How much would you be willing to lose per month to go back to work?

[Lachoux]

I'm due back at work soon and have 2 DC of pre school age. After childcare costs (including savings from childcare vouchers and 15 free hours for the older one) our household income will be minus £100 if I go back to work versus if I were to look after the children myself. Either way money will be tight.
I don't enjoy my current role but I hate the idea of not working and not being financially independent. At the moment I don't have the skills or experience to earn the 40k plus I need to make the numbers add up.
What would you do?

[Xmasbaby11]

I'd go back but start looking for another job.

Unless you would genuinely be happier at home and you could accept having difficulties returning to work.

We're hardly anything better off with me working but even if it was a loss, I'd never be a stay at home mum as I'm not cut out for it. I need to work for my sanity! But then I do enjoy my job and would never be able get back in if I left, so it does depend on your situation.

[KickAssAngel]

Do you get a pension or any other extras? I know that they're not money in the bank right now, but it can be incredibly valuable later in life, when you would have to pay in double or triple the contributions for the same benefit on retirement.

[NewLife4Me]

LongChalk

Even with spending the odd extra here and there it can be cheaper because you have time to shop for bargains.
I never buy anything full price and shop depending on whats on offer and where each week.

I do think it's worth bearing the brunt for a few years if you want a career and you need to progress eventually.
However, if it's a dead end job, or you hate it, with few prospects or you'd rather be a sahm then you'd be better off financially and emotionally to leave work, surely.

[LongChalk]

I agree with your last paragraph. However, the shopping everywhere for bargain bit isn't really in me. We have a standard order delivered weekly but I also nip into the little sainsburys for nice wine/cheese/nibbles etc if I'm in town. When I was last at home I had a preschooler with asd and a baby plus 2 older boys. The washing mashing was on constantly as were the lights and the heating a lot of the time. Ds3 also had a habit of turning as many taps on as possible as often as possible. When posters talk about spending time searching out bargains I'm always agog at how they do that. Do you physically spend half a day trawling from one supermarket to the next?

[NewLife4Me]

I can only speak for myself but I don't really use supermarkets very often.
We did when dc were little though.

I usually look what's on offer from email I get and then I'd go to which ever one had the bargain on something and then use another one with more bargains.

We live nearer to town centre than supermarkets though so I get a lot from town. We have lots of cheap shops and even the clothes shops it's easy to bag a bargain.
I usually have some sort of errand to run or banking for dh business/ post office etc so will call in a few shops a few times a week.

It's much more fun when you don't have little ones though and can understand how it would be a royal pita to do it then

[CPtart]

I would do it. In fact, when I went back to work part time with two DC in nursery we just about broke even for two years. So so glad I went back though. It maintained my pension, my skills and my sanity. Also, good for DC to see mums working and learn that life doesn't revolve round them and that they are part of a bigger picture.
I remember a SAHM friend on the first day all our DC were in school saying she felt "lost". I didn't.

[BikeRunSki]

Totally agree with CPTart. I've been 3 days a week for 7 years, since DS was born. My youngest starts school in September and I am arranging to work 4 days over 5. I have kept my career going and have a great relationship with my boss, can't wait to step it up again.

[VoleSnuffle]

I think you need to look long term which would include working out your childcare costs for when both children are in school.

Would you increase your hours when they are in school? Whether this job or another one?

School holidays are 13 weeks of the year so you need to factor in any wrap around care for before and after school and also the school holidays.

I have been a SAHM for 11 years. I did work after Ds1 was born but due to a relocation I haven't worked since.

Children see working Mums all the time, teachers, dinner ladies, office staff at school, their friend's parents, these are all working Mums.

[BonerSibary]

No way would I work for no profit. It's a mug's game. Besides you can save so much money by not working.

The problem with this is that it depends how you define 'profit', given that many people will see long term financial benefit from remaining in employment even if it costs in the short term. And whether you save money by not working is entirely dependant not only on the costs of childcare, commuting etc but on how much cloth there feasibly is for a SAHP to cut. Personally I lose money by not working FT, although I'm still not prepared to do it anyway.

I think I'd probably do as a pp advised and try to find something you like more. In the current climate, for those of an age to have small children now it probably is wiser for the majority to try and keep their hand in with something, even if it's only ad hoc. But I don't think I could stomach going to something I disliked four days a week and also incur a short term loss.

Also OP have you looked into the tax free childcare scheme? Starts in Jan 2017 and is more advantageous for those with higher childcare costs.