AIBU to stay in a flexible but extremely low-paid job that suits family life?

I agree, do it for as long as it suits you and then when the dc is more independent you can look for something else. You’re keeping yourself employed and employable through the childcare years with minimum effort.

I have an interesting but fairly easy, flexible day job which suits my family. The pay is not great so I've got an extra admin job I can do in the evenings when they're in bed which pays for holidays and treats. I could be earning 20k more in my industry if I took a different role, but I'd miss sports day, assemblies etc plus having hassle if the kids are ill/have the drs etc. As a single mum, the extra cash would be great but it wouldn't make up for not being able to show up.

I absolutely recognise how fortunate I am to have that choice.

So much more to life than salary (which isn’t too bad in my opinion!)

Once you add in having to pay for childcare, petrol, holiday care, work clothes and lunches etc and then consider the impact on your quality of life - I don’t think you have a bad deal at all

If you’re happy enough then I’d stick with it while your child is at primary school at least

It sounds like a good deal to me, you enjoy your job but have plenty of time for the rest of your life. The hours are enviable and the pay isn’t that bad. I don’t think I’d be at all tempted to look elsewhere for the time being.

I have a lot of high earning friends and so much of their money is swallowed up by outsourcing because they have no time e.g. cleaner, gardener, dog walker, childcare, DIY, takeaways or meal subscriptions etc.

I am on a low salary by mumsnet standards but I love my job and have the flexibility to attend school events. I also avoid all the costs above because I just do everything myself.

As you are married you have financial protection so if it suits you both I'd stay put.

I think it sounds perfect. I’d prioritise keeping your skills up but enjoy! Who are you trying to impress and why?

Stay - it’s not a pittance at all. You’ve read too many fantasy tales from the mythical 6 figure earners on here!

I did years on a low salary, in a job that was great in terms of flexibility, it was quite stressful due to the industry but I enjoyed it. My plan was to move on when both children went to comp. I was earning less than you. I did a course that would be helpful moving forward, and then saw a perfect job for me by chance, a bit earlier than planned as ds is at the end of primary school- I worried my low previous salary would hold me back, but I got the job, it’s incredibly flexible, fascinating work with an amazing pension, just under 40k, which in mums net terms is a pittance I know- but for me is amazing! I would stick with the set up you have got now in your circumstances- and then plan for when your child moves schools. You can’t buy time back- but you can earn more in the future

She’s on way above minimum wage.

This job sounds awesome ! Flexi jobs that work around school runs are like gold dust. I’d keep it for another few years at least

Well I work similar although paid a bit more so I would of course say stay in the role.
If your husband has a decent salary I wouldn't change jobs.

I'm shocked at the replies here, a PM is typically a well paid gig and you're on minimum wage.

For those hours I'd expect double, bare minimum. You are being royally shafted by your employer.

I do very similar work and am on 3x what you get, for reference.

It's the bits you can't quantify that make it a good job.

How much would you pay to attend your kids assembly.
How much would you pay to not sit in traffic every morning & evening for 20 mins +
How much would you pay to do your jobs over the week, not save it all to the weekend.
What's it worth to pick up the kids and not have them in childcare.
How much would 2 extra weeks leave cost (you can buy leave some places, so that is quantifiable!).
How much would you pay to have a job you enjoy with a decent boss who's not micromanaging you and hassling you about targets?

To quote Jesse J. sometimes.
It's not about the money (money, money).

I’m retail and mostly love my job but am starting to panic about both retirement and when the kids need any proper financial help as adults so am job searching.

this is what I was going to say. If you worked 40 hours a week at the same rate your pay would be £33k which isn't bad. Plus the extra 2 weeks holiday is worth an extra grand on its own. If you worked further away you could be spending another 5-10 hours a week unpaid and £50-100 on petrol.

Maybe just keep an eye out for the type of jobs that are around locally that you might fancy, how much more they actually work out as, whether you're qualified for them or, if not, what additional training you would need etc., as a plan to get better paid work at some point in the future.

^ this, school hours only is gold. Don't underestimate how many parents would love to WFH and only work 6 hours a day around school.

But also think long term, so for now this works but working for less hours and less money can impact you much further down the line with your pension pot so consider your Dh upping his pension contributions through work. That way his employer could potentially increase their contribution. If your marriage ends this pot would still be considered part of the marital assets so he isn't just building it for himself.

Having said that, long term does your DH consider all monies family money? Do you think he is the type of person to retire with access to his pot whilst you continue working because you cannot afford not to for your share of the household bills? Just something to consider. You are the one making the sacrifices for your child.

Consider upping your pension contribution through work although with the business only just recovering perhaps consider a SIPP. Or both and ISAs. Don't lock all your money away in pension pots.

You only have 5 more years before your son starts secondary where they are much more independent and you can look to move to another company and get paid your worth.

My initial job after the youngest started school and after having been a SAHM for six years was 25 hours a week, so no need for childcare as I was back home in time to collect them from school. The pay wasn’t great, but boosted the family finances. But the most precious aspect of the job was the time I was able to spend with the kids after school.

Allowing for 30 min lunch break you are doing 5.5 hours a day, 27.5 hours a week. It's only 3-4 days a week so you have to think you are effectively only working 70-75% of full time. 25k for 70% FTE is more like 36k FTE and when you take into account that you get 2 full extra weeks off in August it's not such a joke anymore if its outside London.

£16 per hour for project management work is not great BUT the cushy nature, 7 weeks holiday and fully working from home does offset some of this. Have you asked for a payrise?

I work a part time job from home which I had been underpaid for a number of years. The pay was £7k. I wrote to the boss calmly and reasonably setting out why I thought I should be paid more and he agreed and I got a £1.5k payrise. Don't assume you can't ask. Just be polite and reasonable.

Your job sounds like gold op. Quite rare actually. Stick with it til your son is in secondary school. Staying that length of time won’t show stagnation, it’ll show commitment, that the company values you and you can demonstrate growth in how you developed the role during changes such as covid etc plus it supported you family life while your child was young. All good, all positive. Don’t compare to friends. I earn more but spend the extra paying for extras because I don’t have time to do it myself!

I think it sounds great. I’m a teacher and work full time, get to work at 8, leave at 4:30/5, sometimes later. Don’t take a break and have 20 minutes for lunch as always have loads to do. Do at least 2/3 hours extra at home a week. It’s stressful. I get great holidays but I’m often run down.
Prioritise what works for you.

Not to make it a race to the bottom, but I bet I earn less than you do! I do it because it works best for my family and tbh, I enjoy it.

The only thing would be if you are hankering for something more from your career. Atm I'm not, but occasionally I do wish I was doing something really (in my eyes) heroic, like nursing or paramedic. But realistically, I'd miss my children too much to retrain! Per hour my pay isn't bad either, but it is school hours and term time only which is why it's to poorly paid. A lot of my colleagues who are parents are similar to me. Quite well educated and middle class but sticking with a low paid job as it works so well for their families.

HOWEVER, you should, professionally and not with all guns blazing, ask for a pay rise.

Stick with it.

Flexibility is priceless.

As long as you keep an eye on your pension, then to me it sounds like a good balance.

If you are generally happy and it suits you, then don't worry about what other people are doing - that way lies the road to madness!