Would you take a 20% pay cut to have holidays off with your children

[Boboz]

I have just been offered a job as an Administrator in a school office. I am really excited about the role and delighted to be successful in my interview. I have just worked out I will be around £300 a month worse off. It’s a real head and heart situation for me.
I have to say after working all hours and getting home late each evening I love the idea I can have the school holidays with my LO. Has anyone made this jump before and how did this work out for you?

I am stuck to know what to do for the best x

In a heartbeat!!
With 4 DCs any shortfall would also be significantly offset by saving on holiday care. Would this also be the case for you? Even if it may not be right now, it might be worth thinking about the future if you have more or older children.

Even without the saving, the ability to spend time with them is so valuable when they're young, and still want to hang out with you

Yes, I took a big pay cut to work part time so that I can pick my DC up from school a couple of days a week and have more time with them in the holidays. It is really good for me but obviously it depends on how much of s difference the money will make to you.

I would if I could possibly afford it, but I would also have to consider if it would have a bad eff3ct on my career in the long term.

In your situation I would try very hard to take the job. You need to calculate how much you spend on holiday childcare and deduct that from how much you are loosing with the new job (we spent a fortune).

If you can afford it then yes, I’d do it.

£300 a month would not be an amount we couldn't afford to lose coming into the house, there would be no point in me spending time with them if we couldn't afford to actually live.

I would do it.
Obviously depends if you can afford it, once you have taken in to account the saving you make on childcare costs.

^would be not wouldn't be

No. I need more challenge and career progression than that kind of role, I enjoy what I do

Not relevant now but no I wouldn't have done.

I would. Clearly it depends on if you can afford it but some of the shortfall will be made up with no childcare costs.

I would and I have. More than 20%.

It would entirely depend on finances. If it was affordable, and saved on childcare costs then yes I would.
If it meant a struggle and no budget for days out and holidays then no I wouldn't.

I definitely would if my husband and I could afford it at the time. Lucky you to have the option.. well done!

No.

Can you afford to lose that amount each month?

Time with your child is important but providing for her financially is just as important.

Can you afford it ? Would you save on childcare in the holidays ?

If it's a real option for you, then I really would go for it. You will probably reduce your stress levels significantly and your children will love having you home more.

Good luck whatever you decide.

How old is your DC?
Is the £300 that you are worse off, before or after you factor in holiday childcare costs?
If you work in a school and your DC attends a different school be aware that one knock on effect might be that you can never attend day-time school events.

Yea I would. Cost of child care in holidays is big and arranging it is stressful.

If it's a job you'll it's worth it.

Enjoy

Entirely depends if you can afford to lose that £300 and still get by comfortably

I worked in finance when DS1 was very young and switched to teaching when DS2 was born. The pay difference was significant and I'll never earn anywhere near what I did previously, but the balance is so much better. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

what would you pay in childcare for the holidays?

I did and I do not regret it.
Kids have left home now.

20% of not much is quite a lot... but 20% of a lot is not much

Depends on overall budget. I think if you can afford it, and not struggle financially then do it!

Yes, without doubt!