Could Mumsnet tell me if its worth working at a stresful job if I barely break even with childcare?

[oranges]

Can someone make a decision for me? I haev a five year old and a one year old. I'm too tired and frazzled to think straight. I have a job that can sometimes make me feel ill with stress. I stick with it because a)its part time and close to home b) its in a hard-won field that I've worked in for years and c) Other jobs are scarce.
But its making me ill. The bosses are not great, the culture is tough, and after I pay for childcare I bring home a pittance. Should I soldier on, or just stop?

What area of work are you in if you don't mind me asking? Unless I have missed that bit of info on one of the previous postings.

I'd rather not say if that's okay, as I know several work related people are on here, though I know that makes it hard to speak about specifics.

STOP!!!

If its making you ill and you really gain nothing financially from it it is not worth it.

You can retrain for something else or take another role in the same field?

I have been a SAHM for 8 years and have literally got the first job I applied for last month! Back in my old field, a bit of a step down but thats to be expected. I dont have to pay any childcare costs as work PT school hours.

Mumelie, can I ask what field you are in, to go straight back to a part time school hours job, as it sounds great

Do what makes you feel happy. If it means giving up your job and staying at home then do that. You will find another job if and when you need one. It doesn't sound as if your current job is adding a lot of value to your life.

Too many people are risk averse and are killing themselves in the process. Be brave and have faith!

Finance - figured that every company needs someone to do their books, no matter how big or small

I do not really buy the whole job as insurance policy in case DH is made redundant justification for continuing to work. My DH has gone through a couple of redundancies and a lengthy period of contract working for various people. It has always been easier for us to cope because I have been a SAHM and so he is able to be more adaptable to new work arrangements rather than having to fit in with my career / child care arrangements.
I do completely understand worries regarding loss of career progression / inability to return to work but I think this is less relevant if you are looking for a change anyway.
I also understand the loss of status issue but think this can be overcome if you make conscious efforts to maintain your profile and seek out like minded individuals rather than just allowing your outlook to be dictated by the social circles you move in through your DCs.

I suppose what I mean about "work as insurance" is when I stayed at home with ds, dh was really unhappy with his job and came close to breaking down, partly I think because he felt he had no option but to stay to support us. When I went back to work, it was much easier, as he could do things like cut back his hours, say no to projects. In a way I because his excuse - he could say he had to leave on time to pick up the kids because I was at work. If I stopped work altogether I know he would feel under pressure to work intensely again and hate it.

That makes more sense. When I was working I found male colleagues often had unavoidable sporting or band commitments to get out of the office on time and they always seemed to be more palatable than "home commitments". I even had a few colleagues who stayed in the office to avoid going home to the DW and screaming DC! Perhaps times have changed in the 10 years I have been away.

what is it you WANT to do ? It seemed like your eyes lit up, earlier on the thread when you were talkign about what yu wanted to do. Hvae yoiu started layign the foundations. Are you absolutley sure, that if you didn't start the ball rolling, the thing you wnat to do, could take off ?

I do accounts. And I love it. and find it so easy. And I need tiem away from my children. But I wonder whether it is wotth it. getting the children to childcare, getting to work, for all of a few hundred pounds. Is it worth it. well hoping that in 2 years, when ds2 starts school, it will be much easier.

I've had a think today about all this. I think I need to break it down. We need to get the baby sleeping through - she's done it the last two nights and its been miraculous. I just can't cope with any kind of stress when I'm tired.
We need to clear off all our overdrafts a credit cards. They are not vast, but will take at 4 months to pay down regularly, and I think its easier to do in summer when days out can just be a picnic in the park. I've been overspending on stuff because I've been unhappy at work, but think if I have an exit strategy I'll be more careful.
Then I'm going to book some leave and really work out whether to jump ship/ The issue is that I don't want to be a sahm so I'd have to find money for childcare somehow and the thing I want to do probably won't pay much at the start. . I think that will be easier to finance with no other debts to pay.

give us a CLUE as to what you want to do. sounds exciting. Can you not start laying some of the foundations. seeem a bit drastic to leave job, when you have nothing arranged, and its going to take a long time to make it viable, and get a return. thats not good business sense.
don't people try to start setting up their business. in their spare time ? not good quiting, only to find that 13 months later, its not actually providing you with any income.
I thought most people did 2 jobs, till they got to the point wherre they said, i can't do both, and then left the old one, to do theone they really want. well thats the ideal !!.

yes, I am laying foundations but it involves moving to another country so I'd have to quit my job,but I'd hopefully have something else lined up. That was part of the idea of going part time, to have time to work on new projects while having an income from the old one. I think the real problem was actually sleep - if I don't get enought I can barely do one job, never mind two.