Mums that work with no family help??

StressedSteph

Hi all

Hope I am posting in the right place.

Ok......I am a mum of two. Both my children are in Primary school.

My husband is a Self employed builder and I do his accounts at home.

We currently receive Children Tax credits, but in our fight to become debt free, I really feel I need to get a part-time job.

What I wanted to ask all the working mums out there, is how do you do it???.

I have no parents alive, my husband has his father who is too old to help. So during school holidays or sickness I have no one to step in to help look after the children.

I am also worried that what with having to pay for child care help, losing alot of tax credits will I ACTUALLY work out better off.??

What do you mums out there do who have no family to help?.

Please don't blast me, until I had the children I worked full time as a secretary, I even worked part-time while my children were young, but since my mum died I haven't got anyone to help with them.

The only thing I can think of is working nights?.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

Valli

When mine were small I worked evenings (at the Bingo). Shifts were 5:30 until 9:30 so not hideous. This was in pre Tax Credit days though!

Other evening options are supermarkets and call centres. OR what about childminding?

Do use 'Entitled to' to see if you would gain/lose. (Blue text is a link)
Check if you are entitled to Free School Meals, too (local council).

Also childcare vouchers are available which will cover some costs of childcare.

Why would anyone blast you? You are a mum - you are already doing a VERY important job and it's hard work!

Mojisola

Good for you for looking at it but sometimes working just isn't an option - the sums don't add up and the stress on everyone in the family isn't worth it.

If night work is available, that might be an option but be careful of what you still have to do during the day - driving when tired is equivalent to drunk driving.

LannieDuck

If your husband takes weekends off, you could get a part-time job then?

no-oneknowsme

What about a job in a school? Maybe in the kitchens?

Most school canteen workers in the school I work in finish at 2pm and they get the school holidays off.

This would enable you to work whilst your children are at school.

I know that this wouldnt help on any days one of your children happen to be home from school ill but on that (hopefully rare) occasion you could possibly take annual leave to be at home with them.

This is what the canteen staff do in the school I work in.

busy_mom_2

Hubby works nights,I work days.

Very hard but as least my eldest is turning 14 so old enough to start helping to look after the younger one.

Who?_me?

The NHS in my area have pool / bank staff for getting patient records from the stores. People can pick and choose shifts to fit around child care, so you only work when you want to and can do as little or as much as you choose. Look on NHS recruitment. I know it works for a lot of mums near me.

tooldle

It's never as bad as you might first think. I found that daughter would be too ill to go to school for only a few days each year. Generally sickness bugs. These absences are easily accommodated by using annunal leave. We both work and hence spilt it between us wherever possible. This calendar year so far, she has had no sickdays at all. I think when working you tend to be more ruthless and not let a child stay home with just a cold for example. I have noticed that those who take a week with a minor ailment often have a stay at home parent.