Ponyboy
22-12-2006, 10:38
Just thought I'd drop in here as next year I will be joining the working mums and dads. My maternity leave payments (I'm on half pay) run out in February but due to continually financial pressure (rates, mortgage, bills and now termites) I'll be working casually - 2-3 days a week as well as finishing my degree externally.
While I'm half excited about re-joining the workforce and continuing in gaining experience in my career - I'm shifting from an academic library to public library - I feel a bit sad and guilty about leaving my DD for the first time. My mum will be looking after her one day and a friend the other day, and my DH if I work weekends. It will be the first time I've been away from her for more than one day - my DH recently had the pleasure of looking after her for a day when I presented at a conference in Sydney. So I suppose I feel a bit guilty about being excited - stupid really.
I suppose also I feel guilty because I have always said I'd rather stay at home and look after her than work - but now financial reality as set in. I was even thinking of one day in daycare but my DH is totally against that idea.
So a question for you all. My DH is on just a bit over $30,000 a year, I'm currently getting half pay maternity payments and am in the process of approaching Centrelink to see if I'm eligble for Parenting Payments - but now I will be working casually - I'm wondering how one works out tax issues with the payment? My casual job will most likely be down as my second job until maternity payment runs out and I'm thinking that if I even get anything from parenting payment it will be gobbled up in tax as a third income. Anyone else been down this path??
While I'm half excited about re-joining the workforce and continuing in gaining experience in my career - I'm shifting from an academic library to public library - I feel a bit sad and guilty about leaving my DD for the first time. My mum will be looking after her one day and a friend the other day, and my DH if I work weekends. It will be the first time I've been away from her for more than one day - my DH recently had the pleasure of looking after her for a day when I presented at a conference in Sydney. So I suppose I feel a bit guilty about being excited - stupid really.
I suppose also I feel guilty because I have always said I'd rather stay at home and look after her than work - but now financial reality as set in. I was even thinking of one day in daycare but my DH is totally against that idea.
So a question for you all. My DH is on just a bit over $30,000 a year, I'm currently getting half pay maternity payments and am in the process of approaching Centrelink to see if I'm eligble for Parenting Payments - but now I will be working casually - I'm wondering how one works out tax issues with the payment? My casual job will most likely be down as my second job until maternity payment runs out and I'm thinking that if I even get anything from parenting payment it will be gobbled up in tax as a third income. Anyone else been down this path??