£600 per month more - worth it?

SnuggleMonsters · 2025-05-31T08:56:42+00:00

I know, I know, it depends on personal circumstances, but objectively speaking, WWYD? Current job is term time only, and a job I love. Love my colleagues etc. I get to drop off and collect my kids everyday and my commute is a five minute walk from both my kids' school and my house Job I have seen advertised - the same job title, but full time, one town over from mine, so a 15-20 min drive. Normal annual leave allowance and I would need to book kids into ASC at least three days a week. Husband would possibly collect them on his two WFH days, or if not possible they'd need to go more days. Difference in take home pay would be £600-ish. Currently take home £1,150, and would take home £1,750 with other job. We don't ^need^ me to do this, but I'd like to help with more bills.

RosieLeaLovesTea · 31/05/2025 09:59

You need to work out what it would cost you in child care and petrol per month to work out if it’s worth it. If you only gained £200 out if it would it be worth it to you?

Original poster

SnuggleMonsters · 31/05/2025 10:00

RosieLeaLovesTea · 31/05/2025 09:59

You need to work out what it would cost you in child care and petrol per month to work out if it’s worth it. If you only gained £200 out if it would it be worth it to you?

Omg, I am such an idiot. Yes, you're right. I hadn't considered that

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gattocattivo · 31/05/2025 10:02

I would imagine the full time post gives more long term prospects and will certainly give a better pension than part time. Given the fact your kids are in school and will likely just require after school care a few days a week, it’s a no brainer for me. The extra money in your pocket now will be very nice, and the longer term benefits would be a big plus for me. Best thing I ever did was increase back up to full time from part time once my youngest turned 4. Now I’m in my late fifties I’m looking at retirement at 60 with a good enough pension for a comfortable standard of living. You enjoy your field of work so go for it!

lostinthesunshine · 31/05/2025 10:03

I think you would be financially worse off with the new job.

Largestlegocollectionever · 31/05/2025 10:04

No way, stick with current job! To find a job you love, colleagues you love, works around children, that’s a dream!

Original poster

SnuggleMonsters · 31/05/2025 10:05

Thanks both. I am not ruling it out still as I do love my work and while I do it in a school, the company advertising the same job is a company which deals solely with what I do iyswim. Like a company which only does my job. So would get more experience etc. That said, it's semi physical and I'm now 41, so I wonder how long a "proper" career in it would be 🤔

Re the money, ASC alone would be £360 p/month minimum. Then holiday clubs too and petrol. I barely use my car these days due to walking commute!

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plantsnpants · 31/05/2025 10:06

£600 is not a lot of money - stay where you are happy and see if you can get overtime? Up
uour hours

rivalsbinge · 31/05/2025 10:06

Have you got the new job?

gattocattivo · 31/05/2025 10:07

lostinthesunshine · 31/05/2025 10:03

I think you would be financially worse off with the new job.

I highly doubt it, even in the here and now. And definitely not in the longer term. I have a continuous work record, and even just a relatively short period of part time (I did 3 days a week for five years when the kids were babies) has knocked thousands off my pension. I dread to think how crap my pension would be if I hadn’t returned to full time.

Original poster

SnuggleMonsters · 31/05/2025 10:07

rivalsbinge · 31/05/2025 10:06

Have you got the new job?

No, no, just thinking of applying. And I know myself - if I get interviewed and happen to get it, I'll take it out of enthusiasm and then may regret it

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whitewineandsun · 31/05/2025 10:08

SnuggleMonsters · 31/05/2025 10:05

Thanks both. I am not ruling it out still as I do love my work and while I do it in a school, the company advertising the same job is a company which deals solely with what I do iyswim. Like a company which only does my job. So would get more experience etc. That said, it's semi physical and I'm now 41, so I wonder how long a "proper" career in it would be 🤔

Re the money, ASC alone would be £360 p/month minimum. Then holiday clubs too and petrol. I barely use my car these days due to walking commute!

Then it doesn't seem to make sense.

ZoggyStirdust · 31/05/2025 10:08

Don’t forget longer term benefits like higher amounts being paid into your pension. You may not end up much better off cash in your pocket but that’s only part of the picture.

look at the overall package not just salary, and yes, taken off extra costs.

xyzandabc · 31/05/2025 10:08

SnuggleMonsters · 31/05/2025 10:00

Omg, I am such an idiot. Yes, you're right. I hadn't considered that

Show quote history

Include holiday childcare if new job is 52 weeks rather than term time only and that £600 a month will soon dwindle depending on how many children you have.

Also in new job, would taking leave the the school.holidays be guaranteed, or would it depend on how many other people also want school holidays off?

Original poster

SnuggleMonsters · 31/05/2025 10:10

plantsnpants · 31/05/2025 10:06

£600 is not a lot of money - stay where you are happy and see if you can get overtime? Up
uour hours

True- I could increase my hours in the school. Not doing my job but something else maybe. I love the school I work in and dcs will likely go there for secondary

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yoshiblue · 31/05/2025 10:12

How old are your kids? I’d stay term time only if they are still very young. All the ASC costs will eat away at that rise, and kids highly value coming home. Also, having the whole summer holidays off is a dream, patching together childcare over the summer is a PITA!

Stepfordian · 31/05/2025 10:20

I wouldn’t, it won’t be £600 once tax, NI and student loans (if you have them) are taken off and childcare for 3 kids is expensive! Plus you have job security where you are now, if you start the new job and need time off because the kids are ill they might just get rid of you in the first 2 years.

Original poster

SnuggleMonsters · 31/05/2025 10:24

yoshiblue · 31/05/2025 10:12

How old are your kids? I’d stay term time only if they are still very young. All the ASC costs will eat away at that rise, and kids highly value coming home. Also, having the whole summer holidays off is a dream, patching together childcare over the summer is a PITA!

They are 10 and 7

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Original poster

SnuggleMonsters · 31/05/2025 10:25

Stepfordian · 31/05/2025 10:20

I wouldn’t, it won’t be £600 once tax, NI and student loans (if you have them) are taken off and childcare for 3 kids is expensive! Plus you have job security where you are now, if you start the new job and need time off because the kids are ill they might just get rid of you in the first 2 years.

Thanks - the £600 difference would be to take home / net pay, so with NI etc included. But I didn't include childcare originally and it would make it a much smaller increase

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MynameisJune · 31/05/2025 10:29

I wouldn’t, but then I also can’t imagine going back full time if I don’t need to.

I’d rather have time with my kids and family over being at work unless financially it was needed. There are more ways to plan for retirement than working yourself to the bone 40hrs a week to line someone else’s pockets.

gattocattivo · 31/05/2025 10:36

It won’t be long before the eldest is in secondary school and won’t need after school club so you’re really only looking at childcare for a relatively short time. And anyway, it’ll be nice for your dh (and for the kids) that he has a couple of days a week collecting them from school. I think it’s great for kids to have that time with each parent doing the hands on stuff

Original poster

SnuggleMonsters · 31/05/2025 10:41

gattocattivo · 31/05/2025 10:36

It won’t be long before the eldest is in secondary school and won’t need after school club so you’re really only looking at childcare for a relatively short time. And anyway, it’ll be nice for your dh (and for the kids) that he has a couple of days a week collecting them from school. I think it’s great for kids to have that time with each parent doing the hands on stuff

I totally agree and I've said many times I could work more and he could drop a day to he with kids or just have more downtime. But he categorically does not want to. Picking the kids up would likely be him joining an online meeting and sticking his earphones in 😂, so not good for work or the kids, but it would be doable. He also would not have time with the kids when they get home really.

He does school drop off every WFH day though, so he does get some time with them.

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MimiGC · 31/05/2025 10:44

Is the new job also term time only? If not, then childcare during school holidays will also eat into any new salary increase . From what you have said, I’d would stay put.

Original poster

SnuggleMonsters · 31/05/2025 10:45

MimiGC · 31/05/2025 10:44

Is the new job also term time only? If not, then childcare during school holidays will also eat into any new salary increase . From what you have said, I’d would stay put.

No, it would be 'normal' annual leave, so 25 days or something

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gattocattivo · 31/05/2025 10:49

If your dh is the type to not want to pick his kids up, and to stick his earphones in rather than talk to them on the way home, then they’re probably better off in after school club frankly!

Original poster

SnuggleMonsters · 31/05/2025 10:51

gattocattivo · 31/05/2025 10:49

If your dh is the type to not want to pick his kids up, and to stick his earphones in rather than talk to them on the way home, then they’re probably better off in after school club frankly!

True. Or, with me as they are currently?

He is absolutely that type but that's a whole other thread

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