Help, what to do?

[kykaree]

I'm 38, and had my first (and only child) in 2009, so he's now 15 months. We had intended that I would be a stay at home mum, my salary wasn't particularly high, and with transport and childcare costs I wouldn't have actually brought much home, about £100 per month.

So I have been at home for 15 months now (he was born 3 months early) and we're finding it a real struggle now financially. We have been extremely fortunate up til now with money, but we've hit a wall.

I really don't know what to do.

I thought about supermarket/department store work, but have found that they want experience, and I haven't even got past the application stage. I guess too that I am competing with students with hours I need.

I have got experience in care but in this case am finding it hard with hours. The only hours that suit need a licence, and I don't drive (I was doing lessons, and then Joseph came early, I tried again and failed twice, and now can't afford the lessons til I am working again) All the nursing homes I can find locally require an earlier start than I can manage.

I think because I am stressed I am stuck, and need some inspiration for something I can do either from home, or another avenue I can go down to look for work.

I know Mumsnetters are a resourceful lot, help!!!

what about office work? some councils tend to do job share vacancies so you work two and a half days or thereabout 9ish to 5pmish

Here in lies the problem. Office work is all 9-5 that I can find (I worked in an office before I had Joseph - been made redundant), and none of it is at a high enough rate after childcare that I'll come out with anything.

The office work in our area is all around £6.50 per hour and child care in our local nursery is £7.

You might have to think about alternative to nursery ie. a childminder which is likely to be cheaper per hour and look into whether you'd get any tax credits towards it (not reliable longer term though but might enable you to start)

I sound like I'm moaning and throwing up obstacles! I've had all this spinning in my head and looked into so much and can't find a solution.

Unfortunately we are not eligible for working tax credit, we do get a very small amount of child tax credit. Which once I am working, we will most likely lose once the new government's rules come into effect.

I have looked into local childminders, which are still around the £5 per hour mark, which, if I can find a decent earning job (unlikely) could be possible. The other problem is, I have used our local council find it service and there isn't one near me with vacancies. It's really doing my head in.

What my question was getting at was creative ways around my problem, but perhaps there isn't one.

what hours does your dh work? could you not get some bar work for one or two nights? and have you tried asking more local shops rather than supermarkets etc?

Could you work as a childminder yourself? Or, if you don't need to earn a lot, even one or two nights babysitting a week (with your DH looking after your own child) would give you some extra money and, unless you have other income, you would not earn enough to pay tax.

I am currently facing the same problem. I just went for a second interview today for a full time job in London but the more I hear about it the more it sounds like the hours will be too much. I currently work part time two days a week as a book keeper which pays well but is only worth it as my childcare is my mum and MIL which are free. Now my son is starting nursery I need to try and work more but the cost of childcare cancels out most options and the chances of finding a job that I can do Monday to Friday in the mornings term time only are pretty much nil.

I need to earn £400+ more a month but it is so hard. I feel your pain! Bar work just doesn't pay enough really. After tax I would need to work 5 nights which means no time with DH. I tried Pampered Chef but it is a lot of work to get that much extra a month and it is very hard to find people to hold the parties.

Not much help I'm afraid but I will watch this thread and hope someone comes up with the miracle answer!