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To be a SAHM for a while or not? WWYD?

9 replies

DuggeesWoggle · 01/04/2019 19:37

Expecting number 2 in September. If I took the full year off I would be going back to work just as DS starts school. I would ideally like to have 2 years off but obviously that's not possible re going back to the same job.

I work in local government, fairly dull admin job, nice colleagues, pay pretty low but working conditions ok, nice office, flexible hours etc. Not what i'm trained in or particularly interested in but puts food on the table and keeps paying in to the pension pot.

We don't actually need the money from my job. DH earns a good wage (about £40k), has good career prospects and we own our (admittedly small) house outright. So I could take a break from work for a bit to look after the DC while they are still small and try something new when they are both a bit bigger.

But would I be daft to stop paying NI & pension contributions (however small) and risk not getting back into work in a post-Brexit economy after the age of 40? Especially as we live rurally so with school run juggling it could be difficult to find a job that would work with that and be something I actually want to do.

Got a few months to decide but just asking for opinions really?

OP posts:
DuggeesWoggle · 01/04/2019 19:38

Also very aware that this is a bit of a luxury problem to have and I know how lucky I am to be able to even consider giving up work, before that gets said!

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CallMeCarolDanvers · 01/04/2019 19:39

I would be quite surprised if your employer doesn't offer career breaks. Most public sector organisations are quite hot on that kind of thing.

Palominoo · 01/04/2019 19:40

Alway put being with your children first if you can afford it as they are not babies/children for long.

www.gov.uk/national-insurance/help-if-youre-not-working

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SummerHouse · 01/04/2019 19:41

I would. Do you mean a year maternity leave. In which case you can go back no problems regardless of Brexit.

DuggeesWoggle · 01/04/2019 19:42

Actually Carol I do recall seeing something about career breaks on the intranet several years ago. I just ignored it as I don't really have a 'career'. Might be worth looking into though...

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Bamchic · 01/04/2019 19:42

A lady I used to work with ended up going on maternity on the first of October 2017, and returned to work yesterday. She’s reduced her hours down to 8 a week that she does as either 2 mornings or one day. I know it’s not quite two years but she was allowed to take up to 9 months as an extra sabbatical after her mat leave, and boss said it’s much easier to hire someone for an 18mo fixed term than it is for a 9 mo mat cover.

Is it worth asking if you can take time off like that? Or go down to 1 day a week for example?
If you don’t ask you don’t get!

DuggeesWoggle · 01/04/2019 19:43

No Summer I mean a year after having a year's mat leave so 2 years off in total. Possibly longer.

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SnuggyBuggy · 01/04/2019 19:43

I don't see any shame in being a SAHM, sometimes you weigh everything up and working isn't worth it.

DuggeesWoggle · 01/04/2019 19:45

No shame at all in being a SAHM, DH just thinks it wouldn't be wise to stop paying pension contributions but he does get a bit obsessed by these things.

Will definitely inquire about the sabbatical thing.

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