Mums of toddlers- how much of a pay cut did you take when back to work?

[Handsfreeme]

I am 29, and returning back to work. When I was working full time, I was getting a good income (over 3.5k monthly), now I will be returning back 2 days a week to work around the toddlers so they don’t have to do too many long days at nursery.
It’s a huge pay cut, as I’ll be getting roughly 1.2k a month but with DH working full time we’ll still manage ok (not comfortably as we used to before).

Ive had to cut back on a lot of things of course, just wanted to ask if you had to accept a drop in income to work less when you went back, and if you managed to make it work?

Following my first maternity I dropped from 38 hours to 28.5 hours (we do 4 X 9.5 hour shifts Monday - Friday) so I had to drop in 9.5 increments, this was great as 2 days off in the week & the whole weekend off was lush & 28.5 didn’t seem too low, I lost about one quarter of my monthly pay.

My conundrum now is I’m currently on my second maternity leave, one will be in nursery & one starting school when I return (neither my parents or in-laws are local, so we fully depend on childcare/wrap around care) however dropping another 9.5 hours to 19 hours is less than half the wage I was earning 3 years ago.

We coped fine and was still able to put money away each month/have a holiday when I worked 28.5, 19 hours will seem tight, but otherwise my eldest will be with a child minder pre/post school (7am till 18:30) 3 days a week, which seems like a lot as they will be one of the youngest in the class (August baby), there’s also no flexibility in my start/finish time so can’t nip out in the afternoon for a sports day etc, and annual leave (unless an emergency) needs booking in advance & I don’t want to miss nativity/school fetes etc… so doing 2 days works in my odds of being off when things are on.
Planning to do 19 hours for the next few years and get them both settled into school, then increase back up to 28.5.

Husband works really unpredictable hours/works abroad, earns much more than me, has private healthcare (which we all get) a company car, a great annual leave policy, and he gets the opportunity to work overtime, so he’s ruled out of dropping hours.

I dropped to 4 days with my first child and 3 days after second. I would have dropped more but in our business it’s unheard of.

I haven’t dropped any hours or pay. I do compressed hours. No way I’d ever consider that unless my DH did the same. Women always lose out, i refuse that for myself!

I dropped to 4 days after my first and 2 days after my second. Pay changed from just over 3k to 1.4k but we made it work

I dropped to 26 hours from 37.5. I do 3.5 days. This was my decision so I can spend more time with my children.

I dropped a day and so did husband - so we only need nursery & after school / breakfast club three days a week

saves us loads!!

I wouldn’t do any less than this tbh

my kids both love nursery anyway and would prefer to go more days it seems anyway

reception child gives a big sigh when I say she’s having breakfast with me instead of breakfast club 😂

Wow, 1.2k for 2 days a week is great (retail and I earn that for a 4 day week!) but if you’re having to cut a lot would you not up it a day

I dropped from 37.5 hours to 25.5 hours (3 days), but when I went back after mat leave I went to the top of my band (NHS) so only lost £200 a month. Well worth it in my opinion!