Up my hours or stay part time?

[0verth1inker]

I’m in two minds about what to do.
I have a professional job which is relatively flexible. If I need to be in a meeting I have to be there but otherwise I can wfh, finish early if needed, manage my own time basically. I really enjoy my job.
Currently I work mon/tues/wed and have 2 days off with my two year old. I love that time, have lots of mum friends I meet, go to groups etc. I love being able to pick my eldest up from school and be around for them as my mum worked FT (no judgement she’s a wonderful mum) and I always wished she was around more in the week like ‘the other Mums’. I love being there to do that. (Again this was my child perspective- I know as an adult why she worked and love her to bits. It didn’t impact our relationship I just wanted more time with her!).
However…money is v tight. We can afford all our necessary outgoings (mortgage, bills etc), childcare for nursery and after school clubs for 3 days, a weekly activity for DC1 and a baby group 1 day a week for DC2. But I have to watch every penny, shop savvy, we can’t afford holidays or fancy things. I am sensible and put money away for Christmas and we have the odd treat as a family. We are happy, clothed, fed and don’t want for much but a buffer of extra money and a yearly holiday would be wonderful. We have no savings but also no debt. We live month to month.
I have the opportunity to up my hours to full time. After paying additional childcare that would put £600 extra in our monthly household purse. That would make a huge difference to what we could afford etc. but I don’t know if I want to give up my days off with DC2 (last child) and also to only see the kids from 5:30/6 for an hour or so each evening. We would have more money to do stuff at weekends, I’d still be able to attend school events etc as I can be flexible and I’d take leave in the holidays for quality time.
Any advice? In my ideal world this opportunity would come in 18 months when DC2 is starting school but alas it is now and not sure if it would come up again.

Is there a compromise to be had? Can you work 4 days?

I love holidays and I also really appreciate having a small 'buffer' each month and not living in fear of the fridge or car or washing machine suddenly needing money.
OTOH, when I had dc2 I went down to 3 days a week and have always said it is the BEST work life balance.

When your little one hits the EEE (free) hours, will that help a lot ? Then more so when they start school ?
I wouldn't want to lose the luxury of being able to work 3 days and be a SAHP two days if things will ease in a year or two.

Or, as pp says, would 4 days work ?

Can’t you increase to 4 days?
I work 4 days 2 of which I do school pick up so finish early
Now both of mine are at school I can use that 5th day for tidying and jobs so we can all enjoy the weekend together
It’s been a great compromise

I look back and wish I had had more time with the children when they were tiny. It's just not replaceable.

However, I don't think I'd want to be so close to the breadline as you are either. Not when you don't have to be.

If this opportunity isn't going to be there when it's a better time in a couple of years, then I think I would increase my hours now.

I worked 4 days a week had Wednesday off. Worked really well for me. If you can

Are you sure you'll be that much better off after tax/NI? I work 3 days and am MUCH better off pay wise. There's a calculator on money saving expert which I've used when I was thinking about going full time again and for me it wasn't worth it.

@Dippydinosaurus I’ve always said that but it would be a decent amount more. I do so value those two days though. @Kezzie200 that’s my current thoughts- you don’t get that time back. Yes @Kite22 when they get the 30 hours it will make a HUGE Difference! So we are talking 18 months of this tightness.
FWIW my parents are v wealthy and also incredibly generous. If our boiler broke or similar they’d always help out without bother, I think that’s my current ‘safety net’ financially. I’ve not needed to ask/borrow money and hopefully won’t need to but we wouldn’t be ruined if something came up IYSWIM.

I wouldn't.

I did it for a bit (from 3 days to 5) and I loathed it. The extra money was not worth it to me.

Have you the scope to pick up extra shifts/overtime as and when rather than a contractual increase?

Could you not up your contract to work the extra 2 days 9-3? Rather than full days. I'd stick to what you're doing now if I was you. Your youngest will be in school in a couple of years and you can have another think then

I was 3 days until my daughter started school and now I'm full time I'm so pleased I did back then

Oh I think u wld find it really tough going full time after being part time. As u say ur able to pay the bills still attend some stuff with the kids and have the odd treat. Cld u trial it or once uv decided that's it there's no going bk and u might hate it.

It would really depend how flexible ur work wld be. If ur mainly wfh Wld they be ok with u picking up ur daughter at home time and then maybe catching up in the evenings a few days a week. Or cld u do compressed hrs over 4days.

Just remember what uv said about wishing ur mum was there more. U don't want to look bk and regret it.

Cld u maybe think about getting a 2nd job working a call centre maybe a wkend shift and couple of evenings on ur "days off" that way u wldnt need childcare.

They are only little once so be careful with you decision, it's a tough one.