Financial Costs of going to work...:(

onlyroz

Is your husband able to juggle his hours so that he can do some of the childcare during the week? He has the right to request a flexible working arrangement from his employer.

My husband does three long days and two short ones so that he can do the school run on a thursday and friday. This saves us money because we only need to use the after-school club three days a week.

dundeediva

OP I was in the same situation but I've chosen to work weekends. I don't want to but to me its more important to show my dd that working and earning a living is very important and if you want nice things then you have to make sacrifices. I work 30 hours over 4 days, we use 3 days childcare and the other days shes with me or dh. Thats what works out best for us but I don't mean that as a dig at anyone who choses to give up work etc, thats just my view.

Scotsbride

You mentioned about starting up your own business and about Money issues have you talked to CAB as they might be able to help you. Also check with your health adviser if you still have one if you might be entitled to anything!

manila

I have come back to work after maternity leave too, and would like some opinion from you. Its been over a month since i started looking for a childminder/nanny, but the priced are ridiculous, one third more than i earn!
Then i found a nursery, but i need help with understanding the child tax credit table.
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/people-advise-others/entitlement-tables/work-and-child/work-pay-childcare.htm
We have two children, our income is around 35.000 a year. So do i need to spend £150 a week to get the support from child tax credit, or is it just an example?
I need only two days a week from the nursery, that would be £100 a week. Would i qualify?

ema_o

I think with more than 1 child in childcare the choice to work is usually made with consideration of your career, so with a view of it will be rubbish in the short term but better in the longer term if you don't have a long break in your employment.
However - if I had to work weekends to afford childcare mon - fri I would very much be looking at where I could cut back in the short term. Saving for a deposit is probably something you need to put off until you are not paying for childcare. Could you look at renting somewhere smaller / cheaper both to make it work for the short term and to give you more to put aside for a deposit once you are ready to start saving?
Try posting on the debt free wannabe forum to get help with ideas where you can cut back.

Kazorina

I work opposite shifts to my husband and it does suck! We have always done this, we have 3 children, 2 in school and one just over a year old. We had a recent shift around while I was on maternity leave..he used to do the weekends and I worked during the week whilst kids were at school. Now I work weekends/nights while he does 9-5 during the week.

Benefit is we don't pay out for childcare and get to keep all our earnings - minus bills of course. I work for the NHS so weekends/nights are paid at a higher rate, so I can work less hours than before I went on mat leave and still earn the same. I also get topped up by tax credits, so be watchful of the amounts your earning too. There are calculators to help, working less hours can sometimes leave you financially better off.

We use holidays/annual leave as valuable family time, get most nights during the week together and so far it's working. It's a means to an end really eventually you'll have all the time in the world together. It can be difficult finding the balance, I was struggling before I went on Mat leave, as I was always with the kids on my own but it's a case of finding what works best for you and your family. It also really depends on flexibility of your job and what hours are available for you to work.

Hope that's not a waffle and helps a bit

grey_lady

Why are you paying 100% of the childcare costs? surely you should be splitting it with your husband pro-rata?