Wwyd - full or part time, means debt either way

[Thewalker75]

I currently work 4 days a week with ds1 (2.9) and ds2 (18mth) going to nursery 2 days a week then 2 days with grandma.

The deal with grandma ends in December as we agreed she would help out for a year so in Jan we are looking at paying for 4 days a week in nursery. Ouch!

Ds1 30 free hours wont kick in until April.

From Jan-mar we will need to use £1,000 of our savings each month to.cover the shortfall in our bills. From april it will be just over £400 shortfall. It will remain this way for 18 month until ds1 starts school.

We have prepared for this hence the savings BUT if I went full time and juggled my hours around so that on day 5 it's a shorter day so boys are in nursery for a shorter day, we would 'save' I.e. only use around £200 a month of our savings.

Do you think that's worth it bearing in mind it will mean me giving up my one day with the boys which I love or should we be sensible and limit how much we are essentially going to put ourselves at a greater financial risk by reducing our savings?

Hope that makes sense!!

If you can afford it, I'd take the time. You'll never get that back, ever. Hope all goes well for you. We're in a similar place - such an expensive time!

We cant afford either so I guess I'm wondering how sensible we should be or just say sod it I want to spend a day a week on my own with the boys regardless of whether it saves us 200 quid a month.

Can you work longer on the 4 current days you do?

Have you enough savings to cover this all til dc2 gets their 30 hours?

Savings will def cover us until 30 free hours kick in, possibly a few more months afterwards but not much more.

I cant really extend my working hours too much because I need to be available to pick them up in case dp cant (his work is unpredictable).

If I did 5 days it would mean finishing at 2pm.

Sort 30 free hours for ds1 - this is about taking us up until ds1 gets 30 free hours so about 18 months.

If you’re guaranteed to finish at 2pm then you should definitely do 5 days.

Well you say 'we can't afford either' but actually, you have savings so you actually can.

I would sod the £200 and take the time. Good luck!

If you have enough savings OP then you can afford it. I’d keep the day at home personally