Untitled

[practicallystupid]

Am i mad, or is there more financial incentive for single parents to work part time?
On entering employment after i finish my course i am set to earn 24,000 gross full time, i worked out that after council tax and ridiculous childcare fees because i'm not entitled on that amount to hardly any tax credits or childcare help etc, i'd be able to save around 7 grand of that at MOST (ppl keep scaring me how expensive kids are, but i have a very frugal lifestyle and buy EVERYTHING second hand if i can...and i survive happily on 15 pounds a week for food.)

But working part time, i'd be earning around 8,000 on around 16/18 hrs a week in the same job, BUT i'd be given a little over 13000 in tax credits and income support for use on childcare etc! So i can basically stick the whole of my earnings in investments. AND be awarded full housing benefit and a significant reduction in my council tax! As someone who has always believed that hard work should be rewarded i am shocked that the british welfare system undercuts working mothers who want to be out there full time (nothing wrong of course if you want to stay at home) but in reality doing so actually leaves me with LESS money the more i earn!

Is this true for you? Has anybody else experienced the reality of my calculations? Have i missed something?

I suppose when i gain more experience to move up the salary ladder in a couple of years, or when the child is old enough for school, it may be in my interests to work full time but it seems pointless now.

The worst thing is that in two years i will HAVE to go into full time employment on a training contract, but oh well, maybe my mother will have mellowed enough to take care of my kid by then.

Sigh...
This is particularly difficult for me, i'm 24, this is an unwanted pregnancy, i despise being pregnant already as i am sick and putting on masses of weight because i can only eat chips and chinese takeaways and am constantly having attacks of hyperglycemia, and right now all i'm thinking about is how much i could be putting away to by a sustainable woodland with if i didn't have to fork out money for baby things and childcare and stuff for this unexpected little person...i was too scared to have an abortion. I'm sure if i don't let it become a brat I will see the benefits...just not sure what the point of having kids is yet. :-(

oh - I really hope it's not unwanted. Why can you only eat takeaways and chips?

You needo come to terms with the fact that you are going to have a baby and I really hope you are like most mums and fall in love with your child as soon as she is out in the world.

please talk to someone about how you are feeling right now.

You are right - better financially to work part time.
My younger sister felt just like you re a unexpected pregnancy. If was hard work first 6 months after having him - she did love him but was totally shocked by how hard it was but now she wouldn't be without him.

My ds was IVF - I would have waited longer before having him if situation allowed but I enjoyed my pregnancy and have loved (almost) every minute of being a mum even the really hard bits..

Good luck.

i think i just went on a rant, 'unwanted' means 'unplanned' - if i really didn't want it i probably would have gone through with the abortion. I'm still early pregnancy so it's a matter of coming to terms with the changes going on in my body and the fact i didn't plan on being a single mum when i had such a promising future. I've already talked to everyone under the sun, it's fine, it's doable, i'll probably find it rewarding in time, it's just a shock is all.

My sister had a little bit of counselling through work and they linked the fact that she was worried about how people were judging her to how she was feeling.
An idea? Very very very few people come the other side of your situation still feeling that way.

See you sound like a mum already - fixing your problem already. You still have a promising future and someone to do it for now.

ah - sorry. You sound like you are thinking ahead and that's good. Hope you have a happy pregnancy and congratulations I am sure you will work things out.

You will be ok. In regards to buying baby stuff just buy the bare minimum. Go to asda for vests and sleep suits as thats the cheepest your going to get them anywhere. Look on freecycle for second hand baby stuff that will be free and even on the free section on here. I have loads of boys and girls stuff if its of any use to you.

I know how you feel about the shock of it all. I found out I was pregnant when I was 18 and was in my first term at uni. I had had gladular fever and was struggling to keep up with all of the work and contemplating leaving. When I found out I was pregnant I was totally shocked but knew I had to carry on with my education as I needed to be able to provide for my baby and get a good job. Got through the first year, did my exams in the june and couple of days later ds popped out!
The following september I found out I was pregnant again and once again it was unplanned. I hid it for quite a while and didnt tell the uni untill I was about 6 1/2 months gone becuase I was worried they would try and convince me to leave. I finished my second year and had dd. Im now in my final year and yes its tough with a 17 month old and a 6 month old kids but I have no choice but to keep my head down and get on with it for the time being becuase it will all be worth it in the end.

You will find the people around you will want to support you and you will draw strenth from places you didnt know existed. Humans have amazing coping abilities and you will learn to cope with the hand you have been dealt. Im totally mad for my kids and would do anything for them. Im on my own with them but we get along fine and one day I hope they will be able to see that all my efforts were for them.

If I were you I would take the p/t option of work and enjoy having a little more money and more time to spend with your baby. Your not going to do this forever, just untill your on your feet and have got yourself sorted.

Best wishes.