To not go full time?

[WhoWants2Know]

Work have offered me a chance to increase my working week from 4 to 5 days. 8 hour work days, with an hour commute each way. It would allow me to take on a bit more of a type of work I enjoy, but there doesn't seem to be much scope for advancement.

When I calculate the effect on my finances, it turns out that adding an extra day each week would only leave me £73 better off each month.

Unfortunately there's a policy that says people at my work base aren't allowed to work from home, so I can't reduce commuting costs. (It's a shame, as most people in my role across the country do work from home)

Overall I have mixed feelings about my job. I have great days and days where I come home tearful and frustrated. Some of my colleagues do drive me nuts and I don't know if being with them all the time would help or hinder things.

I keep going back and forth and don't know what to choose. Kids are in school and don't need me home as much, but it's nice to have a day to get on top of laundry, etc.

Anyone have any ideas?

So your additional day is taxed at 20%. If your commuting costs eat most of that then I’m surprised that working at all makes sense, it implies that you are only taking home a few hundred pounds a month.

Yes, the 5th day would be taxed at 20%. Overall it doubles the amount of tax and NI that I'm paying.

The commute is much more expensive than it was when I started the job, mainly because of the fuel cost.

I took on extra work and extra hours, I asked for a pay rise. I got it 😁 I was rather proud of myself.

Why would your car insurance go up?

To be honest OP if it's costing you £30 a day to get to work (by your calculations this is what I make it, having subtracting tax of 100 from the 300, then 127 from the remaining 200 to give your commute cost for the extra day)

Can't you look for a job closer to home? £30 a day to get to a job that doesn't pay what you're worth seems a bad deal for you

I must admit OP, I can't quite see how your sums add up.
If it's really as bad as you make out then I wouldn't be wanting to work an extra day.

But beware of getting locked into part time working forever. I'm at the tail end of my working life now and I'm seeing too many part time female colleagues realising too late that their pensions are crap. That's not being sexist, it's just that 99% of the time its the women who end up like this.

Surely there are better paid jobs nearer to you?

I work part time I do 4 days (30'hrs) but I work for the NHS and I pay extra into my pension as if I was full time and they match as if I was full time too so it would be worth asking if overpaying is an option? My manager suggested this and it makes sense and as the money comes out at source I'm not going to miss it.