IA's Debt/Life/Little bit of Everything Diary...

barnaby-bear

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

I've been playing with some figures..... in order for me to be able to volunteer with the CAB I would need to be able to do at least 2 3 hour sessions a week mon to fri which would me finding childcare...
the only way we would be able to afford this is by me getting a 16 hour a week job so we get tax credits help....
I've been looking at weekend jobs and playing around with entitled to.. Have already called about one job which Ste's going to pick up an application form for me as it's in the same town he works in... but based on if I got that job (baring in mind extra petrol etc)
Based on if I got that job...

ste wages 940.41
cb 120.8
tc £448
sar wages £364
total £1,874

lunches £40.00
bills £795.32
nursery £239.53
food £250.00
petrol £70.00
total £1,394.85

leftover £478.76 after food petrol etc

with the girls going to nursery for 2 half sessions a week while I did CAB... (tax credits would be around £112 a week)

Seems like a good plan to me!! Just got to get a weekend job now Obviously I'll have my OU studies to bare in mind as well as extra CAB training work (if I got accepted), and fitting in quality time with Ste in the evenings... AND band practices.... :rotfl:

Having a think.
First point of interest:
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/join-us/volunteering_faqs.htm#13
Q13)

Staffords office lists a telephone advice line - teleworking?
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/bureau_detail.html?serialnumber=101211

barnaby-bear

Other thoughts:

Ste works in a call centre (?) - do they open saturdays - could he change a day off to during the week and work saturdays - even a half day will clear half the problem?

Perhaps break it down - how much is 3 hours of childcare per child. So at the moment we need 2x3hours for K and 2x3hours for A. Most of A's could come out of the free sessions?

Could you take K along to some of the preliminary training (i.e. with no clients there) if you could tie it in with when she sleeps while A.s using her free sessions? Or maybe bits of it can be done by phone?

Remember many of the CAB staff are likely to be sympathetic to childcare obstacles to careers so may be willing to adapt/be flexible. If you go along and discuss it - they might have experience and you could discuss ideas. Perhaps there's someone else wanting to train or volunteer with kids/dependents and you could do a babysitting exchange (you are CRB checked and qualified)?

Also remember that the salaries are quite good if you make a go of it with potential to become team leader/manager etc so perhaps allow £25 a week towards childcare as a training budget like Ste did with the driving lessons.
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/jobopportunities/jobopps_bureau/telephone_advice_worker_2008_01_31
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/jobopportunities/jobopps_bureau/money_advice_and_welfare_benefits_caseworker_2008_01_25
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/jobopportunities/jobopps_bureau/debt_administration_worker_2008_01_21

MAy all be unsuitable but I'm sure others have some ideas to bounce.....

immoral_angeluk

barnaby-bear wrote: »

Ste works in a call centre (?) - do they open saturdays - could he change a day off to during the week and work saturdays - even a half day will clear half the problem?

The particular helpdesk Ste works on is only open monday to friday 9-5.30.

Perhaps break it down - how much is 3 hours of childcare per child. So at the moment we need 2x3hours for K and 2x3hours for A. Most of A's could come out of the free sessions?

You have to pay by the session.. We'd only have to pay a 'top up' for ash for each session because of the government funding.

Could you take K along to some of the preliminary training (i.e. with no clients there) if you could tie it in with when she sleeps while A.s using her free sessions? Or maybe bits of it can be done by phone?

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Remember many of the CAB staff are likely to be sympathetic to childcare obstacles to careers so may be willing to adapt/be flexible. If you go along and discuss it - they might have experience and you could discuss ideas. Perhaps there's someone else wanting to train or volunteer with kids/dependents and you could do a babysitting exchange (you are CRB checked and qualified)?

If I get an interview I'd definately mention it and see if there's any support...

Also remember that the salaries are quite good if you make a go of it with potential to become team leader/manager etc so perhaps allow £25 a week towards childcare as a training budget like Ste did with the driving lessons.

Exactly.. the whole reason I'm doing this is to start building a career for myself in something I'm interested in rather than being stuck in retail for the whole of my working life. Fingers crossed it works out! Really appreciate all the help and advice though, thank you .:)

immoral_angeluk

Gemmzie wrote: »

I don't think you'd be able to fit in 16 hours at the weekend in retail, max is usually 12-13 hours depending on whether you get paid breaks. Unless you find somewhere with extended Saturday opening hours. Believe me I've tried

I know, retail's a pain in the !!! lol. Would the volunteering work count toward my hours per week? If not I'll just have to get some kind of office/other job.

barnaby-bear

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

I know, retail's a pain in the !!! lol. Would the volunteering work count toward my hours per week? If not I'll just have to get some kind of office/other job.

http://www.volunteering.org.uk/WhatWeDo/Local+and+Regional/VolunteerCentreFinder.htm?county=Staffordshire

National volunteer scheme should have a lot of knowledge - worth a call?

barnaby-bear

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

I know, retail's a pain in the !!! lol. Would the volunteering work count toward my hours per week? If not I'll just have to get some kind of office/other job.

If you are determined to try and do 16 hours which is less than ideal - there are the graveyard cleaning shifts between 4-8am in offices and evenings - when I guess Ste would be home but it would be tough.

immoral_angeluk

barnaby-bear wrote: »

If you are determined to try and do 16 hours which is less than ideal - there are the graveyard cleaning shifts between 4-8am in offices and evenings - when I guess Ste would be home but it would be tough.

Cleaning graveyards???? That sounds like a horrible job! :eek:

barnaby-bear

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

You have to pay by the session.. We'd only have to pay a 'top up' for ash for each session because of the government funding.

Ok lets break it down:
How much per session and 2 x 3 hours for each kid.
=.......

Free sessions for A reduces that by
=......

Childcare vouchers from work are tax free so would knock off (20% ish)
=......

would childcare vouchers lower Ste's take home to up tax credits a bit?
=.....

Sarah's "driving lesson" training budget (you could find this on old budget when doing driving lessons so not extra money)reduces by
=£25

so how much extra....

barnaby-bear

barnaby-bear wrote: »

If you are determined to try and do 16 hours which is less than ideal - there are the graveyard cleaning shifts between 4-8am in offices and evenings - when I guess Ste would be home but it would be tough.

Plenty of angels in graveyards

immoral_angeluk

Ok lets break it down:
How much per session and 2 x 3 hours for each kid.
= £9.68 top up for Ash/£18.50 a session for k. twice a week. = £56.36

Free sessions for A reduces that by
= included in above..

Childcare vouchers from work are tax free so would knock off (20% ish)
= uh.....

would childcare vouchers lower Ste's take home to up tax credits a bit?
= no... it'd lower tax credits as we'd only get childcare element for the fees not paid for by vouchers.. the annual income would be the same.

Sarah's "driving lesson" training budget (you could find this on old budget when doing driving lessons so not extra money)reduces by
=£25 I don't understand this bit.. lol it's too early in the morning..

so how much extra.... uh.....