To have an afternoon for housework?!

[Bea1985]

If you had the choice would you rather work:

2.5 days per week - profit to household for doing so (after travel. Tax, NI and childcare) =£107 per week. (Also with this option , after my half day at work and travelling home, I would have c. 3 hours "to myself" aka to do housework before having to pick DD up at 5.30)

OR

3 days per week - profit to household after same deductions = £134 per week. No 3 "free" hours for housework, would all need to be done at weekend or when DD in bed. (What most people probably do).

Work have said I can choose 2.5 or 3 days. Difference in net profit to household is only £27 per week so tempted to only do 2.5 and have an afternoon to catch up with chores.

Cm does not do half days. DD will be in childcare the whole time I am at work.

DH says it's up to me (my wages are not much compared to his anyway). I think I'd be so much happier having an afternoon free to catch up with myself , give the house a once over, get some laundry put away, put a Tesco's delivery away.....but is it decadent?!

I have a big and often messy house, hairy moulting animals, husband who is always working / works away..... so if I did work 3 full days and had DD the rest of the time it may be that we end up getting a cleaner for 2 hrs a week or so anyway (no idea what that would cost) to avoid living in a total heap.

Oh... dd will be 1 when I return to work so no free hours at childcare.

I am writing this as the mother of a 7mo DD who barely sleeps and I can't get any housework etc done when looking after her .... I'm imagining it will be similar when she's 1 and that the free afternoon would be a godsend.

Or am I just being lazy?!

I do the 3 days with no extra time for house work and my house is constantly a mess. I’d take the first option although I agree I’d feel guilty doing it while little one was in child care but you’d then get quality time together at other times

2.5!!

I'm in the three days and get a cleaner camp. But then I detest housework.

Go back full time and get a cleaner.

The divorce courts won’t reward you in 20 years time for having no career when your DH wants to trade you in for a younger model.

Haha sevendown

!!!!!!!

@Sevendown not everyone wants to leave their small child in full time childcare.

Op do the 2.5 days, it will make life less stressful for the whole family.

sevendown
Uncalled for. Also don't think the half day will make that much of a difference to the OP career.

(I'm 15 years younger than DH !! and will still have a good job , Albeit one that will be p/t until DD and any subsequent DC in school).

3 days and pay for cleaning.

Def 2.5 days. If I had the option right now I would have a few childfree and workfree hours. Much as I love my kids a couple of hours to myself, even to catch up on housework, would be great.

And yes I really don't want to leave my wee sausage in ft childcare.

I'd pick the 2.5 option. I do 3 days a week after recently dropping down from 4. I reduced our child's nursery time only by the half day for my new day off. I relish those extra four hours. For boring stuff like food shopping, cleaning, dog walking, appointments and also a half hour cup of tea and complete chill out. I know some people would be horrified I technically put our child in nursery when I'm effectively free but those few hours a week make such a positive influence on our household despite losing £29 a week (similar to you by the looks of things).

Take the 2.5 option. Then if you want or need a whole day off without dd (xmas shop or just a duvet day) you only need to use 0.5 annual leave.

Very similar DoYouLikeHuey

Definitely the 2.5 days.

I'm obviously in the minority! I'd rather be at work than cleaning. I'd work the hours and hire a cleaner

When my DD started school I kept my Friday off so I could do the shopping, cleaning, getting my hair done on my own etc. Keeps the weekend clear for running the kids to classes and parties.

2.5 definitely

My DS goes to nursery 1 day a week and all I do on that day is some admin/bookkeeping for my husbands company (sometimes there's none to do at all), get my nails / hair done, do housework, potter about and have the occasional lunch with a friend.
I Don't feel one iota guilty, the other days of the week I'm with him pretty much all of the time and that day off makes me a better mother and happier person.
Oh and DH drops off and picks up at nursery so I don't even have to do that (unless he has a work commitment that makes it difficult)

Major minority here but I’d pick dd up and have more time with her. Cleaning can always wait.

Why not clean on the other two days you are off? If no one is in your house for 3 days it can’t get that messy.

I would be doing day to day housework on my other 2 days off (tidying, dishes etc) but will be looking after a 1yo so not anticipating being able to do much.

3 days and get a cleaner. I hate cleaning, work is much more interesting.

3 days and a cleaner
Or a husband who does some housework

Could you do 3 days then your DH go down to 4.5 days and he do the cleaning?