Working with young children

[Colourfulltrees]

Hello , we currently rent but we really want to buy but the only way this would happen is if I work as well as my husband. Problem is I don't have any family to help and I only had my third baby 4 months ago.
Basically would it he possible? I have a 4 month old 3 year old and 10 year old and my husband works from half 7 to half 4. How could I fit in a job too.

Hi- what about in a term time only nursery? Or a standard nursery and split annual leave between you and H for 10 year old. You may get discounted places for younger 2 if you bring them with you, only issue is they’re so far apart in age you’d probably be limited to only working in one room (not babies or preschool). May be an option, I know my nursery was at one point crying out for staff and may have considered this.
good luck!

I suppose how other people do it is kids in school would have to do morning and after school club and baby would have to go to nursery. Both you and partner would have to take time off for school holidays and you may also have to pay for holiday clubs as often AL between 2 people isn’t enough to cover this. You’d have to work out if the amount you’d make by going back to work would be worth the amount you’d have to pay for childcare and how much you’d actually be able to save.

Did you work before children and is it an option to go back to a previous industry - there may be part time or flexible options too. If not an option I often see recommended is working in a school - there are a variety of roles TA / dinner lady / attendance / reception - this would give you flexibility of being able to care for kids during the holidays.

good luck - hopefully people with more knowledge / experience than me will be able to come up with some better ideas too

I'd say that unless you're going into a well paid term time only role (the unicorn of jobs!) with three kids to arrange childcare for it financially won't be viable for you to work if the aim is to save.

Can you do some kind of evening shift or weekend work.

It's very tiring, but that's how lots of my friends juggled things. They did things like receptionist in a gym, waitresses, office cleaning. I am a clerk, so I take minutes at meeting which are in the evenings. Then I type them up in the day or weekend and don't need much childcare. Other friends did 2 night shifts a week at the hospital as healthcare assistants (Fri and sat nights)

Generally not big full time salaries like mumsnetters seem to have, but made a big difference.

Otherwise you have to use and pay for childcare. I don't know how banks balance salary and childcare costs. Depending on your income there is help for childcare.

what sort of work do you do? Of course it’s possible, millions of families work full time. Even if you have to take a slight hit at the beginning with nursery, it will pay off as you’ll get the benefit of more experience and hopefully a quicker promotion. Use the tax free childcare for nursery and school clubs. Luckily your husband finishes early so that will help with pick ups. Many jobs allow flexibility so you could do drop off and work later, this is the set up we have. Start now and once nursery has finished you should be in a better position to save.