To wonder how I can afford to go back to work?

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DH earns £1600 a month.

Outgoings:

Phone bills: £50 a month

Groceries: £200 a month

Water bill: £250 every 3 months

Train fares: £550 a month (cheapest rate)

Paying back loan: £120 a month

Rent: £925 a month (cheapest in area)

It just all seems impossible and each month we struggle.

I'm on ML, due to go back in 9 weeks time. I don't earn enough to cover my train fare to the job, let alone childcare for our DC.

DH can't change jobs and move to a job closer to us and not London because he kept losing jobs at one point and can't leave this one otherwise it'll be a terrible career move and will look awful on the CV. He has to stick it out for at least a good year.

What do I do?

Go back or stay at home?

Childcare is a fortune here too.

DH refuses to consider moving to a cheaper area of the country. He won't do it, that's that. Although this area is far from 'nice', it's just close(ish) to London so more expensive for what it is.

9 weeks doesn’t give you much time. How long have you been on ML? And what’s changed recently?
You don’t have Family who can help with childcare so why won’t your DH move?

If you live close-ish to London why are the fares so high? Or do you mean close as in somewhere like Colchester to London? It seems mad for your DH to spend a third of his take home on fares.

Re going back to work, have you looked at evening medical secretary jobs/evening medical audio. Would bring in decent money without the childcare fees.

If you went part time you might be entitled to working tax credits or child tax credits.

Try the entitled to website or turn2us and change your current salary to what you would earn working 3 and then 2 days a week.

I've been on leave since October but said I would go back by Aprilish

Emily yes you're right, similar to that sort of journey. We're Bedfordshire area

I wouldn't mind doing even medical secretary jobs but they aren't common, never heard of medical secretary audio

Unfortunately DH's wage along excludes us from tax credits help

A couple of people have asked what your plan was before having a baby? You must have researched what childcare costs so surely something else has changed in that time, financially?

Does it matter? The child is here now.

I cant get over those travel costs. Insane amount of money. I would definitely look for any job nearer home.

Apologies - I missed your post where you said you had CFS and would struggle with evening work.

I won't go into any previous plans of DC since this isn't relevant to my thread, just a nit pick since that child is already born

For what it's worth, it was now or never type scenario

Rain it's appalling, and what's worse it's gone up £20 a month since January I believe (not envy)

If you don’t actually live in, or even near, London you are mad to travel in for 26k.

"Thing is, you don't get many part time positions in my role/similar roles."

As a Medical Secretary would many of your skills not be transferable to a lot of administrative roles?

Sassy we are only 45 mins away

I presume, if you can't get tax credits anyway, that your maths on childcare includes the whole salary sacrifice/ESC/TFC approach, given that you presumably work for the NHS? Not a vast difference, but every little helps...

www.nhsemployers.org/your-workforce/pay-and-reward/reward/latest-developments/proposed-changes-to-tax-free-childcare

ADish I would've thought so but can't seem to get my foot in the door elsewhere, even whilst not on mat leave

But as soon as I applied to other hospitals I would always get interview requests, for better and more responsible positions than basic admin in corporate environments

So you are on something like 46k and you are struggling to afford your child? That's a terrible situation.

I can't see what your quick fix can be but long term you need to move somewhere cheaper. 46k where I live is a really decent amount to be bringing in.

Tink A friend of mine lives elsewhere to me on a very similar wage (a bit less), and is living very comfortably indeed!

Not only is childcare cheaper for her, but travel and housing is too.

DH won't move though. I could be blue in the face telling him all the reasons why we should but he just won't.

Unfortunately OP I agree with others that unless there is a prospect of your DH earning a good whack more pretty soon then you need to move to somewhere cheaper.

Is it though Tinkly? It’s a pretty standard amount for mid twenties and not one person I know can afford a child, and they are all in couples!

It is a bit misleading to present £46,000 as a vast amount of money.

So what’s his solution then? His income doesn’t sustain you. What does he plan to do if he won’t move?

Phelan He says 'we will get through' or whatever else. He just thinks it will get more doable once Baby is in school so just wait and then things will be better

But I don't think he realises we could live very comfortably elsewhere. He just won't leave his hometown for any money

Have you showed him the sums? Do a full statement of affairs one for if you are a SAHP and one for If you return to work and have to pay travel and childcare. Write down every single expense you have and show him what’s left (if anything!)

I mean what does he think is going to feed and clothe you in the 5 years until the baby starts school?