Which job should I take?

[tornbetweentwo1]

About to start an open university degree. 2 young kids a 7 year old and 1 year old

Been offered 2 jobs (both same type of job same responsibility same pay etc but different departments):

1. 4 days a week 9am-2pm (20 hours)

1. 2 days a week 9am-5pm (15 hours)

Should I take job one and have more money or job two and have more time with kids and to study.

Difference in pay for the 5 hours a week is 250£ a month so quite significant.

My heart says job two as I won't get this time back with the kids. My head is worried about the decrease in pay (currently earn 1k a month as part time, job two would only pay 750£ a month, job one is same wage as I am now - but for less hours as it is a promotion)

Help!!

Presumably you’ll have to factor in childcare costs for two days, but even then I’d still choose 2.

Sorry I should've included we have family who happily take kids when we at work so no childcare costs to factor in

Would you get more tax credits if you took a pay cut? I thought I would but didn't

I work four short days but find I never get to leave on time as there's always something to 'finish off' especially in retail. I'd go for the two days and work more shifts if you're skint.

I would go for option 2. Solely based on school holidays when your youngest is older. Only 2 days to find childcare for and not 4. Easier to swap days if your employer is flexible and possibly add a third in the future.

Are you taking your ou degree to progress your current career? Do you want to carry on in this field? If so, think long and hard before you turn down a promotion.

If you want to change career so progression is not currently important I might be more inclined to choose job 2

@ExtraPineappleExtraHam don't get any benefits as partner earns to much. We're not well off, comfortable but not so much so that an extra 250& a month wouldn't make a difference if that makes sense

1. More money and perfect school hours when the time comes

Work is in nhs so shifts are fixed and no staying late to finish etc as office based

Degree will be to progress yeah. Both jobs are a promotion though. Currently a band 3 both jobs are band 4 jobs

I'd go 2 days and ask relative to mind kids a third day so you can study.

Thanks so much for opinions someinteresting things to think about

Is there a difference between companies?

Your youngest is very young, and you don't know how you'll find the study load yet, or when/how you'll find it easiest to study.

On that basis, and assuming you can get by financially either way, I'd say option two.

Level 1 of OU is fairly simple and you could do it on either job, the next 4 years are decidedly more time consuming so with such a young child I'd go for the two days then as you hit your Level 3 in 4 years time you'll have lots of study time as youngest will be at school.

Between now and then other jobs may become available or extra hours due to other staff leaving or on maternity etc so you can adjust. It tends to be easier to add hours than drop them.

@Neverender both with NHS just different departments

@Singleandproud it's 3 years as I'm doing it full time (that's the plan anyway)

I agree that it's easier to pick up hours than to drop them even if it meant getting a 0 hour contract in a supermarket to top up income when needed or something like that

Definitely leaning towards the 2 day post

If you are going to do it full time then definitely take the 2 day option and hopefully ask a family member if they will take youngest 1 day a week so you can have a full study day.

Level 1 I managed without having to read a lot of the content as I already knew it so could have easily done it full time. I'm doing level 2 at the moment and there's a lot more reading, researching etc that is massively time-consuming.

Good luck with what ever you choose.

@Singleandproud thanks so much it's great to have input of someone who's actually doing it.

I think I will go for the 2 day option purely for the studying etc