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2 long days vs 3 shorter days

MagickalNarwhalMagickalNarwhal member
in Working Moms
I am going back to work PT for the upcoming tax season. I can request any schedule I like pretty much. We were thinking I'd work 3 days a week, 8 hrs a day in the office but an hour or 1/2 hr unpaid lunch so 21-22.5 hrs a week. With pt child care 2 days a week for 2 kids (and they'd be home w my partner 1 day), I'd just break even (cost of care almost exactly = to net pay (no benefits)).

The office is open 2 long days per week and I'm wondering about working those days (10.5 or 11 hrs in the office w a 1/2 lunch). We'd have a nanny for one long day (10.5 hrs of care) and my partner would have a longer day w the kids. This way I would actually come out ahead (just by a little though) plus spend less commuting (1/2 hr drive).

Seems simple but will I regret such long days? Would love to hear thoughts. This will only be for 4 months so I kinda figure I can live through anything for a short time frame like that.

My kids will be 6 mo and 22 mo when I start work in dec. I like the idea of group care for my older kid (socialization etc) but I also love the idea of avoiding group care for the younger kid (germs, 1:1 attention etc)
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Re: 2 long days vs 3 shorter days

  • kelly422kelly422 member
    edited September 2013
    I'd also take the 2 longer days for sure!

    ETA wrong word
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  • jnnfrrose6jnnfrrose6 member
    I'd take the longer days.  Not sure it'd be worth it to just break even on the shorter days...what's the point of working if you're putting ALL the money to childcare?
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  • Nechie122Nechie122 member
    Longer days, for sure. Not only are you saving on childcare, but you're also giving them less unpaid time: one fewer lunch break, one less commute.

    Plus, you'd fit in more activities with your kids with an extra full day off than having a few extra hours available on three evenings. Once you're at work, you're at work. The day is dedicated to that anyway.
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  • jf198400jf198400 member
    Will you be BFing and pumping? I think it could be hard to work such long days if you are, but then again it's only 2 days. I'd probably still pick 2 long days, assuming they are not consecutive days.
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  • MagickalNarwhalMagickalNarwhal member
    OK thanks, didn't want to be missing something obvious. Re: going back if I'm not coming out ahead, my motivations are to keep up skills and get out of the house/use my math/technical brain a bit, more than come out ahead significantly financially speaking. Taking a year out as a tax preparer puts you behind in some significant ways. I wouldn't do it if I had to *pay* to work but the $ issue is less a motivating factor for me.
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  • jlaOKjlaOK member

    Agree with PP's.  2 long days.  I'm all for keeping up skills to stay competitive in the work force, but a break even financially is almost a deal breaker for me. 

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