To become successful career/money wise after becoming a Mum

[Hollie93]

I need to hear some stories of how you managed to become successful as a mum if you wasn’t really earning that much prior to becoming a parent.

Any tips would be great xx

I upgraded from a diploma in nursing (when that was a thing) to a degree. All done by correspondence.
3 kids 16 months between them (so 3under 3) started my course when the youngest was 4 months or so. Did one at a time.
It took a long time but was worth it.

Qualifications on the job through my workplace. So initially nvq2, then nvq4 and now doing nvq6. I work a four day week and study at home every friday.

not sure if this counts but I was 23 when I had my DD and earning 16k. I did have my degree but had floundered around in non career type jobs trying to work out what I wanted to do. I then went on to have another 3 children in quick succession- doing occasional/ part time work. Then at 32 I got serious and got a basic entry full time job in an area I was interested in in public sector for 20k. Have since moved around and progressed and am now a senior manager earning a great salary. I am actually ready for the next grade up but have sat where I am for a year as we had another baby
later in life but I will be looking for promotion opportunities in the next 6 months or so.

Retrained as a software developer at 36, now in fourth job, amazing role in London, quadrupled my pre-kids salary with scope to have x6-7'd it in 4 more years.

I went back into my existing role full time after maternity leave and showed them how driven and capable I was.

Within one year after mat leave I managed to more than double my salary due to promotion and I've gone from scrabbling around for pennies to buy bread to being a lot more comfortable and set for the future. I've still got a very good progression route so I'll only go up from here.

Nope, I worded my question wrong and didn’t get what I was looking for really. I want success stories
...... for your magazine article?

@OfstedOffred precisely 😊

Although I went to a heralded 'Red brick' university (first in the family) I struggled in the the workplace after graduation but managed to get a basic level admin role in the civil service. My shyness really held me back and I didn't progress at all. I had my son at 29 and then after MATL was placed in the finance department. Well finance suited me and I started my AAT. I then had my 2nd child at 33. I was still at a very junior level and part time until I 37. Once I was back full time and my youngest was in school I started my chartered accountany training which I have nearly completed. I am now 43 and since I had my 2nd child my wage has increased by over £30k. Yet a significant part of my ability to do this was that my husband went part time when I went full time. Like me he is a working class graduate who struggled to establish a high earning career and we could see my career trajectory offered more opportunities. It is really difficult if a single parent or both working FT (can be done of course). I have friends with partners who refused to reduce their hours, while wanting their wives to be PT, even if their wives had greater earning potential in fear it would mean losing part of their penis somehow..I digress.
If you are able to retrain in a role while earning (this is quite common in Finance for example) then that is a really good option. I certainly feel I did my life the wrong way around in a way as I am now more career driven whereas many friends were in their 20s and 30s pre-kids. They have now taken back seats and don't envisage being that way again while as my children are getting older I'm engaging and enjoying my current career more and more. Good luck OP 👍

Might not be what you are exactly looking for, but the key to being successful "money wise" is not only having a career/bringing the money in, but also understanding investments, pensions etc, and what to do with that money and how to make it grow. You can earn a lot but leave yourself with not much to show for it at the end of the day, or you can earn relatively less but be canny and grow it, so you can enjoy life, take career breaks etc and enjoy the life beyond work, creating a more balanced overall life. I would really recommend taking time to educate yourself in this area too, if you want to be successful "money wise".

Meaningful Money podcast or JL Collins Simple Path to Wealth are both good places to start with this sort of personal finance education.

I did this after I had kids. I'm not going to share details of my personal financial situation here, sorry, but I will say it has revolutionized our family situation whilst also being one of the most empowering things I've ever learned about, because it enabled me to make decisions understanding the full implications of those. It has relieved me of anxiety, because I understand it. It has enabled me to make choices of the work less- make more of your money variety.

Sorry, just to add, when I say "make it grow" I literally mean that. Through investments and particular savings vehicles the government gives you money and then it grows, all without you lifting a finger. Why work for your money when you don't have to? I love passive income.

I mean I still do some work and would be seen as having a successful career, but if I can get money for nothing, then I would prefer to do that...

Hi OP

Maybe have a think about what you love, where your passions lie, what job you would enjoy getting up for. Then they'll be more motivation to work for it!

I did a doctorate in clinical psychology after having DS1. I had DS2 during the course. I've been qualified 10 yrs now and earn over £60 k

A friend did an Open Uni undergrad course after having her first child. And now child is 12, she is just completing her doctorate in clinical psychology and will be earning £40 k ish starting salary.

A good friend did an access to uni course after his first child, and then went on to study IT, and now earns around 50k.

Don't know if any of these fields appeal to you. Basically, decide what you'd love to do and do it! Doesn't matter that you have a child! :)