To think its not even worth working!?

[Singlemum90]

Just been offered a job, for reference its about £35k. Initially I was super happy as I have been SAHM for a number of years & its in a field I used to work in but a bit different & a little less stress. And to me, that is a pretty decent salary!

After the call I decided to break down how much better off we would be, cost of living crisis and all that! I was thinking I would have a decent impact on our finances. But nope! With tax, student loan, childcare, the commute & a cleaner once every couple of weeks (we have children & pets- I would absolutely need some help if we are both working full time) I would only be up about £150 a week. And this is with wrap around care in school-goodness knows the cost over school holidays.

So really I would be working a full time professional job for £150 a week, max. I did origionally leave the work force because of this exact reason, but childcare costs then were for a full time childminder, I thought it would be better now my children are older.

I feel very deflated. Is missing time with the children, commuting, & the additional stress of working full time worth it for £150 a week!?

I apologise in advance I know I am incredibly fortunate to have the choice and to be able to afford to stay at home on my husbands income and I know £150 a week is a lot of money to a lot of people. It is a lot of money, just not what I thought a £35k salary would equate to.

So AIBU to think that it is s* to work full time for £7800 a year after everything that needs paid!?

Depending how you’re feeling, for me working full time wouldn’t be necessarily about money , I absolutely hate being a stay at home mum, i needed my independence, my money and a bit of my old self back. I went back to working full time when my child was 9 months old , still going at 40-50 hrs a week 20 years late , it makes me feel worthy

I thjnk OP means that with the extra stress of commuting, arranging childcare in holidays, having to be more organised at home, maybe missing things at school, zooming off out after work to take kids swimming etc, is 150 quid a week really worth the aggro when she doesn't need to work.

I can see why you're questioning it OP. I wouldn't work full time with primary aged kids and I'd think twice about doing it with secondary aged ones too.

If you don’t want it don’t take it, someone else will be thrilled to get the job.

£600 a month is a lot. If you can happily turn it down then crack on as you are.

Will probably be worth it for the pension.

That's £600 a month. Plus pension. Plus some other benefits no doubt. Plus the security of some sort of sick pay and so forth. And childcare costs aren't forever.

id love an extra £150 a week

Eh? An extra 600 per month is loads after deductions, you sound very entitled if you cant see that. Plus incomes increase, I was on 30k 6 years ago and now on 70k so yes its worth having a career

Are you independently wealthy? That'd be the only reason not to take this job.

Why are you only factoring those costs from your salary? I know it doesn't magic up anymore money but psychologically it makes a difference.

Plus you need to this about progression, pension etc.

£600 extra cash a month is not too be sniffed at if you want to go back to work...I'd love to have £600 spare or extra a month!

Try to see it is an investment which should secure bigger future earnings. Put extra into your pension as this saves you tax and get better growth if you start asap and your employer has to put in a % too.
The more you put off going back the harder it gets as technology runs away and you will feel left behind. Plus your kids get used to having you at home at their beck and call so it helps for them to get used to you having other responsibilities.
Use child care vouchers ( your husband can do this to if you need childminder after school) . He will save tax at 40% if he isn't already using them .

That's a lot of money to turn down!

you can use child care vouchers for holiday clubs too I believe.

Jesus Christ
We all pay for the shit stuff out of money we earn.
£600 a month extra for your family is not to be sniffed at

The government needs to make commuting to work costs fully tax deductible from your income tax bill, so that everyone in society benefits. Paying tax on money you need to actually get to work is ridiculous. That would be the only thing that would make it worthwhile.

Over £600 a month better off, and a cleaner to boot?

Yeah, sounds awful OP. Awful.

On £35000 assuming 5% pension your take home will be around £1950. Is wraparound care, petrol and a fortnightly cleaner really going to come to £1350?! Might be worth running the sums again.

I went back to work 3 days a week (I look after preschool child on the other 2 days) and found we didn't need a cleaner as the house is empty so doesn't get dirty! However DH does WFH.

You can't be a new applicant to childcare vouchers but you could use tax free childcare for wraparound

Congratulations on the new job. 👏 amazing to get back into that work after a long break at that level!

"So AIBU to think that it is s* to work full time for £7800 a year after everything that needs paid!?"

You know that lots of people work for £0 a year after everything that needs paid right?

That's why people work, to pay the bills.

How old are your children? Childcare costs are temporary and if they'll soon be old enough to help out round the house then so are the cleaner costs although those are completely optional from day 1, the majority of people manage without a cleaner.

Childcare expenses will reduce over the years but your income should increase, especially if there is room for progression.

Not to forget pension contributions.

Your financial value in the job market will just reduce the longer you are out of it.

Have you looked into going PT and how that impacts you financially?

It may work out that you’re better off as you’ll have less childcare etc but it’s also a nice way to get back into working if you’ve been a SAHP for a while.

£7k a year is a lot more money!!

You also won’t need to get a cleaner.

I’m a single parent working FT and I manage fine.
You and DH will just have to share the responsibility of it.

Eta www.thesalarycalculator.co.uk/salary.php says after student loan and tax it's closer to £2100 a month, the costs of going back to work sound really high for you to only see £600 of that

are those expenses really going to cost you 20k a year? If so I’d say it’s not worth it, maybe just get a few hours in school time or evenings. That’s only about 14 hours work a week at minimum wage

£35

As others have said it’s loads! Stop looking at it as you working full time for £7k.

The family pot is increasing by £7k per year even once you’ve paid for childcare and cleaners. Assuming you currently live off your husbands wages, that’s £7k disposable income. Think of the holidays / meals out / days out you can do with £7k.

on top of that you’ll be paying into a pension and meeting new people. I don’t really see the downside

Have you factored in 29% off with tax free childcare? Even so £600 a month extra is significant! P