to give up work, warning, tax credits involved!

[monkeyfacegrace]

Ok all, Im getting myself all muddled so I cant think straight! Please help!

At the moment, I work 16 hours per week. My kids, 4 & 2 go to nursery while Im at work, and the government pay 80% (soon to be 70%) of my childcare.

I earn £400 wages, and get £660 every 4 weeks TC. My childcare costs are £450 per month on average for both kids (vary due to month lenghts, my 4 yr old grant etc). So I get £1060, minus £450 nursery, and the nursery and work are in the next town, so I spend £100 p.month on diesel to get there and back. Leaves me with £500ish(?!)

If I give up work, and pull kids out of nursery (except eldest who will do her 15 hours free), I worked out via TC calculator, I will get £450 per 4 weeks, then I will work a little 4 hour shift every week to earn an extra £100 p.month.

Now on one hand I feel like a scrote and a 'benefit grabber', but as my DH points out, Im actually saving the government money as they pay for so much childcare so I can work. My youngest will miss out on 1 1/2 days nursery that he gets now, but at the moment I feel like I never get quality time with him

What do you wise lot think?

[violethill]

Peppa - the system is ridiculous and also unaffordable- which is why its changing

[Itrymybest]

Oh and I dont work outside the home but I DO NOT spend all day at soft play centres either! Couldnt afford it for a start.....! I have not chosen the easy option infact its often tough as money is often tight and now my ds1 is at school he knows we cant afford things other families can. However I have chosen to be a sahm because I truly believe its the best thing for my family. Not so long ago being a working mother was critisized by allsorts of people and working mothers were critisized and blamed for everything etc. That was wrong. However we seem to have reached the situation that now it is sahm mothers who are stigmatised and critisized for their choice to not work outside the home. That is also wrong. There have always been sahm whose dh's have low paid jobs. That is not a new phonomenon. Being a sahm is not a preserve of the better off.

[doley]

Itrymybest Thank you :)

Totally agree, we have the same situation .

It is not as if OP's partner doesn't work ...she didn't really need to ask the question imo (from a moral stance ) :)

The tax credit system is the way it works in the UK ,just the way it goes ...
Sorry if some don't like it !