Worked out I could work less and take home the same amount with paying childcare!

[rosieandjay]

I'm on 32k in a 4 day a week job (so 4/5 of this pro rata).

I have 2 DC, one aged 1 who goes to nursery 10 hours a day on those 4 days, with 15 free hours, but bill is still £800 odd a month (after tax free deducted).

The other is aged 5 and goes to school, but in wraparound on those 4 days.

I take home about £1770 a month, and my childcare is around £1000 a month - so the net take home for me along is about £770.

I've worked out that I could work in a term time only, school hours, part time job, earning about £900 a month, paying a much less on childcare and take home maybe £600 a month.

I do have a DH who earns a decent amount, but seriously, why are we all working our arses off for maybe £200 more a month!?!?

Can you get part-time term-time only childcare for a 1 Yr old? I wouldn't be able to find it, unless by some miracle there was a childminder that just wanted to mind while her kids were in school.
When children are in school yes it definitely can work out better short term

Are you in your employer’s pension scheme? If you are then it’s not just £200.

It depends what your actual job is and what term time job your planning? If you're going from accounts to a school finance role then long term there probably won't be any detriment to you as you should on the face of it still have account skills plus presumably can join the local government pension scheme. However, if you go from accounts to TA then you'll lose your account skills and long term being a TA isn't financially the best job to have.

It is frustrating. I was a SAHM for 3 years then returned to work when second dc was 8 months. After childcare (even 30 hours 'free' childcare + Tax free childcare cost us £600 a month), commute, pension contributions and lunch we were in a deficit for 2 years. But the pension has been valuable, I've changed jobs now (dcs are primary) and I built up £15k pension in that job. Even if I never contribute to that pension again the value will have probably doubled by the time I reach state retirement age.

I also have the comfort of knowing if DP and I separate that I can look after myself , get a new mortgage if needs be, which I couldn't do with a term time only job unless I was a teacher or management level.