IF you were left with VERY LITTLE MONEY after paying CHILDCARE would you defo not bother going back to Work or......

[drosophila]

would you look at the long game? I work for Civil Service and intend to return after Easter for a 3 day week. I have been investigating the childcare options and would love a nanny as it would be far less stressful. I worked FT with DS and used nursery. DS is at school and we have no family support for holidays. DD could go to nursery but I thought a nanny may be the most sensible option. Trouble is it would leve me with a tiny amount clear each month.

Is it worth it? DP and I are inclined to think yes cos my Job is very secure, well paid, has great pension and most importantly I am trained for nothing else. We figure that for 2/3 years of eff all money I woul have retained my job. DD would also get one on one care.

What is the least amount of money you would allow yourself to clear after paying childcare so you could be sure of a job in the future?

[Feistybird]

Do you want to go back to work?

[mummytosteven]

i don't know how you would calculate it, but there would also be the future financial benefit to your pension of going back to work.

[oops]

Message withdrawn

[Flossam]

would you not consider a c/m? Seems a good compromise to me, a little more personal than a nursery but much less costly than a nanny?

[nononsense]

work everytime for me.

[drosophila]

Who wants to go back to work? Problem is DP is in new job and doesn't feel too secure. Was made redundant last year so feel terrified of same thing happening. I never listen to my heart my head always wins out even when I get miserable in the process. Hated working FT with DS but felt I had no choice.

[drosophila]

Had bad experience with CM with DS. I am pretty sure she was hitting him.

[flutterbee]

I'm in a very similar situation and have just recently come to the decision that having no money for a few years but future security, is better than having no money (because of not going back to work)and having no long term security.

I will of course change my mind a million times before returning to work but this is what my head is telling me.

[drosophila]

Nono why work every time is it cos of the long game or do you really enjoy work?

[thewomanwhothoughtshewasahat]

I work for nothing. well, thinking about it, I work for my pension. If you enjoy the job do it.

[drosophila]

Going back to a different job (one advantage of the Civil Service) so don't know if I will enjoy it but I suspect I will.

[fishie]

is similar for us - also my employer does fab mat pay and am hoping to have another baby. will use a childminder but money will be more than tight, really i ought to go back full time but can't bear to.

[drosophila]

It's hard isn't it. Off to do some exercise now hope I can think clearer after. Won't be able to post until tomorrow now but thanks for your thoughts. It's good to know that others share my dilemma.

[alliebaba]

give it a go.. if you hate it, leave and cut back on a couple of things

[fisil]

It's such a personal decision - go for what feels right for you.

I earn virtually nothing (c. £10 a day, I think) if you take childcare off my pay, but I love my work, and dp and I both know that my mental health would suffer dangeroualy if I didn't work.

[Milliways]

Yes, In had a few years of low money, & a year of NO money, but when DS started school I changed my hours to school hours & now have NO childcare costs in term time.

[fisil]

Oh, and I also actually enjoy all the cost cutting and saving money.

And another thing, we know that we could save money by using a childminder, but I have similar bad experiences to you (but me & my siblings rather than my own children) and also the boys are very happy at nursery. That is something we will not scrimp on.

[MrsSpoon]

I didn't go back to work after having DS1, firstly because DH and I felt that me being a SAHM was right for our family and secondly I would have been left with very little money after paying for childcare. Now DH has his own business and work a few hours a week for him from home.

I you didn't go back would you consider any home based jobs?

[foxinsocks]

dros, I think you have to factor in the benefits that come with your job so even if you are only clearing a minimal amount you have

• a fantastic pension
  
• secure job
  
• the opportunity for part time hours
  
• good benefits (leave and the like)
  
  I would go for the nanny and keep your job. However, if you are absolutely hating your job then I would probably take my chances and give it up but if your job is bearable, I would keep it. It's sooo hard trying to find something part time once you have stopped working altogether.

[BettySpaghetti]

I was in a similar situation after having my second. If I'd gone back to work and had to pay nursery fees for DS and after-school/holiday fees for DD I wouldn't have been left with a great deal (I was working 18.5 hours but over 3 days rather than 2.5 days due to travelling time, shorter days etc).

We looked at the quality of life aspect

• the logistics of dropping off two children at different times, in different places in the a.m.
  -then the pick-up at the end of the day (taking into account traffic)
  
• my boss being a PITA who liked to inconvenience people as much as possible ( eg. book meetings that are likely to over-run for the end of the day)
  -what do we do if the kids are sick
  -DP is self-employed so a lot of the sickness/holiday/inset day etc cover would fall on me as if he didn't work, he wouldn't get paid
  -after-school club after a full day at school would have been too much for DD who was in reception at the time
  
  Anyway, after all that we realised we'd be happier all round if I didn't return to work (although I have since started doing some occasional relief work as and when I want in a similar field)
  
  Good luck in whatever you decide

[Rojak]

Could you take a career break for a few years? That way you would still be guaranteed a job if you went back in 2 or 3 years time?

[blueshoes]

drosophilia, I agree with foxinsocks. You can afford the convenience of a nanny and still have money left over + pension, job security (compensating for dh's situation), and other benefits eg life assurance. It is just a few lean years, partly because you are reducing working hours to a 3 day week - it is a great balance. A lot of my continuing pt working is to do with the long term financial security of my family.

[florenceuk]

Drosophilia, I'm a civil servant too. I think that you should be able to take a career break if you want to - one advantage of the Civil Service. You would hold onto your pension benefits, (although it would be lower than if you'd worked, as I think it's based on career average, not final salary) and hopefully be able to return to a similar position later. But I can understand if your DH is feeling insecure, he wants to share some of that financial responsibility. Still, you probably could return reasonably quickly if the worst happened - I know that after maternity leave I had the right to go back even if there were not a job for me, and they had to give me project work until a "real" job came up. IIRC a career break can be quite a long stretch of time - up to five years?

I don't earn that much after childcare, but I actually like going to work for 3 days a week - i get to drink a cup of coffee and mumsnet in peace, and my job is not very stressful most of the time. But if you hated the job, a more difficult choice.

[soapbox]

Drosophila, I think it might be worth you going back as you will keep your hand in and once the DC's are at school (which believe me happens far faster than you think it will) your child care costs may reduce quite substantially.

I am certainly glad that I kept working 3 days a week when the DCs were little. It meant that I stayed in the workplace and have lost little of my earning potential. I returned to almost full time work and my earning power is back at the level I think it would have been without the spell of p/t working.

It depends very much what you want from work. I'm not so bothered about money (although it is nice to have) but like working nevertheless.

If I really really hated it, I don't think I would do it!