Am I losing perspective on these jobs offers? I don’t know what to do and running out of time!

Maybe it is giving up on your career slightly, but balance is crucial when DC are small. You are a single parent. You have to prioritise home life as well. You will be earning enough to live well. WFH means you can stick a laundry load on during a quick coffee break. Or prep dinner during your lunch break. These free up time in the evenings. It may save you money on parking costs or food, if you don't have to shop for lunch. It means you can be there if your DD is off nursery or school due to illness. Provided you have a job and do what you can to develop and update your skills, you can build your career when DD is a little older.

I’d go for lower paid. Diff isn’t much and it sounds more suited to your family needs. Good luck whichever you decide

If you value the health insurance, which is a taxable benefit, you will probably find you can take it out yourself for a reasonable amount. My son aged 32 has found quotes for around £60 a month.
I'd take the 1st one in your situation.

1st one definitely

FWIW the primary school years required a lot of presence in my experience, and flexibility is really valuable. At 47, I would go for the role which best combined enjoyment/interest, and quality of life- for you that might be less stress and more flexibility, as it is for me, or maybe that’s the bonus and health insurance. The actual difference in money is probably small enough to be used up in fuel, coffee/lunch out, paying for childcare, it’s not hugely significant unless you’re living up to the edge of your income every month.

Job 1. I am a single mum too, DD starts school in Sept. The flexibility is so, so useful. I have to do one day a week in the office but I don’t know how I’d manage if I had to do more.

Don't forget to compare the pension schemes too. Unless you compare the salary plus the percentage your employer contributes to your pension you're not really looking at total comp.

I think you need to broaden the factors you are considering when you weigh it up. You’ve just put salary, work location and bonus here but I think opportunity for progression, stability of role, financial health of company, how interesting each role is etc are all really important. If job 2 has stability, a good culture and more opportunity for progression then I would take that role - but I am someone who got a bit depressed WFH so that’s also a personal factor for me. I just think at 39 you should be “leaning in” and going to the role with the most progression but also stability / good culture. It’s a mix of things and I think remote work vs office work is the least important factor to consider (especially in your case where commuting costs and time not relevant due to nursery run anyway).

I’d negotiate a higher salary with the first employer. If through a recruiter ask them to have the conversation. If it’s on you, call the first one and say thank you for the offer it sounds wonderful and this is my preference as I this would be a great fit for me, but I’m wondering if you can come closer to the other offer so I can give you a wholehearted “yes”?

100% job 1 unless you’re the sort of person who thrives in the office setting.

Some on here will think either are big salaries but there’s also a lot of context missing in terms of location and living costs. It’s not relevant to as long as you can afford to take the lower offer If you can, I’d be picking a lower salary in favour of more WFH days

For me, flexible remote working is the biggest perk of my role and I’ve turned down many interviews if the day ratio is too swung to the office

p.s. Congratulations on securing 2 offers!

Can you afford to take the long view and go for the job that has the best future for your career?

Which one will allow you to have financial security in the medium and longer term?

I would go for role 1 too, @Linset - and maybe look at your budget, to see if you can afford the costs of buying your own private health insurance.

I have only read your posts, @Linset so apologies if I am duplicating but:

• assuming the salaries you've given are gross then the actual net difference won't be as much
• how much % are the employer and employee pension contributions?
• check the bonus as most aren't contractual. The amount of disputes I have seen about bonuses is a LOT
• The medical insurance is a taxable benefit, so you will be taxed on the value of it, meaning the difference in salaries will be even less.

As a single parent you need to do what works for you. Dont think that by taking job 1 you're giving up your career potential. I was in the exact same position - single parent, professional career. I took the job 1 equivalent and moved on when my children were older. It didnt damage my career at all. You've got to do what will give you an easier life for this point now.

Good luck and well done on the 2 offers!

Come on, seriously. Is it even a question. I hope the job doesnt involve any semi serious questions/problems as you'll struggle 😂

OP what are the pension contributions from employer? that should also be a factor

Unlike most folk here, I'd go for job 2. The commute is no different from driving back home from nursery, you get £250 per month more, plus health care, plus a bonus. If you think how much difference it makes over, say a couple of years, it's quite a lot!

Flexibility is king when you have young DC. I would take the first one without blinking.

Agree the first job if it makes you less stressed and happier - if you have all your costs covered then the extra money isn’t worth it. You’ll be more likely to stick with job 1.

What are career prospects like with job 1?

Not everyone would! I go into the office 3 x week a day always take my own lunches/snacks/coffees - never buy anything during the day (shopping online at home may be a different story...)

For what it’s worth, I have just taken a lower paid role, with a 30 minute commute, hybrid, decent pension, role over another which paid half as much again. The higher paid role was longer days and a massive, hellish, commute and no benefits as such.
I am entirely comfortable with my decision.

In my opinion, I would be taking your first job offer for the WFH benefits. The additional £20p a month sounds tempting but the commute and childcare costs soon add up, plus I would have to ask myself if the commute stress was worth it.

Absolutely this.

Ho much is the bonus?

The difference in money is fairly negligible in the context of £4k+ and may even be eaten up by spend on petrol for your commute. Regardless, I’d go for the one which makes your life easier (ie the wfh job). Unless you think the better paid job would be much more fulfilling and enjoyable.

This isn’t just a straight WFH vs commute though, is it? OP says she will need to drive to nursery in bad traffic then drive back home for job 1, and will be travelling about as long as she would be for job2.

Things to consider in this case would be, will her DC be in school soon, and is the school close to home, so the nursery commute would be a temporary issue?