Would you pursue this job?

[cristina47454]

I am a SAHM to three girls, 8, 6 and 2. Today my dh was talking to me about a job opportunity that I might have a shot at getting (he knows the people). However, school gets out in a week, and childcare will obviously be an issue.

I am feeling conflicted. I have been trying to go back to work (we are seriously in need of extra money!), but have only managed working on weekends every now and then. It boosts our income by about $500/mo, but that just BARELY has us making ends meet. We have an enormous amt of consumer debt we are trying to get out from under, and our snowball is practically non-existent. Something needs to change.

But I was looking forward to a low key summer with the kids...haven't even signed them up for any camps (this is also for financial reasons, but there are a lot of camps that have aid available...). This is a huge shift in my mindset and I'm trying to get my head around it.

I know that when I DO go back to work, it will be a transition for everybody...and I'm feeling like we can't afford to have me stay home right now, so going back to work in inevitable. But starting a job in the summer just seems like the MOST difficult time for this type of transition. Not to mention the cost of THREE kids in daycare/camp.

Also, I should mention, we live in a very rural area, and job opportunities seem very few and far between. Which is another reason I feel like maybe I should pursue this.

What would you do???

[EFmom]

I'd look into the job and evaluate possibilites for child care. I'd certainly try to get an interview--that way the ball is in your court should you get the job.

If you can find a sitter, it would be cheaper than camps for three (which tend to be expensive). But even if the summer camps negate your earnings, there are ten more months during the year to consider.

I will state that I've never been a SAHM, and can't wrap my mind around how people do this when they have a negative cash flow. I'm just too financially conservative and I wouldn't sleep at night in that situation. So, while I get your feeling that summer should be more laid back, to me the financial situation is much more important.

[honeybunmom]

I'm with EFmom. I'm also a WOHM and have only been home for a total of 13 months. That was two 6 mos maternity leaves and 1 month in between jobs. It just makes zero financial sense and would be financial suicide for me to stay home because I have a valuable professional degree. In any event, if nothing else, I'd use this as an opportunity to sharpen my interview skills even if it doesn't pan out. If it does pan out, is there opportunity for growth in the position? I know you said it only gets you $500 more a month, now, but is there opportunity for raises? And, only $500 a month is still $6000 more a year that could make that snowball more than non-existant.

[K1329]

I don't know how flexible the position is... but could you start part-time then move to full-time when school resumes? Or, schedule your hours for a few extra long days? I work 3 long days, totaling a little over 20 hrs. a week. It works out well - I then have 4 days per week w/ the kids. Try for a compromise... maybe you can negotiate something that lets you have the best of both worlds. Good luck!

[choli]

In an area where job opportunities are few, it should be pretty easy to hire a babysitter. Maybe a college student for the summer that would be energetic and fun for your kids?

In your situation I would definitely take the job.

[nola79]

Well, normally I would say no, as camp for 3 kids could be costly and not worth you working. However, if you do need the job and jobs in your area are few and far between, then yes, I would look into the camps that offer aid and take the job.

[cristina47454]

I just found out the job only pays $15/hr. So, 8 hrs a day = $120/day or $600/week and $2400/month. Take taxes out at 25% = $1800/month ($450/week).

I spoke to a friend that runs a daycare center. She charges (on the LOW side) $35/day/per kid. So that is not even feasible. I could get a college girl to work for $400 a week for the summer. (I'm more comfortable with an older girl since I have a 21 month old and there would likely be trips to the pool/lake during the day) So I'm essentially working for free for these two months. During the school year, baby would have to go to a day care ($175/week) and kids would have to do after school care for $120 week (for both)...still close to summer childcare costs. I'm going to ask at our church to make sure that my numbers are right.

But all of this to clear what I'm essentially making on my cash weekend job.

I def. need to GET A JOB. But I'm thinking maybe this isn't the one. WIth the cost of childcare, maybe I need to get into running a daycare!

[PrettyBird]

I would take the job, especially if you live in an area with few job opportunities. You may not net very much if anything right away but your job experience will help you with earning potential in the future. I am looking at a very good possibility of a job where at first I probably won't net very much because we'll put both girls in the neighborhood private preschool/grade school to accommodate my schedule. However it will allow me to expand my resume and keep it active so that in a couple of years we will see a huge economic benefit compared to me staying at home right now.

Anyway, my point is that you should look a few years down the road. Maybe it's not *the* job, but it could lead to better opportunities

[cristina47454]

I guess I should have said what the job was...

I'd essentially be one of a number people on a staff that manages a private estate. My role would be light gardening, taking care of livestock (geese, peacocks, etc), supervising any house maintenance/laborers, setting up for events.

I say this bcs it is not a job with growth possibility. It's not a career path, it's simply to help generate some income for my family. I actually have a masters degree from an ivy league school, but I've been out of the workforce for 9 years, so I'm not feeling very confident about my ability to get a professional job at this point. I had been looking at a certification course that I was hoping would make me more marketable...but again, we are living remotely, so job opportunity is limited to say the least.

The best thing about this job so far is that it has started a lot of discussions between dh and me. We've come to the conclusion that we may need to move. This is a great place to vacation...not such a great place to have a career. Most of our friends work two or three jobs to make ends meet...yes, that even includes our small town attorney friend. DH is working in the trades bcs he can't find a job as an architect...

And in the meantime, I seriously am considering taking in a couple of kids this summer. I think I'd make more doing that than I would going to work someplace else and farming my own kids out...

[PrettyBird]

Well maybe you do need to move. Honestly we are living in an area with great job prospects for DH but not so much for me. That's why I've been without a job for so long and I have a great degree too. In the future we'll probably need to move if this or other opportunities don't work out for me. As for the kids, I have two extremely social girls and I'm an introverted person at heart so preschool is a better option for us. Would it cost you so much once school started for your 6 and 8 year old?

[brittneyscott]

One thing to consider is the age of your baby. I know daycares around here get cheaper as the child gets older (less once potty trained etc). Also consider getting a high school student or a college student if there is a comm coll around to do after school care for the kids. Check into churches. Some have daycares that are cheaper than other care centers and may be cheaper if you are of that denomination also. Do you have family members that could help even if you pay them just less than day care? Or maybe a friend that you could swap with?

I'm debating taking a job right now too that wouldn't bring me much extra income right now but would once DD starts K in Aug so I know how you feel crunching those #s