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!?

You're very lucky to have landed a well paying role with time out.

I agree with PP.
if you don't think it's worth it then don't take it.

A salary will contribute to your NI contributions as well as a pension.
Let's be honest, you chose to have children.

Or just live on benefits.

Lol cos SAHMs all live on benefits 🙄

From being the sole earner for several years, there's also the aspect that it takes some of that responsibility off your head - you know that even if something terrible happens, there is money coming in that will pay for food, so you won't be in a situation where the fridge is empty by the 2nd and you have no way of buying any more. Which helps.

I’d take it and overpay the mortgage. You don’t need a cleaner. You’d take home around £2K/month on that. Do some early starts and finish at 2:45 and that saves after school care costs. You seem to be looking for a reason not to work to me!

Id take it. Child care costs will.go down.. also we did chikdcare shared pick ups in turns with other parents .. worked really well.

For context, after tax and NI deductions you've about £2250 a month, which is what's actually important. Its absolutely fine to have a cleaner but it's 100% a choice as lots of families clean their own homes.

Well what's the alternative? SAH a few more years til you are totally unemployable then pray that he doesn't leave you? Or loose his job?

I'd be happy to earn that much working full time. I've not had a career break when having kids and taken less maternity leave than I could because I needed to get back to earning money. I'd be made up in your situation

I totally get where you're coming from, OP. But in the long run, i think it is better to take the job and get back into the workforce. You won't be on the same salary forever. Hopefully there'll be an opportunity for a pay rise/promotion within whatever company you join but, if not, you'll be better placed than you are now to get a higher paying job elsewhere in a couple of years.

£600 a month is A LOT to me. Career progression and pension contributions are also so important. It wouldn’t even be a question here

@Singlemum90

Up ONLY £650 a month? Oh the horror!

And you don't absolutely NEED a cleaner. Daft comment. Most women manage to work and have kids and do their own naffing housework! Or SHOCKER you could even get your DH to get off his arse and pull his finger out and contribute to the housework and grunt work!

YABVVU!

£150 a week is quite a big difference really.

Childcare will go down.

This... ^ And it's NOT £600 a month as some posters have stated... It's £650 a month.

I actually think the people saying that everyone has expenses using up most of their salary are missing the point. In your case, these expenses (eg childcare, commuting) wouldn't exist if you weren't working, so it's totally different to a mortgage or utilities.

I was earning a similar salary to you. I quit because for me the additional spending money was not worth the loss of time with my dc. DC is a younger though, so maybe I'll feel differently when they are at school. l Iove being at home and I hated my job so made no sense to me.

Why does everyone assume I'm on benefits because I'm a SAHP? 🫤 Also very sad that some think my husband will leave me because I choose to stay home looking after our 4 children. He sees what I contribute to our home as equally as important as his salary. I didn't realise the attitude to SAHPs was so negative really.

I will accept the job- I have been lucky to get it after 5/6 years out and don't want to risk 'missing the boat' to get back to work. I have kept my skills up to date doing odd bits of consulting work since I left so this may be why I am still seen as employable but this has dried up recently.

I don't think £600/£650 is a small amount, and will be proud to contribute financially to our family again. I was just shocked that is what was left from 35k! Considering all of our bills are paid now without me working I found it hard to see most of the new salary would go on new bills BECAUSE I'd be working.

And my husband works long hours, working incredibly hard for us to be comfortable. He's not sitting on his arse not doing the grunt work. So I will get the cleaner. Because I bloody well can. Might even send the laundry off to a launderette. 🤣🤣 Pet sitter to pop in for the cats?

@Dreamingcats thank you. I believe you have understood my question really. It has been wonderful to be at home with my children. Hopefully I will enjoy restarting my career as much.

I don’t understand this ? Surely it’s all the same math at the end of the day ? Currently these expenses aren’t needed, so deducting them from the extra family money still amounts to the same no ?

I don’t see the point in complaining when these extra costs are down to your own lifestyle choices. Travel expenses, childcare and certainly having a cleaner are all things you’ve essentially chosen to take on. Some people choose jobs in closer range, don’t have kids and clean their own homes - so then keep more money. You’ve gone for the opposite, so you take home less. That’s life.

I think the way you need to look at it is £35 K a year is a good salary and one of the main reasons you have those bills BECAUSE you'd be working is because you CHOSE to have 4 children. Nothing wrong with that and that's your choice to have that many, but you can't moan about lack of extra earnings due to what you need to pay for to work when your choices are the reason your outgoings are higher.

Well done getting the job op- I've been there after a break as a SAHM and it's scary getting back out there. But if you are worried about costs ditch the cleaner! I do my own while working full time - a little every day after work isn't too bad, or have an all hands on deck session once a week to tackle the bigger cleaning jobs. Get the kids involved (mine pretended to dust until they could do it for real) and get your partner to do his share too. There is no way I'd pay for cleaning!

This

Good grief, it is possible to keep a home, clean it, work full time and have children. I do it as a single parent. And I definitely don't have 150 a week to play with.
It's not really an agonising decision is it?

That's £600 per month, I'd love an extra £600 per month!

£650 a month.