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Original poster

Does this sound like a good plan as a SAHM to twins

12 replies

Lostsoul121 · 01/06/2025 09:40

I am currently just starting back at work part time. Twins are 15 months old. I am 29 married.
I want to work part time 1-2 days a week for now, put the twins in nursery 2 days a week (£200 a month childcare fees). This will give me abit of leeway to save a couple hundred and put abit into my SIPP each month, and have general spending money.
The twins won’t start reception till 2028, so when they do I work 2-3 days a week and boost my savings and quality of life then (more spending more treat money).

Does this sound okay or should I focus more on the earning before they start reception?

OP posts:
Anoncomment · 01/06/2025 09:45

I think it really depends on what your household situation is like.

Are you home owners?

How do you & your DP split finances?

What are your household monthly outgoings vs income?

Is your DP in a permanent role with guaranteed income? Do you have sight of how much they earn?

Does the decreased hours impact your career position in anyway? E.g. will you have to retrain when you want to increase hours? Or does it mean any type of demotion?

Do you have household emergency funds? And do you have your own personal savings / emergency fund?

How solid is your marriage? (Sorry, but major consideration!) If worst case scenario ever did come to fruition, would you be able to scale your income back up quickly, or survive on savings until you could?

If you can manage it, 1-2 days a week sounds dreamy.

gelagas · 01/06/2025 18:10

Finances aside, 2 days a week is not ideal for young dcs as it can mean a long gap between sessions (e.g.if you work Tues & Weds then it's five days gap until the next session). It makes it hard for them to resettle every week, and to build relationships with their peers. A lot of nurseries around here offer 3 days as a minimum, for the benefit of the children.

Viviennemary · 01/06/2025 18:17

I think it sounds fine.

Original poster
Lostsoul121 · 01/06/2025 20:03

Anoncomment · 01/06/2025 09:45

I think it really depends on what your household situation is like.

Are you home owners?

How do you & your DP split finances?

What are your household monthly outgoings vs income?

Is your DP in a permanent role with guaranteed income? Do you have sight of how much they earn?

Does the decreased hours impact your career position in anyway? E.g. will you have to retrain when you want to increase hours? Or does it mean any type of demotion?

Do you have household emergency funds? And do you have your own personal savings / emergency fund?

How solid is your marriage? (Sorry, but major consideration!) If worst case scenario ever did come to fruition, would you be able to scale your income back up quickly, or survive on savings until you could?

If you can manage it, 1-2 days a week sounds dreamy.

Yes DH is in an employed role and earns a good amount (around £3.3-3.4k monthly)

I won’t be demoted as I’m self employed so it’s just a matter of increasing or decreasing shifts as I please. It’s a healthcare job so I’m constantly training on the job anyway.

I have always had my own personal savings fund- it’s around 6 months worth of bills worth and DH has around the same too.

Im Just trying to get a good balance whilst the twins are young, then when they start reception I can pick up a few more hours.

OP posts:
Anoncomment · 01/06/2025 20:07

I think that sounds amazing then. 👏🏼 You're covered financially, enjoy the time with your babies.

pinksquash13 · 01/06/2025 20:07

I think it sounds sensible. My child does 2 days at nursery and it's fine.

JessicaPeach · 01/06/2025 21:26

2 days a week each in nursery will be a lot more than £200 a month won't it?

Hellofreshh · 01/06/2025 21:33

gelagas · 01/06/2025 18:10

Finances aside, 2 days a week is not ideal for young dcs as it can mean a long gap between sessions (e.g.if you work Tues & Weds then it's five days gap until the next session). It makes it hard for them to resettle every week, and to build relationships with their peers. A lot of nurseries around here offer 3 days as a minimum, for the benefit of the children.

My DC went to nursery 2 days a week. DC loved it.

Bjorkdidit · 02/06/2025 03:05

JessicaPeach · 01/06/2025 21:26

2 days a week each in nursery will be a lot more than £200 a month won't it?

I thought that too but perhaps the OP is using the free hours and/or tax free childcare?

The fact that you have decent savings OP, your work is flexible and you can live comfortably on DHs good but not exceptional salary suggests that you're fairly frugal and are able to live well without needing huge amounts of money, which is good.

The only point I'd add to @Anoncomment comprehensive post is to not forget about your pension, especially as you're self employed so won't benefit from employer contributions.

It might even be worth working an extra shift a week, perhaps in the evening/overnight or at weekends or bank holidays when DH can look after DC and earmark the money for your pension.

ellesbellesxxx · 02/06/2025 06:27

I did exactly this when our twins were born too… went up to 3 days when they were at preschool then when they were settled at school took on more clients (self employed here too)
Its worked for us perfectly 😊(the one thing I didn’t prioritise was my pension which I am now paying extra into but sounds like you have already thought of that)

HuskyNew · 02/06/2025 06:46

If your shifts are flexible & under your control, I would also pick up some weekends/bank holidays/evenings to give

  1. more money
  2. make sure DH is getting time alone looking after the twins. It will be too easy to fall into the trap of him not being confident/willing to fully parent if you’re always around
Original poster
Lostsoul121 · 02/06/2025 09:29

Bjorkdidit · 02/06/2025 03:05

I thought that too but perhaps the OP is using the free hours and/or tax free childcare?

The fact that you have decent savings OP, your work is flexible and you can live comfortably on DHs good but not exceptional salary suggests that you're fairly frugal and are able to live well without needing huge amounts of money, which is good.

The only point I'd add to @Anoncomment comprehensive post is to not forget about your pension, especially as you're self employed so won't benefit from employer contributions.

It might even be worth working an extra shift a week, perhaps in the evening/overnight or at weekends or bank holidays when DH can look after DC and earmark the money for your pension.

Show quote history

Hi yes it’ll mainly be the funded hours we use and then the £200 will be supplementary top
ups.

We have a luckily low mortgage and don’t have huge expenses so I would say yes we do live fairly frugally but still prioritise outings and quality time.
Pension from my earnings I am going to try and put £350 a month into my SIPP.

Yes that’s true if we are quite quiet plans wise an extra shift would be good here and there to boost income whenever I can

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