Better pay vs local job

[Shell84B]

After opinions or advice really

I currently work in London 3 days a week Tuesday-Thursday. It’s a temp job but ongoing. Takes about 1hr , so 2hrs spent travelling a day. I have 2 children at school, they are 5 and 7. My husbands parents get to our house at 7am for them on those days so that they can do the school run. They also pick them up as I’m not home until 5.30.
it’s been working ok but I feel they are not getting any younger, they live 25min drive from us but that daily must take its toll especially as they help in holidays too.

We also have an almost 1 year old. Now he is looked after by them once a week and the other two days they drop him off at my mums (as she doesn’t drive) who is just up the road. So kids are very much loved and looked after. I get my two days of school run with them and 2 days with baby.

however I don’t particularly like my job and the commute is tiring, I am also thinking long term, can this continue. I am on quite good pay, well good for what I am used to, prob works out to £20k for the 3 days (21hrs) it’s paid hourly at £18.74 as I am a temp paid weekly.

I am considering working local and a position has come up that is a 4min drive from my house. Of course it’s less pay, around the £18k mark. It’s Monday-Friday 9-2 so I’m terms of my eldest two it’s perfect as I can do school runs, not so ideal for baby, grandparents would still need to divide care.

It’s working in office of a nursery so I am sure there may be option for him to attend a bit but I’d need to weigh up the costs. My question is, am I crazy to consider a lower paid job? I don’t feel like where I am offers career profession , however I have learnt so much in the few months I’ve been there and opportunities can arise from it elsewhere with the experience I’m getting.

anyone been in similar situation. I just don’t know what to do for the best. My husbands parents turn 70 next year, just feel the school runs they are doing must be tiring

I guess it’s a question over more local job or better pay what which option is better for my children

thanks all

Sounds a sensible option, especially as your current role is temp anyway.

When you consider the saving from commuting would there actually be that much difference in income anyway?

Surely you'd be asking them to do more care for the 1 year old, so is it actually any better?

I would consider more important not the pay but the career opportunities that you'd get from your current job. You don't say what it is you do now?

DD works for a charity locally. We are in North London and the fare into town is £9 per day so she has virtually stopped looking for better paid jobs as any promotion would be wiped out by the fares she would have to pay. Unfortunately we can’t have it all and the local job sounds like a perfect fit for you and your family at this time in your life.

I think you need to forget about pay and locality and ask yourself which job works better for your family during term time and also in the holidays.

I would take the local job for better quality of life.

Also if the other one is temporary anyway you will have to find another job sooner or later.

I currently work for a London company. I am only keeping this job while I house-hunt and secure a mortgage then I will go for a local job. I don't care if the pay is lower, it will cut down on commuting and stress and be more sustainable long term.

Your other option might be to try to find a remote role.

Thanks for replies . I work as a facilities administrator in a school at mo. It’s very busy but I find it boring. Whilst it is temp chances are eventually it would be permanent but prob take a year or so yet. I worked from home in my previous field of picture agencies and I am looking to do this again, but in the meantime until I find a job in the field I was in I am considering taking this local job as I’m so unhappy where I am

I do appreciate grandparents would still have to help with the baby but difference is they wouldn’t have to arrive at my house at 7am, prob wouldn’t need to get to me until closer to 9

thank you to all who have replied

Personally I'd go for the local job with a view to ensuring I keep skills releavant to what I want to do longer time sharp or even do some courses alongside to prepare for the future.

Have a chat with the grandparents given it will affect them most. They might prefer to get it done in shorter time than every day.