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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think I can't financially afford to take this job?

39 replies

Littleen · 31/07/2015 16:10

I'm looking to get a job, after being at home for a year and a half. Before I got pregnant I was at uni, so I don't have any relevant work experience to speak of, but I do have a degree. Getting a relevant job is very hard, and so I've come to the conclusion I need to just get any job for the time being.

I had an interview today for a data input type job, in a location that I can cycle to. However it only pays 16k per annum. I was aiming for more 17.5k, which is what my partner earns for an "untrained" office job. We calculate my income as if I have to pay all the nursery fees just for simplicity. I currently have no income.

I have used www.thesalarycalculator.co.uk/salary.php and it says I will take home £53 per day effectively, however nursery fee is £57 per day. This is the only childcare option, and we have no family nearby that could help out. So - not including any benefit, I would be worse off.

My question is, are there benefits that would make this viable at all? We already get tax credits, but I am unsure what would happen if I was to take this job with that. Can I afford to take a job that pays so little, when nursery fees are so high?

OP posts:

gobbynorthernbird · 31/07/2015 16:11

You can (I think) get tax credit help for childcare. Give them a call.

sweetheart · 31/07/2015 16:12

If you are working 5 days a week you would get £57 as your first £10,000 is tax free. Do the company do childcare vouchers? you don't have to pay tax on these.

KneeHighScooterBruises · 31/07/2015 16:14

Check out childminders and even nanny shares.

Aoifebell · 31/07/2015 16:15

Would you not qualify for government funded childcare?

Original poster

Littleen · 31/07/2015 16:15

Nursery fees are actually £59.35 from 16 months. My little one is nearly 17 months. Huff.

OP posts:

mrsmeerkat · 31/07/2015 16:17

Why is a childminder not an option?

Original poster

Littleen · 31/07/2015 16:18

Aoifebell I have no idea, I do not know how the system works, it seems a bit complicated.

sweetheart I didn't ask if they do childcare vouchers, as I did not want to put them off. Should I email the agency I am going through and ask them?

OP posts:

Floggingmolly · 31/07/2015 16:18

Some people work at a loss initially just to get on the career ladder...

Original poster

Littleen · 31/07/2015 16:19

Have spoken to all childminders in the area, and they all have waiting lists and are full in september too. I live in a tiny area with a very small number of childminders. I would have to send my boy to a different town to be with a childminder, so it's not really suitable as I don't drive.

OP posts:

MrsLeighHalfpenny · 31/07/2015 16:20

I think you should look at the long term benefits of being in work. Even if there is a small cost of childcare to you in the very short term, you will have a foot on the ladder. There will be cost of living pay rises, bonuses (?), and opportunities for promotion as you get more experienced.

When I went back to work after having DD, we broke even for the first 12 months, as childcare cost pretty much what I earned. My pay rises were greater than increases in childcare costs over the years though, and now I earn a good salary - it's worth it in the long run.

Original poster

Littleen · 31/07/2015 16:20

I can't afford to work at a loss, as we have no spare income to cover for it. Which is why I am not sure I can afford to take this job.

OP posts:

Original poster

Littleen · 31/07/2015 16:25

Breaking even is fine, MrsLeigh, I am prepared for that. But simply cannot go in minus, as we really have nowhere to find the money for that.

OP posts:

MrsLeighHalfpenny · 31/07/2015 16:30

What kind of job is it? Would you be able to negotiate your hours, so that you worked (say) four extended days and had the fifth off, therefore only paying for four days childcare, but worked the same number of hours in the week that you would do if you worked five days?

woowoo22 · 31/07/2015 16:35

Dont see it as your wage "for simplicity". Add up your earnings, partner's, child benefit then go on the hmrc tax credit calculator and do a recalc including your childcare fees. From that total subtract the childcare bill and see what's left.

woowoo22 · 31/07/2015 16:37

*don't calculate it as your wage for simplicity

CloserToFiftyThanTwenty · 31/07/2015 16:44

Don't forget that funded hours will kick in for you soon, which has a big impact on the nursery bill

Original poster

Littleen · 31/07/2015 16:47

I will do that, woowoo.

MrsLeigh I very much got the feeling from the interview that it's not an option, they only encourage overtime, but I would only be able to work half an hour extra per day so it wouldn't help much to try and get one day off. It could be worth askinh though! thank you.

OP posts:

BlueMoonRising · 31/07/2015 16:47

Try www.entitledto.co.uk/ to see what you would be entitled to

Barbeasty · 31/07/2015 16:50

Is it full time? Does the nursery give a discount for full time use- ones around us will give a 10-20% discount for going 5 full days a week.

Lots of companies offer childcare vouchers, where you salary sacrifice up to £55 per week so you save tax/ national insurance on that amount. Get your DP to ask his company about childcare vouchers because you can both use them, doubling the saving. Do be careful around tax credits with them though. There are lots of tables around to say how much you would save over the year using the vouchers.

Could your DP condense his hours (full time week worked over 4 days) or cut down to 4 days so your childcare bill is less?

Can you get on the waiting list for some childminders?

Are there any graduate schemes you could apply for?

NeedSpeed · 31/07/2015 16:52

If you are eligible for help from the government and you want to take the job, then go for it.

If not, I wouldn't. You looking after your own child is of far more value than a dead end job that isn't even of financial benefit.

Original poster

Littleen · 31/07/2015 17:38

The job is fulltime 9-5, so I could ask the nursery if they do discounts, it doesn't say on their website. My partner works 9 hour days, and unfortunately his employer isn't flexible so he can't get time off to look after our son. No graduate schemes on my degree either :(
Should I ask the agency (Reed) if there is childcare vouchers to be had? I'm so unsure of what to do. I will have a look at the benefits calculator though, to see what it says. My partner's employer is on holiday, so he can't ask - but they are literally 6 people working in a tiny office/warehouse, so I doubt they're even aware there is such a thing :p

OP posts:

Artandco · 31/07/2015 17:45

Can your partner flexi work those 9 hrs? Say if he worked 6am-3pm daily instead, then you would only need childcare until say 3.30pm so a few hrs less each day

Or can partner do x3 days of 12 hrs, one day 9, and one day free. Then needing only 4 days childcare

Can you work evenings or weekends instead?

Artandco · 31/07/2015 17:46

I imagine they could be quiet flexible in a small company. So 9 hrs x5 is 45 hrs a week. As long as those hrs worked does it matter what times or days?

Waswondering · 31/07/2015 17:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

quadquetra · 31/07/2015 17:51

OP you should get a percentage of your childcare reimbursed via tax credits. Look here [[https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/overview]] and use the calculator.

The childcare vouchers people are talking about are not normally as much money as the childcare child tax credit benefit. As someone mentioned you have to take care with these at lower income levels.

It is not going to be sensible IMO to advise someone whose partner earns 17.5k to work at a loss...

Come back and tell us what the calculator says - I am genuinely interested in this.

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