To quite my job and go for it?

[ProudMamaBear92]

I’m just really stuck. I have DS2 and DS7mo. I took a year off for first son and the same again now. Going back in June. I like my job, pay isn’t great but I’m very good at it and I’m missed. It’s all women, all mums, if I have to go pick up DS because he’s sick or anything it’s always fine. But I have to work half my weekends and I have to be in the office, no working from home. Husband has a good job, earns twice my salary but is commuting most of the week so is gone a lot. Also really doesn’t help much with the kids when he is here. I’m finding logistics of childcare a total minefield. Only two nurseries near us take funding and babies. Even after funding one is £1600 a month! My eldest is in preschool which is much cheaper but after this I’m bring home a few hundred quid. They can’t attend the same place due to costs so dual drop offs and pick ups. I’ve submitted a FWR at work but they aren’t being flexible enough. And to be honest money is one thing but I want more time with my babies! I’ve been totally heartbroken thinking about planning childcare this time around and I just don’t want to put them in nursery 4 days a week. I’m trialling starting up and online shop for a fitness community I’m part of, I’ve been speaking with some friends who can give me hours doing PT and admin to work around the kids. Other friends can give me sporadic design work as freelance. Should I sack off work and give it a go working for myself? There’s no progression in my job, no pay rises on the horizon. Husband thinks I should go back and look for other employment while I’m working but there’s no way I’ll have time to do that between work and two kids. It feels like it’s now or never. DS asleep on my lap right now and I can’t bare to leave him 🥺

Is there any reason you can't do the works that you have been promised now as a side hustle while being on maternity leave, to see if it could bring in a wage for you. Then by the time June comes around you will have established whether it will work or not.

Is your husband paying for childcare, in a proportionate amount for his salary compared to yours? If not, why not?

Yes, I’m starting to get these things in motion now, thing is I need to give 3 months notice for my job. So I won’t have my side hussel fully up and running by that point. But yes I can see how it goes until then

Yes he is. We tend to pool money in the pot and pay bills out from there. I’m comparing to my wage as comparison. Essentially I’m paying someone else to take my kids for no reason, or that’s what it feels like

Can you manage off your husband's wage if it doesn't pan out? If so I probably would, if there's no progression where you are currently at there isn't much point. You'd need to set up a personal pension and do your sums on what you would potentially make, you could end up not bringing much home after tax etc, but if it is something that could grow it could be worth it...

Also if you have both your children full-time or even just 1 it is hard to work and look after them, I didn't have my own business but I wrote my PhD up on maternity leave with a 6 month old and 2 year old, I had to go to my parents in the day and work at night when my husband was home, they would bring me the baby to breastfeed. Trying to do any work where you need to concentrate is hard with small children, when would you actually do your work for your business if you didn't put them in nursery?

Don't forget the I.portance of paid sickness and pension contributions.

A lot of mums spend all their earnings on childcare BUT this is only worth it for longer term job progression.. it’s to keep a foot in the workplace.
If you’re not planning to stay in your role or industry then absolutely yes, now is a good time to start your own business.