Aibu to throw away my career

[mumofthreehundred]

I currently am employed by a company that I have worked for for 15 years. Trouble is for the last 5 years I've really not enjoyed working there. In fact I dread each day and cry at my desk at least a few times a week. Great benefits and pay is good (in theory). They let me work 4 days a week and that's as part time as I'm allowed. I end up doing hours in evening and starting early each day.

I also have 3 children under four including a set of surprise twins. Although I do get help with childcare (from my mum in law one day a week) I still pay loads (left with 500 quid after childcare). When my son starts school, I'm going to need to add holiday cover and after school and breakfast club. I've worked out that our total outgoings vs income is around £150 left.

I've seen a job advertised that is in a school and term time only that is approx 1/6th of my current salary! It doesn't even hit national insurance thresholds. It's only 10 hours a week!

I did the maths again and because I'd need only a childminder one x1 morning and all of school holidays off. Doing the income verses outgoings, I'd have £110 left each month. I may even qualify for some tax credits to add to that.

Am I missing something here? Yes it's scary on just one salary? I am throwing away a career but it's something I have zero desire to stay in. I'd get to spend more time with kids. Do every school pick off and drop off. I'm starting a career in a sector I'm very interested in.

Cons are; I am missing national insurance payments. What if my husband has issues with his job? What if I got sick and couldn't work? What if I hate my new job?

We have finally come to terms with the fact short of a lottery win, we won't be moving house anytime soon. And I'd rather be happy in life than say "I've got a better garden" or "I've got a spare room".

Other potential issues are: will I find someone to mind children one session a week (term time only)? My notice period is 2 months and the job needs you to start ASAP.

This is just in theory as I've not even been shortlisted yet!

My notice period is 2 months and the job needs you to start ASAP.

I think you'll struggle with this, unless the old job will let you leave early. Jobs in schools are very sought after, so it's unlikely they will want to wait. Also 2 months takes you til the end of term. So if you got the job you wouldn't start until September, so you wouldn't be paid over the holidays.

I wouldn't, not with the responsibilities of three children. Should your husband fall ill, lose his job, leave etc ten hours wouldn't support yourself let alone the children as well.

School jobs are highly competitive and they are very unlikely to what two months for a candidate when they want an immediate start. Plus you would still have childcare costs for the session you work which would wipe out even more of the ten hours salary.

Go for it. You'll have a lot of competition for the job though. It's a good short term solution and you csn always resume your career when the DC are older. Life's too short to be miserable at work.

I would just quit work rather than go into a job that was 10 hours a week and doesn't hit national insurance threshold.

You definitely need to look for a new job in your circumstances with so many young children at home. But I don't think this one is the right one.

Does your eldest not get the 30 hours funded childcare?

I had two years between my boys and until my youngest was 3 I worked part time evenings around DH's hours. It is hard when they are so young. I don't know how you manage with twins! My DH also works condensed hours so has more days off in the week.

Do it! You sound so unhappy.

I'd go for it, and even if you don't get it I'd look for something else part time. Life is short, there's no point staying in a job which makes you so unhappy and missing out on valuable time with your kids when they're so little. If you'll end up in the same position financially I'd do it. Plus don't worry about missing national insurance credits, provided you claim child benefit then your contributions are automatically classed as paid until your youngest turns 12

Why is that you hate the job you are in?

My eldest gets 30 free hours but the twins for two days that I need costs over £1000! It will only get more expensive as my eldest soon needs after school cover. Appreciate when the twins are 3 they will get some portion of free hours but that's quite some time away.

The only part time jobs round here are minimum wage jobs it seems.

What would happen if I used my holiday to work the new job whilst I am working out my notice?

Realise they are competitive but I'm trying my hardest to get one. In degree educated and doing some volunteering to boost my experience. I've been working in a scientific/maths job for 15 years.

Why does wrap around care when your son goes to school leave you with less money than you have now, if you are paying childcare for him and twins anyway?

I would keep my eyes peeled for term time jobs for September starts, but they aren't easy to find. And remember the advertised salary might reflect what it would be full time when it'll be pro rata in reality!
How old are the twins?

Hate my job because it's dull, it's in a horrid sector. No further career progression unless I go full time. My new boss and I clash. I work 4 days but often work extra... for free. I showed my sister round my office once and she described the atmosphere as "strange". It's not a nice place to work.

Money goes up because son currently goes free as part of 30 free hours but in September I've added another £180 to cover the odd day holiday and breakfast/afterschool care twice a week

The new job could be as dull as shit, very reactive and not challenging, repetitive, ....

Appreciate when the twins are 3 they will get some portion of free hours but that's quite some time away.

Where will the twins be if you get the school job? Surely you'll still be paying for some care. From what you've said, with the job being 10 hours a week and an immediate start, it sounds like a mid-day / lunchtime role for 2 hours a day. If this is the case, it could be very difficult to get childcare for such a short period of time each day.

Just to add on I think you need to be working a minimum of sixteen hours to get any type of tax credits.

The job is just across three x mornings. One of which my husband covers. One of which my mil covers. That just leaves one morning to find cover for.

If you can afford it can you book some sessions with a coach? Throwing away your career may be something you regret when the kids are older, potentially fast forward 10 years to exactly the same scenario you're in now only that its a low paid, low prospect job you hate.

Your children are young and balancing work with a career at this age is exhausting so completely understand where your coming from and that there is a need for change. It's no good for your mental health and quality of life that you are so upset at work- is there anything that you can do to change this? What's the optimum for you now and then in the future?

Can you transfer skills? Move sideways? Retrain?

Also, why are you crying at your desk so much - it sounds an unbearable situation so is it about reducing workload? Responsibility? Can you work from home a day a week?

Can anyone confirm that about child tax credits? I thought that it was joint hours that counted and my husband does over 35 hours.

What do you do now? What the school job? Is it a state school?

I just did similar to you, but I only have 1 DD and am disabled.

Hated my full time job, childcare cost a fortune, and we wouldn’t even get rid when she goes to school this year as would need breakfast and after school club. Plus due to my disability I was exhausted with full time hours.

I got a new job at 22.5 hours a week, halved my annual salary, and can work from home whenever too. I don’t have set hours, they are SO flexible.

I get PIP anyway and disability premium tax credits so that’s really helped, I couldn’t have afforded it without these. But it was defo the right decision for me!

My mum also works in a school so only works term time and will have DD most the holidays.

You get working tax credit for over 16 hours, but child tax credit for under 16.
I work in a school, and I absolutely love it, it’s so rewarding. Plus I get all the holidays, and as you say, I get to do all the school runs.
Bear in mind though, no term time hols, and if you’re in a different school to your kids you may not be able to attend sports days etc as you’ll be unable to get days off in the week during term time.

I think you should change jobs, definitely. I'm not sure if this is the job you should change to, though.

Unfortunately my job is extremely niche and the nearest similar is over an hour away. I only get paid this much as I've been there 15 years. Doing similar type admin roles I'd drop around £10k I'd say and most are full time anyway.

The school job is based in the office

And to recieve universal credit you are agreeing to look for full time work

The notice problem probably isn't a problem at all. Tell them you need to leave early and hopefully get their agreement. They can't force you to stay. Would they lose money by you leaving early? Strictly speaking, it's a breach of contract but they can only sue for their losses. And there's no point you staying if you're so miserable be ig makes you cry. There's no long term future there, is there?