Need advice about taking a job or not

[mama kate]

Ok - Not sure where top post this but I am conflicted & DH is no help - he says its my choice. I was offered a job that I am suppose to start in the beginning of May taking care of a little one while her mom works from home(I can bring Emma w/ me so childcare isn't an issue) it will be 20 hours a week M-Th 10-3 - It is @20 miles from our home. I would be making $175 a week so $700 a month but.....
Right now we live w/ one car which isn't an issue 'cuz if I want the car for the day I take dh to work & once the weather gets nice he'll take his motorcycle but he needs the car if he has meetings & such which he only has a days notice sometimes only several hours.so we'd have to buy another car & DH is picky so we went & looked & if we bought a vehicle it would need to be a new gm pick-up since we get gm discount for new vehicles it doesn't balance out to buy used. So I figure we'll be paying @$350 a month for a car paym't @$75-$100 a month on ins.plus at least $100 a month in gas for the 160 miles each week. So thats about 550. Plus Emma would be getting less of me. I'd only be making 150 bucks when its all said & done plus I'd be raising our debt to income ratio & we are trying to pay stuff off to get a house.
But would the 150 really make a huge difference. I have someone lined up to watch their baby at our home in January & can try to find someone now but can't guarantee I'll find anyone.
I don't know - I think I may have answered my own ? Any insight or advice????????? I need to decide asap so I can let them know.

[willowsmama]

Honestly, the way you've described everything I wouldn't do it. But there's several things that could change making it a more win-win opportunity.

Instead of a new car - get a cheaper used one. My husband and I have never bought a new car, heck we've never spent more then 8 grand on a vehicle. We recently bought my husband a 1998 Saturn with 66 thousand miles. It's had excellent upkeep/maintence and we expect that we'll have it for quite a while. We paid 2900.00.
I can't see you getting a new car for that price. There's a ton of great used cars in the 2-5 grand range- low miles, one owner that has provided excellent care.

Get a smaller sedan instead of a new pick up. Better gas mileage.

A used car won't require full coverage as long as a new one. That's more money in your pocket.

Sometimes dealer 'discounts' can't match the used market. We have never found one that can get us a car cheaper then the Auto Trader or the classified ads.

[streetkitty]

Doesn't sound financially worth it, it's quite a distance to drive everyday and sounds like it may be more stress than it would be worth. However, you could get a used car as PP said to save $, if your babe likes to socialize- she may really like seeing another babe every day. I think about if she gets sick, or if you get sick- it's a long drive when you really consider it. Couldn't you find a much easier, closer, shorter time involvment way to make $150/month?

[Amys1st]

Well this is a tough one.

I know that the extra $$ might make things easier for you but it sounds like a distance. Could you work out with the mother maybe switch off meaning have her drop the baby at your house 1/2 the time?

I personally (but its different for everyone!!) think to make money, you have to spend money it better be worth it.

You need to ask yourself:
How you feel about watching another child and treating them the same as your own child during that time?
Will it be easy to juggle two children?
Will this benefit my child?
In the long run will this benefit DH & I?
Is this I job I would choose to do not just because its convenient?

[mnnice]

I would be reluctant to take on a car payment without knowing for sure if the job would work out, especially on a new truck. If you are thinking only a $350 truck payment and your buy a new GM truck that's a long loan and you will be upside down at some point and would be in a bind if you couldn't make the payments/need to sell it.

If the 20 miles were easy low traffic /country miles the 20 mile part wouldn't bother me in the least. I currently work pt 37 miles from my home and drive with a toddler in the car the whole way no problems. Also I think everyone elses comments about your child are valid too because I think how people respond to taking care of others in addition to you own dc varies a lot.

[kris2]

Better Job ideas - less transportation

Hi,
I agree that a car payment is a bad idea right now. As for the job, well, the drive wouldn't bother me, but if it was me, I'd rather work a long day a few days a week than a short day many times a week. Just considering the gas and drive time, remember that a 12 hour day two days a week equals the same hours and pay as a five hour day five days a week. Would you rather spend time, gas money, wear and tear on the car five times a week or two? Or perhaps do childcare (or eldercare) on a weekends (including an overnight) and make the same in just one day? I live far from town, too, so I've had to figure this for myself.

Lastly, if it's a matter of just making $150.00 a month, you can easily do that from home! You're only talking about bringing in $37.50 a week! Sell thrift shop stuff on eBay, start a personal bill-paying business, mow somone's lawn, wash your neighbors windows - there are a zillion options for making a very small amount per week. I wouldn't take a 5 day a week committment for such a tiny pittance. Too many easier, faster ways to make that little amount.

Just my two cents.

Kris2

[Amys1st]

Originally Posted by kris2

Lastly, if it's a matter of just making $150.00 a month, you can easily do that from home! You're only talking about bringing in $37.50 a week! Sell thrift shop stuff on eBay, start a personal bill-paying business, mow somone's lawn, wash your neighbors windows - there are a zillion options for making a very small amount per week. I wouldn't take a 5 day a week committment for such a tiny pittance. Too many easier, faster ways to make that little amount.

Just my two cents.

Kris2

Very well worth 2 cents I might add. I never even thought of what you just said. I might start that myself!!

[philomom]

Nope. 150$ would not be enough for me to miss out on my kid's childhood. Sorry.

[Oklahoma Mama]

I wouldn't do it either for a mere $150.00, unless it would make a big difference in meeting basic needs like food or rent.