To not know how on earth I can go back to work?

[SoftAsShit]

I left my WFH job last year due to stress of childcare and I now work 10 hours a week around school times so it works well.. but I’m A) bored when I’m not working and B) money is so tight I’m unhappy and I just want to work more.

My current job doesn’t have the opportunity to work any more hours and I have no formal qualifications (except dental nursing but I would never go back into that job)

The thing is, I live in a remote area, salaries are low, jobs are sparse and I suffer with chronic anxiety so I’m a little bit picky (wouldn’t be able to do bar work/waitressing) ideally I’d like a desk job, don’t mind working with the public I just don’t want to be serving.. don’t ask why, it’s just a me thing.

and I absolutely cannot afford childcare during holidays. I could barely afford it when I was WFH and had to have them home some of the by time but the stress was too much and I ended up having a bit of a breakdown.
So I just don’t know how I can get back into work, to earn more money for the family.. whatever job I take up will mean having to arrange childcare before/after school and during holidays. I just can’t afford it.

How do people do it 😞

For reference, we aren’t entitled to any benefits, have a mortgage and some small debts that are being managed.

Oh give over. Fucking hell, I know MNetters hate husbands but not every husband is financially abusing their wives. You can't just pull that out of thin air with absolutely no reason and no evidence.

These threads are always the same. The OP doesn’t want to work and spends pages trying to convince strangers that she ‘can’t’ work rather than ‘won’t’ work.

Nevermind, though as Rachel Reeves will be announcing in October why as a full time working stressed parent, I need to handover even more of my money to give to people like OP as she’s ‘left behind’ or some such.

I agree. The OP has found numerous reasons why she cannot work, yet is in a privileged position where actually, she doesn’t really need to anyway.

OP, if you were really determined to work, you’d consider relocation, getting therapy or settling for a job you don’t want to do. Do you think most of us want to work or have to go to the jobs that we do? No. But we do. And we find ways to get through it. That in fact, is life.

These threads are always the same. The OP doesn’t want to work and spends pages trying to convince strangers that she ‘can’t’ work rather than ‘won’t’ work.

Yep. It reminds me of the thread a few months ago where OP and her husband were both only working part-time and OP was moaning she couldn’t afford basics for her kids. Any suggestions about then increasing their hours or finding new jobs were met with a huge list of excuses about why that wasn’t possible 🙄

It also really irks me when parents are putting themselves in this situation willingly, because not only do they lose out, but so do the kids.

@PeonyPatch I wouldn’t just blame Rachael reeves - I have a big issue with those getting decent amounts of regular maintenance and yet still getting full benefits with no deductions ( and I’m not a Tory or right wing) someone I know is getting around £900 a month ( 2 kids) but still gets virtually all her rent paid and around £1400 in cash too . No wonder she works so few hours. - and that was brought in by the Tory’s , because they couldn’t be arsed to staff or make sure the CSA was run properly . I feel it’s very unfair on single parents working full time or even a lot of part time who don’t get maintenance and can claim very little either in many cases .

Well, it’s just downright insulting to working parents and just tax payers in general. Absolutely laughable that our taxes are going towards some people who cannot be bothered to get off their backsides and provide for their children. That goes towards men who don’t contribute to their children as well.

Don’t disagree - I think the system though has enabled it look how many on mumsnet think it’s normal to work as little as possible and get top ups even with older children or no disabilities in the equation

She has to work 16 hours or earn over a certain amount to qualify unless she isn't in England.

Honestly sometimes I think it's down to luck to find something that works.

I do a variation of a job that I did before kids. I left after maternity leave but then was contacted out of the blue to if I wanted to return. I just do admin that isn't time sensitive so I could choose my working hours and work from home. I work school hours three days a week all year round so just have to find holiday childcare. However I am on a southern wage as thats where I lived at the time but live up north now. To take on the same role full time up here would be less than my full time equivalent of the pro rata salary I'm in now (I.e 25k compared to 32k). Then throw in wrap around childcare, increased pension, commuting costs and student loan which then makes my monthly take home be less than at present whilst working full time hours. I want to return to full time work, my current role isn't hugely challenging but it serves a purpose. I have just committed to some exciting voluntary work during term time and have said I'll do it for two years until my son ages out of it, this gets me out of the being bored mind rut. I will return full time somewhere after the next two years and take the reduction in wages until I can progress to a more senior role. It'll be tough in the short term but I think I've got this alongside my husbands support financially and picking up extra responsibilities with the children that I currently cover being part time.

Not sure if she is in england or not but it make sense to work more

You can offer childminding services, retrain as a SNA assistant, a home help carer can choose the hours too, or a cleaner.

Do an online evening course while you are working in school hour roles. You'll have a better chance of a decent job in the future.

Cleaning holiday cottages / caravans - Saturday is often change over day so a day a lot of companies need people, I’m guessing DH could look after the kids then? Evening / night time/ weekend work - home carer, care home worker, supermarket, hospital care worker, kitchen staff in pub / restaurant/ hospital / care home etc? You basically need to work opposite shifts to your DH for the sake of childcare. Not easy but a necessity for many people.