To not want to work for £3.58 an hour?

[DontHaveAGoPlease]

Going to get absolutely flamed for this!

I'm a single mum to 1, in regards to UC, I get the equivalent to a monthly full time wage this includes CM.

If I go back to work for 22 hours a week, I will be effectively earning the above an hour.

Do I just suck it up or wait for my DS to get his 15 Hours free??

I am desperate to work but I'd hate to look back and regret outsourcing my childcare all for the above. Shall I just suck it up and go for it or suck it up and look after my ds??

I've already braced myself for the flaming!

Is that your hourly rate minus childcare only? Presumably you will still get benefits on top?

I'm effectively working for about 10p an hour as our joint mortgage is just over what I earn
Should I jack my job in, let my house get repossessed and claim uc?

That's hourly wage after childcare taken out but before all other bills.

That's including all government help.

Prepare for the mc mumsnetters who will tell you they sold a kidney for their house deposit and work for 2p per hour after childcare because that's life

Do you mean that's what you'll be getting after deducting the cost of childcare? If so I think you'll find an awful lot of women effectively earn a darned sight less than that.

No insancerre, but I don't have a mortgage...I live a very modest and cheap life.

Is it the kind of job where in the long term, having gone back sooner will result in swifter promotion/better prospects?

I don't own my own home, I pay no debts, I only pay for me and my DS.

I will effectively go to work for £3.58 and hour and miss out on milestones as my DS is only 1.

Don't get me wrong, I want nothing more than to work.

I was a single mum who had about £10 a day after paying childcare and rent. It's shit times, but you kind of need to consider the bigger picture. Having a few rough years on a low income improves your employment prospects so that by time your child is in FT school you'll have a halfway decent wage. It won't be easy, but it's so worth it to set a great example to your DC and for your own sanity and route out of needing benefits

I don't understand your calculations. I think you're taking your part time paid salary and dividing it by full time hours? You will still get some benefit on top so the 3 quid will be more anyway.

How old is your ds?

Is the job going to be helpful to skills etc for when you're ready/able to go full time?

Will working provide you with a social element? Will it be more mentally stimulating?

Money is not the only reason for working. If i was you i would do it. As much as i love being with my children i would've struggled being a sahp long term.

It depends on what childcare you're looking for. We found a vast difference in the prices between nursery and a childminder. Luckily CM was my preference and we had someone who came from a trusted recommendation.

Well...i am a part time teacher. 18hrs a week. So 72 a month. 1240 pay. 1000 in childcare...so I get the equivalent of 3.33 an hour.
So 3.58 looks pretty good to me

If you wanted nothing more than to work you wouldn’t be asking the question surely?

Why is it only after childcare? Why does that bill in particular piss you off?

Honestly I think the women who work for less than that are doing it because of a mortgage or because they have a job they like, or one where they want to continue up the career ladder.

A few years back I had a period of claiming benefits as a single parent and then went into a two year training role, leading to a good job afterwards. For the two years I wasn’t making anything more than I got on benefits but it was a case of long term gain.

So, it depends what sort of work your looking at. If your doing it to get into a career then it’s worth the hard work. If your doing it just so that judgemental people won’t look down on you and label you a scrounger, ignore them!

Single parents (both male and female) very often do a fantastic job in very difficult circumstances. Look at all the SAHMs on MN who will say looking after a baby or toddler is hard work and their DH needs to help more. And yet, people expect you to not only do it alone but go out and get a full time job on top?? It’s easy for people to be judgemental when they have a nice home, a fridge full of food and plenty of support. Do what’s right for you and your child.

22hours a week is three days. You still get four days with your DS. Your situation is rubbish BUT that's an extra £300 a month, which must make a difference to your life? There is so much more to be gained from working than just the money, too. Unfortunately a lot of woman don't end up with much take home pay once nursery fees have been taken into account. I know I didn't. But I went back to work when I did so that I could maintain my career. I do understand it's a personal choice, though.

Assuming it does, but does your calculations include the childcare element of WTC? I thought that covered a big chunk of childcare costs (possibly mistaken, though)

I am desperate to work

no, you are not. you cannot be arsed and you are just looking for excuses to continue your life funded by the taxpayer.

and work is not just about the 'now'. you pay into pension, you improve your long term prospecs. Working is still 'looking after your DS. Part of parenting is to provide also financially for your child (you don't mention and illness or disability that would prevent you).

Once again there's the assumption that everyone has a career. Many low paid jobs are not career jobs. They don't improve your prospects as Missadasmith claims or necessarily lead to a higher wage in a few years as kitkatsky claims.
What job is it OP? Is it one with increments for length of service and with potential for pay rises or promotion?
If not, then it needs to be evaluated just on the wage and not on the other things people are mentioning.

YANBU. You have to weigh the benefits against the costs in terms of not having that time with your DC. It greatly depends on whether it's a career you want to gain experience in and continue in the long term because it has prospects, or just a dead-end job with no prospects. If it's a career then perhaps £3.58+experience is worthwhile if it gives you long term prospects. If it's a dead-end job then £3.58 isn't worth it imo.

If you wanted nothing more than to work you wouldn’t be asking the question surely?

Well said Flamingo....

but missadasmith said it better I'm afraid.

I don't know, it's still a profit after childcare, it'll up your pension, it'll keep you in the workforce (it can be very hard to get back in if you leave for an extended period), and you'll still get most of the week with your child. Nursery is good for socialising children.

Up to you, of course, but I see numerous benefits in addition to a small increase in income. Which can make a big difference if you're on a low income.

If you're working for 72 hours and getting £1240, then you're getting £17.20 an hour. And presumably that's net, so you're getting more than that, plus of course your pension contribution.

£1240 for part time hours is a reasonable salary. Presumably you'll also get some top ups like HB or childcare help - why on earth would you not work?

Personally I would think 1 year mat leave, part time from ages 1-4 and then full time thereafter would seem like a reasonable life plan. That way you continue to pay into your pension, continue to keep your skills up to date, have a good work life balance and model responsible citizenship to your child. Win win all round.