Would you get a job even if?

[Dancing Lotus]

After we do our budget for the month we only have 7.00 dollars left. Okay so all my needs are met but we never have extra and it gets hard always being so tight. I was thinking about going back to work this fall. MY oldest will finaily be in school all day so I would only have to pay for child care for one.
The reality is that i will only make about 200 to 350 a week. Depending on if I work part time or full time. Child care will run me about 150. So Im only looking at bringing home 50 bucks a week. I know at first that doesnt sound worth it but that would mean an extra 200 a month to start paying down some debt to even just to build up a saveings.

Unfortunalty I have not other option but to work days . I wish I could work the night shift and not pay for any child care but my dh goes to school at night and the nights he doesnt have classes he often works very late. HE also has to work weekends on occasion and he is on call on wednesdays and every other weekend.

My question is, do you think it is worth it?

[sunshine]

Don't forget to take into account all the "frugal" things you do now to save money, that you won't have time or energy to do, when you are working.

Things like menu planning, baking from scratch, hanging laundry -- all take time, but save money. Will you have the time and energy to do ALL the things you are doing now? If not, how much more money will you be spending?

And will the extra $$ put your household in a different tax bracket? You might lose money, if you have to pay more taxes.

And the hidden costs of working -- extra gas $$ to get to and from, nicer clothes, office gifts, etc.

[sunshine]

I meant to add:

Only you can decide if it's worth it for you and your family. I just wanted to add a few thoughts for the decision process.

[Dancing Lotus]

Those are all good points . I think maybe the only way to truely know would be to give it try. You never know I might find cheaper child care or I might make more then I think. Maybe I shoud get the job first then set a time frame. If its not worth it then stop.

I dont hang my laundry- I dont like the way the clothes feel or smell!YUCK!!

[JerryG]

AnnK - How do you feel about your child being in daycare?

That said - I would do it. I'm frugal by nature but running a budget that close would freak me out. IMHO

I agree to give it try and see how it works. If it doesn't, then you'll know. If it does, you'll have some breathing room.

[Mom23boys]

Don't forget to take into account all the "frugal" things you do now to save money, that you won't have time or energy to do, when you are working.

Things like menu planning, baking from scratch, hanging laundry -- all take time, but save money. Will you have the time and energy to do ALL the things you are doing now? If not, how much more money will you be spending?

And will the extra $$ put your household in a different tax bracket? You might lose money, if you have to pay more taxes.

And the hidden costs of working -- extra gas $$ to get to and from, nicer clothes, office gifts, etc.

Good points!! I know with me working, we are in a higher tax bracket. There are weeks that I lose all frugal-ness because as Sunshine mentioned, I am just too tired after working all day to do some of them. On the weekends, I want a break to just relax so I don't do them then either. I do really good during the summer months because I am off and I can stay focused on saving! I have more energy to put into it.

But, I do understand wanting to have more income. Only having a few dollars left over each month would be very stressful for me too. What if you have an emergency, the hot water heater goes out, the car breaks down, the kids get sick? Having extra money saved up sure would help in those emergencies.

Good luck with your decision.

[Cricket1]

Can you run a daycare from your home? That way, you can make extra money and not pay for child care.

I work part-time and the extra money does come in handy.

[frugalfriend]

Can you run a daycare from your home? That way, you can make extra money and not pay for child care.

That's a great idea! You could still be home with your child, do the frugal things you do now, make some money, and maybe find a playmate or two for your child in the process.

[Dancing Lotus]

I have thought about running my own daycare at home but I would have to find just the right person. I could only take one child , two at most. My dd has to be taken and picked up from school everyday. Plus honesly Im the type of person that has to get out or I go nuts. I get depressed if I am home too much. I need people. I would only consider it a last resort. Im also not very partient with kids in a certain age group. ITs different when its your kid.

[justpeachy92]

For me it wouldn't be worth it, I know that what was left after paying childcare would just get eaten up in gas and other nonfrugal things like sunshine listed above. Doing childcare in your home could give you the extra money you want without it costing over half your income to do. If you are worried about about getting screwed by nonpaying parents you could get certified by the state, and watch children through the childcare aid that is offered for low income families in the welfare office. My mom did this when I was younger and she was paid by the state not the parents, so she always knew her money was coming. Another thing to try could be to get hired on cleaning apartments after people move out, when we lived in an apartment in Florida the lady that did this would bring her children with her. Delivering the newspaper might be an option also, with some papers you can make almost $200 a week, not sure when your dh goes to work in the morning but maybe he can watch kids while you deliver or they could ride with you; although with this you again have to factor in the cost of gas.

[justpeachy92]

Another job to consider, when we were in Florida my kids elementary school sent home a letter at the beginning of the year for cafeteria aids. They paid $10 an hour and the job consisted of helping kids that couldn't get straws opened or opening something else in their lunch and wiping down tables when the kids left, the hours were from 10am to 1pm, that could make childcare cost less because you would only need part time daycare.

[Dancing Lotus]

Another job to consider, when we were in Florida my kids elementary school sent home a letter at the beginning of the year for cafeteria aids. They paid $10 an hour and the job consisted of helping kids that couldn't get straws opened or opening something else in their lunch and wiping down tables when the kids left, the hours were from 10am to 1pm, that could make childcare cost less because you would only need part time daycare.

10 to 1 would be perfect. I did the cleaning thing and made ZERO after expenses. NO joke, some weeks I didnt even make enough to cover expenses.

[bumplett]

or p/t at a daycare center (if you can handle that type of job)
or selling from home such as Avon (low start up/no inventory
or adult parties like Missy & I do
or try selling items on craigslist/ebay for a bit extra, then roll your profit into buying more stuff to resell - resell items from: thrift stores/yard sales/freebies

[Domestic Gal]

I would definately go for the cafeteria help. I work for the school district in the cafeteria. I will be making $11.44 an hour come Sept. 1. I work form 11:30-2:30. I am off when the kids are off.
I get all of my housework and laundry done in the morning before I go to work.
When the kids get home I am able to help with homework and other school related things.
I would put in the application now because if they need to hire people they will need to do it before the new school year starts.
Even if you do not get in for a perm. position tell them you will be a sub. (when someone needs off or is sick they call you to work)that is what I did and got a perm position. Plus if you are a sub you will get your foot in the door for the perm. position. Plus I have job security. They are not going to stop the school lunch program.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

[i.m.cheap]

Would I work a full-time job and put my child in daycare to take home $50-100 a week? No.

I think you would experience other costs that you may not even be factoring into that figure, like extra gas in your car, clothes and shoes for the job, more convenience food/fast food because you are too exhausted to cook meals all the time. Also, the higher income tax. If I went back to work, we would no longer qualify for the earned income credit, and our tax bill would be MUCH higher.