fear of getting back to work

[cheesecakemummy]

Ok, so as much as it hurts to admit it I was not built for the stay at home mummy role. I'm wanting to get back into work but keep getting scared of a few things mainly the money side to it. I keep looking for work but am scared to apply in case I can't get child care for it, then I try and find out about local rates and availability should I get a job but the places round here won't talk to me unless I actually have a job offer already. Also, and possibly the biggest fear, is the first month of payment that's worrying me. I've heard tax credits take ages to kick in child care wise and am nervous that I won't be able to afford child care before they kick in.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated, I am desperate to get back to work!
if it helps/makes a difference, my eldest child is starting nursery this September, my youngest is 18months and my husband works 12(noon) til 9pm. Thanks guys

Can you build up a small amount of savings to cover payments until the tax credits kick in? Do you have any family that could give you a short term loan to cover it?

Also, a lot of nurseries have their fees posted online, and if you're willing to post on your mumsnet local, I'm sure plenty of people will say what they're paying

I wonder if you found get an early morning job to get a feel for it

So job in a bakery
Supermarket - 6am to 10am shifts are often advertised
Breakfasts in a care home
Hotel housekeeper , breakfast waitressing

I would say that unless you live in an incredibly rural area there will be a childminder who will do any pattern you want. Have you looked on childcare.co.uk to see how many childminders are local to you?

Is your eldest just going to be doing 15hrs? Will the nursery let DC1 do more hours if they are paid for? I would say get DC1 settled and then look for work that fits with hours DC1 can do and find a CM for DC2 (and DC1 in school holidays?).

Could you do an early shift? Maybe 5-11am somewhere?

Unfortunately we don't have family to help out but will look at trying to pull a small savings pot together x

And thanks for the early morning advice! I never thought of some of them, unfortunately without a car where I live is fairly rural so work is really rare, and the child care tends to get taken up by the parents from surrounding cities. Decided to look at a college course to see if they would give me childcare help based on earnings cheers everyone x