Just wondering.....

[FourAngelKisses]

For those of you who are 2 income families, by the time you pay for childcare costs, are you really any further in front financially than you would be if you were a single income family?

I don't want to offend anyone, this is something I've always wondered.

[Briswegian]

Yep, I'm about to return to work and it's only for the dollars.

[whatwasithinking]

On the off pay week no.

Out of my pay I pay $900p/f child care and also $100p/f for health insurance and then I have enough to pay for my car parking.

I basically work for nothing the second week.

But the way I look at it it won't be forever and I am doing this to secure a future for my girls. I manage to save about $25/f for the girls but that's about it.

As much as I love my girls dearly I also like working as well.

[kmac77]

Hi - we come out in front but only if the kids are in child care 3 days a week. If I were working full time I wouldn't get much child care benefit and I would basically be working for nothing so we worked out that working 3 days a week we come out with extra at the end.:yelclap:

[fee's]

Hi - we come out in front but only if the kids are in child care 3 days a week. If I were working full time I wouldn't get much child care benefit and I would basically be working for nothing so we worked out that working 3 days a week we come out with extra at the end.:yelclap:

I am in a similar position and am going back 3 days a week too for that reason. If we have a second child the difference will be negligable so will work out a way to stay at home I think. Never know what our finances will be like then or how I will cope with going back to work in a months time anyway.

[FourAngelKisses]

Oh okay, thanks. So it sounds like if anyone went back to full time work, then you would be behind. I know a lot of mothers where I live work full time, but I think they have their parents take care of the kids (which I personally couldn't do...my parents are done raising kids).


Thanks again for answering my curiosity.

[rynosmum]

I work fulltime and we are way better off financially than we would be if I was a SAHM. No doubt about it.

My son goes to daycare 3 days per week and is looked after 2 days per week by a family member (who we also pay). It really depends on your job level, location (in terms of travel and carparking) and the location of the childcare

[draught]

I work part time and we are better off financially as a result. There is a secondary financial reason for me working though - with my profession I need to keep current if I want to return to work full time when the children are older and we need more money for school fees etc, so my working part time now is also an investment in our financial future as I will be more employable in the future than if I stayed home for a few years. I also enjoy the balance of home and work.

[IngridS]

Iwork 3 days a week from the office and one day a week from home. Yes, we are in front but I still don't know where it goes!
Ingrid