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Original poster

is this doable/should I return to work?

37 replies

munz · 04/09/2006 08:47

because honestly I don't really want to go back to work if I can make this work with me not returning iycwim. mainly cos Joey's 6 months now and is just getting intresting, and I personally (not to say i'm right or wrong) am struggaling with the idea of passing him over to a childminder/nursery for 3/4 hours a day so as I can go back to work - yes i'd love the adult company, but if the p&t works out then I may rethink things as I say tbh i'd sooner stop at home and be there for him esp as DH goes away quite a lot (approx 2 weeks out of the month). anyhow here goes:

DH's income 1200 ish
CB/TC £140 (am assuming t/c to drop to £70 once i've informed them of DH's new salary when his payslip comes in for sept.)

so total income £1300. (we're used to £1600)

so theres:

food £200 (2 adults one baby all nappies cleaning and 2 dogs)
Debt reps £380
Car HP £120
Car ins £42
House ins £35
BT incl BB £40
Gas/Elec £75 (2 bed house just moved in so may increase)
sky £35
tv licence £10
Car tax £15
Washing machine ins £14
Screen select DVDs £15
Baccy for DH £30

Leaves us with a grand old total of £289 so do u think that's enough for us to live on or should I go back to work p/t? out of that i'd need to get b/day pressies/xmas club etc ooh and petrol of £50.

the debt repayments will reduce in march to £280 and the car will be paid up so will save that money as well. am I kidding myself?

OP posts:
auntymandy · 04/09/2006 08:49

work out how much it will cost you to return to work.
childcare
petrol/train faires
better clothes
lunches
is it doable?

ledodgyrobespierre · 04/09/2006 08:50

Well from March you'll only be £200 if you cnacel screen select and sky then you'll only be down £50 a month so I think it's doable, you could supplement your income by selling bits on ebay.

auntymandy · 04/09/2006 08:50

they are little for such a short time too.

ledodgyrobespierre · 04/09/2006 08:50

*I mean £200 down from March.

Original poster
munz · 04/09/2006 08:51

sky we're tied to for a year (silly I know but I promised DH sky + for his promotion which if I take outthe movies will still cos us £31 cos they charge u £10 extra for the privialge of it) I want to cnacel the screen select, oohj and the washer in runs out as well in feb. so we'll be saving £250 there which will be huge for us if we can manage till then.

OP posts:
auntymandy · 04/09/2006 08:52

washing machine ins? £14 a month?
I pay £13 a month to hire mine so its fixed for free or replaced!! or you could put £14 a month away till you have enough for a new one then you dont need to worry about it breaking down!

compo · 04/09/2006 08:52

I think that's definitely enough to live on

auntymandy · 04/09/2006 08:53

is your tax credit worked out on your wage too?
That will change if your not working..wont it?

auntymandy · 04/09/2006 08:54

so you have 289 after everything is paid?

Original poster
munz · 04/09/2006 08:54

am - clothes wise i'm not botehred about me I can make do as will DH it's just for Joey.

petrol - well i'd work in town only in tescos or the spar or something so min wage, no addtioanl petrol really, however would need parking I think at 80p p/d. child care would need to look into - in our old place c/m charged £3.00 per hour I think it was, so from that point of veiw the drop in t/c due to my wages against the £2 odd i'll be making prob won't be worth it - and like I say he's the apple of my eye and I just feel as if I don't want to miss out on anything whilst he's developing so quickly.

so if I do stop at home anyone got any cheap meal ideas? lol.

OP posts:
ledodgyrobespierre · 04/09/2006 08:55

Don't forget that your tc will drop after Joey turns one as well. However I still think it's doable.

ledodgyrobespierre · 04/09/2006 08:57

I also agree for minimum wage and the cost of childcare working part time wouldn't be worth it, the only people I know who have managed to do it to make the money worthwhile are people in higher paid jobs or people who have grandparents looking after the child free of charge while they are at work.

Original poster
munz · 04/09/2006 08:57

am yes it is, DH will be bringin in approx £1200 C/B is £69 and I'm assuming that our credits will drop form £106 to £70 ish when I let them know he's had a raise, when my wages were added to our credits we were only due £86 p/w as our earnings were £28000, mine for this year have been £2500 and DH's will go up to £23000 I think (ish not 100% def on that till I see his payslip)

yes the £289 is after everything's paid for for the pair of us. I know it's prob a lot compared to most and not much compared to otehrs, I jsut worry about Joey going without. but I don't mind going without myself to make sure he gets enough.

OP posts:
Original poster
munz · 04/09/2006 08:59

(and with the washer ins we'll not be doing it again - i'll put the money aside as u say it's just we had a power surge in the old house which knacjkered the motor and I couldn't mamnage without one so took it out with hotpoint - a v costly thing to do but it saved a lot of hassle/more debt at the time)

OP posts:
auntymandy · 04/09/2006 08:59

its suprising how little you can live on if you try.
What about looking at doing something you dont have to go out to work for?
I do ironing £7 an hour. Dont make a fortune but it pays for treats.
I have just started avon too. All fits around my children

LucyJones · 04/09/2006 09:00

I guess it depends what kind of life style you want. I think that is quite a lot of disposable income to have. But if you and dh like to spend £50 a week on eating out etc then obviously it won't seem much to you. Joey won't miss out. Parent and Toddler groups are usually one or two pounds so you can do that, check your library for free events like baby ryhme times etc

ledodgyrobespierre · 04/09/2006 09:01

We have about £200-300 after outgoings now and we manage (im a sahm). I tend to get my dd and ds's clothes on ebay or in the next/gap sales and they always look fab [smiel].

ledodgyrobespierre · 04/09/2006 09:01
  • my typing is rubbish today!
auntymandy · 04/09/2006 09:03

Childens clothes are so cheap in Tesco Asda etc and look really nice.
I think it is very doable!
Try it for 6 months and if you really struggle then look at going to work. You wont know if you dont try.
What about looking at before and after school minding. that way you can work and stay at home and still have your days free!

Original poster
munz · 04/09/2006 09:04

led - lol, that's sooo where I look - that and the thrift shop/MN! lol.

AM - I was thinking about doing that yes, and actually on the pads there's a man who cleans the 1/4's who apparently is v good at working around children it's just some weeks u have loads of hours the next none - althou tbh DH and I have agreed that the money would go into a seperate accpount and be for our luxuries/emergancies and treats etc.

tbh I wish we could afford to eat out every night - I have £15 in my purse at the minute and it's a real treat to have that for the next 2 weeks if I can make it last! lol. out p&t group is 50p per session twice a week and the wives coffee morning is the same twice a week so lots to get me out and about.

OP posts:
Original poster
munz · 04/09/2006 09:06

am - i'd love that sort of a thing except I have 2 dogs and nott hat i'm worried about them it's just I understand a lot of parents won't want to send their children to a house with a german sheppard and a staffy!

how did u get into the ironing? is the avon working out for u/is there an inital outlay for it? (we've been here 3 weeks and so far i've not seen a book come thru the door so might be an idea)

OP posts:
batters · 04/09/2006 09:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
munz · 04/09/2006 09:10

no it comes out of DH's wages before we see it as we're army, as does cilot (council tax and water rates so we don't have those bills) the £1200 is after the rent/cilot etc has been paid.

OP posts:
batters · 04/09/2006 09:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mum2FunkyDude · 04/09/2006 09:21

Munz...just an observation.

I notice you pay more than £500 per year on your car insurance. Go to confused dot com, I just reduced our car insurance with £240! They do a search on the web and they get commission from the supplier and give you a free service. I checked by obtaining a quote on my own, but the option through confused dot com was still cheaper. here .