I'm currently on maternity leave. DD is 11 weeks old and maternity leave ends end of march. I was basically forced to take my holidays and start maternity leave early as I had quite a poorly pregnancy and stupid amount of hospital appointments. This means going back to work when DD is 6 months old.
me and DH started talking about what we can do and doing some number crunching. my mum and his mum both work, other family members work and I know my dad wouldn't be able to look after her.FIL is sadly not with us anymore. so family childcare is out of the window. Im not planning on going back to my job as the company isn't child friendly and I wasn't treated well. I plan to find a part time job.
the problem is the cost of childcare. I've gone by what a friend pays a day and the fact I'd be on a minimum wage job (wasn't before) and it comes out I'd work for £17 a day
. me and DH are not entitled to any benefits, only get child benefit.
Also I want to ask, do nursery's And childminders charge more for babies under a certain age?? I know one local to me did.
we then calculated the scenario if I stayed at home. we calculated everything, including the food shop, and we would be left over with around £900.
I need your opinions please 
is it worth going back to work in march or can we afford to wait a while? is it worth the part time job after the childcare?
me and Dh have always worked so I'd find it hard not having my own money and feel guilty, though he doesn't care, but at the same time I'd feel guilty putting me then 6 month old into childcare 
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Need some opinions and some advice pleeease
Xfirefly · 21/11/2013 09:50
thank you for replying. my DH works a shift pattern so there isn't set days and he works both days and nights. we won't be entitled to any help at all I've done the calculator and it came back with nothing. even with DHs salary alone we wouldn't get anything.
do nurserys only allow you to have set days?
thank you for replying all.
we were thinking of a childminder. a cousin of ours has used one since her now 9 year old was small so she's recommended her. only thing I was concerned with was as she's going to be small would a childminder who also had toddlers in her care struggle? we're going to call her and ask anyway.
with regards to my career, finding flexible hours for what I do would be very difficult. it involves nearly all weekend and holidays . I'm a complimentary therapist so finding jobs in this sector in this area can be hard. but I could work from home in the future, Im lucky to have that option. I just can't do it now .
I didn't write that incorrect, it would be around £900 
Realistically £800. we don't have many luxuries. we don't go on holidays and we shop at lidl. wev always learnt to budget as growing up we had no money, our families were skint.
we're saying that being a SAHP would be the last option. I wouldn't mind that but I would go back to work when DD is in school. I just feel awkward and guilty for living off DHs money. anyone else feel like that at first?
thank you pretty. I know it sounds silly but I didn't realise how lucky I am until you've mentioned it was a lot left over. DH has come home from work this evening and he has been talking to his colleagues and he has come to the conclusion that me staying home will be the best. he has said he would never belittle me or make me feel rubbish and I believe him as we rarely fall out. we're too laid back. he has joked and said I have to do all the ironing now ( because he knows I hate it 
) haha
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