Please help me decide

[somethingawfulonit]

After being out of work for almost a year, I have suddenly been lucky enough to be offered two jobs today. I just don't know which to choose for the best, so I would appreciate any input anyone has:

1. School job, 3 hours a day, 5 days a week. Term time only. Fixed term contract for six months. No real idea if they'll be able to renew. Half the salary of job number 2.

1. Job with a charity. 20 hours a week, four days a week, 9.30 to 2.30, but not term time only. Permanent job. Double the salary of job no. 1.

We have a 5 year old in year 1 at school. Dh works full-time. We live in a teeny weeny house and would love to be able to afford enough of a mortgage to get a slightly bigger house. That might be possible with job number one, but much more possible with job number 2.

Any thoughts. I feel sad about not being there in school holidays. Actually I feel slightly sick about it. But on the other hand, we are totally broke and been working our way slowly through savings this past year.

Any input for me? Any experiences to help me?

Thank you.

[ConventGarden]

cant really say - can you get a back to work income check for both scenarios to help the decision ?

[StrictlySazz]

I work 20hrs per week (albeit over 3 days) and DC were only in holiday club at the local leisure centre for 6 days over the whole summer hols and 1 day in half term. They adore it BTW and do loads of stuff - swimming, rollerskating, trampolining, tennis, badminton, games, craft etc

Could you do 3 longer days in the holiday so they have more full days with you? I find that by not doing 5 days per week I can change my days around for any days off which would normally need holiday, so all my holiday is saved for DC holidays (bar the few days noted above)

So, I have 5 weeks holiday + Bank hols (on bank holiday weeks I work an extra day) which is actually quite a lot.

[TreaterAnita]

Do you have childcare options for Holidays that won't wipe out your earnings for that period in job # 2, that would be my starting point. It's pretty short days, unless you're expected to do overtime, so you'd still get some quality time with your child in the school holidays. Also what's the annual leave like? If it's reasonable, then you can obviously take that in the school hols as well.

[StrictlySazz]

I would def go for job2 BTW. It may be that once you are in they can be more flexible re holidays and if you hate it, you can always leave. I know that would mean you had turned down the school job but that may have only been for 6 months anyway

[StrictlySazz]

Our leisure centre scheme is really reasonable £24 a day IIRC and you can pay with vouchers so under £20 a day even if you only get 20% tax on the vouchers

[cat88]

I would go for Job2 - its permanent and fits in the with school day. By next summer you will have been there a few months and they may be more flexible with you to manage the school holidays. The Job1 sounds good but 6 months is not really long - would not cover the summer anyway if no realistic chance of it being extended.

[LifeIsBetterInFlipFlops]

Def job number 2 - it's not as if you would be working all day everyday, so still plenty of time with DC in the hols. Good luck!

[KnackeredCow]

You will of course get the equivalent if 5.6 weeks leave minimum, and possibly more depending on how much the charity offers. I worked for a charity and got a generous 27 days plus 8 bank holidays, or 7 weeks. Check whether there are any restrictions on taking your leave in the school holidays. If there are none, then I am guessing you'll be able to take a significant proportion of them off.

[lljkk]

2), without a doubt.

[Babyroobs]

No 2. The hours sound great. Don't forget you will get annual leave and your partner will so you can take some of your leave seperately to cover school hols.

[marleymooo]

I'd definitely vote for no 2 for all the reasons mentioned above. But also, which one are you going to enjoy the most?

[lightningstrikes]

Job 2 and cover hols between you and your DH and selected holiday clubs.

[nextphase]

Job 2, but (if it would allow you to still do school pick up), negotiate to work to 3pm in term time, and then use the extra half hour each day to get extra holidays (one days extra hol / 2 weeks work) to cover the school holidays.