Going back to work... is it worth it?

[Jaffaz]

Have you thought about doing night or weekend work. I did this after DS1 was born it ment everything i earnt was mine and DS didn't have to go into child care.
I worked at a supermarket, wasn't the most rewarding job but the $$ wasn't to bad and the hours were perfect for me. Just 6 hours 1 night a week and 7 on a Sunday (double pay) I started early Sunday so was home for lunch.

Just a suggestion!!

[Snacks]

Sally, everyone's situation is different and I think in your case you'd be wise to listen to BG. If you find you're only marginally better off then perhaps it's worth putting it to DP that he needs to grow up? Having a kid in CC is more than just the money. There's also the sick factor. I really like the CC centre my DDs go to. Natalie has been going there for nearly 2 years and she's now so fond of the place and the teachers. However, being around that many kids that often means a lot of sickness.
I was fortunate when I went back to work to find a job where my employers were VERY supportive of my family commitments. They didn't have any problems with me taking days off when Natty got sick. And it happened a lot. The new job I've started is slightly more stressful because if one of my kids is sick I can't just ring up and say I'm not coming. I need to arrange for someone to cover me.
It's worth considering.
FWIW, in our case it is a given that I have to work. DH owns his business and we are still paying off a CRAPLOAD of debt. However the repayments come from the business so it looks to the govt that we earn a heck of a lot more than we get in our hands, so unless we find a way to live on DH's small salary alone, I have to work.
On the other hand, it's important to note that I enjoy working. I enjoy getting out of the house and I find that I enjoy my time with the girls that much more than before. My girls are being looked after in CC but also by their grandparents and they're all enjoying that too.
I hope I haven't just confused things more for you. Just wanted to open up a couple more factors than just the cash.
Hope you come to a resolution you are happy with soon, mate. xx

[Early Kids]

Thanks for all the input xx

I can't work weekends or nights because DP doesn't work set hours himself. He's a farmhand which means at the moment he is working midnight till midday, sometimes 7am till 7pm and sometimes weekends. Which is why if I return to work the kids go into daycare. Brendan already goes one day a week now (paed's orders) so I'm well aware of what goes on.

DP is the biggest issue, he won't budge on ANYTHING and his family SUPPORT that! I have cut down my internet and phone bill, which are my only bills. I have swapped food choices and buy cheaper branded things and we don't get treats as often as we used to. I've cut down on power usage in the past 6 months which hasn't helped with our power bill being increased anyway... goes up another 16-17% in July There is nothing else I can do... it's all up to him now and he just won't budge. Foxtel is currently in my name so I will be reducing that to the basic package anyway and as soon as the contract is up it's going (July). But I can't control the other things. He has a motorbike and a Ute which we are currently forking out around $1000 a month in loan payments for, and then he wants to ride his bike which costs us more. He just doesn't get that we have no money right now. I have $50 to last me till next pay which is about the 10th of May. That $50 is for food shopping because that's all we had left after paying some bills. I don't know what else I can do but go back to work and hope to make ends meet

I really wanted to see out this year because Brendan will be in kindy next year.

PS Sorry for the rant

[Peg]

your situation sounds really tight at the moment

I remember when i put my dd3 into a child care centre, i was paying $180 for 3x 6hr days per week and i was earning $300 per week gross. Not really worth the effort for an extra $120 pw.

So i moved her into family day care. The cost was based on an hourly rate of $5, so it worked out much more economical.

Is there any work you could do from home? (babysitting, ironing, washing???)

[Catastrophic]

Hey hun, will come bk n respond tomorrow... xoxoxo

[Mrs Jak]

Hi Sally,

Have you called Centrelink and made sure you are currently receiving the correct entitelments for your current situation?

Also, have you called your phone provider and asked them if there is another/better plan for your situation?

Does your DH want you to go back full-time or part-time?

[Early Kids]

Family Day Care have a HUGE wait list here and getting both kids in together is next to impossible. I do have a couple of people who will look after the kids as back-up if they are sick and I need to work.

Haven't called centrelink, but we aren't entitled to any more than we receive now because DP earns 55K a year. Although this year will be less as it's already a bad year (no rain = no seeding and no seeding will = no harvesting... for rain!)

Not looking at full-time, but something consistent like 15-20 hours or so (preferably over 2 days). He doesn't really want me to go back to work at all... but there isn't much else we can do.

There isn't really anything I can do from home... I have even tried party-plan things but I guess I lack motivation when I'm home lol