Is there a point in me going back to work?

[mummy of 3 boys]

i guess i know how you feel, ive been in the same situation tossing up whether to go back to work or not myself i was actually waiting for DS2 to hit 6 months and then i planned on going back to work but nope i am now preg with number 3 with stuffs that idea for now lol so i guess i just have a little longer to figure out what i want to do

Im 24 and still kinda in that mess of what do i want to do for pretty much the rest of my life work wise and i honestly still dont know i swap and change my mind and it makes it very frustrating i need to hurry up though as whatever i want to study i would like to do it now before i go baxck to work also

i just know like i mentioned before i have 2 friends who work and they both say its more better being financially with them working then not working, so that makes me want to go back to work plus i miss all the socialisation

[fromscratch]

I didn't go back to work till ds went to school.
I worked 9.30am till 2.30 mon to fri. so I guess thats part time.
You have to figure into your sums and IMO you need to do sums

Approx after tax income and FTB part A (mothers share of FTB)

Then you have to subtract
Cost of child care.
Cost of bag for child care
cost of hat for child care
Cost of uniform for child care(some places have a uniform for children)
approx cost of lost clothing(include socks, drink bottles, a couple of jumpers and perhaps a pair of trousers.)
Cost of extra fuel for the car each week,
Cost of wear and tear on the car(tyres, more frequent servicing, etc)
Cost of lunch/coffee for you each week,
cost of work clothing and shoes break this down to an approx weekly cost,
Car parking each week/public transport costs,
Dinner each working day if you think you would end up buying it more regularly than you do now.

Now after doing all the sums will you be better off at work?
Thats something only you can decide.

For us it worked out we'd be better of by a whopping $50.00 and in exchange for all my hard earned work I didn't think for $50. it was worth it. So I left work. Should have done the sums in the first place.
Turned out to be the best thing for us me being at home in the end. I have a totally different lifestyle now.


I just wanted to add.
Are you recieving parenting payment partnered? If not you should apply. ASAP.
We were recieving it when dh was doing his apprenticship and it helped alot. Good luck honey
Also if you are studing as a Mummy with littlies and on a Centerlink payment I'm sure your able to get extra payment for studying. From memory I think it was an extra $60. a week but I could be wrong with the amount.

[Fleur]

Have only skimmed previous replies hun. For us, the answer is always yes - although our CL goes down the more we earn, it's not dollar for dollar. We are always better off.

But as for if it's worth it - like BG said, that's something only you can work out. I know for some people, $50 a week (for eg) isn't worth it, for others it makes or breaks them.

You can call CL, get an estimate of what your CCB% would be and then call a CC centre & get an estimate of fees. Actually I think CL have a fee calculator on their site as well. All the calculations will be rough, mine never come out exactly the same but it will give you a ball-park idea.

As for having your children at the same centre, it's definitely not illegal - our centre has / has had a couple of carers with children there, so has my boss's centre. Not sure about a discount though.

GL

[briggsy's girl]

Approx after tax income and FTB part A (mothers share of FTB

just to clarify

there is NO "mum's share" of FTB

FTBA is based on combined income of both parents
FTBB is based on the lower income earner and the age of the youngest child

in our case, and many others here on BB, FTBB (if payable) is paid based on the fathers income.

[nothing2lose]

Personally, I think there's something else you need to factor into the equation.

What would it add to your sense of esteem and accomplishment going back to work?

I realise everyone is an individual, but for many, this is what is "priceless" about working outside the home.

Something to ponder

Good luck with your decision.

[Mildez]

I've been asking myself this same question. DH is a low income earner ($27000) last financial year and this year is looking even worse. Whilst I was working before DD no 3 was born combined we were not eligable for much FTB and definately no health care card or other benefits. I can't go back to work at the moment as DH can't cope with the kids. Our youngest is 6weeks old. I'd like to return 1 or 2days a week at the end of the year but then anything we are now entitled to we know longer will be. So I will be working for no more money then I will get staying at home. DH will be more stressed and the kids will miss out. DH doesn't do swimming lessons, piano, athletcis etc that they do with me. We fight more.

The bad thing about me not returning to work is the loss of my skills. I work as a midwife or did up until 6weeks ago. For us to be financially better off then we currently are I need to return to work a minimum of 6days a fortnight and for DH to care for the kids so they don't go to daycare. Daycare for us means unhappy children, loss of work and income for either DH or I as the kids constantly have colds, gastro, even whooping cough in the past etc. For us its just not worth it. It was when we had 2 children but now with 3 thats another story.

[Astrid]

Personally, I think there's something else you need to factor into the equation.

What would it add to your sense of esteem and accomplishment going back to work?

I realise everyone is an individual, but for many, this is what is "priceless" about working outside the home.

Something to ponder

Good luck with your decision.

Very true. I know for me I was getting to that point where it was going to get too hard to get back in to a decent job, at a decent rate. My best jobs and associated referees were getting a bit "old" and knowledge out of date. I was risking about $7 per hour if I did not go back soon.

Also going back to work can save you money depending on your circumstance. I know above all the extra costs have been listed, but in my case I have found that I was not out of pocket. For example I drink tea, most work places provide that. When I work, I buy less tea for home. Childcare provides meals, so there is a home expense that is dropped, same with activities. I go through less paint, playdough etc the less the kids are at home. As for petrol, car maintenance etc well I am out of town, so have to drive in a lot anyway, so I just do what I can on the trips to and from work, or ask DH to get what he can on his way home, so petrol and wear & tear does not go up. The biggest saver I have found is with electricity, we save over $100 a quarter even with me only working part-time. In the past I have had a job where I had lunch provided, plus discounts on purchases, another saving there It is good to see both sides, not just the negative when making such a huge decision.

Best of luck!

[briggsy's girl]

Personally, I think there's something else you need to factor into the equation.

What would it add to your sense of esteem and accomplishment going back to work?

I realise everyone is an individual, but for many, this is what is "priceless" about working outside the home.

Something to ponder

Good luck with your decision.

definitely weigh it all up - this point can be really important!

for us, for DH to return to work now, we would end up worse off. His ability to obtain employment in his normal field doesn't exist any more for health reasons. his skill set (and what he is able to train up in due to the issues he has) leave him with minimal opportunity apart from doing farm labour work - most of which is casual, and a significant drive away. for him to be able to go to work, he needs to work a full day to make it even close to viable when tax, ftb changes, travel expenses etc are taken into account - and we are in a "lucky" position in that we don't have to pay for child care due to family taking DD for us. there is just no guarantee of casual work providing that sort of consistency for us. and because it's an unskilled position, they can essentially get anyone to do the job so there is nowhere to negotiate on wages. Instead, to stop him feeling "stale" and to help that boost of feeling useful outside of the house, he does some volunteer work at lifeline. the positive change in him in the months he has been there is quite significant. he isn't bringing in any money (it probably costs us a bit in travel bus, as Astrid mentioned, he does a lot of "chores" while out, so probably not really that much) but his self esteem is doing a whole lot better

[fromscratch]

just to clarify

there is NO "mum's share" of FTB

FTBA is based on combined income of both parents
FTBB is based on the lower income earner and the age of the youngest child

in our case, and many others here on BB, FTBB (if payable) is paid based on the fathers income.

Thanks for the clarification

There have been a few very good points made.
Such as your sense of esteem and accomplishment, retaining work skills and quols.

[coolshades]

Well there's a lot to think about, you do have to way up whether it's financially fiable or not, and do the nuts and bolts of it and this may raise a few hairs on a few backs (Link removed by moderator) I filled in the poll and it's interesting the results, anyway lets know how you go?

[Astrid]

Interesting blog - not. There is no ability to comment. If putting up a narrow view, then at least allow people to respond. Also it is just full of ads and no content.