Is it worth going back to work

[wingingit987]

I've just had my second baby and I'm due to go back to work in the spring.

I'm starting to wonder if it's worth it may be to soon to be thinking but our childcare fees are going to be almost £800 a month and I only earn 1100 at most a month is it worth it?

We when I say the child care fees would take up £800 of my wages u mean jointly it's all one pot in our house. I mean working 3 full days a week for maybe less that 300 is shit!

But on the other hand I really love my jobs and the people who I work with we have a great team the money isn't great and career progression is abit crap. I also don't like
The thought of not working incase my relationship goes down the pan atleast I still have my career.

What does everyone else do? Any way to help with fees? Or what is being a sahm?

Have you looked into your partner either dropping down to four days a week or working four condensed days? Due to tax system you take home the most on the first part of your earnings and it may be that him doing a day at home means he doesn't lose too much salary especially if he is a higher rate tax payer. Then you will only need two days in nursery for the dc and he helps to carry the childcare load. Try some calculations.

@Hollyhead

Are you factoring in tax free childcare too which you can have alongside any free hours in the future? It’s 20% of the cost.

I was just about to mention this. I didn't know about this for over a year of paying full nursery fees, I don't think it's that well known.

www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare

Keep working, it’s harder to go back after a break.

Would they let you have longer off work?

[quote wingingit987]@letsmakethishappen

I think your house hold income has got to be less that 16 grand for you to get 15 hours free at 2.

And even with the 30 hours free at 3 it still costs £30 a day as the government funded hours they aren't paid enough. As it's all under funded.

So don't get me wrong the help is great but it only covers the cost of 2 half days a week for me I basically pay the other half and i can't put him in a normal preschool as I will have no help during holidays. It's a right pain in the ass! [/quote]
A childminder may be a better deal - they also accept the funded hours but probably charge much less for the additional hours.

I was a SAHM and I was bored and lonely (DH worked away a lot) so I’d say keep working.
.

Tax free childcare would bring that down to £640 a month if you’re eligible (most people are).

Yes - short term £ pain for long term gain. Much harder to get back on the ladder once you've had an extended period of time off.

The error many new mum makes is to only think short term. Yes the first year it might feel you are working and feeling the I pact of doing both work and being a mum for very little.

However, long term it is almost always worth it.

In 3 years time, you will be able to claim the 30h and by then, you might even have had opportunities to progress.in 5 years time, even more, in 10 years time, you'll be much better off. Even if you have 1 or 2 more children.

Many say that they will go back when they start school but by then, habit and comfort of being a sahm has set in, confidence about work taken a nose dive, and opportunities for progression put back significantly.

It's of course still very possible but staying in work after maternity leave does make it much easier.

It's short term and the chances of you getting as good as paying job when costs are lower isn't good. Also I'm a better mum when I have time to use my brain for grown up things. Maybe you'll feel the same.

£300 is better than £0! Then there’s career progression, promotions, pay rises, pensions – all the Ps!

Your earning the equivalent of a family holiday and you enjoy it. So I don't see why you wouldn't if it isn't going to cause you any stress.

I’d keep working, it’s an investment in my future.

Have you checked with UC whether you are entitled to some help with your child care costs?

Never put yourself on a position where you are relying on another person financially. There are so many benefits of working. Social life, independence, pension (even if it’s just national insurance contributions) etc etc

It is absolutely worth it. The point is it's not just 300pcm.

It's also pension contributions on the whole salary and the future growth potential those have. Its keeping your job for the future. All the people I know who stopped entirely were off far longer than they originally envisaged, most found it very difficult to return to employment and have ended up accepting far lower earnings if they have gone back at all. They are all far worse off now than our friends who stayed working. One is completely fucked because her "D"H ran off with another woman, got 50/50 care so doesnt pay her a penny and she is stuck earning barely half what she used to because she had an 8 year gap.

The first couple of years with two in childcare are hard. But then one goes to school and younger gets free hours and suddenly your finances get loads better and it really does feel fantastic.

I’m so glad I did go back to work - I had 3 children and it would’ve been easy to give up in those early days. I think my children benefited from good nurseries and having a mum who had other interests.
I’m divorced now and able to own a home when I retire with a work pension. My children enjoyed nursery; I went part time to work during school hours and increased my hours again later on.

@MBM18 thanks for posting that link that’s very helpful. I’ve never heard of it .

If that’s was full time work childcare and stress then no but you are only working 3 days so still have 4 at home with the kids and gives you plenty time get organised so 3 work days can be stress free as possible.

I think it depend on the job TBH. Dead end job that I could easily get back to after they get their 30 childcare hours, I'd stay at home with them until then. Career building job, then no, I would go and work.

It's a long term game, you need to think about:

1. earning potential i.e. if you keep on working, you'll likely be on a higher salary in 5 years than if you took off a few years and tried to back into it at the same level.

2. pension/NI contribution

3. relationship dynamics. Many women who stay at home become the default parent, cleaner, everything and find it very difficult to then suddenly hand over 50% of the responsibilities years down the line. So you'll find yourself earning less and still doing 90% of at home stuff. Not ideal at all.

4. your own sanity. Long term staying at home will get pretty boring and relentless. Especially if you enjoy your job (which is rare and lucky to have!!), stick with it.

'only' £300 a month for us is our grocery shop, or half of the mortgage. Its £3,600 a year, a couple of family holidays - so personally, for £300 a month yes I think it's worth it (but then our nursery fees are currently £1200 a month and our post tax wages are £1,650 each) 23 months to go until the 30 hours kick in and we see some flexibility again!

Pension, career progression. Ability to support yourself and child if he dies or leaves.

But it’s only you working for £300 a month if you’re only factoring your wages in.

This period of time is so short and there are a lot of downsides to leaving the work force.

I’d stick it out for financial security, job profession and my pension.

Yes, it is worth going back to work, its tough in the early years (certainly for the first 5 yrs I had NO money from my salary after travel and child care costs) but it was worth it.

Hi OP it is hard I know, and I can understand why you think it is marginal and not worth it. However, for me looking back it was essential to keep going through those early years. In many roles, it is not easy to get back in after a few years out, pension rights get lost and you increase dependency on your partner. For many people this works okay for them, but in my experience it often does not. Your job is they key to independence and a really important safety net.