AIBU- Can't afford to work

[MissRja]

Just trying to work out a return to work after having a baby In December ( also have a 4 year old in full time school ) unfortunately, my original plans for childcare have fell through, which now means we are looking at paid childcare. My current job have declined My flexible working request , which means I am looking for another job. Due to school pick up/ drops offs I am looking returning on reduced hours over 5 days or term time only. Have worked our I will be bringing home roughly £1200 after tax per month. Nursery fees will be £1100 for a four week month, or £1375 for a 5 week month. This does not include before / after school club fees. If I was to use my wages alone to pay childcare fees I would actually be losing money to work , especially when factoring in petrol , work clothes etc. Surely this can't be right. How in this day and age can I not afford to go to work !! Its ridiculous. The whole reason I am going back is because we can't afford to live off DP wages alone , but it doesn't seem like it will make a difference if i do go back to work. Am i missing something here ? What does everyone else do to work around this ? Would love to hear your experiences / advice !!

@VapeVamp12

If you were working you’d be paying NI towards your ‘old age’ pension though, and would you be paying towards a private pension too ?

My great uncle hasn't worked a day in his life and his state pension is the same as my Dad's who still isn't retired at 70.

Does your dad have a private pension through work though?

To get Basic State Pension, you need to have paid enough national insurance contributions or received enough national insurance credits.

If you haven’t paid enough national insurance contributions yourself, you may still have some entitlement. Check our Basic State Pension – What if I don’t qualify? page to find out more.

The maximum Basic State Pension is £137.60 per week if you are under 80 years old and £137.85 per week after you turn 80.

You are entitled to the maximum amount of Basic State Pension if you paid enough national insurance contributions or received national insurance credits for a total of 30 years.

For each year that is missing from your national insurance record, your entitlement is reduced by one thirtieth.

Some people may still be entitled to additional amounts from old schemes:

State Second Pension (phased out from 6 April 2016)
Increase for a husband, wife or civil partner (phased out from 6 April 2010)
Increase for children (phased out from 6 April 2003)
State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (phased out from 6 April 2002)
Graduated Retirement Benefit (phased out from 6 April 1975).

@thebigpurpleone

Why is all the onus on you to be finding flexible solutions?

Because he's the higher earner and they need the money.

@VapeVamp12

If you were working you’d be paying NI towards your ‘old age’ pension though, and would you be paying towards a private pension too ?

My great uncle hasn't worked a day in his life and his state pension is the same as my Dad's who still isn't retired at 70.

Don't you still get credits for your NI if you have young children?

@ancientgran yes if you claim Child Benefit

Yes you do…

Simply because they need higher earner’s income to survive.
They also need income above that to make ends meet as OP said.

@User112

Did you not do this match before planning kids? We delayed having 2nd child for seven years for the same reason, but we ended up with twins! After paying for childcare, I hardly had anything left. But it’s better now. It’s hard for a few years, but finances can improve significantly once the youngest starts school. Also by then you’ll hopefully get some pay rises/ promotions.

That’s just rude. Thought about it or not it doesn’t change the fact that she’s in this situation now.

However, OP clearly stated in her initial post that she had childcare plans that have fallen through and as a result of that, now she can’t afford to go back to work. Just read.

By reading in between the lines it seems she had a family/friend arrangement and things changed.

I would say OP having been in that position— ‘if’ you are in a career with progression and want to remain in it—look for something ideally that’s 2 days a week , your earnings and childcare costs will balance out- although be aware your childcare costs are high because your little one is still classed as a baby— those costs will come down but not for a good while — you can always then look at maybe a bit of evening work a couple of nights a week on days you don’t work in the day — maybe a bar/ waitressing etc— it will get you out and bring in extra money without childcare needs provided you don’t gave a partner doing shifts. If that’s not possible I would accept for first 2 years you won’t gain extra income — so may as well do 2 days a week and 2 days childcare just to keep your hand in— ‘if’ your job isn’t really a career and you aren’t fussed what you do, and he doesn’t work shifts/weekends then look at evening or weekend jobs a few nights a week and your partner will have to step up to the plate— that way you can quite easily make £500 a month extra , no childcare costs.

Have you looked into Universal credit? My partner and I both work ( me 20 hours) him full time and we are entitled to 85% of childcare costs as long as they are ofsted registered.

It is quite simple. Unless you can work when your partner is home or you can cover your childcare costs it is not worth working. I did but I also had gp help for the first couple of years and DH covered some of the costs and care even though he was a student. I also worked ft over 4 days and still use childcare vouchers (replaced by tax free childcare) which also helps.