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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To reduce work hours for work/life balance?

11 replies

Imtootired · 19/10/2023 14:29

Reposting here for traffic - I am in Australia. I am a single parent to two kids and I work full time. They are almost four and 14. Their dad has them some of the time but I have them the majority. I work full time for the government. I am just getting by for bills and we have a good lifestyle as in they do activities and we can do things on the weekend but we do live week to week and I’m not saving anything. I have gone for a job one level up and they are following up references so I think I may get offered it. I may have the opportunity to work four days per week. It would mean that my pay would go down slightly but we could probably still get by. If I worked the new job full time we would be a bit better off. I feel like now I have three options. Stay in the job I’m in which I can manage. Work four days and have more family time. Or work full time in the new job and maybe have more financial security. I’d love more time to help my oldest with his school work more and have more time with my little one while he transitions to school. I would like some advice about the best thing to do. I know I haven’t been offered the new job now but if they do offer it to me I won’t have long to make up my mind about hours. If I had more time I might be able to save some money with better meal planning and preparation. I am really unsure about the best thing to do. I am leaning towards reducing my hours because money can’t buy time, especially at important times of your kids development… I don’t know!

OP posts:

Sisiwawa · 19/10/2023 14:38

As I was reading it I thought you bedc the time, 4 days a week would be great for your children and you can possibly increase the hours as they get older.

Sisiwawa · 19/10/2023 14:50

Need, not bedc!
If its only slightly less money, you will soon re-adjust. The time with them is pretty priceless.

Original poster

Imtootired · 19/10/2023 14:55

Thanks @Sisiwawa that is what I’m thinking too. My only issue is that we won’t have money for anything unexpected if something breaks or similar. I’m definitely leaning towards trying to reduce hours

OP posts:

Basilton · 19/10/2023 15:01

It doesn’t sound like you can really afford to reduce your hours, you don’t have savings and live week to week. I was brought up in a household where finances were always a problem and it really is no fun.

Original poster

Imtootired · 19/10/2023 15:08

@Basilton I am around two months ahead on my mortgage and I could redraw that in an emergency. I am mainly living week to week due to high interest rates. If they come down then I would be doing ok. Taking mortgage, bills and food into account, plus our usual weekend expenses I should have around $300 (£150) left over per fortnight but that doesn’t usually end up happening

OP posts:

Coffeerum · 19/10/2023 15:19

I am just getting by for bills and we have a good lifestyle as in they do activities and we can do things on the weekend but we do live week to week and I’m not saving anything.

Am I missing something? How is reducing your income an option if you live week to week currently with absolutely nothing left over?

Original poster

Imtootired · 19/10/2023 15:27

@Coffeerum because I can probably cut down a bit on some things such as food shopping and buying food at work etc. I know in some ways it’s not the best idea but I’d just like a bit more time with my kids

OP posts:

LifesShortTalkFast · 19/10/2023 15:35

It would mean that my pay would go down slightly but we could probably still get by

This doesn't sound very confident - "probably still get by".

It's completely understandable that you'd like more time to spend with your kids. But it really doesn't sound like you can afford to reduce your earnings at this time.

Just "getting by" with little financial security is stressful. "Quality time" with your kids could easily turn into time spent worrying about finances.

Coffeerum · 19/10/2023 15:41

Imtootired · 19/10/2023 15:27

It seems really selfish and short sighted to reduce your hours when you cant currently save a single penny on a full time salary.
Attempt to reduce your spending for several months first and then see where you are imo.

Ted27 · 19/10/2023 15:51

If you going up a grade, would that not compensate for reduced hours?

Would you also have a reduced child care bill?
When I reduced hours, but stayed on the same salary, the difference wasn't as big as I thought it would be because I was paying less tax, pension etc so its worth doing some detailed calculations

Original poster

Imtootired · 19/10/2023 15:59

My childcare bill would go down a small amount and then I would be entitled to some discounts on public transport and doctors appointments. I would need to do more detailed calculations because there is so much to take into account. Tax is another thing I would need to look into. I already went into the benefits office the other day to find out what I would be entitled to. My current job is pretty good and it is work from home half the time. My main issue is that I know my little one would like a bit more time with me and he might get extra worn out starting school. Going up one level isn’t a huge increase so I would still be going down from my current salary if I went up one level and worked 0.8. I know I should probably try to completely rein in spending and see what the bare minimum is that we can comfortably get by on.

OP posts:

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