anymore money, we cannot afford to carry on as we are but I dont see how I can get a job paying enough!?

bobajob_1966

You will receive help with childcare costs if you work.

The time to have thought about this was before you had children. No point in moaning about it now.

Fletchasketch

I sympathise, this sounds horrible. What about a part-time evening job? Depending on where you live some bars will pay well and then there are supermarkets. Just a thought....

GlasweJen

Why are you losing tax credits?

If you and husband work over 16 hours you'll get help towards child care, or you can get a job doing evenings so your with the kids during the day (alternate with husband) to save money.

stroodes

Your tax credits are taken into account with csa, so if you are employed your tax credits will probably go down but so will csa payments. I do agree however that getting a part time job around your husbands working hours is best option and while not overly better off you will be better off money wise.

MrsManda

You can model your situation and what would happen if you went to work etc... on one of the benefits calculators:
http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

https://www.dwpe-services.direct.gov.uk/portal/page/portal/ba/lp?_piref278_36249_278_36248_36248.__ora_navig=

As others have said you'll still get tax credits if you work and are likely to receive extra tax credits for childcare.

jtktb

We will lose our tax credits due to me working full time, I've done the online calculator things and they say we will not get our credits anymore but we will be some childcare credits of about £300 which will help, they always have a habit of deciding that you shouldnt have had them the following year though!

bobajob 1966, very helpful thanks, we did think about it before, that is why I waited 6 years till I was in a very good job and earning a decent wage, we decided we could afford for me to stay home and not work and we have done until the last 6 months or so when things are getting tighter, I apologise for not forseeing the economic downturn. We dont get any benefits as we're married we arent living like kings you know, things are just more expensive now and I'm just trying to resolve the situation before it gets too bad.

bobajob_1966

jtktb wrote: »

We will lose our tax credits due to me working full time, I've done the online calculator things and they say we will not get our credits anymore but we will be some childcare credits of about £300 which will help, they always have a habit of deciding that you shouldnt have had them the following year though!

bobajob 1966, very helpful thanks, we did think about it before, that is why I waited 6 years till I was in a very good job and earning a decent wage, we decided we could afford for me to stay home and not work and we have done until the last 6 months or so when things are getting tighter, I apologise for not forseeing the economic downturn. We dont get any benefits as we're married we arent living like kings you know, things are just more expensive now and I'm just trying to resolve the situation before it gets too bad.

Why are things getting tighter? If it has only become a problem in the past six months what has changed for you?

jtktb

We've tried the evening and part time jobs but every pound I earn just comes off the tax credits. On a NMW job i need to do 60 hours a week to be £200 better off, I might as well do a better paid 35hour fulltime job?!

mildred1978

Why should the state pay for your lifestyle choices? Your OH has other children to support. He can't afford to support all of you.

If your job was so good perhaps you should have gone back and let your OH stop working.

missindecisive

have you thought about childminding/ironing/babysitting/ebaying? not much more than pocket money but it could help