Is it worth working for thirty quid a week?

(59 Posts)
worthitornot Tue 05-Mar-13 13:42:07

I'm due back to work soon from maternity, I've asked for time off over the summer as I can't afford to pay for summer clubs for my 6yr old and for my baby to go to the childminder.

When I go back to work I'll clear less than £30 a week - not including petrol for commuting and all the quids here and there for school fundraising and things like that. My husband earns reasonably well so I doubt we'd get benefits etc, and to be honest it's not so much the money, just the futility of it all. I'm sure there must be so many people giving up jobs they like because working isn't economically viable.

I get the impression work isn't overly happy about me being off over the summer but are prepared to go with it, which I'm grateful for, but they don't realise I would be PAYING to work if I came back during the summer. I think it would all grate less if I didn't know they'd been unable to find anyone to cover my role for the amount they pay me so had got someone in on a higher salary.

I don't want to give up work because I fear when I'd be able to go back in a few years, I'd be pushing 40 and unemployable - but right now it's a tempting option. I guess I need to ask for a raise.

Sorry for the rant, just wanted to get it off my chest. I'll prepare to be flamed by people saying I should be grateful for what I've got!

grobagsforever Wed 06-Mar-13 07:54:38

I agree with the poster re protecting yourself. Women must protect their own earning potential, given that half of all LTR fail. No one thinks it will happen to them. I think bring a sahm is v risky unless you have a career you can walk back into such as doctor...sorry, not a popular view but with child support payements being so low...

youfhearted Wed 06-Mar-13 08:10:53

basically you need cheaper child care. i gave up with 2 when i was going to be left with £50 a week shock whch in retrospect was not such a good decision.

CPtart Wed 06-Mar-13 08:26:31

I worked for next to nothing for two years while my two DS were at nursery part time. I have nor regrets at all. Least of all maintaining my sanity, I kept up with my pension, professional skills, confidence in the workplace etc.
I would have a careful think about how you will manage every summer hols though, and also all those half terms and times when DC are ill and unable to go to school. We manage but it's a struggle, and usually end up taking opposite annual leave from work with my DH to try and cover.

MummytoKatie Wed 06-Mar-13 09:00:16

One thought is that your children will be fed and kept warm at the childminder. Otherwise in winter you will all be at home with the heating on so some savings there.

My own experience was that 2 weeks after I went back to work with dd my dh was made redundant. No warning. Just went to his normal 9am meeting with his boss and 20 minutes later was escorted off the premises. It was a hard time but would have been so much harder if I had given up work.

DueInSeptember Wed 06-Mar-13 10:09:09

What about going part time? Less of your wages will be swallowed up by tax and your childcare bill will be smaller. I'm guessing there will be a point where your earnings will be maximised depending on the ratio of these.

What qualifications, skills do you have - can you apply these to a different career later on, or could you retrain and build on these?

Any option of freelance/ self employment in your line of work? Or something you've fancied trying for a while?

These would be the sort of things I'd try and ask myself and I'd try and think of alternative solutions.

Kytti Wed 06-Mar-13 10:20:23

YANBU if you want to be a SAHM. I'm (ahem) pushing 40 and sacked off my career for the children, but that was a joint decision with dh. That was always our long-term plan.

If you want to work quickly again though, I dunno... you're going to have to give it serious thought. I'm going to retrain in a few years, as I don't want to go back to my career. You need to work out what YOU want to do.

worthitornot Wed 06-Mar-13 10:22:16

Thanks for the replies, and encouragement...

My gut instinct is to go back, and I do want to go back, I enjoy my work. grobags is right, there is a part of me that worries that if something happens and I needed to support myself if I'd given up work I'd be stuffed.

I'm going to try and move heaven and earth to make it worthwhile and just suck it up for a little while if it's not.

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate all the input - it's made making a difficult decision a bit easier.

whenitrainsitpours Wed 06-Mar-13 11:59:38

I sympatise with you not an easy choice/decision to make. I also had to make that decision when I had my first dd as I was in a full time job that I loved and on good enough salary. My husband also worked ft earning a bit less than I. After doing the maths, decided to become a sahm as what i really wanted to do was stay with my dd and raise her till she would be in school ft. Three years later, had ds who is now going to start school ft in September. I am planning to go back to work ft and have to to share all my holidays and husband's to look after our to dc during all of their 12 weeks holidays (6 during Summer, 2 at Easter, 1 week at each term=3 and 2 at Christmas time). I hope we will have enough holidays to cover it all. I am lucky as my dh finishes work normally for 3pm so can pick up dcs from school. As for being 40sh not being employable i reckon it is all in the frame of mind. If you can keep up your skills and contacts ie references, it makes it easier to return. I have to say also that since dd was 8 months old, i started a part time job working three shifts a week while dh stayed at home in the evening with dc. As they are in bed early it did not cut on my time spent with them and was able to maintain some sanity on my part to be able to socialise outside the home and also make a few extra pounds usually nmw 12 hrs a week so about made £75 a week tax free as i earn under personal allowance. Also manage to get family tax credit as my dh was the only breadwinner. Lots to pounder when making decision, not just financially but also what will make yu happy whether you prefer working or be at home with dc. Good luck.

lljkk Fri 08-Mar-13 17:20:27

I worked for £10 after costs (nursery, luckily WAH) when DC1-DC2 were little. I'm looking at jobs that will net £1-£4/hour now which seems positively miraculous.

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