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Original poster

IF you were left with VERY LITTLE MONEY after paying CHILDCARE would you defo not bother going back to Work or......

81 replies

drosophila · 22/02/2006 20:45

would you look at the long game? I work for Civil Service and intend to return after Easter for a 3 day week. I have been investigating the childcare options and would love a nanny as it would be far less stressful. I worked FT with DS and used nursery. DS is at school and we have no family support for holidays. DD could go to nursery but I thought a nanny may be the most sensible option. Trouble is it would leve me with a tiny amount clear each month.

Is it worth it? DP and I are inclined to think yes cos my Job is very secure, well paid, has great pension and most importantly I am trained for nothing else. We figure that for 2/3 years of eff all money I woul have retained my job. DD would also get one on one care.

What is the least amount of money you would allow yourself to clear after paying childcare so you could be sure of a job in the future?

OP posts:

GDG · 23/02/2006 14:14

I wouldn't work.

But it's a personal choice so it's about weighing up what is right for you - I wouldn't go out to work even if I came home with oodles of cash because being at home for the children is more important to me and I don't want to use childcare.

Original poster

drosophila · 23/02/2006 15:19

Florenceuk, yes I'm in same building. Small world eh?

OP posts:

iota · 23/02/2006 15:49

Blimey Enif- do yo still want to be working when DChild 3 leaves home? I thought you'd be retired by then - -must be that puritan work ethic of yours

(I will be getting my pension by the time ds2 leaves home)

Enif · 23/02/2006 15:50

actually yes you are right

I meant when they are all at full time school

paolosgirl · 23/02/2006 16:01

I was left with a couple of hundred pounds each month after paying my 2 lots of childcare - next to nothing. I decided it was worth it to keep my job going, and now I'm glad I did. It would have been very hard to get a job that paid the same, with all the benefits I've built up. We're still getting back on our feet financially, so it's been tough.

katyp · 23/02/2006 16:19

If it was a job I really enjoyed I would probably go back, at least part-time, to keep it going. If I really didn't enjoy it and the small amount left over from childcare wasn't crucial to the family finances I wouldn't but then you've got to think about what you would do long-term when/if you did decide to work outside the home again. I want to go back to work in a couple of years and as yet have no idea what I could do.....

manitz · 23/02/2006 17:52

Hi Drosophila I'm currently sitting down the road from where you will be (near victoria). Also a civil servant and returned 3 weeks ago 3 days a week dd2 is one. DH was made redundant 2.5 years ago though he had some temp jobs he managed about 5months a year paid. I worked ft for a while to cover.
Hes just got a permanent job (we feel very rich at the mo) but not secure in any way. They reckon 2 years max. he's also doing the knowledge cos we can't go through that again.

I tolerate my job. I think the cs is flexible. i considered going to my local authority but nothing relevant has come up. I want one more child so I'm hanging on. I enjoy aspects of it - going to the loo alone; lattes etc. I earn about £50 a week net. I always thought I'd take a career break to keep the pension dh hasn't got one (sinner). Now I'm thinking of leaving after no3 and taking my chances. I must admit I'm GCN so they are more desperate and won't move us out of london so my job isn't really threatened.

I don't want to work now but could see that pt when kids are at school would be good.

Really sympathise. Reading on I realise I've had a better time than you recently but on the financial front and dilemma over working it just seemed like me. Hate to say it but it made me feel better to know others were having same worries.

Original poster

drosophila · 23/02/2006 20:07

One thing that bugs me is the amount you spend just to be at work. Lunches, tights, collections and those bloody tempting shops you walk past on way to station.

I suppose if it was too easy we would be bored.

OP posts:

florenceuk · 24/02/2006 09:34

yes there is a whole new shopping centre near Victoria now with M&S, Zara, Topshop, Monsoon etc. I just never leave the building. Actually I never wear tights!

Tinker · 24/02/2006 09:46

Also civil servant here. Just returned after 9 months mat leave. Thought I'd hate it, it's not been so bad, just bored. Was going to suggest term-time (which is what I do) but see you can't have it. Could you not move to a post which could accommodate it?

ProfessorGrammaticus · 24/02/2006 15:44

I went back 3 day pw and earned next to nothing after extortionate nursery fees, nothing at all if you factored in the cleaner, gardener, suits and take-out coffees . I'm glad i did - I like my job, I trained a long time, I like the variety of 3 days WOTH, 2 days SAHM, and now they are both at school we have lots of cash!!

manitz · 24/02/2006 20:04

Yeah, I work just on stag place in front of new m and s. aarrgh. Mind you it helps the diet as they do really scrummy healthy food. think thats what my fifty quid goes on....luckily i'm so gadarn fat hobbs and monsoon aren't yet an issue.

Ive been walking to an from work from euston which has made the whole day a bit more pleasant as I go through the park. Found it really gets rid of the stress although I've put on weight which is puzzling - must be muscle build up and not medicinal choc brownies

manitz · 24/02/2006 20:08

sorry wanted to add, agree that like the variety its just current job is particularly dreadful. also how do you overcome the interesting job and involvement/responsibility vs dull job you can forget when you get home? i know when i get into something i can't forget it and not sure i cld do it justice if i have 4 days off in between? how do other ptimers cope?

Original poster

drosophila · 24/02/2006 20:48

Tinker, are you from the R or the C? Real small world.

OP posts:

jac34 · 24/02/2006 21:06

When I first went back to work after having my DS twins(FT at that time),I was working for about £20 a day after paying chilcare.
I later went down to working 3 days a week,which cut my chilcare bill, but the money worked out much the same.
My attitude was,that I was just keeping my job until the day when I no longer payed chilcare.
My DS's are now 7yo and in school.DH and I manage the school runs between us and for 2 years have not paid childcare costs.
I have kept the same hours,so now two days a week are my own to do with as I want

florenceuk · 24/02/2006 22:33

I would find it hard to sustain interest on 2 days a week - too detached from what was going on in the office. If my job was horribly boring I would be tempted to take a break, but the truth is that there would be no guarantee of returning to one more interesting - instead I'd probably look around for something else in the same department but with a different manager. I find in the CS it's who you know, so networking counts in finding an interesting job - career break would only make that worse.

shellybelly · 24/02/2006 22:45

my dd is 8 mths and I've only been back to work a few weeks and i'm now leaving, my wages didn't even cover childcare costs so I didn't see the point of staying even tho I've been with the same employer for many many years and enjoy the work, I'm not worried about not using my brain or having time to myself, all I know is that I'm going to be so much happier being with my beautiful daughter and not feeling bad when nursery staff tell me how she has been giggling all day or playing with this toy or that toy (i get to see it all for myself) I know if i ever need time to myself or time with the girls for a night out dh is there take over i got my P45 today (never been out of work since I was 16 and that was a long time ago) i actually felt quite liberated (sounds daft I know) but the future is now what I want to make it, once dd is at school age the world is my oyster so to speak, good luck with your decision

nooka · 24/02/2006 23:22

I went back to work full time after both of mine were born, and chose the nanny option (I had hoped to use the nursery attached to the hospital were I worked, but wasn't high enough up the priority list at the time). It is expensive, but it is such an incredible luxury that I would recommend every time. I didn't have a particularly well paid or demanding job at the time, and had a fairly short journey, so didn't feel like I was losing out, and the children had a lovely time with someone who enjoyed them very much (I was not a happy SAHM). Now they are bigger and at school I have an interesting well paid job and good prospects, so definitely worth it for me on the career and financial fronts. I don't think there is any great benefit in working term time with a baby, but have thought about it now that the children are at school, and wanting to spend more time with me (as opposed to any available nice adult). I now could do that without worrying about my career prospects because I have acquired enough experience/shortage skills, and hopefully my next career move will be such that I could afford it without a great cut in income. But at the end of the day, as others have said it is all about how you feel, and the balance in your life.

Tinker · 25/02/2006 19:19

dros - C (trying to be mysterious and cagey )

Original poster

drosophila · 25/02/2006 19:47

Same here Tinker. Are you in London?

OP posts:

Original poster

drosophila · 25/02/2006 19:48

Don't like to admit on here where I work. It gets a baaad press.

OP posts:

ProfessorGrammaticus · 25/02/2006 22:15

Ooh where could it be? MacDonalds? The Daily Mail?

Tinker · 26/02/2006 09:58

Not London. Would CAT you if didn't have to pay Email tinkerblush (at) aol (dot) com

madchad · 27/02/2006 16:42

Assuming there was a clear longterm benefit,it's an investment.I went back to my clinical job 1 day a week between DD1 & DD2, knowing that I would be lucky to break even, but also knowing that I would keep my skills up and have some sanity getting out of the house.
Could you use the time back at work to gain other skills, experiences and qualifications that would broaden your employability in due course?

madchad · 27/02/2006 16:42

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