How much is going back to work worth to you?

[anna matronic]

I don't suppose anybody knows of the changes in tax credits which will come into effect in April?
I know the amounts are going to change, it would be good to know by how much so we could plan our finances better.

I'm sure I read that instead of contributing up to 80% of child care costs they will now only contribute up to 70% of child care costs.

I need to work 3 months to avoid paying back my additional maternity leave, but chances are that come April when my 3 months are up and TC are changed I'll be leaving unless I'm pregnant, and if I'm pregnant I'll be leaving at 29weeks!

Excellent!! Another £80 i have to find a month. So £240 of my salary is going on childcare. I earn enough not to get alot of tax credits and won't get help with rent or anything so that is a massive chunk for me (am single parent so no other help!)

 

[LPF]

We aren't eligible for any support as dh earns too much so me returning to work is an increase of my entire pay! On three days I'd pay 350 per month childcare but bring home £1200 so it's a no brainer and I love my job and will look forward to me time.

Aren't they cutting the threshold for tax credits? To like a household income limit of 25k or something? I know we won't be eligible anyway.

 

[poppykat]

I started back at work last week but I am a nanny so I am in a lucky position that I take Chloe with me. So no childcare costs!

I am part time doing 15 hours a week over 2 days (one short day one 10 hour day) and I take home about £500 per month. So it is definitely worth me working and I actually really like my job so I get the best of both worlds. Plus it means Chloe is socialising with more children.

x

 

[Elphaba]

I've only found the fees online for two nurseries but assuming they are typical for the area (approx £50 per day) then I will be £3 per day WORSE off if I go back as I only bring home £47 per day after deductions and travel.

I don't think my work offers childcare vouchers and as DH is on very good wage we wouldn't get tax credits. Of course, him being on good wage means we can aford not to have my salary. So just comes down to whether I WANT to go back really!

 

[kirstylm]

I havent sat down and worked it out yet but even at the moment I get sod all by TC and technically I am unemployed as my contract finished before I left to have LO.

So im assuming even if I decided not to go back to work we would struggle so I guess I have to work.

I have a job to start in April and I love it, its exactly what I wanna do but at the same time Im dreading it, I REALLY REALLY dont wanna leave LO. I love spending every day with her and feel I will miss sooooo much! She will be with my mum but still, Im in two minds!

I just dont think TC with give us sod all even though hubby doesnt earn over 20k.

I dont know how they work it out but it just seems they are screwing us!!

 

[Jolinar]

We scrape by if I stay at home no holidays, no luxuries. We're 1k in the black every month if I go to work even after Nursery fees. It's not all about the money, though it is nice I also need to work I'm not cut out to stay at home, I go majorly gaga without adult social interaction sadly!

 

[emsiee]

A lot! I dont know how we`d cope without my job but I am reducing my hours when I go back in April (hopefully!) We will be down some money though as we need to pay for nursery 2 days a week.

 

[ShanandBoc]

Im not going back to work, Elleah and our future babies are my job now......i dont care how much better off we would be (not a huge amount anyway) money isnt as important as being there to watch my kids grow up. Luckily we dont have a mortgage and only rent and arent fussed about buying a big house or driving a fancy car, we just keep our eye and our life simple.

My DH has 6 months of study left then he is fully qualified and will work to support us plus here we still get a little bit of help from the government even with him working full time, and even if i went back to work

Ive worked full time for 10+ years, not going back to that and putting my LO in child care. I dont see the point x

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

my car is not fancy and my house not big, but still need to work

 

[Laura_M]

my car is not fancy and my house not big, but still need to work

ditto!

 

[Eve]

My OH makes enough that our bills are paid, we have a decent roof over our heads, a car to drive (not the fanciest lol) and we are well fed. We do not have much extra and I shop for myself (maybe once I year, I hate shopping) at thrift stores. I babysit 2 girls part-time. I do not want to pay someone else to raise my daughter for the first 3 yrs of her life. I just don't want to. If I do go to work it will be at tim hortons or something, evenings so we don't need to pay a sitter and so she has daddy time. If I went back to work we wouldn't get a whole lot in childcare help either, so I would end up paying out around 160.00 a week and gas would be around 50 a week, so we wouldn't get a whole lot extra anyways.

 

[mummy2jack]

I took them to court for unfair dismissal/sex discrimintation

I wonder if I could pm you about this?
I was made redundant 2 weeks before my 6 months ML was up and the temp is still doing my job! I had seen a solicitor but can't afford his costs. I think my employer should have to answer to a tribunal and would love to hear firsthand how you managed with it all.

you certainly can altho i dont know what pm means...i'm guessing some sort of message? xx

 

[katieandfras]

Agreed! I think its a bit unfair when people keep saying that looking after there little one and not missing out on things are more important than returning to work. I HAVE to go back, we have a mortgage and bills to pay and if I decided not to go back we would lose everything - yet we would be making to much to be eligable for any type of benefitS/council housing/housing benefit so would be very stuck!

I would love to stay at home with LO but its just not feasable

 

[tu123]

With a joint income it is worth a little=enough to be ok, but on mine alone-NADA! I'll go back part time.

 

[Laura_M]

Agreed! I think its a bit unfair when people keep saying that looking after there little one and not missing out on things are more important than returning to work. I HAVE to go back, we have a mortgage and bills to pay and if I decided not to go back we would lose everything - yet we would be making to much to be eligable for any type of benefitS/council housing/housing benefit so would be very stuck!

I would love to stay at home with LO but its just not feasable

I totally agree, the only way I could not go back is by winning the lottery! I would love to stay at home with lo but I can't

 

[_Vicky_]

Soooo glad I am self employed and work from home - childcare costs for twins? forget it xx

 

[ShanandBoc]

my car is not fancy and my house not big, but still need to work

Thats ur situation tho, not mine. the thread is titled 'how much is going back to work, worth to you'?

So for us, we can live off one wage cause if i were to work it would only be so we could afford more material things

Im not saying that every mother goes back to work so she can have a big house or fancy car...maybe i could have worded it better

 

[chele]

I'm not going back as the part time they offer is 4 full days or 5 days 9.00-3.30 but with a 2 hour commute (1 hr there, 1 back) it's just not worth it.

We just decided we'd scrap by and if need be I'd get something part time. We're just playing it month by month and I hope to be working from home at some point as a Cambridge Diet Counsellor. I earn extra income at the moment which comes from my other property which is enough to pay the mortgage and set a side about £200 each month for emergencies/ repair work

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

my car is not fancy and my house not big, but still need to work

Thats ur situation tho, not mine. the thread is titled 'how much is going back to work, worth to you'?

So for us, we can live off one wage

Im not saying that every mother that goes back to work so she can have a big house or fancy car...maybe i could have worded it better

Fair enough

 

[ShanandBoc]

Although winning the lottery and buying a big house and fancy car for me and all my family and friends wouldnt be so bad lol