Do you work because you have to or because you want to?
Same for SATMs do you stay at home because you want to or is it not financially viable to go back to work?

Originally I was happy to stay at home, but now I do dream about getting a little job, although it scares me lol. But with childcare costs it's just not really possible for me to work now. It feels so silly that we would be much much worse off if I worked.

I really want to be a sahm for a few years but it isn't really financially viable saying that though I do enjoy my job and I think it does me good to get out of the house a couple of days a week and talk to other adults I'm lucky in that my mum is having Thomas for me while I'm at work otherwise it wouldn't be worth me going! x

I'm a single mum, so in theory I could 'stay at home' not working til Izzy is in full time school and not 'have' to work. I'd get my bills paid by benefits and I get a decent amount from Dan so I'd be comfortable.

That doesn't sit right with me though - I'm able to work so why should I be 'paid' not to?

So yeh I feel I need to work, I certainly don't have to. I want Izzy to be proud of me when she is a little bit older

I'm not really sure how I could instill the 'work hard play hard' ethos that Dan and I both kinda lived by before Izzy came about if I sat on my bum in her younger years. She totally understands that mummy and daddy have to work hard for the nice things and knows things don't get handed out for nothing (well I know they do but she doesn't know that lol)

Shell could you maybe look at night jobs at a pub or something if you feel the need to do something, that way you don't need to pay childcare?

Yeah I've started looking into night jobs but there's really not a lot around, and being that i have a panic attack when i get into the car to drive myself not making it easier as cuts off jobs that are further out. i'm hoping this month maybe some christmas temp stuff will come up in the local places.

I dont 'need' to work in a financial sense I earn £300a month and our tax cresits got cut by £290 when I wnet back so in theory were no better off. For my sanity though I need that bit of time out of the house x

^thats also the issue i'd have, i probs wouldn't be able to earn as much as we get in tax credits so i don't know whether it's worth it. I don't want to live off tax credits but do i make myself much worse off just to prove something?

I have to work because I can't afford not to. However, I would work anyway because I love my job. Ideally though I would work 3 days a week and have more time with Jamie

I love going to work and would be a terrible SAHM I think! I worked hard to get my job and I earn quite a lot so it would be a massive step to give it up even if I wanted to. I do sometimes worry about whether I spend enough time with lily but we make sure we do lots at weekends etc and she seems happy xx

I am happy doing both, i enjoy a good natter at work and i enjoy the environment, it also keeps my mind stimulated. But i do love being at home too, i have a good balance, if i could reduce by one day i would and might have to after Mat leave. I have always worked from 16 so can t ever see myself not working. But no we couldnt afford for my to me a SAHM anyway not now i like my own money too


Char

Wnen i could work before my dad died i worked because i wanted to cos in reality i was only about £15-£20 a week better off. now i am a sahm because i have no choice. to pay for childcare for my brood would be stupid and could cost soooo much more than i earned.
So basically i cant afford to work which is absolutely ridiculous but unfortunately thats how it is

Donna wrote:

Wnen i could work before my dad died i worked because i wanted to cos in reality i was only about £15-£20 a week better off. now i am a sahm because i have no choice. to pay for childcare for my brood would be stupid and could cost soooo much more than i earned.
So basically i cant afford to work which is absolutely ridiculous but unfortunately thats how it is

This is where our benefits system is stupid. It should be helping people that want to work so that they're not worse off

im SAHM we manage its handy because of callum needing extra care and he has so many appointments id be booknig mroe time off then being there.

I am desperate to work but simpy cant afford to. mabye next year when caleb starts school i will just go for it anyway, im sick of feeling like a doley but i just cant afford to be worse off