To be a SAHM/Housewife with children at school?

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I've been a SAHM for the last 6 years. My youngest will be starting school in September and I'm unsure of what to do next. Financially, I don't need to work at present. Would you still be a SAHM if you didn't 'have' to be?

I like that happymums posts are to be taken with a pinch of salt, because she isn't following what others do
Why is it hard to understand that some people are better off not working.
Wtf should you work if you don't have to, it seems stupid to pay for childcare if you don't have to work, it's expensive.
Surely, much better to be awarded tax credits than working at a loss by paying for someone else to provide childcare to your own children.

This is just that capitalist feminist slant again though Alaskanoilbaron, and quite a narrow one at that. I'm a feminist and would never want to not work, but plenty of us don't actually view a mode where we all do lots of hours in workplaces in traditional models of work as desirable. DH and I are much more work less, earn less, consume less, and neither of us is up for long hours. You might call it underemployment, we find it a better (and greener) way of living than the other ones we tried.

Sorry to disappoint you but I think this is a very sensible approach to work.

If you don't need to financially then find some training/course that you could use in the future.Remember that circumstances change,illness,divorce and even saving for the children's later education,your retirement.

I like that happymums posts are to be taken with a pinch of salt, because she isn't following what others do

I think you may have significant comprehension difficulties, Romany, if you think that is why people are taking happymum's posts with a lorry load of salt.

@RomanyQueen1 if her posts were true (which I don’t believe) then she’d be funding her “choices” by scrounging off the tax payer.

I disagree she's not doing much different to me and sounds like we have the same views.
Just because somebody chooses to take tax credits rather than work doesn't make them a bad person, or in fact a liar.

How is it not different? They’re using tax credits to fund their lifestyles because she won’t work and he won’t work full time.

Still think she’s full of shit, mind.

You're conflating being better off not working with being able to afford a particular lifestyle Romany. They're not the same thing in the slightest. Btw I used to be a CAB advice worker, and doing better off calculations for clients was literally how I spent my work time. I came across plenty of them who weren't much/at all better off working, not so many who could afford the lifestyle being claimed here.

Glad to hear it alaskanoilbaron!

I have some health related benefits and older DC who are quite independant. it works for us as I have a pass for the local sports centre at discount due to the PIP. Means can go there some days when they are at school. Helps the medical condition also. In terms of security we have paid the mortgage next year (and it had an insurance on it in case of anything happening to DH)- and also his pension too. We do also on subject of tax credits, have a top up with that due to health also and DH self employed due to also having a medical condition. It would be no better financially for me to be working in fact we would be worse off.

I meant, no different to many others on tax credits.
It's amazing what help being a low income on tax credits can be.
It can open the door to lots of things, we have no idea what funding this person has/had for ponies or horses, or in my case private education at 32k per year, and we have been low income on tc for 30 years.
There are lots of us, a full generation were able to live like this if they chose. It's only not possible now due to UC.
2022 will just about do us, our last one will be through compulsory education. Then she'll have to achieve a bursary if she needs more than the max loan.

I'm unsure about horses and financing things with tax credits, but for us with health related problems it has meant a difference with free prescriptions. I don't think most use it for unnecessary things or to afford private education. I could be wrong though.

You've said before you arent actually paying those 32k fees, no? Just a small part.

Exactly, so how do we know what the pp was paying.
you could argue that it's for the children so what does it matter what people spend it on.
We can sit in judgement but things have changed pretty rapidly ito tax credits, not long ago people could earn a high income of 40k odd and still be entitled.

Well the thing is, I happen to be quite familiar with the bursary scheme in question, which definitely exists and nobody has to just take your word for it. It's all publicly available and verifiable information. The same isn't true for claims of multiple horses and Disneyland trips. Also while you were being a bit disingenuous quoting the 32k fees rather than the tiny amount you actually pay, you weren't in blatant goady fucker trolling mode, unlike happymum, and that's usually a clue...

My horses are cheap, they are on diy livery and barefoot. In fact we&re thinking if getting another pony for the boys to share.

But, you carry on thinking I'm lying if it helps you through your shift at the call centre.

Ah, a dig at call centre workers now. Classy as. I did used to do that job in my younger days as it happens, and it was honest labour. Certainly wouldn't cast it up to anyone who earns their living in one. Many of them do work that needs doing.

Happymum4ever I dont work in call centres but what the actual fuck?

What's wrong with working in a call centre? Why do you look down on it? Why would you assume people need help getting through the shift?

If you are so happy in your idyllic life, why would you need to have dig?

if it helps you through your shift at the call centre

Not okay. There's no need to disrespect any way of earning a crust.

Well this thread certainly took a bizarre turn.

Is “benefits troll” a thing?

Disrespecting people who work for a living - nice. Come back when your tax credits run out.

My ds2 works in a call centre, he's doing quite well, regularly promoted and earns at least 1k commission/bonus per month.

I still understand where happymum is coming from though, why work anywhere if you don't have to.
With tc for 3 dc, yes you could have holidays at Disney, maybe goady or a troll, I don't know. My point was all those claims could be true and not out of the question, who knows, these days.

Also aren't most call centre workers obliged to turn their phones off? It was pre internet phones when I did it, but we had to. So they're less likely than the average to be using MN at work!

I mean, if you're going to be obnoxious, at least do the research. Commit to it!

I think it depends ito phones. My ds is a manager (lower) he has his, but not sure those on the system are allowed theirs.
I think they have to hand them in if they expect a call from home/urgent and the line manager will answer for them.
Otherwise if not expecting an emergency call, they have to be off in the bag.

Perhaps if more people worked and didn’t use tax payers money to fund their children’s educations, when a free school would do, there wouldn’t be such a divide!

And I’m not trying to be horrible but I just don’t get the attitude of “why shouldn’t I let other people bankroll me?”

It’s selfish.

My parents raised me to work for what I want and what I have.

It’s unfair to take from those who need it. All the time we hear of people with SN getting funding cut. Schools are broke so extra staff/SNAs can’t be gotten. Hospitals are a shambles.

So when people either brag about not working/working part time and having horses, or not paying fees for their children’s school, well it’s tasteless.

And I don’t mind benefits at all. They’re vital.

But if this thread is proving anything it’s that you’ll always have people taking the piss. And not only are they taking from hard-working taxpayers, but from people who could really benefit from that money!

I became a SAHM while the kids were at school - gave up a good career.

Stupidest thing I ever did. I only worked very part time as more would have affected our tax situation (not in the UK) and then he had an affair and we are in the process of getting divorced.

I’m now on half of what I’d have been if I’d stayed in that career. Think long and hard and don’t say “my H wouldn’t cheat”. I didn’t think mine would till he did