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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:
Particles · 31/03/2011 21:06

So the op posted looking for advice and then had to justify and defend her current position, her potential position, her lack of pension, her parents' financial situation and.. Didn't really get much practical advice at all! Only on Mumsnet!

NonnoMum · 31/03/2011 21:07

Haven't read whole post - and don't know exact details... but I would stay in work. IF you were full time and NEVER seeing the kids and the fiances were similar, then I'd feel differntly, but at the mo - stay in the labour market...

NonnoMum · 31/03/2011 21:07

finances

Original poster
monkeyfacegrace · 31/03/2011 21:07

? My dp works full time. Id never work sat and sun, losing my weekends as a family would be awful! Its the only time we get as a family of 4.

OP posts:
Original poster
monkeyfacegrace · 31/03/2011 21:08

mortgage companies accept TC as income, so it would work out the same as they calculate it on affordability. Id only be £100 p.mnth worse off so cant see it making much diff.

OP posts:
CaptainKirksNipples · 31/03/2011 21:11

Wait you just said one of your children is away at the weekends so how do you spend time as a family of four?! Confused

Original poster
monkeyfacegrace · 31/03/2011 21:11

sorry my mistype, meant every other weekend. Did say it properly somewhere else up the thread!

OP posts:
violethill · 31/03/2011 21:12

Grin Captain

CaptainKirksNipples · 31/03/2011 21:18

Okaaaaay, you seem to be set on not working, but your kids sleep 14 hours a night, as you work in a shop can you not ask for shifts early morning or late night to do deliveries or merchandising or something?

Original poster
monkeyfacegrace · 31/03/2011 21:21

Not set on not working, just on working for no benefit.

Theres no vacancies with my current employer, my shifts are fixed.
I could get another 16 hour job, but doesnt change the fact that Id still get £660 TC, as opposed to £450 if I worked 4 hours. Its my financial loss?

Im losing sight of where the issue is Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
monkeyfacegrace · 31/03/2011 21:22

Whats the kids sleeping got to do with the price of eggs?

OP posts:
CaptainKirksNipples · 31/03/2011 21:29

I think someone worked out that you only get 212 to help with childcare costs but pay out 450? If you worked say 7.30pm to 11.30pm mon to thurs while they were in bed you would have no child care costs as your dp would be there and you would still keep your earnings. Trying to work out that what you work now may not be beneficial but if you changed your hours slightly you could have your cake and eat it. More time with the kids, more money and less childcare costs. Diesel would still be the same unless you could get a bus if you don't need to cart kids about with you.

EdwardorEricCantDecide · 31/03/2011 21:31

If you can afford to stop working or reduce working then do so. I am slightly jealous though.

I work 8-6 3days a week and 8-2 on the 4th day. I still get loads of quality time with DS.
I have been trying to work out finances to see if I can cut my hours but just can't afford it. Despite the fact that my lovely caring employers have just cut my commission by £600 Sad TBH I just want out of this job as a result as I get no enjoyment from it.

You need to ignore all the nasty posters earlier on the thread I'm the same age as you my DH is 10 years older neither of us have a pension as we can't afford it. And we don't have any chance of inheritance either so your doing better than we are!

iwantadogbutarabbitwoulddo · 31/03/2011 21:32

Hugs to the OP

Ignore the idiots

OP, you're only 24. I think in the future you may regret not thinking about your career. I know you like management etc...... so why not get career development loan and do a course (do you have a degree for example- open university is an option? or do an MSc in management- can do it distance learning- lots of people i know manage to do this with the kids at home). I know i know it's more money, but it's an investment. I reckon if you have management experience you could get a REALLY good job somewhere and when your children are a bit bigger you'll have something to concentrate on.

I know this advice is a bit 'out there' and may not be useful, but hell, you asked for advice- and some people are just being unhelpful and rude- this is what i would do, anyway.

Original poster
monkeyfacegrace · 31/03/2011 21:32

11.30?! Im in bed at 10pm Blush
Thats a good point though, it would earn me more money. But the only jobs would be in a pub/resturant I guess, and Id still be getting the same TC (the £450). Actually, no I wouldnt, Id get a lot less as my earnings would go up Confused

OP posts:
iwantadogbutarabbitwoulddo · 31/03/2011 21:35

btw i dont have a pension and im a (few years older than you OP) Never paid NI either Blush

Original poster
monkeyfacegrace · 31/03/2011 21:37

Edward, my DH is 10 years older too!
I hope that as I had my kids young, I have time for a proper 'push' at work when they grow up. At the moment, I just want to be a mummy. When they are 12/14 I will be just over 30, plenty of time to develop career drive. Its not like Im going to be past it.
Management course sounds good. Id like to open my own boutique, and with DH in accounts, and my management practical experience I may build on that. But not yet Wink

OP posts:
CaptainKirksNipples · 31/03/2011 21:38

Your earnings would be the same, still work 16 hours but your outgoings would be lower. You are only getting 212 off 450 childcare expenses so you would lose £212 off your tax credits award but be better off overall as you have no childcare costs.

Original poster
monkeyfacegrace · 31/03/2011 21:40

yes that makes sense. I think!
So Id earn £400, get £400 tc ish, so = 800. As opposed to my £550ish if I worked 4 hours?
Mmmm food for thought. I think the only practical suggestion, thanks CKN!

OP posts:
Original poster
monkeyfacegrace · 31/03/2011 21:41

But, Im allowed to go with my original plan until I find an evening job, yes Wink

OP posts:
CaptainKirksNipples · 31/03/2011 21:43

Hmm, I'd say no just in case it doesn't work out! Tis always easier to find a job when you have one x

iwantadogbutarabbitwoulddo · 31/03/2011 21:45

Yeah,
enjoy being a mum. It's as you say, you only have one chance to enjoy it. You never know, the economy may recover in a few years anyway :) Really, no-one knows what is going to happen, you just have to muddle your way through and try to end up with the best balance of happiness and future planning. You'll be fine.

peppapighastakenovermylife · 31/03/2011 21:53

But plenty of people have to work the weekends Confused

Yes it is not great - but you can't have it every way.

Can you retrain? Go to uni? Work nights?

The issue is really the 16 hours of work over 4 days isn't it. You could do that in 2 days close to home and most of your problems are solved.

Lots of time with DC's, keep in job market, keep contributing.

Although you would have to get up before 9 am Hmm

Itrymybest · 31/03/2011 22:00

If your dh is working then why are people describing claiming tax credit as benefit grabbing? Dont understand it sorry. My dh works I dont my dc are 3 and 5 we claim working tax credit and child tax credit. Has never even occurred I'm benefit grabbing. My dh works very long hours for a low wage. Tbh although you work 16 hours a week once you have factored in travel time (both ways) and fitting in around nursery etc it must be more than 16 hours a week away from dc. Also trust me they are only little once and before you know it they'll be at school and they'll be away from you 5 days a week and you'll never get the preschool years back so enjoy them while they are little. You can always look for a job when they are older. Thats what I intend to do. And no more talk of benefit grabbing you are NOT!

LoveMyGirls · 31/03/2011 22:04

I started my childminding business at 24, maybe you could too?

It's not easy but it does mean I can be with my dc's and earn money.

While I was setting it up I worked evenings and weekends as a carer for the disabled and elderly, I knew I would only do that for 6mths to a year, it did mean working 60 odd hours per week for a while and I still do over 50hrs now but the money is better than anything else I could do. I'm nearly 30 Shock Still don't have a pension and no idea what I would do if I didn't childmind, don't know if I will ever own a house or have a pension.

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