Turning down more $

[LynLyn]

Ugh, I know I did the right thing... the only thing there was to do but, the decision is grinding at me. I currently work a stable, full time, weekday, daytime, job for $9.35/hr with very little OT and no bonuses. I was offered a job at a different company that was stable, full time, weekday, daytime, with 8hrs OT every 5 weeks (@$22.50/hr) and bonuses for $15/hr. Roughly the same commute, same industry, up sides and down sides weigh out pretty evenly. The only reason I turned it down was because with my current job I qualify for help with daycare. I only pay $65 a month which is amazing. With the new job I wouldn't qualify for state help and would have to pay $650 (if I found a way to only have my son in but then I still have to put my daughter in for the summers at $1100 for both) to $1000 to have both of them in (my daughter goes after school). I wouldn't make enough extra with the new job to cover daycare expenses and coupled with loosing the $124 I get in food stamps it wouldn't make sense. My son won't be in school for another 2.5 years and I don't have any family or friends who can dedicate the time reliably considering work or health obligations of their own. There is only one other daycare in the bus route for my daughter's school and it's an in-home with no room and shorter hours so it wouldn't work... cost is almost the same anyway.

It's amazing the things single income parents have to turn away because of child care costs. I know there was nothing else I could do and having such a short window of time to make my decision left me with no other choice. Somehow this decision still doesn't sit right with me. There's nothing wrong with the job I have aside from the fact that I have essentially nowhere to go with the company and will always get paid just above min wage as long as I stay there. It's an entry level, grunt job. The other job is still a grunt job but clearly a step up in pay and responsibility.

I know that realistically I'm not going to be recruited and offered $15/hr with a schedule that fits with my kids for a very long time again.  That money could have done so much for my kids and I after the rough couple years we've had... but with child care in the mix it's worthless. Sigh.... help me think positive here!

[A&A]

Your child won't need childcare forever.  I'd advise you to take the new job.  

[LynLyn]

I don't come out enough ahead with the new job while paying for childcare. In fact, I end up behind where I am now at $9.35. I couldn't survive the next 2 years.

[Super~Single~Mama]

Once the kids don't need childcare anymore you will be able to get something that pays better. 2 more years. Being a single mom is tough, I completely sympathize!!

[LynLyn]

Originally Posted by Super~Single~Mama 

Once the kids don't need childcare anymore you will be able to get something that pays better. 2 more years. Being a single mom is tough, I completely sympathize!!

Without a degree or extensive work history under my belt I fully realize these kinds of offers aren't in plentiful supply. That's part of what makes passing it up so difficult. It makes me feel good that I'm supporting my kids but darn it, I wish it weren't so trying!

[Super~Single~Mama]

Originally Posted by LynLyn 

Originally Posted by Super~Single~Mama 

Once the kids don't need childcare anymore you will be able to get something that pays better. 2 more years. Being a single mom is tough, I completely sympathize!!

Without a degree or extensive work history under my belt I fully realize these kinds of offers aren't in plentiful supply. That's part of what makes passing it up so difficult. It makes me feel good that I'm supporting my kids but darn it, I wish it weren't so trying!

Once the kids don't need child are you'll have the freedom to explore your options fully - going back to school may be one of those options. You'll get there. The economy seems to be picking up little by little, and in a few years you might be able to find a better job. Don't lose hope!! I've been where you are (only one kid though) and its hard, but it does get better.

[Quinalla]

I'm sorry, that really is hard I hate the way our system works where it doesn't take things like this into account. There should be a sliding scale once you are over a certain income threshhold before it just disappears so that you can pursue better paying jobs without ending up paying more. Hopefully you have an even better job opportunity come your way once you are able to take it!

[ljc]

That sounds like an amazing offer.  Am I not understanding the math?  At 9.35/hour you make $19,448 yearly.  At $22.50 per hour you make $46,800 yearly - not including bonus or OT.  That is an extra $27,352 per year.  Daycare at $650 per month is $7800 yearly (plus $1950 for extra 3 months in summer).  Is the $124 weekly that you receive in food stamps

?  Does it have to do with tax bracket and take home salary?  Loss of other services?  Healthcare costs?

I hope you can consider it - sounds like a great job offer.  Two years will go by quickly.  

I sincerely hope everything works out well for you -  it's not easy.

[LynLyn]

Originally Posted by ljc 

That sounds like an amazing offer.  Am I not understanding the math?  At 9.35/hour you make $19,448 yearly.  At $22.50 per hour you make $46,800 yearly - not including bonus or OT.  That is an extra $27,352 per year.  Daycare at $650 per month is $7800 yearly (plus $1950 for extra 3 months in summer).  Is the $124 weekly that you receive in food stamps

?  Does it have to do with tax bracket and take home salary?  Loss of other services?  Healthcare costs?

I hope you can consider it - sounds like a great job offer.  Two years will go by quickly.  

I sincerely hope everything works out well for you -  it's not easy.

The 8 hours of overtime once every 5 weeks is at $22.50. That would be AWESOME if it were the regular rate. The regular hourly rate is only $15. I say ONLY 15 as that costs me more than it earns. For the additional money spent on daycare and money lost in food stamps I'm at a loss when comparing to what I'm left with now at $9.35. I would have been jumping in circles had I been offered $22.50/hr! The $124 in food is monthly. I was just cut back this month after having my review with some child support included but rent higher.

Originally Posted by Quinalla 

I'm sorry, that really is hard I hate the way our system works where it doesn't take things like this into account. There should be a sliding scale once you are over a certain income threshhold before it just disappears so that you can pursue better paying jobs without ending up paying more. Hopefully you have an even better job opportunity come your way once you are able to take it!

There is a sliding scale but once I reach the amount where it begins it gets confusing. For me that would happen about the time I began earning $10/hr. That with the $360 I receive in child support would mean they revert back to a specific magic number and add 50 cents for every additional dollar I earn over that magic number. That coupled with the loss of food stamps leaves me at a loss. I may even have to turn down my next tiny raise at my current job as I may cost myself more than I make additionally with the raise. My next raise will likely be a year or more anyway and only happen because minimum wage has risen near my current wage. Thank goodness I live in the state with the highest min wage in the country and on the side of the state with much lower COL.

[emilysmama]

What do you want to be doing five years from now?  What kind of steps will you need, like education, will you need in order to be there when five years arrives?