To not work full time

[JudesBiggestFan]

My third and youngest son starts school next week. That means I'll have one in reception, one in year five, one in year 8. The money would be nice...but I'll be back in the office three days, commuting to a major city, so two hours on my day each time. So will my husband and he's full time. No grandparent help. I think id get about 500 pounds each month extra which would be massively helpful...but then would I waste half of it on convenience meals, takeaways, find I need a cleaner because we're so rushed? Whereas the day off in the week would enable me to stay more organised? As ever it's time v money...what would you do?

Oops should have said....I've worked four days for the last 12 years, since my eldest was born, with just eight months off for each maternity leave.

I work full time with two kids. Personally I find its doable because I have a DH who is on board with housework, meal times, school runs etc. Do you?

Time all the way for me. When I work out per hour what that extra day or two actually equates to after tax etc no thanks, I'd rather not be stressed by having to rush around trying to remember everything! Plus you still ha e three kids and a household to run whether they are at school or not!

I dont know very many people at all here who work fulltime. Its really hard to balance with kids unless you have family help or are happy with lota of childcare.

If you don’t need the money I would totally take the time in the week. Absolute no brainer.

Don’t think of it in terms of immediate cash. What about career? I went from 4 to 5 days not for the pay rise but for the job opportunity. 5 years on, I’m back to 4 days on a lot more than the 4 days pay I had 5 years ago!

I'm hoping to drop a day after maternity leave because I don't wish to work full time anymore.

You don't need a reason. It's your choice.

I'd think long term and protect myself. The benefits of working are much more than the money at the end of the month.

The way you write it down makes it sound like you consider yourself responsible for household tasks rather than sharing them with your husband. I'd change that mindset before automatically working less.

@Bathtimebillie yes, we're totally equal partners. He's worked four days too for the last four years, has just gone up to five days. But a five bed house to clean, two full on jobs in the emergency services, two different school runs, football training and matches, cricket training and matches, swimming lessons, keeping up with family and friends, food shopping...the only thing we don't do is see each other!🤣 His family live abroad and my dad is going through cancer treatment so no help there so just wondering if we're biting off more than we can chew. Weekends are crammed with all the kids activities!

I work part time & I only have one child - who is now 20 & at Uni . I would hate to be rushing around all the time ... I like time for myself, to do volunteering, visit elderly parents etc. But I am probably a lot older than you, no longer have any career aspirations and mortgage paid off. Only you can decide what's right for you and your family - but if you've been doing four days a week for the last 12 years and it works for you ... why change it?

Time, you never get it back. I'm in the same situation and am going to work 4 days once my youngest starts reception (currently 3 days) and I'm still nervous about how well I'll balance the two. There's still so much childcare, household management and school things to attend and support at home at those ages.

YANBU
It makes life so much easier for me. I sort out cars, workmen, large deliveries, calls for household matters etc and more mental space to get on top of stuff so that weekends more relaxed to spend as a family

@pleasekeeptotheright not at all...funny how people assume that. I earn more than my husband on four days than he does on five...but my job is a lot more demanding...manage a big team, more likely to work late. He already does all school runs on my non-work days and said he can do the others if I up my hours...it's just deliberating whether it's worth it. Chores etc are equal...and constant!

I started working 3 days a week when I went back after my first child was born. They are 14 and 15 now and I'm still working 3 days a week and I don't plan to go back full time.

Everyone is happier and the house runs more smoothly when I have more time to do chores. The weekends are more pleasant and I can be here more for my teenagers who still need me.

Not sure what I'll do when they leave home but I really don't want to go back full time. My husband doesn't want me to go back full time (he doesn't mind either way) and we don't need the money.

I work part time and I only have one, I don’t want to ever work fulltime again, if the family can afford it stay part time

I wouldn't with a Reception age child. They will be more prone to illness, plus there seems to be more school things that you're expected to go to.

I'd reconsider when the youngest gets to Year 3, maybe.

I would stay at 4, in school holidays that's extra days childcare or juggling annual leave. Over a year that will take a chunk of the extra money I would guess

If you can afford too. I’d always have time with my kids.

I love working and miss it. But the time I can spend with my kids is the best. Nothing like it. I home educate too. So now I couldn’t work.

So I’d pick not working every time.

I work full time with 2 kids, term time only though. During term time my DH is able to do both the morning and afternoon school runs, so that’s good.

He also feeds them in the morning and all of us in the evening. Well trained.

I don’t and my dc are 12 and 16.
Unless we really need the money I will never go FT, I currently work 25 hours but earn quite a decent amount. I am considering upping that to 30 but then I would go into a higher tax bracket and not come out with a lot more, especially since I would probably want a cleaner if I did that.
I have a great work/life balance and it suits the whole family to have me PT

I work ft and don’t find it that stressful tbh! We like the extra money and I don’t want to do my own cleaning… I like having a cleaner! I also want to be ft to help my kids with uni costs etc. Only you know how much you need/what it’s worth!

My dc are just going into y3 and y5 and I work 4 days a week. I keep asking myself when I'll go full time, but the day off keeps me sane! Dd 9 has ASD which probably makes a difference as she is not as independent as a typical 9yo. However my NT 7yo is still pretty demanding tbh. And they go to bed later so I get less done in the evenings than when they were tiny.

I'd stay pt if I were you, esp since your dh has only just upped his hours.

I work three days a week. My children are 6, 4 and nearly 2 so still all very young but I don't think I'll ever work full time again! By the time the youngest is at high school I will be in my 50s and frankly I feel like I'll have warmed a bit of time to myself, because trust me - my days 'off' are harder than my days at work just now.

I think more people should work part time actually, regardless of whether they have kids or not. It's great to have more money but a lot of people slog their guts out for 50 weeks so they can relax for 2 every year. I think it would be better for people's mental and physical well-being if working less was more socially acceptable or acceptable to employers.

In my case, my DH works 4 days a week and we both agree that when we are able to enjoy a bit of downtime on our days off we will embrace that. Im not sure how I would feel if I was a partner working full time to support one who was getting way more downtime than me, but it really depends on the breakdown of who does what in your particular family.

Anyway, go for it I say. Life is for living and I think you should do what makes you happy.

Working PT can have a big, negative impact on pension. Would get the figures on that.