Hi,
I'm really not sure if there is anything I can do but I will outline my situation. I have just relocated to South Devon (from Oxfordshire) with my partner and 5 yo dd (from ex husband). Stupidly I managed to fall pregnant just before I moved and I'm around 16 weeks now, although the baby is very much wanted.
We are living on dp's salary of £18000 pa and approx £200 tax credits per month, plus maintenance for dd. We are renting a 2 bed flat which is the most we can afford in this area, but we are aware we are going to need a 3 bed property at some point when the baby gets older.
Right, here's the problem. There is no way we can afford to upgrade our property unless I work and having discussed it endlessly, there doesn't seem to be any way I could work. I am not qualified (no degree or anything) and have always worked in admin/customer services which doesn't bring in much money. We are not entitled to working tax credit as dp earns too much and as such if I worked, we could not afford ft or pt childcare for a baby and after school care for dd.
I have said I could work evening/night shifts as I have done it before so that childcare won't be needed. However dp is very against this as when I worked nights before it completely knackered me. The only other option I can think of is working from home, but I am not sure what sort of jobs one can do from home. I am also considering re-training once the baby is older, but again, not sure how we would manage it financially.
I know this is a very long and rambly post, but I feel sort of wedged in a corner, what with the economy being shite at the mo and my cv has been patchy with part time work and temping since dd was born, I feel that I am almost unemployable. I was just wondering if anyone else has ever been in this type of situation and what did you do? Also I'm 36, so not exactly a spring chicken; feel very down thinking about all this.