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?

I work full time, definitely spending more on convenience meals but I’ve recently discovered the joys of a slow cooker. You don’t need a cleaner if you’re effective with time management and keep on top of it through the week.

I work PT as mine are little but I’m hoping to continue once they are both in school. A day a week to get admin and cleaning done will leave the weekend a bit more open to do fun things.

I'd chose to work PT until my youngest went to secondary school and often wish I hadn't gone FT. I was worn out working as well as all the DC's after school activities. My DH did a great deal too. I'd take time and less stress any day

Time. You can't get that back.

I’d stay at 4 days, certainly until your middle is at secondary and your youngest is in juniors. The juggle is very tough and that extra day does a lot of heavy lifting in terms of making it work I find. If your DH has just gone up to 5 days I’d let that bed in for a while.

I work full time, I'm a single parent to a 3 year old. It's doable. You don't need a cleaner.. You can just little tidy ups as and when then split the big jobs between you at weekends. It sounds not fun.. But it's adult life.

Have you considered a compressed week? I work f/t over 4 days, sole parent of 1, weekends also packed with activities xx

How does this affect your pension?

If you work 4 days a week until your children have left school and then go back to work full time until you retire, will this give you enough pension to live on if you ended up single?

In your shoes I'd definitely keep at part time. Three kids and no family help is a lot to deal with. If the money was loads more, I'd be tempted but like you say £500 would easily get eaten up in takeaways and other bits. Not worth it imo

Stay part time. It’s a no brainer! It’s only one day of pay that as you said will be eaten up by hidden costs like cleaning,takeouts, commuting not to mention tax!

It completely depends on what matters most to you. Could it affect career opportunities if you stay part time? Would you rather have a spare day or two where you could manage the home?
Do you need the money? Do you need the time?

It sounds like, in your position, it makes sense to stay part time to be honest.

Just listened to this really interesting podcast today about time. Talks about how trying to squeeze in as much as possible is actually harming us and we need to just BE more.
thisjungianlife.com/episode-174-time-truth-about-its-use/

I did FT but feck all downtime so for me am happy more time. Then her ortho apts trying to run home for that. I felt something had to give when everyone out of house. Just my own experience

Since you are the higher earner OP, you should really be working FT and your DH should be cutting down his days to manage the child/elderly parent caring.

That way you will increase your joint income while also having the work/family balance you need as a team. I don’t understand why it is assumed the woman works PT, not the man. It should be lower earner goes part time and the higher earner pays into pension for lower earner to keep financial independence equal.

All interesting points and ones I've gone back and forth on! There's no perfect world answer...yes it would enhance my career prospects and pension to go full time, but I will undoubtedly be exhausted and spend most of the weekend cleaning and recuperating. Im a bit of a workaholic and love my job but I could happily work round the clock and still have more to do. After the past 18 months...juggling lockdown, isolations etc with three kids at home and an extra heavy workload...the thought of a day to myself is hyper appealing! My husband is super laid back...basically whatever I want to do is fine.

I can earn in two hours overtime what it costs for my cleaner to come once a fortnight. I do what I'm good at and she does what she's good at far quicker than I can do it. I get more time with my children and I am less stressed. I'm a single parent so no OH to share the load.

I would personally, life isn’t guaranteed and a better pension and career potential may be needed at some point.
The extra would mean more savings or things for the children, plenty manage fill time with cleaners or read meals.

It's not term time but the school holidays when being full time is such a challenge.

Holiday camp for three children is best part of £150 per day. Plus if they are in holiday childcare all the time then less time to do jobs like buy school shoes.

Only having to arrange childcare for four days rather than five of the holidays is really important

I kept my day off when my youngest started school . I’m a single parent and barely get any time to myself so the time is worth so much more to me . I do all my cleaning / errands / go to gym etc on my day off .

I condense hours over 4 days, so I'm very nearly FT. Works really well as I have one child in primary and one at nursery, so saves some money too. The extra day in the week is a godsend for admin and sorting stuff out and I can't imagine working 5 days a week now. Given that my hours are only a fraction less than a FT employee, I don't think it has harmed my career that much in terms of hours worked and when, but I would say being a parent has, because I'm so bloody exhausted and juggling so much. The longer days are a bit too long some days.

Part-time. It will make for a more relaxed, enjoyable life. 3 days would be great if you can afford it. Just keep an eye on your pension.

I went part time (2 & a half days) 13 years ago and have never regretted it. Things are still full on & we only have 2 children. Being a part of the kids school life (and having the flexibility to be around when things crop up) has been priceless.

I'm a single parent and when my younger one starts school next week I am not planning to go full time (I work 4 days pw at the moment). There is always so much to do. I am looking forward to having that bit of extra time on my day off when the children are at school.

Depends which you value more, money or time. If you are lucky enough to have a choice then you can do as you wish.

I always chose time when the kids were little, but neither is right.

Nope, I would never go back to full time work.
I work 4 days a week, with a Wednesday off, so I can get food shopping, cleaning, organising, bit of me time done in the week. I feel it works well for us as a family.