Can I afford to work?

[ASecretLemonadeDrinker]

I really want to work, but I have 3 DSs. 1 is in full time school, 1 is 3 in August so will be funded for 15 hours in Sept. and one is 9m. I work weekends at a creche, I would love to wok in childcare which is good because most places seem to have 50% discounted childcare. BUT.... they are pricey nurseries, not like DSs £8.50 a session pre-school. It's unqualified, so I am guessing minumum wage - lets say £6ph. Will I earn anough to cover 50% full time fees for the baby, whatever fees to top up the 15 hours funded for the nearly 3 year old, and possibly afterschool care for the school age one and holiday care? Do you get more tax credits if you work? It all seems impossible! Thanks

make sure you don't only look at net salary vs. childcare costs, think about private pension contributions, social security and also longterm earnings prospects. Even if you spend everything you earn, you might still have a financial benefit from working in the long run. you really have to think it through over the next twenty years. but it depends on the job and it is hard to say in your case, obviously a minimum wage job with few benefits will make the decision hard.