opinions on apprenticeship while being a mum?

[nicole_]

im quite interested in doing an electrician apprenticeship next year.
now it would be around 37 hours with a week and the pays only about £100 for the next 2 years or so, unless i can get one with a big company.
LO will have to go into childcare so thats what, £180 roughly a week? then i think id be entitled to help with childcare costs and our tax credits may help out
but does this sound like a potential nightmare? i mean £100 a weeks nothing, and having to pay childcare for almost double what i earn while trying to pay for food, fuel etc (OH pays for house and bills) im not sure how much help you can get with childcare(anyone any ideas?)
but then after im qualified its a pretty healthy wage, and as im only 19 i'd like to have a career so it gives us a brighter future
i dont know what to do :sad:

 

[emme]

If it's your dream then go for it, sure it may be a few years struggling but then you'll have many a years reward from it! Good luck! Xx

 

[whistle]

If I were you I'd go to the Citizen's Advice Bureau and ask them to help you work out what you're entitled to. There's also www.entitledto.co.uk which can give you a rough idea of benefits. Ask local colleges if you'd get any help to study and mention all your circumstances.

In terms of if you'll be able to live on a low income, you can do some legwork to cut down your costs like comparing your utilities bills, planning your meals very carefully and cooking from scratch. At the end of the day you'd have to write yourself a monthly budget of how much is coming in and what you spend on food, travel, bills etc etc and see if it all works out. HTH