Catch 22. Clothes/Chilcare/Job? or Childcare/Clothes/ Job all on no money

[ohh]

Sorry to post about a subject that has been discussed at length many times!
I am about to go back to work after 10 years out. I have a few smart dresses and one suit. I would need business dress or at very least skirts and blouses.

No spare income.

Would need to arrange childcare for before school delivery and pick up then a few hours.

Husband can have a day off to allow interview or go in later. Have no other close relatives to assist. Might be able to ask other mums to do a few school runs for a week, but not much longer.

Have suit for interview. If get job offer then would need childcare ASAP and more clothes. I have 1 pair of smart trousers I could get away with so could last 3 days tops!

AIBU to expect to run up debts for a few months till all sorted out?

How do other returning to work mums do this?

I'm not sure how it works with childcare but you can kit yourself out pretty cheaply. I reckon you could get 5/6 dresses on eBay for £30. Stretchy jersey dresses tend to fit whatever size you are, few pairs of black tights, pair of black flats from Primark and you're good to go!

On the clothes front, our food bank also has a return to work clothes bank. Is there anything like that near you?

As for childcare, ask around, see which childminders have places, see them etc so 'all' you have to do is pick a start day.

Job, Childcare, Clothes

If you have 3 days worth of clothes, that's fine to start with. No-one notices what other people wear, you can wear the same outfit twice in a week no problem.

Until you have the job, you're not going to know what childcare you need, what days/hours. So until the job is found, you can look in to what might be available (are there nurseries/breakfast/afterschool clubs/childminders in your area at all) but won't be able to book anything definite anyway.

Charity shop trawl? I got two pairs of new M&S work trousers for £2.50 each, and a Zara blazer for £8 recently.

I rotate the same 3 outfits for work and have done for a year. I guarantee you nobody cares or even notices. Job first, childcare second and clothes when and if you can

I would hold off on buying clothes till you know the dress code. Our policy is 'business casual', but in reality, unless you're visiting customers, you can wear jeans and jumpers.

Generally, business attire has got lot less informal in the last 10 years.

*lot less formal obviously.

You have a husband. Dont you have access to family money to buy a few clothes? Even if reasonably priced? what about all the money you have been allowing him to earn by ensuring he doesn't have to.worry about childcare?

For clothes I use everything5pounds.com and buy about 8 items at a time to save several lots of postage charges. They often have clearance sales of items at 2.50. It can be a bit hit and miss but generally only disappointed with 1 out of 8 items.

Thanks for your replies

The job I am looking to return to is full time long hours business dress penguins. I mean Black/Navy Blazers, white shirts and black navy skirts or trousers with black or navy shoes. I used to wear dark green when i had been there 7 years and got frowned on every time!

I have a few beautiful dresses that I know look business enough but wouldn't be able to wear them.

I asked the question as I know the hours and the dress code but not applied for job yet. Assuming I can get the job back! But then they are expanding.

My husband works long hours quite far away out at 0630 and back at 1830. His wages paid the bills and food etc. Cost of living going up now children getting older.

I can go back to work as youngest starting Secondary school soon. Ideally part time, which is really hard in my industry or anywhere near me as we are rural.

Charity shops and jumble sales.

You can get black trousers in ASDA for £6.

Tbh though if you can't afford childcare then clothes are the least of your worries. Have you priced up childcare?

Charity shops? Freecycle?

When I was made redundant I picked up two smart Karen Millen skirts from someone on Freecycle and got a lovely Austin Reed suit that I still have (and got my current job with) in a charity shop.

Good luck!