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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to give up work, warning, tax credits involved!

253 replies

monkeyfacegrace · 31/03/2011 15:44

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 Sad

What do you wise lot think?

OP posts:
usualsuspect · 31/03/2011 19:39

but shes naive to think she can just get a job in tesos any time she likes

considering 1800 people applied for 68 jobs when a new tesco opened near me recently

Gemsy83 · 31/03/2011 19:47

Oh Monkeyface purleaaase- over egging the pudding or what?

JemimaMop · 31/03/2011 19:48

Are you sure that tax credits pay 80% of your chidcare?

I have just run the figures through the tax credit calculator (I had it open as I was looking up what we are likely to get next year) and according to that you would get £608 a month tax credits, made up of £212 a month for childcare and £392 of child tax credit. £212 is less than 50% of your childcare costs.

laInfanta · 31/03/2011 19:49

OK calm down monkeyfacegrace, violet is being a little harsh but what she's saying is basically accurate.

FWIW I don't think it's that unlikely that you would be able to pick up another shop job when the kids are in school. You could also do some courses, OU or something, while you are waiting to start work again.

We all want to believe what our parents tell us, but your parents can't guarantee that you will receive 500k when they die. If you are only 24 that is probably a long way off, a lot of things could happen by then - inheritance tax could apply, they might have to pay for their own healthcare etc... so just put that money to the back of your mind and assume you won't get it. Then if you do it will be a nice surprise!

When you start working again, you should look into a pension. They aren't really that complicated and will give you some security for later life. It is better to start them sooner rather than later but you are quite young and a couple of years won't make too much difference.

Original poster
monkeyfacegrace · 31/03/2011 19:50

No Im not sure, I just assumed Confused
Christ, if those figures are right Im handing my notice in.

OP posts:
Original poster
monkeyfacegrace · 31/03/2011 19:52

I meant some of that tounge in cheek btw. I know Im a failure, but Im still a nice person.

OP posts:
mamatomany · 31/03/2011 19:55

Can i just say pensions aren't the be all and end all, there are a lot of charges applied by managers to basically gamble with your money.
DH and I fill up the ISA's every year and then over pay the mortgage before we put anything into pensions, I think they are a bit of a rip off tbh.

Violethill · 31/03/2011 19:57

I think you're having a laff!

At least I hope you are..... If not, then it's really quite worrying. Even minimum wage retail jobs are hard to come by at the moment. And anyone who thinks they don't need to bother with thinking about future provision is mad.

usualsuspect · 31/03/2011 19:57

You are not a failure ..just doing your best like most of the normal people on MN

Want2bSupermum · 31/03/2011 19:57

ninah - I would like to think that the majority of females know who they have slept with. If they don't know who they slept with or were with more than one man during the months they fell pregnant then the mother should be able to list potential fathers. The child and potential fathers would then have to complete a DNA test. If still no match then no name on the form and reduced benefits for the mother until the name of the father is entered on the certificate.

If the girl was raped then a DNA of the child should be taken and used to find the rapist. In these cases it is totally reasonable for the rapist not to be listed on the birth certificate or to have access to the child.

usualsuspect · 31/03/2011 19:58

But not everyone can afford to invest for their future ..some people struggle to pay todays bills

Original poster
monkeyfacegrace · 31/03/2011 20:00

thank you usual Sad

OP posts:
Violethill · 31/03/2011 20:01

.... which is why the OP is mad to be thinking of giving up work, as it's clearly almost as good for todays bills and a whole lot better for the future

mamatomany · 31/03/2011 20:02

Isn't that the point if you can't even afford today as a fit and healthy person who do you think is going to pay for tomorrow ?
This whole pension pyramid scheme is banking on your children being wages slaves and I'd rather go without than have my kids forced into financing my or your retirement.

Original poster
monkeyfacegrace · 31/03/2011 20:02

why? In case I cant get a job in 2013? Who is to say my job would still be going then anyway? If I cant get a job in 2013, no problem, its my few quid of earnings Im losing.

OP posts:
JemimaMop · 31/03/2011 20:06

Could you talk to your manager about changing your shift patterns? For example could you change to 9-1 or 2-6, that way you would have half the day free to do something with your DC.

Original poster
monkeyfacegrace · 31/03/2011 20:06

This is really going down the wrong route. I dont have a pension, whether I stay in my little job or not. I cannot afford to start a pension. So, its either food or a pension, and I know which Im forced to choose.

OP posts:
Original poster
monkeyfacegrace · 31/03/2011 20:07

Jem, no, absolutley no room for change whatsoever. Tried that!

OP posts:
JemimaMop · 31/03/2011 20:10

Might it be worth looking for another job that does fit better around doing things with your DC? Even better one which is closer to home to cut down on your fuel costs?

It is always easier to find a job when you already have one IYSWIM. Long term I think it would be better to stay in employment but in a job which fits better around the children rather than taking the gamble of quitting altogether, hoping that tax credits continue to be paid and that you can find another job once the DC are in school.

LoveLeonardCohen · 31/03/2011 20:13

Monkeyfacegrace - your shift pattern does sound like a bit of a nightmare, I work 16 hrs per week but 8 hours per day so I get to spend 5 whole days with DCs. If you are serious maybe you can find other work before you leave this job. I do think it is important to keep what work you can at the moment, so many people are out of work and it's getting tougher to get work.

As for the posters on here being needlessly nasty and quite mean , I guess that because it's online and people can hide behind their nicknames they use it as a license to vent their nastiness which they can't in their everyday life. Londonone (or whatever) sounds like an advicate of eugenics actually. I mean where does it end?

Original poster
monkeyfacegrace · 31/03/2011 20:14

Yes thats the plan, but just 4 hours a week to give me £100 food money. So I wont ever be unemployed.

OP posts:
JemimaMop · 31/03/2011 20:16

Have you included that £100 a month in your calculations of how much tax credits you will get?

Have you checked with your manager that it is OK for you to just work 4hrs a week? I used to work in retail management and TBH we used to put people on minimum 4hr "flexible" contracts then expect them to work lots of extra hours. That way we could easily get extra staff in during busy periods. Make sure they realise that you won't be able to do extra.

LoveLeonardCohen · 31/03/2011 20:19

I suppose Londonone thinks that only people on the developed first world should have children and then only those that can support them. people in the third world shouldn't be allowed

bedubabe · 31/03/2011 20:21

But you're able to go £100 down a month to not work. There's spare fir future investment if you're working then!

I'm confused, if your food bill is only £100 a month for 4 (very good going) where's the rest of your income going? I'm making a guess there're some debts there. Otherwise you must have a pretty big mortgage if household income is 23k and you have 80% of chilcare paid.

On a lighter note, am I the only one that thinks that leaving the house at 10.30 4 days a week doesn't mean the whole dwy's wasted? Maybe I'm thr only one with kids up by 6 (if I'm lucky) every morning!

Violethill · 31/03/2011 20:21

You are expecting to just walk into a four hour a week job, at times when you have childcare? With no expectation that you will ever be flexible, work a few more hours etc? You may find that most employers won't touch you with a bargepole, as the costs of employing a person wouldn't make it worth their while.

Oh lordy, this gets more surreal by the minute.

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