If your take home pay was 5k a month, would you do this?

[Juso]

Current situation is a single parent (ex does the bare minimum, he’s never even done a nursery run!) and doesn’t pay a penny (constantly out of work and gives me 100 here and there).

My current job is flexible, I can do pick up when I want and get to the office when I want. I can work from home when suits.

Ive been offered a role which requires 9-4 in the office, four days a week. But, it’s 1k a month more after tax. I wouldn’t have to spend more on childcare as dd is already in to 5pm.

I feel so conflicted. Things are ok at the moment but it’s hard to give up the extra 1k especially when you’re ok your own. But I might be making a mistake with being happy where I am and having flexibility. Wha would
you do?

I work with a few people who pay around £7-8.5k annually to commute to London. Whilst it’s not £1k per month and it’s unlikely to be applicable to the op, just pointing out that some people do pay a lot for their travel cards!

Personally I wouldn't take it, because flexibility is golden, especially as a lone parent. I'm not that driven by money though so I do accept pp have good arguments about security and pension.

You clearly have a well paid job already and are doing very well to be offered a big pay rise. I think I would hold out for a flexible job when you do want to take the next move.

How do you currently manage things like your chikd being sick, school holidays, school closing early, exceptional closure days, sports days etc?

If your current work flexibility is key in navigating all of that then no, I wouldn't move.

If the move would make no difference to the above I would strongly consider it.

Absolutely do it. Great for your career, pension, and quality of life. You can buy a lot of flexibility with an extra £12k a year. The hours are great, you’ll spend less on energy, and I’m guessing the work will be more interesting/rewarding. These sorts of pay rise opportunities don’t happen very often so I’d grab it with both hands.

i would take the job.

This thread is so depressing. Although the extra money is clearly a factor, what about career progression? No wonder so many women find themselves on the mummy track when they actively damage their own career prospects.

If it takes you a step up on the career ladder, take it @Juso. I’m telling you that as a single parent who took a pay cut to take a more senior role because it was a stepping stone to better things.

Child is a nursery so really only the sickness thing applied And it might be a healthy child Not all nursery kids are constantly ill. Think between 2 of mine they had less than 3 weeks off nursery with illness.

It's depressing to not want to be on a treadmill? Not everyone is career obsessed.

OP seems to be taking home 4k a month at the moment which is about 55k.and has a convenient flexible job. Once the child is out of nursery then the costs go down and the flexibility becomes more important as it's a PITA sorting childcare round school holidays and as people pointed out random days that the school decided to close

If it was a case that OP and child would be at starvation door without the extra money different situation

I’m with you. Shocking really.

I can only guess at the extra stress of being a single parent but flexibility was everything for us when working. DH had complete flexibility and mine improved when I changed roles to the point I could be home for DS after school.

You are already losing £240 of the 1k on parking. I also think having a work environment you enjoy means everything, it seems like you have that. In my working life I had 4 employers in total. Three were fine one was dire and one was by far the one I enjoyed the most, nothing compares to that golden time.

On a gross salary of around £80k, holiday clubs and wraparound childcare as well as pension contributions and long term financial security all become a lot more affordable, which is even more important for a solo parent with a flakey co-parent. It provides a different sort of flexibility. It is also possible that once she has a foot in the door, the company will allow WFH and other flexing.

At the grand old age of 53, I am planning to retire next year having WFH full time for over a decade and had full flexibility around kids, while still earning well over that amount.

If my child is sick or I have a school performance I just do it. People mind less about those things when you are a full time team member.
if I were working part time I would still be doing them - but not getting paid to do so.

money you can add to savings and crucially pension earlier is important