If your take home pay was 5k a month, would you do this?

If my child is sick or I have a school performance I just do it. People mind less about those things when you are a full time team member.
if I were working part time I would still be doing them - but not getting paid to do so.

money you can add to savings and crucially pension earlier is important

On a gross salary of around £80k, holiday clubs and wraparound childcare as well as pension contributions and long term financial security all become a lot more affordable, which is even more important for a solo parent with a flakey co-parent. It provides a different sort of flexibility. It is also possible that once she has a foot in the door, the company will allow WFH and other flexing.

At the grand old age of 53, I am planning to retire next year having WFH full time for over a decade and had full flexibility around kids, while still earning well over that amount.

I can only guess at the extra stress of being a single parent but flexibility was everything for us when working. DH had complete flexibility and mine improved when I changed roles to the point I could be home for DS after school.

You are already losing £240 of the 1k on parking. I also think having a work environment you enjoy means everything, it seems like you have that. In my working life I had 4 employers in total. Three were fine one was dire and one was by far the one I enjoyed the most, nothing compares to that golden time.

I’m with you. Shocking really.

It's depressing to not want to be on a treadmill? Not everyone is career obsessed.

OP seems to be taking home 4k a month at the moment which is about 55k.and has a convenient flexible job. Once the child is out of nursery then the costs go down and the flexibility becomes more important as it's a PITA sorting childcare round school holidays and as people pointed out random days that the school decided to close

If it was a case that OP and child would be at starvation door without the extra money different situation

Child is a nursery so really only the sickness thing applied And it might be a healthy child Not all nursery kids are constantly ill. Think between 2 of mine they had less than 3 weeks off nursery with illness.

This thread is so depressing. Although the extra money is clearly a factor, what about career progression? No wonder so many women find themselves on the mummy track when they actively damage their own career prospects.

If it takes you a step up on the career ladder, take it @Juso. I’m telling you that as a single parent who took a pay cut to take a more senior role because it was a stepping stone to better things.

i would take the job.

Absolutely do it. Great for your career, pension, and quality of life. You can buy a lot of flexibility with an extra £12k a year. The hours are great, you’ll spend less on energy, and I’m guessing the work will be more interesting/rewarding. These sorts of pay rise opportunities don’t happen very often so I’d grab it with both hands.

How do you currently manage things like your chikd being sick, school holidays, school closing early, exceptional closure days, sports days etc?

If your current work flexibility is key in navigating all of that then no, I wouldn't move.

If the move would make no difference to the above I would strongly consider it.

Personally I wouldn't take it, because flexibility is golden, especially as a lone parent. I'm not that driven by money though so I do accept pp have good arguments about security and pension.

You clearly have a well paid job already and are doing very well to be offered a big pay rise. I think I would hold out for a flexible job when you do want to take the next move.

I work with a few people who pay around £7-8.5k annually to commute to London. Whilst it’s not £1k per month and it’s unlikely to be applicable to the op, just pointing out that some people do pay a lot for their travel cards!

Personally, I wouldn't turn down £1k extra after tax as quickly as many of the PP are discounting it.

Your next pay raise will mean even more, your bonus will be more, your pension will be more, if you want to get a new mortgage you'd be able to borrow more etc.

I guess the question is how much flexibility can the new job offer? Do they offer carers leave etc. Can you still manage to do drop offs in the morning? Don't forget you can put in a flexible work request too.

I'd have to agree with that. Especially with a non helpful other parent. And she's not exactly in dire poverty if an extra 1k takes her to 5k a month. Mean getting 4k now which is same as 2 people often earned

I'd have earned far more over the years in less flexible work but would've been much more difficult with the kids

Did you even read the OP? ? The child is already in the the childcare for the same hours

Sounds like your DD isn’t in school yet so for that reason I’d say don’t take it. School plus wraparound is completely different to a long day at nursery, especially that first year. You will need the flexibility so much more as a mum of a school child than as a mum of a nursery child. If your DD was settled in school and you knew it could work then that would be different but I worry without knowing what you’re letting yourself in for as the mum of a school age kid then you would regret losing your flexibility

What's the new job like in terms of future prospects and security? I think the flexibility while kids are earlyish primary age is extremely valuable. But if this is a step up that won't come along often, or if it puts you outside the firing line for AI induced cuts or the like, it may well be worth the hardship over the next few years (not to mention the 30k+ you could put away in that time).

You know it’s 1k a month after tax don’t you?

where on earth would one be commuting to for it to cost 12 k a year?

even a London zone 1-6 annual travel card is around 3k. Hardly “eating up” the 1k a month.

How long is the commute?
What is your plan when your child starts school?
Does the new job offer flexibility for drs appointments, emergency pick ups, sick child?
Do you need the money?
I just turned down a job that was double my salary because it was in office. I would love that job and could do with the money but with kids in school it would be a nightmare.

The cost of commute will be eaten up in that £1k

Your dc is so young. I wouldn’t do it.

Be careful about losing your free childcare as £6k net per month is around £100k gross depending on what you have included as deductions. It’s a cliff edge loss too so you’ll need to be very careful. You could end up being a lot worse off.

God the bliss when I got my flexible working from job is worth so much.

I can get loads of the housework per done during my lunch, never have to take time off for school plays/assemblies/parents evening/doctors/dentists. Never yet had to miss a school thing.

When they are, they are ill.I can actually get somewhere done while they're sleeping/watching TV.

I'm not as tired, i don't waste time on the commute, I can start work really early as and finish. I worked long day some days and short days on others.

Can go out for a dog walk midday, and meet friends for lunch. Then catch up after DC in bed.

I'd tell them you'll do it - but only if they can allow WFH on summer hols/half terms and permit some flexi time to allow you to tackle Dr's appointments and school plays etc...

They dont need to know their role is paying £1000 more - tell them its the same, but you'd be loosing something from taking it.

Can you say the two salarys rather than the take home difference?

You may have calculated it incorrectly due to tax %'s and if you claim CB, help with childcare etc.