Working hours - what would you do?

[TooOldForThisShit1]

Currently work 2 full days plus 1 day until 2.30pm

so I have 2 full days off. I have 6 year old twins

financially we’re struggling a little and need to make savings/earn more

one option I’ve been considering is doing 4 days until 2.30pm. This is would give me an extra £600 in take home money and also mean that I’m not spending £150 a month on wrap around care

but it does mean that only get 1 day off a week to do all my jobs without the kids being here. It also means I have to cover another day in the holidays

I do have the flexibility to do this in my job

if you were in my position would you take the 4 short days or stick to 2 days off?

Can you do 4 short days in term time and 2 longer days in holidays?

I think you just adjust. I have a 3yo and a2yo and have 0 days to do anything without them here!
I work full time over 4 days.
I think 1 day off a week would be enough and £600 extra take home is a big increase so seems very much worth it.

1 day a week off is more than many have. You would adjust.

Depends how much you need the money versus value the free time. Only you can answer that.

What is the £600 as a % of household monthly income? Maybe think about it that way. If it's 20% it's a different scenario to 5%

What @JocelynLimo said.

I had flexible hours when our dc were little and it was great as it helped us to avoid childcare fees in term time and minimise what was needed in holiday time.

Definitely worth asking about.

Most families don't have anyone at home for one day a week without having children there, that's a very nice luxury that most cannot afford. Also your children are 6 so even having them at home shouldn't make tasks harder. It's not like you'd be trying to do laundry, cleaning etc with toddlers underfoot. It seems like a no brainer to do the 4 days.

Depends how much you need the money really

I loved having 2 days off
Unfortunately I had to go to 3

I do realise that I’m in a better position than most, but childcare costs with twins was astronomical

I’ve just worked it out and it’s about 11% we’d be gaining - that’s with the extra per month and not having to pay wrap around care

Agree with others that 2 childfree days is a complete luxury. If you can afford it fine but otherwise I wouldn't hesitate to picking up another day. I only know a handful of people with even one childfree day off.

I’d say 2 days a week off when your children are 6 and in school is something of a luxury when you need a higher income. If you would make more money on 4 days a week and save £150 on childcare, it’s a double win.

I’d understand your reticence more if it meant you wouldn’t get any time to yourself, but you still have a day which is more than many have. It might be tough at first but you’d adjust!

I currently work mon-thur with one 6 year old and am aware I’m lucky to have this.

Do you have a DH or partner, what hours does he work?

I do absolutely love having 2 days off, I’m an older mum (46) it took us years and years, 5 rounds of IVF to get our girls. We both decided early on that I would work part time

but the more I think about it the more appealing the 4 shorter days are

but it does mean that only get 1 day off a week to do all my jobs without the kids being here. It also means I have to cover another day in the holidays

isn’t there another adult that can step up? Why are “jobs” and holiday childcare only your responsibility?

I hear you OP, I’m 40 and my DD is also miracle IVF baby. I flexed my hours from 3 full days a week to 3 x days school hours and one full day when she started school l, so I now do most drop offs and pick ups.

As she’s going be our only child I like being able to do the school stuff and be around in the afternoons, it’s a nice balance, especially if you still get your day off (mine is mostly spent doing washing, sorting/tidying, ferrying elderly relatives to appointments etc 😆)

Agree with pp's you do adjust!

Would you be able to work a weekend where you work now, or get a second job one weekend day or night, so you can have your two days in the week off?

How much do you need the money ?

I work three long days and I do like my two weekdays off . Used to work 6 days out of 7 when we were financially challenged.

So DH (he works from home 90% of the time) have had a chat about it. I’m not took to broach the subject at work for a couple of months. In that time we have to get our spending under control. Once it’s under control I will agree to do another day. If I just did this to get out of a hole we wouldn’t change our habits.

DH spends too much on crap from Amazon, running stuff that costs a fortune. For my part I spend too much on shopping & buying lunch when I am at work, it’s shameful really 😔

I don’t know many working people who have 2 days off a week to get stuff done. You do it evenings and weekends while the other parent takes dc to playground or out to an activity. I’d take the extra day, possibly 2 if I needed money.

Does it not concern you that your DD is having these gender stereotypes reinforced?

My husband and I have always worked full time so either schedule sounds amazing to me!

@ShhhhhItsASurprise Nope, not at all, although I realise my post above makes it sounds like I’m chained to the washing machine 😁 - her dad works from home and is an extremely involved parent, he does picks ups and drop offs when I have meetings or have to be at events (her school is on my way to work), and I’ve travelled for work at short notice with him stepping in and rearranging his work commitments without me having to even ask.

I came home to dinner already cooking on the hob and 2 loads of washing done where he had gaps in between meetings (he starts early and works late so has time to do bits throughout the day).

I had an extremely chaotic upbringing so have made a deliberate choice in structuring my work/life balance while DD is small so she doesn’t have to experience that. Although I’m applying for a Masters starting in September so that might all go out the window! 😂

thanks for this post, I am in this same predicament to a degree but my work want an extra full day not half day so means extra wrap around in the school term for 3 kids who would be very annoyed of having to go an extra day then in the holidays that’s an extra full day care for 3 kids which would far outweigh anything I earn. Maybe I could suggest the term time for the extra day as other have suggested. If I had the option of a shorter day to 2pm I’d absolutely would do it and you could look into the term time request for those extra days.

Sorry if this has already been mentioned but have you considered school holidays? If you have to work school holidays, you'll end up paying for childcare/clubs.

Further considerations need to be given to the actual day you work as it could fall on bank holidays where you may lose holidays or have to work whilst they are off, or it could be an inset day.

Does your work allow overtime where you could add extra hours as and when? Or could you make your 3rd day longer/the two long days longer? I work 3 really long days and wouldn't like to give up a 4th!