Bleugh! stupid work, stupid government, stupid childcare - I may be ranting slightly

[rosebea]

I haven't been here for ages so sorry to come back with a rant but I need a bit of advice and this is always the best place for that......
I started a new job in October (part time 25 hours) nice a flexi, fits in with school, mini dd goes to childminder & nursery which is fine but DH's just been made redundant and my boss has asked me to go full time, I'm torn because while DH's not working it's fine but if I'm at work and he has the girls then he can't go to interviews (severe babysitter drought) which is a pain but we'll obviously manage because we have to and I'm sure they'll be fine with me having time off for that but the real issue is that if I go full time then my childcare costs for both children including after school + childminder/nursery will mean that my actual income will be pitiful and during the holidays I'll be earning a grand total of 50p per hour the consolatory light at the end of the tunnel being that in september mini dd will get her free sessions so do I bite the bullet and do it and maybe ask for slightly more money (even though I've only been there 6 months) or do I say no and risk them hiring someone else?

[sophiewd]

Have yoy checked that you can't get fees paid for by tax credits?

[rosebea]

Yep, they're about as much use as a chocolate tea pot but not anywhere near as yummy! We can't get hlep because we earnt too much last year never mind that we'll have a rubbishy income this year.

[hotbot]

could you suggest a 3 mth trial will dh have agot a job by then, you will have a bit more money and give them the chance of finding someone else?

[alfiesbabe]

It's worth checking what sophiewd says. But tbh, i can't see how you'll actually be worse off working F/T? Ok, when all the kids are off school for the holidays then you won't be making much, but you have to balance that with the fact that the vast bulk of the time they're in school and in a sense being looked after for nothing! Also, presumably you can take yours and DHs holiday allowance to cover part of the school holidays? And while DH is home, then I guess the childcare costs won't be an issue anyway. As DH has been made redundant, IMO it would be madness to turn down the chance of full time employment for one of you.

[rosebea]

Hopefully he will have a job (all things crossed) but he's a health and safety specialist and the jobs are few and far between, he's had a couple of interviews, he had one two months ago and they've only just called him back for a second interview! It's all very long winded! But anyway, the 3 month trial is a good idea, I'll put that forward. I really wouldn't want them to hire anyone else though, I'm really lucky that it's a job I love and wouldn't want to loose it. I get to boss around lots of rather attractive men.......which is never bad!

[naturalblonde]

Are you sure about that with the tax credits? I thought you could ring them and tell them your income for this year has gone down and they will adjust your tax credits.

[rosebea]

Hi Naturalblonde, yep I'm sure I've had a few lengthy conversations with them because I was sure they had to be wrong but with our existing 2007-2008 income we had an adjustment of 4 pounds per week until April then they'll re-evaluate if he hasn't got a job by then. We wont get the working tax credits or childcare element because he's not working, we both have to be working for that