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Would you have a weekend job or a PT job during the week if you have school aged kids?

12 replies

appleMacNCheese · 22/10/2019 14:39

Job 1
3 days a week 9-5
No commute- 10 minutes walk. I'm home for 5.15.
Down side is little one goes to nursery which she hates and there's ALOT of hassle juggling with school runs etc

Job 2
Working weekends. 9-5.30. will be home for 6pm.
Earn more than job 1 by £200 per month which will rise a lot more in a couple of years as I go up the band.

So, problem is do I give up my weekends and family time.

NB. I'm a low paid earner so £200 is alot to us!

OP posts:
SuperMeerkat · 22/10/2019 14:40

I wouldn’t give up family time for £200pcm.

Chivers53 · 22/10/2019 14:42

I'd go with weekdays, especially useful when they're all at school.

Paperyfish · 22/10/2019 14:43

I have school aged kids and my pt job involves about half of weekends. I would go for the weekend ones. You’ll get school holiday days and evenings and less weekday stress and save on nursery and get £200 more a month.

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AthollPlace · 22/10/2019 14:44

I wouldn’t give up my family time with DC. If they’re at school during the week and you work at weekends, you’ll never be able to spend a day with them.

WishThisWasGin · 22/10/2019 14:48

I can understand why you would be torn.

The weekend one would be better for the billion days of school holidays, inset days, sick kids etc.

Would you also save on nursery fees as well as the £200?

Is the same company? If so would it be possible to change in a few years time when the kids are older?

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 22/10/2019 14:52

I had a Saturday job for a while as I had no childcare available during the week (this was donkeys' years ago in pre-nursery days). It does bugger up your weekends but on the other hand it was nice to have weekdays free when the shops were less busy. I wouldn't give up Saturday AND Sunday, but I might consider one or the other.

It depends how much time you spend together as a family. In our case everyone was off doing their own thing half the time.

happypotamus · 22/10/2019 14:59

Who would love after DC on weekends while you work? What do they think?
I have a part-time job that is shifts and requires me to work at least 1 day or night most weekends. On work days I am out of the house from 6.30am until after 9pm, so it is different to your potential job, but DH resents it. He has to look after DC all day on the weekend after having worked a 9-5 job all week and really wishes he could always have the weekend days for his hobbies etc. Also, both of my DC are at school now, so I have days off in the week but don't see much of them and we are struggling to fit homework etc in on days that I am around to do it.
However, as others have pointed out, would you also save money on childcare by working on the weekend? Would that, as well as the extra pay for the weekend job, make a significant difference to your finances that makes it worthwhile?

implantsandaDyson · 22/10/2019 15:27

I had a weekend job when mine were preschool and school aged. It worked for us, it required no external childcare, we have long summer holidays, so I was there for all of that and all extra school days off, sick days from school etc. I also got holiday leave so I used that if we had something big on a weekend. Lots of parents I know work weekends, either part time or if they're shift workers.

Wetnappies · 22/10/2019 15:28

Job 1 absolutely. Even though there is hassle it sounds like it will be doable. And it's only three days.

My DD hated preschool and although she's still rather not go, she's accepted it as part of our week.

Wetnappies · 22/10/2019 15:28

Although do you have to pay for nursery? How old is DD?

appleMacNCheese · 24/10/2019 10:58

Baby is just over 18m

Dh will look after kids on the weekend and would be ok with this. He's leaving what I want to do up to me as he's fine with whatever I choose. He works from home so does the school run and nursery drop offs and in school hols childcare is dealt with by a combination of we take annual Leave/ kids at grandma/baby in nursery etc

The no hassle for school holiday childcare is a massive draw.

Just realised, I've done the maths wrong!

Basically both jobs pay similar at the moment. Without taking nursery fees into account I am better off £50 with weekend job. (£250 better off if taking into account nursery fees).

In 2-3 years (no nursery fees then) I will be top pay band on weekend job and will be better off by £150.

Hassle/ childcare faff in hols Vs losing weekends???!

OP posts:
rainbowstardrops · 24/10/2019 11:34

I'd go for job 1. Unless you're desperate for the extra money, quality family time at the weekend would be a deal breaker.

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