not to work because childcare costs make it impossible

[pingu2209]

I really want to work. We only have my husband's income and could really do with more money coming in. I am also worried about my pension as I don't have one because I'm not working.

However, I have 3 primary school aged children (8, 6, 4) and have calculated breakfast and after school clubs at £1350 a month, to come out of my net salary. I will also need to pay for commuting fuel and parking costs.

This means that purely to break even I need to earn £25k/yr.

Before giving up work (5 1/2 years ago) when I fell pregnant with my 3rd child, I earned £40k plus company car. I have a degree, masters, professional diploma and 13 years experience (in marketing). However, nobody wants to know me at jobs paying £28k+.

My husband's salary means we would not get any benefit towards childcare or tax credits etc.

I am getting really down. I can't believe I am the only mum out there who really really wants to work, but the childcare is just so expensive that there is no way I can afford to.

Can't you work for a couple of days a week? A nanny share would probably work out cheaper for you.

Would working part time work out better overall because it would cut down on the child care expenses you've mentioned?

would working from home be an option....disclaimer know nothing about working from home

Thats a hell of a lot for after school care.

A part time nanny, or nanny share as belle suggested, would probably be alot less than that.

As much as I appreciate nurseries and after school clubs, it's just not cost effective if you have more then 2 children. A nanny would cost you less. You have to look into this a bit more.

What is your degree/experience in? Would it be possible to set up your own business?

Oh! Just read your experience is in marketing, can you look into freelance work?

You are going to have to forego what you want to do and work part time in school hours.

Until your children are much older i.e 12 you may find you end up being a teaching assistant.

It looks like those costs are based on full time working 9-5. Is there any way of looking into freelance or part time work that would give you a bit more flexibility? With the ages the children are would an Au Pair be an option?

maybe go part time - how much is breakfast club - seems awfully steep to me

I pay £1.50 a day Breakfastclub for 2 plus £15 a day after school care

£150 a week for holiday club ... not including nursery for the youngest - but it's way less than £2k a month - shop around

There details are on another thread the OP has started about this gordy.

really? are you in a very expensive part of the world?
if dd1 were in before and after school club every day next month it would cost £178.20.

can you and dh stagger working hours so that care is only needed at one end of the day? I go in late so I can do the school run, enabling DH to get into work before 8am. He therefore collects from afterschool club enabling me to work late.

Can you link to it Belle?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1327453-to-think-childcare-costs-for-3-primary-school-aged-children-are-too-expensive-to-make-working-worthwhile

It really irritates me when posters do this.

Yes sorry Cat64. I have a dodgy computer and I didn't think my first attempt worked.

i think that you are paying too much!
i charge 3.50 per hour per child, unless they only do afterschool club in which case its £6.

I live on the south coast!

Can you work weekends or evenings to fit around your husband's work hours? Work part time during the school day? Night shifts? Anything you could do freelance or from home?

Why not work part time? I manage to work mornings, so children go to breakfast club, but I'm there to pick them up every day. I know of several mums who have similar working hours to me.

For two children, I only pay £80 month in childcare.

Alternatively, there is evening / weekend work.

Out of school care is expensive, for my 2 breakfast and after school club is £145 a week. With 3 it wouldn't be worth me working. I'm in a similar situation, used to have a good wage but working now at a greatly reduced wage.

I do make profit for our family but too scared to translate that to an hourly rate! My eldest starts secondary school next year and that'll make a huge difference once he's settled in and able to get himself there, then in a couple of years back. That's the thing that's keeping me going, I'm not bringing in huge sums to our family but in a couple of years time I'll have a new career, be able to earn more and pay out less!

I'm temping and with my current job they're flexible on times, so I'm getting there around 9.15, taking a shorter lunch and staying 15 mins later. It's great not having to pay that £11 per day for breakfast club for the both of them. I suppose you can apply, go for interviews, then if accepted ask for some flexibility in hours? I know it's easy to say these things but you could get lucky.

I'll throw some sympathy your way :)

That's v expensive. Our breakfast and tea clubs are £10 a day. I have 4 children and the amount comes nowhere near to your total!

Its a bit of a shame. I'm in a similar situation only with one 7 month old DS and I've had to start working in a local pub a few evenings a week when DH can be in with DS. Going back to the office wouldn't of made sense.

Guess that's life ?

Its a bit of a shame. I'm in a similar situation only with one 7 month old DS and I've had to start working in a local pub a few evenings a week when DH can be in with DS. Going back to the office wouldn't of made sense.

Guess that's life ?