HELP - really don't want to go back to work (bit long)

[helsi]

but what else could I do? I have been emplyed with the civil serice for 14 years so have a good job and I earn around £4000 more on my full time basic than dh but I don't want to go back after my maternity leave. I could go back part time and/oir part time term time but I will seem to be paying loads out in childcare either with a nursery or childminder. I am quite old fashioned and feel that I would like to stay at home in the day for my children but I would need some extra income. I can take a career break and then go back to a job with the civil service so I don't have to resign at this stage. There is also no chance of homeworking.
Does anyone have an evening job? If so what do you do and how do you find it after being a mum all day? I am thinking of becoming a "pampered chef" consultant but as that is sales based some sales will be lower than others.
I need to make up some money as we would be losing £1200 a month from my wage.
I am prepared to make sacrifices on things but still need enough to cover outgoings.

Any suggestions please on what worked for you etc?

Can you take a career break. I was in the civil service and took a 5yr one. (although I never returned) I had to do 10 days a year,which they called keeping in touch. If you stopped work would you be entitled to tax credits ?

How old are your children (& how many)

Where are you?

You might be able to do a bit of childminding which could bring some money in?

heavenis - i have thought of a career break and that is what I would do but it s what I do whilst on that I need to consider as I still need some form of income.

I have 2 children one aged 3 and one is 5 weeks.

Hi Helsi. I am a legal secretary and went back to work when DS was 5 months. I was a day secretary but switched to evenings on my return from maternity leave as I couldn't afford fulltime nursery care and I didn't want to leave him fulltime at a nursery. I am with him for most of the day until about 3pm and I start work at 5pm and finish at 11pm Monday to Friday which means I also get to earn a fulltime wage as well as being at home during the day with him, so best of both worlds really.

Are you any good at making things,you could sell them on through e-bay or something like that. Maybe you need to look at work you could do to fit in with the children. Do you have any family or friends who would be willing to help with child care. Would dh be able to change his hours to cover child care arrangements.
I think you need to sit down and put in black and white what your out goings are and take it from there.

Expectantmum - how do you find working till 11 pm at night then up all day with a baby?

p/t teaching at local FE college? cd you teach business/A levels or something?
you'd be hourly paid at a reasonable rate (just whether you can put up with all the paperwork & bureaucracy which even wortking a few hrs can't avboid in that envrionmt)

helsi, I have recently given up a part-time job in the city to be at home more with my kids. I have strted my own business selling, educational books, toys & games through Mini IQ. I started in September last year while I was still working to make sure I could make a go of it, and I left my job in April. I haven't replaced my salary (yet!!!) but am bringing in some money and am confident that my business will grow. If you are interested CAT me and I can give you some more info.

I work three evenings a week at IKEA. I do 8.30pm until 12.30pm (the store's open until 12)and get home about 1am. Tbh I am tired most of the time (I live for school holidays when I don't have to get up in the morning!) but the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

plus - no childcare, under the tax/NI threshold so all my earning are mine iyswim, get to be at home with DD, no worries about holidays, appointments, DCs being sick etc, regular money, possiblities for o/t, holiday pay etc

minus - money's good for the type of work it is, but not as good as a salaried job, so so tired, get very jealous of my nights at home so don't go out and also tend to stay up too late even when I am at home, social life can be complicated (but's that's mainly because I do fridays)

I've also done evening pub work - great socially, but money's dire and (depending on the pub/area) it can be a bit rough.

Done late night supermarket work as well, but it can be very depressing (very mind numbing) and the money, once again, isn't great (ASDA are apparently the best payers, and have 24 hr opening, but work you very hard)

I didn't want to go back to work after maternity leave with dd2 but I was earning more than dp so I didn't think I had much choice. I Just about managed to get my employer to agree part-time hours and I thought this would work OK. Unfortunately I faced a lot of resentment at work for being a part-timer and for not hiding the fact that my family was my number one priority.

Then a friend suggested starting up a business between us running a local community magazine. We put a lot of effort in to planning it (rather than buying into an existinng franchise-type bueinss), and it was an immediate success.

We each work from home but are totally free to choose the hours we work (how many and what times, eg after the children are in bed).

From a money point of view, I'm not quite earning as much as in my previous management position, but not far off - and the work/life balance is fantastic!

Just another thought for your consideration. I have just a daughter in April and am in the same position as you, not wanting to return to work after maternity leave ends. My solution has been to start selling Usborne children's books. The advantages are that you can spend time at home, choose your own working hours and have the potential to earn a lot of money in time. There are no targets so you can work at your own pace, whether that be to develop a business or just work from time to time.

Until the end of June for a joining fee of £38 you can get £125 worth of start up kit (mainly books), though after this month it will be the standard £100. All I can say to you is that it is working for me.

If you wish to get in touch regarding this, I can be contacted at [email protected]