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Original poster

Childcare so expensive. Is it worth me working?

53 replies

thirtyseven37 · 02/05/2024 16:47

I currently work 26 hours per week on minimum wage. So I get about £297 a week.

After school club is £17.60 per day for my two children, so £70 a week as they are there 4 days.

I end up taking home about £227 per week (£909 a month).

I can work more hours as I have to take my children to school.

Would you work Monday-Thur plus Friday mornings for £227 a week? It seems so little.

For context, my DH earns too much for me to apply for benefits. We have however just separated (living in same house at the moment) so now I'm wondering if I would be able to apply for any financial help.

Does anyone have any advice or experience?

OP posts:
Original poster
thirtyseven37 · 02/05/2024 16:51

I meant I can't- work anymore hours.

OP posts:
Valid8me · 02/05/2024 16:52

You are not working for £227 a week, you are working for £297 but then paying for after school club out of that and yes, I wold continue to work if I could.

Overthebow · 02/05/2024 16:54

I think you’d be entitled to some UC asking as you don’t exceed the savings limit, but as your DC are school age you’d have to meet the working hours/wages anyway so you would have to work.

menopausalmare · 02/05/2024 16:54

When I returned part time after children I was bringing home £900 per month but I enjoyed my work, needed to get out of the house, kept my foot in the door work-wise and kept my pension topped up. It was worth it for me.

Devilsmommy · 02/05/2024 16:54

Try applying for UC as though you're in the same house you are now classed as single so you may be eligible

newjobdilemma · 02/05/2024 16:54

Lol I earn 50k and I'm left with less than that a month after nursery fees

WoodBurningStov · 02/05/2024 16:55

It's always worth working. Childcare won't be needed forever and can't you claim a % of it back?

Eastie77Returns · 02/05/2024 16:55

Why doesn’t your DH pay towards childcare as well?

Sunnnybunny72 · 02/05/2024 16:56

Childcare cost us the equivalent of my whole salary for over two years. But it maintained my skills, my sanity and the power balance in our relationship, and over twenty years on my pension looks great.
Never a single regret.
Think long term.

Newgirls · 02/05/2024 16:57

Will your job protect your future earnings? Will you still be able to get a job when your kids start school if you leave now?

it’s important to have your own income and your ex should be paying for childcare too not just you

BoudiccaOfSuburbia · 02/05/2024 16:58

Is your ex contributing to the childcare cost?

Working gives you pension contributions (does it?) a C.V, any promotion or workplace training on offer, better future prospects.

MidnightPatrol · 02/05/2024 17:04

I think you have got the wrong question here.

The question isn’t ’is it worth me working for £227 a week after childcare’

It’s ‘how am I going to afford to live now my husband and I have separated?’

And quitting your job is not going to help you in that regard.

MidnightPatrol · 02/05/2024 17:06

Devilsmommy · 02/05/2024 16:54

Try applying for UC as though you're in the same house you are now classed as single so you may be eligible

Surely you can’t claim benefits as a single person / parent, while living with the father of those children who earns above the threshold, just because you say you aren’t together.

That would be ludicrous.

S72 · 02/05/2024 17:11

Think long term. Are you contributing to your pension through work? Can you progress/increase your earning potential by staying in work & training, developing over the years, either climbing the ladder where you are or taking your skills/experience elsewhere.

I kept working as a solo parent, even when the childcare and commuting cost was HUGE. It has paid off now though as I no longer have childcare costs and have changed jobs a few times and progressed from min wage up to a good salary.

I would not be where I am today without fighting through those tricky years.

Peonies12 · 02/05/2024 17:12

MidnightPatrol · 02/05/2024 17:04

I think you have got the wrong question here.

The question isn’t ’is it worth me working for £227 a week after childcare’

It’s ‘how am I going to afford to live now my husband and I have separated?’

And quitting your job is not going to help you in that regard.

This is what I thought. You are splitting and you are considering stopping working?! You should be looking at how to earn the most you can right now.

Fraggamama · 02/05/2024 18:40

You have a part time job, it would be difficult to get those hours again.
If you give that up what will you live off?
And your DH should be contributing to the childcare costs.

Original poster
thirtyseven37 · 02/05/2024 18:53

newjobdilemma · 02/05/2024 16:54

Lol I earn 50k and I'm left with less than that a month after nursery fees

Yes but think how much you'll be bringing in when your kids are at school.

OP posts:
Original poster
thirtyseven37 · 02/05/2024 18:54

WoodBurningStov · 02/05/2024 16:55

It's always worth working. Childcare won't be needed forever and can't you claim a % of it back?

I've not heard of claiming a % of it back. What do you mean please? You say it's not forever... I've got another 3 years of needing wraparound care at least.

OP posts:
Original poster
thirtyseven37 · 02/05/2024 18:55

Eastie77Returns · 02/05/2024 16:55

Why doesn’t your DH pay towards childcare as well?

He pays for the mortgage, cars and utilities.

OP posts:
Original poster
thirtyseven37 · 02/05/2024 18:57

S72 · 02/05/2024 17:11

Think long term. Are you contributing to your pension through work? Can you progress/increase your earning potential by staying in work & training, developing over the years, either climbing the ladder where you are or taking your skills/experience elsewhere.

I kept working as a solo parent, even when the childcare and commuting cost was HUGE. It has paid off now though as I no longer have childcare costs and have changed jobs a few times and progressed from min wage up to a good salary.

I would not be where I am today without fighting through those tricky years.

I'm massively overqualified for my current position. I should be earning around £47k but due to lack of childcare, I cannot take on that role. So I'm working in a role earning much less to fit in with children.

OP posts:
Original poster
thirtyseven37 · 02/05/2024 18:58

Fraggamama · 02/05/2024 18:40

You have a part time job, it would be difficult to get those hours again.
If you give that up what will you live off?
And your DH should be contributing to the childcare costs.

But then he could say that I should be contributing to the mortgage. I think we need to pay money into a joint account from which everything can be paid from. We aren't currently doing this.

OP posts:
VeraForever · 02/05/2024 19:05

The government, and companies/public sector need to make it worthwhile to be in work.

People not in work should not be earning more.
The trouble is, you'll have disabled people saying it's not fair.

So what should we do?

Original poster
thirtyseven37 · 02/05/2024 19:11

My friend is a sole parent not working and her benefits come to the same amount that I'm earning by going to work. Sucks.

OP posts:
Snozzlemaid · 02/05/2024 19:22

Take a look here www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Could you get help through Universal credit or tax free childcare?

titanicbelfast · 02/05/2024 19:25

@thirtyseven37 Im a single parent working full time. I'm not sure why you say you can't get to type of job your qualified for? Breakfast and after-school club?