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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you work full or part time and the reasons why?

533 replies

BabyNextYear25 · 10/01/2024 18:26

My sister received news today she would not be able to return to work full time as there isn't capacity. She was a little annoyed as her youngest will be in school and she's bored at home.
It got me thinking, the vast majority of my female friends and family work part time. It would be my dream to work part time but it's not feasible at the moment. Um curious to see how many women work part time, and what is there reason behind it? But also full time as well.
My reason is simple- I was single parent and I couldn't pay my mortgage on one wage.

OP posts:
Simonjt · 10/01/2024 21:24

Part time, and I have been since I became a parent, I started a new job on Monday and I’m doing 24 hours a week. My husband is also part time. It means our daughter only needs two days of childcare a week (I work Tuesday to Thursday, he works Monday to Wednesday). We do it so we can get more family time without having to cram it into weekeds.

OnlyTheBravest · 10/01/2024 21:24

Full time until DC started primary school. Part-time every since but still over 30 hours a week. Handy for school pick up and combined with breakfast club meant childcare was not too expensive. I got to spend quality time with DC after school, partake in play dates and afterschool activities.
No one looks back and thinks, I wish I spent more time in work. Life is for living! They grow up quickly.

HappyMuma · 10/01/2024 21:29

Full time because we can’t afford for me to be part time. I would have loved to work part time when the kids were little

SittingOnTheChair · 10/01/2024 21:36

Full time for 12 years then part time for 6 years (18 hours then 30 hours), then full time for 15 (+) years.

Didn't really need the money.

Nerurio · 10/01/2024 21:37

Part-time. I don't like working 5 days a week, and it's less to pay in nursery fees.

blackheartsgirl · 10/01/2024 21:38

P/t Health. Single parent to 2 teens with difficulties and all of us with some
kind of trauma.

i need to work full time really but circs not allowing it at the moment

SunflowerSeeds123 · 10/01/2024 21:39

Full time. Need the money. London housing costs a bomb.

Sendhelp101 · 10/01/2024 21:39

PT/30 hours. If I worked full time I'd be spending the extra money and more on wrap around care for DC. I can't drive due to health and live semi rural so my job options are limited. Also im a disabled single parent and struggle physically as it is. I love working though and love the routine so if I ever won the lottery I'd still work in some kind of capacity even if it was voluntary work!

tulippa · 10/01/2024 21:42

Full time. Better for career progression and I've always earned more so it made sense for DH to work part time/take career break. He's back to full time now the DCs are older.

Charlie2121 · 10/01/2024 21:42

Full time because I earn an extremely high salary and want to get sufficient funds together to fund private school for DC and retire along with DH when DC starts prep school.

BurbageBrook · 10/01/2024 21:44

@Timeforabiscuit you definitely should feel proud FlowersFlowers

Maverickess · 10/01/2024 21:46

Full time because I can't afford not to, low earner and single parent - DD is 20 now but at university and still needs support, but even then being on my own couldn't manage rent, bills etc on PT wages, but if I could I'd do it in a shot!

NotMeNoNo · 10/01/2024 21:48

Just about to go from FT to a 4 day week. A lot of "full time" colleagues at my level actually are on 4 or 4.5 days, Fridays are getting really quiet. Reason to support elderly/ill parents so it may be a short term thing, DC are student age now. I don't anticipate any change in responsibilities or hourly rate just a bit less volume of work/more delegation.

moonshinepoursthroughmywindow · 10/01/2024 22:05

I work part time because the job I do at the moment (which I love) is part time. I would love to get a full time job in exactly the same role at a different location. I could probably get a job with the same organisation which is full time or nearly full time with more responsibilities (managerial or similar) but I don't really want that. I want to do exactly what I'm doing now but more of it.

Mummypete · 10/01/2024 22:06

Full time. No kids but I like nice things and expensive holidays.

zaffa · 10/01/2024 22:09

Full time - I planned to go back part time after DD was born but DH decided to retrain as a teacher and so I couldn't afford a salary cut.
I did compress my hours so only worked four days though so I could spend time with DD for the first two ish years.

GenXisthebest · 10/01/2024 22:10

Part time - 30 hours a week. I could go up to full time now the DC are older (I have three teens), but we are ok financially and I have a great work life balance.

BubbleBubbleBubbleBubblePop · 10/01/2024 22:10

Spidey66 · 10/01/2024 18:39

I work part time doing Bank mental health nursing (NHS). On average 25-30 hours a week. Mortgage is repaid, reasonable savings, no kids, have an NHS pension in place, and don't have expensive tastes so would rather have work life balance. Can do more shifts if I need more money.

Can I ask; did you get a mortgage on your bank salary? I'm also a MH Nurse (bank only, no substantive contract), single parent so only my salary to rely on, and am a little concerned that I won't be able to get a mortgage on a zero hours contract. Even though as we both know, bank work is plentiful.

Itsallfunngamesuntil · 10/01/2024 22:19

Been widowed since my kids were v young.
Never wanted to work FT.....wanted to be home more for my kids and work PT
Due to financial issues have had to work FT to support my kids and myself

Notfeelinghunkydory · 10/01/2024 22:21

Part time 18.5hrs a week. Single parent to 2 DDs aged 10 and 13. I'm very fortunate to be in a HA property, recieve working tax credits and child maintenance.

Illbefinejustbloodyfine · 10/01/2024 22:22

Single parent, living rurally, tiny village school, no childcare for miles around. I work part time because school finishes at 3.15 and I have no childcare options

PinkBuffalo · 10/01/2024 22:23

Full time
single no kids but bills keep going up and up
would love to work part time my job is killing me, but it is what it is and it pays the bills so I am grateful for that at least cos it could so easily be the case that a full time job does no pay for everything these days

truckcarlorry · 10/01/2024 22:33

Full time with an additional part time job on top. I miss being part time but I need the money ( pt job pays for holidays / treats etc)

I was fortunate to not have to work at all while my children were small as DH had a brilliant income. Sadly he was made redundant and is now earning less money and we now have a bigger mortgage.... 🙄😩

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 10/01/2024 22:33

I have been lucky to work pt while dd was young, I'm also a single parent but made ends meet as I had a council flat and tax credits. I was skint but it was fine.

Dds older now, nearly 18 and I've recently increased my hours to ft. We have our own house now and I need the money to pay the mortgage, bills and keep a teenager ticking over.

Blanketenvy · 10/01/2024 22:33

P/t Single no kids, but loads of health issues and despite really needing to work more since becoming single I just can't, am struggling with the hours I'm doing. I'd never work f/t through choice as always have nicer things I'd rather be doing but would really like to be able to right now.

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