Can anyone else just not afford to work?

[linley]

I feel like I'm reaching the end of my tether.
I know I'm very lucky, my parents have been so supportive, watching LO (13 months) when I work at weekends. But I'm beginning to wonder if it's worth it. I work saturday (when mum watches lo) and Sunday (when fob has him) and even though its only a shop job, I do enjoy it. But its only 8 hours a week on minimum wage which means I can't get help in the form of tax credits. My hours are unpredictable, sometimes I'll do mornings, others I'm there til 8pm. Its the late shifts that are causing problems, I know my parents have things they'd like to do but can't and its really starting to cause problems between us. And fob isnt the most reliable childcare, he seems to have a lot of better things to do, has bailed a few times now. I hate being so reliant on other people but I'd hate not working at all even more. I feel quite proud that I'm at least doing something to support myself and lo, but its costing too much with my family. I hate feeling like I'm making them put their lives on hold for a job that may not be helping out as much as I think. I sat last night looking for new jobs, but all I'd be doing it putting more hours on mum and dad. I also looked at a benefits calculator and it doesnt look like I'd be entitled to anything other than what I already have (child benefit and child tax credits) because I havent been "excused from work" whatever that means.
I just feel so stuck, I'm not sure what to do to make things better. Do I keep depending on other people or do I quit my job and risk my sanity? Either way I can't see myself being happy.

 

[KayBea]

i cant afford to work either :/

it suprises people when i say this but ide actually be minus £200 odd a month after i pay for childcare, taking travel expenses etc etc in to account.

its stupid. i had aback to work interview at job centre at the beginning of the month & jeeeeeez i actually felt like i was being forced back to work.

the only way i would make any money is if i worked 8-7 5 days a week & i relied on friends for free childcare but then ide never see LO

they dont make it easy for us!!! xx

 

[Kate&Lucas]

I'm better off working. I work part-time and I'm only on minimum wage so I'm not much better off, but the thought of going back on benefits makes me shudder. I could hardly afford to sneeze, never mind live (and with council tax benefit being stripped this year, I was actually terrified to stay on them).
You'd surely be entitled to income tax though, if you left work? I left work in 2011 and went straight on to income tax, they didn't even ask why I left. Also, if you were to get a job with better hours (over 16, I think?), you'd be entitled to working tax credit then which includes a good chunk of childcare. You could even split it, half the time at nursery and half with family if they're good enough to have LO, that would cut costs too.

 

[linley]

I know, finanically, I'm better off working. Emotionally too, my work is my guaranteed bit of adult company every week, I love the people I work with and have a great social life with them. I just hate knowing that I rely on other people to put their plans on hold to help me. LO's too young for nursery, I feel. I fully intend to have him in one when he's old enough to communicate any worries/problems he has, I'm not working weekends forever. I always said I would never be a single mum on benefits - nothing against people who are, I know it's necessary - I'm too independant and that's why this is getting to me. I won't give up my job, definitely not without another one to go to. Just had a butting of heads with my mum and feel guilty. My uncle's trying to set me up with an evening job, which would be ideal cause mum helps out with LO in the evenings anyway.
Thanks ladies

 

[lemontree12]

can i just ask work working mums are entitled to? im about to go back to work working around 20-25hrs per week. at around £10ph. i just dont understand it all. but i really want to work for both me and my little one.

 

[linley]

First off, good for you.
You should get child tax credits (which should allow for childcare costs) and working tax credits (although I'm not sure what the new guidelines are, if you apply they'll tell you). And you should already have child benefit? Other than that, I'm not sure.