Age old question - Work vs Childcare

[Treadmillmom]

Made redundant in 2005 12 weeks pregnant with baby no.3.
Fine with it really, an opportunity to enjoy pregnancy and older children so chose to be a SAHM.
DH in a very good job so no major financial worries.
November 2010 DH is made redundant; I see this as a perfect opportunity to go back to work.
Cannot find family friendly part time job so opt to temp and this has worked out fabulously, I've worked nearly every week and childcare all taken care of by SAHD.
Struck gold last week (I think), a long term temp contract till Oct '11 with local authority Weds/Thurs/Fri 9am - 3pm, yippee.
DH also lands a new job, great salary starts Monday.
Now the dilemma. I earn £7.50 per hour, average child-minder £4 per hour (1 child term time, 3 children holidays).
You don't have to be Carol Vorderman to work out it?s not really economically viable that I as an individual work HOWEVER:
My CV is now current.
I have my foot in the door of local authority.
I'm covering a maternity leave and she wants to come back P/T in Oct, job share opportunity.
I'm lurving working again.
Based on family income it is financially viable.
DH is not buying it, doesn't think it's worth me working, and thinks I'm '...stupid...as it's so obvious...'.
What do you think, are my reasons for working justifiable?

There's more to work than money IME.

I'd also say you were lucky to find something when your family needed it after being out of work for so long. It isn't always that easy and keeping your hand in can be very smart (and not "stupid").

It's not £4 out of your salary, it's £2. The other £2 comes out of his salary. Now that you're thinking of it in that context, if you're DH suddenly received a paycut of £2 per hour, and then someone offered you a job a £5.50 an hour with free childcare, would your family be better off financially?

It's the same numbers, just a different question, to put things in perspective like

in the short term it may not be financially profitable, but you'll be on your way to being so sooner this way. I say go for it.

There are ways to make it a bit more financially viable, childcare vouchers through your salaries for one. Then there's the free 15 hour entitlement for 3&4 year olds which could help. Also for school age children there are cheaper holiday clubs that would be cheaper than a cm, possibly.

I would think it's very worth while keeping hold of the job you have, even if it seems like you're not doing it for much financial gain.

completely agree with Eddas regarding childcare vouchers which both of your employers may provide - this enables you to buy childcare tax free and nearly all cm's take them. Also the 15 hrs entitlement.

Working is about more than money - I would go with your gut instinct on this one.

I agree with everyone here who says there is more to working than the financial reward. If I wanted to look at this way I could say that I work to pay the childcare but I don't. Yes the amount I earn is what it costs to look after our 2 children but in reality my DH pays a third in childcare vouchers( the max he can get) and I do the rest. I have managed to keep up to date with training and CPD and as soon as youngest is in full time school ( in 2 years) hope to go back to full time work. I love my career and have studied hard for it and my children benefit from having a happy mummy who is fulfilled outside the home as well as inside.