Looking to go back to work

Bridget1996

Im looking to go back t work, I have three kids,, one school going, how much would it generally cost me to get a minder to come to my house 5 days a week 7-17:00,

Im trying to see is it worth my while....so any help or suggestions would be appreciated

pilly

7-5 is a long day for someone. Are you planning on travelling a fair bit to work?

It really depends on who you get to mind the kids. You could get an au pair given these hours but they are live in and you have provide a bedroom and their meals obviously.

Or you could get a younger person or stay at home mum to do it into the hand.

The most expensive of course is the crèche option.

aido79

Bridget1996 wrote: »

Im looking to go back t work, I have three kids,, one school going, how much would it generally cost me to get a minder to come to my house 5 days a week 7-17:00,

Im trying to see is it worth my while....so any help or suggestions would be appreciated

So basically you want to find someone who will work more hours than you plan on doing for much less money than you earn?
This is the only way it will be worth your while anyway.

pilly

aido79 wrote: »

So basically you want to find someone who will work more hours than you plan on doing for much less money than you earn?
This is the only way it will be worth your while anyway.

To be fair, that's the way it works for most working mothers. Otherwise none of them would go to work.

There's a very disparaging tone about your message.

aido79

pilly wrote: »

To be fair, that's the way it works for most working mothers. Otherwise none of them would go to work.

There's a very disparaging tone about your message.

I didn't mean to sound disparaging but unless the OP is going to get a very good wage from the job she intends to get then it is not going to be worth her while.
Looking after 3 kids, even if one of them is only going to be there for part of the day would not be an easy job so deserves a decent wage too.
There aren't many people willing to work a 50 hour week unless the wage is worth it.

pilly

aido79 wrote: »

I didn't mean to sound disparaging but unless the OP is going to get a very good wage from the job she intends to get then it is not going to be worth her while.
Looking after 3 kids, even if one of them is only going to be there for part of the day would not be an easy job so deserves a decent wage too.
There aren't many people willing to work a 50 hour week unless the wage is worth it.

Maybe she is going to earn a good wage. Of course someone who's going to look after 3 kids deserves a good wage also but it's all relative.

For all we know OP could be lawyer, doctor, solicitor, any other highly paid profession. Therefore contributing to society and providing employment for someone else. Nothing wrong with that at all.

Bridget1996

Hi all, Im afraid I am not a Doctor or anything, just earn a normal wage, I have been in my job along time and Im currently on maternity leave, I would just like to know what am I looking at paying out to have someone come to my house as I did work with two going to a childminders and I didnt have a lot of money at end of week which I sucked it up and got on with it, my job is the secure one, my husband works for himself as a builder, so when the work is not there we have my job so would like to know how much it is without the stress of dragging three kids out in the morning as I cant face that again and then go and have to go and do a full days work and to be perfectly honest I dont want to do that to my kids again, It was no life for them, I do really appreciate that it is long hours for someone, just the same as it is long hours for me too, but I just need to weigh up my options so any help would be apprieciated.

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jos28

Do you have to go back full time ? Is part time an option, this would make it easier to find a child minder. It might also be a better option tax wise.

The_Conductor

pilly wrote: »

7-5 is a long day for someone. Are you planning on travelling a fair bit to work?

It really depends on who you get to mind the kids. You could get an au pair given these hours but they are live in and you have provide a bedroom and their meals obviously.

Or you could get a younger person or stay at home mum to do it into the hand.

The most expensive of course is the crèche option.

There was a recent court case which determined that au pairs are entitled to the minimum wage.

OP- 10 hours a day for 5 days a week- is 50 hours- times 10 is 500.........
This is the rock bottom amount you'd have to pay someone to mind your three kids- if it involves leaving a child to and from school- that's extra- and of course you'd be expected to provide meals for the person (and they are entitled to breaks etc- no-one does a straight 10 hours without at least a break).

Realistically- its a minimum of 500 a week- from your net salary- or around 2k a month.

Going back to work part-time- getting the free pre-school classes for those who aren't in school yet- and being there to leave your other child to and from school- could work- but obviously you'd only be on half days (or even less)- it would be a bit of money coming in- but honestly- I don't see how you could make it work financially to go back fulltime- unless you've some remarkably well paying job.

We have two children- only 13 months apart- and at the very beginning our childcare was significantly higher than my net pay (and my wife's salary barely paid the mortgage). It is very much a tightrope- and aside from the free preschool 'year' (i.e. a couple of hours in the morning for 19 weeks, or however long it is)- the government give you absolutely nothing. Childminders/after-schools etc- all of this is from your net pay- none of it is tax deductible.

The way most people make all this work- is by leveraging family support- but many of us unfortunately do not have the luxury of family support..........

Bridget1996

Thanks all for helpful replies, partime is not really an option and we dont have family close by and no room for an Au pair.........but thanks anyway

cloloco

Bridget1996 wrote: »

Im looking to go back t work, I have three kids,, one school going, how much would it generally cost me to get a minder to come to my house 5 days a week 7-17:00,

Im trying to see is it worth my while....so any help or suggestions would be appreciated

If you could find a local childminder in their own home then you are probably looking at approx 2000 a month maybe more depending on your location, their rates and the kids ages.

Getting someone to come to your house is basically hiring a nanny and will likely be much more expensive.

An au pair will probably cost roughly about the same but will be living with you.

This link has some useful info but the bit about au pairs has changed so you might need to read up on the rules of that separately:
https://www.eumom.ie/baby/how-much-does-childcare-cost-in-ireland/

cloloco

aido79 wrote: »

pilly wrote: »

To be fair, that's the way it works for most working mothers. Otherwise none of them would go to work.

There's a very disparaging tone about your message.

I didn't mean to sound disparaging but unless the OP is going to get a very good wage from the job she intends to get then it is not going to be worth her while.
Looking after 3 kids, even if one of them is only going to be there for part of the day would not be an easy job so deserves a decent wage too.
There aren't many people willing to work a 50 hour week unless the wage is worth it.

Unfortunately for a lot of working couples with children, one wage usually covers childcare cost with very little or nothing to spare (obviously depending on how many children they have and ages etc). While the other wage covers mortgage/rent and day to day expenses.

As expensive as it is, childcare costs are a decreasing and temporary expense. As children start preschool/primary school, less childcare hours are needed.

It seems like its not worthwhile to work to pay childcare, but for the most part people do it to remain employed, to have a bit extra (even if theres not much left) for bills or to retain the benefits of their existing job rather than start a new one later on down the line. They do it because there is very little choice.

It greatly reduces the cost of childcare if theres flexible work arrangements or practical support from family. But not everyone has these options.

Bridget1996

Bridget1996 wrote: »

Hi all, Im afraid I am not a Doctor or anything, just earn a normal wage, I have been in my job along time and Im currently on maternity leave, I would just like to know what am I looking at paying out to have someone come to my house as I did work with two going to a childminders and I didnt have a lot of money at end of week which I sucked it up and got on with it, my job is the secure one, my husband works for himself as a builder, so when the work is not there we have my job so would like to know how much it is without the stress of dragging three kids out in the morning as I cant face that again and then go and have to go and do a full days work and to be perfectly honest I dont want to do that to my kids again, It was no life for them, I do really appreciate that it is long hours for someone, just the same as it is long hours for me too, but I just need to weigh up my options so any help would be apprieciated.

You would be looking at at least 10 euro an hour in any large urban area and you would be extremely lucky to get someone willing to work 45 hours a week, you would need to be on an extremely good income to pay for child care in the home I know of a solicitor who felt she could not justify full time working because of the amount she was paying out for a child minder in her home. Do you not have any friends who have children in various form of child care who would know the situation in you area.

Mrs OBumble

Is there any chance of your husband working reduced hours, and doing either the morning or evening "shift" at home? Even if he only did it a few days per week, it could keep the cost down a bit.

aido79

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I understand how it works but in my opinion it would be difficult for the OP to find someone willing to work 50 hours a week minding 3 kids, which I would see as a demanding job, for a low wage.
As The_Conductor mentioned the OP would be looking at a minimum of 500 euro a week for childminding which would be a big chunk out of anyone's wages.
I actually live in Australia where up to 50% of the childcare costs are covered by a child care rebate making it financially viable for mothers to return to work. Maybe one day the Irish government will see that it makes sense to do this as it puts a lot more money back into the economy(i.e. tax paid on mother's earnings and tax paid on childcare earnings) than having a mother at home putting no extra money back into the economy because they can't afford to go back to work. (Sorry, a bit off topic)

I think the OP would just be going back to work just for the sake of holding on to her job rather than the financial aspect of it which makes sense as the childcare costs will only be temporary but the job may be long-term. If there was an option to go back part time it would probably be better especially if her husband could arrange his working hours so he could be more flexible.

scriba

Just to add, even if all your wages are going on childcare for the next few years, holding on to your job means you retain the possibility of career progression, pay increases, continued pension contributions (if applicable). Long term, it can pay off.

Friends of ours are in a similar situation. The husband, a self employed builder, went to a 2.5 day week to minimize child care costs. I'd look at that option.