Please Help

jcr16

Ok our situation is changing in next month or so , so because of this , we ( hubby and i ) think it might be best if i return to work.

so thats sounds simple.

but i have 2 small children ( age 3 and 18m) and my daughter is at nursery 8.50am till 11.20am each morning. i have worked out to get them looked after at nursery for 2 whole days a week half 8 till 5 will be around £80. have spoken to tax credits and they said that although my hubby earns 25k we should be able to get some of that covered . but they not sure how much i'll get until i know how much i'll be earning. but the nursery doesn't have space until august for my son , and then will only have 1.5 days and only 1 day for my daughter. ( i don't trust any other nursery , they are amazing, 5 mins away from my house . my daugther has been there is 1. and has been so happy, hence why i want to use this nursery) i have asked my mum if we could work something out ( she works but 6.30 am till 8am 3 mornings a week) but mum didn't seem too interested. ( ok thats fine i know i shouldn't just assume. ) my nan is too old. and my mum in law works full time apart from school holidays, as she works in a school.

also i have no qualifications. diddly squat. well i do have an nvq in direct care and i have nursing and care experiance under my belt. but i don't wish to return to that line of work. i would like to find a job working in an office ( small) maybe estate agents or lettings. but i would need a very understanding boss. as i would need training and also if my kids are ill then i have to be with them. but i also have very little confidance as i haven't worked for nearly 4 years so the whole thing scares me. but i know deep down inside id be really good in the job. i have great customer service, i am dedicated. honest , trustworthy , reliable and very genuine.

but after all this time of being a sahm , i keep wondering how on earth i'll manage a job , look after family , run a home and still be a fun loving person.

it all seems so comlicated , trying to get a job and nursery for children all working together that i just can't seem to work out what i need to do first.( apart from sit down with a cup of tea and tell myself it will be ok)

has anyone else been in this situation ? and do boss's mind a 25 year old mum with no experiance , but wanting to learn.

sorry if this sounds jumbled up, but i am in a tis as to what is the best thing to do.

jcr16

forgot to say i am only looking for work for 2 days a week.

krisskross

Think the first thing you need to do is find out about evening classes in office admin. You would learn typing, Word applications, spreadsheets etc. I believe you will need these sort of skills to work in an office. You would be very fortunate to find an employer willing to pay you while you learn.

Hope you find what you are looking for.

Emmzi

Or, as you have internet, you could do some online courses to get the PC stuff to to speed first - You probably need word, excel, and outlook express or lotus notes (for email). try learndirect for advice.

You do seem a little torn here - why do you want to go back to work? Maybe focussing on that can help us suggest things that might suit you! For example if you want a social contact... maybe retail is easier? You'll meet more people than you will in an office on your own! If it's for cash, how about call centre work? Usually a couple of weeks full time training but no experience required and usually shifts available to work around hubby.

grahamliza4

I am nearly the exact same as you, and i strongly urge you not to bother unless you desperately need to.

My life is one long gulit trip. Arranging childcare, asking favours, doing favours in return, paying out for childcare, unable to work when kids are sick therefore the £100s for nursery are wasted as you still have to pay even tho they arent there.

Would not be doing this if we werent in trouble with money. Never spend decent time with kids, don't have enough time to work, house is a tip, no time for anything else.

And would you believe i only work part time self-employed?! Kids only go to nursery for part of 3 days!!

ohreally

jcr16 wrote:

and do boss's mind a 25 year old mum with no experiance , but wanting to learn.

While you consider your options, try something such as http://www.ecdl.com/products/index.jsp

moggins

I'd seriously consider all other options before going back to work. As a lot of people have found out it doesn't always mean you will be better off financially. Have you considered finding a job in the evenings whilst your DH looks after the children, this is what I did with my first two, this time around I have stayed at home for the last 6 years and learning all I could from MSE, My DH reckons we could not afford me going back to work as I'm more use here (plus we worked out that after taking off every other expense involved we would only be £300 per year better off).

Spendless

Hi, well I certainly have some of your situation. I'll try and answer bit by bit

jcr16 wrote:

Ok our situation is changing in next month or so , so because of this , we ( hubby and i ) think it might be best if i return to work. Could you explain why more fully. No wish to pry but if we know the situation we may be able to suggest several options


but i have 2 small children ( age 3 and 18m) and my daughter is at nursery 8.50am till 11.20am each morning. My daughter is 3 too (4 next month) and start f-time school in September. When does yours start, as this would cut down your childcare bill.


i have worked out to get them looked after at nursery for 2 whole days a week half 8 till 5 will be around £80. have spoken to tax credits and they said that although my hubby earns 25k we should be able to get some of that covered . but they not sure how much i'll get until i know how much i'll be earning. In order for you to get help with childcare costs via tax credits you would need to work at least 16 hours a week, put the minimum wage in @16 hours plus your OH wages and your childcare costs into this site www.entitledto.co.uk to get an idea, then pretend you have got a 16 hour job on a bit more than the min wage and see how it works out and so on. If it turns out that you won't get help from tax credits look into childcare vouchers instead if your OH employer offers them. I'm guessing you don't currently pay for nursery for 3yo as she gets funding? Don't forget that would also reduce your bill.

but the nursery doesn't have space until august for my son , and then will only have 1.5 days and only 1 day for my daughter. Does this mean you could only look for a job 1 day a week?? Obviously I'm basing this on my own area but 2 days a week here are rare to find. 1 just wouldn't be possible. Unless you could work 1 w'day and 1 Sat/Sun and your DH care for the kids on the w'end.

i have asked my mum if we could work something out ( she works but 6.30 am till 8am 3 mornings a week) but mum didn't seem too interested. ( ok thats fine i know i shouldn't just assume. ) my nan is too old. and my mum in law works full time apart from school holidays, as she works in a school.

also i have no qualifications. diddly squat. well i do have an nvq in direct care and i have nursing and care experiance under my belt. but i don't wish to return to that line of work. i would like to find a job working in an office ( small) maybe estate agents or lettings. but i would need a very understanding boss. as i would need training and also if my kids are ill then i have to be with them. but i also have very little confidance as i haven't worked for nearly 4 years so the whole thing scares me. but i know deep down inside id be really good in the job. i have great customer service, i am dedicated. honest , trustworthy , reliable and very genuine. Yes, I have the same, my relatives are ill, elderly, working, other committments and not in a position to help me much. I've also been out of admin work for 7 years. I decided to go to college instead. Started off on a word processing course (free with free creche) run by womens centre, then found a heavily subsidised college course whilst DD went to private nursery. Now doing a small course round her school nursery hours.

after all this time of being a sahm , i keep wondering how on earth i'll manage a job , look after family , run a home and still be a fun loving person.

it all seems so comlicated , trying to get a job and nursery for children all working together that i just can't seem to work out what i need to do first.( apart from sit down with a cup of tea and tell myself it will be ok)

has anyone else been in this situation ? and do boss's mind a 25 year old mum with no experiance , but wanting to learn.

I found college helped with all these aspects, got me into a routine, gained experience, qualifications, but like I said at the beginning it depends on your reasons for needing to find a job and whether you need extra money now or if you can take time out first to get some qualifications.