https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 19 Jul 2026 11:21:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744991 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 21:08:39 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2744991@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wheres_c: hmm I see them on websites like indeed for more like 16-18 hourly. But since the recession there are absolutely no shortage of applicants. I made less because I didn't go through an agency, it was really short term and I was asked to do it and I had been a SAHM so I figured why not! But I guess not all agencies advertise and some of what I'm thinking of are just posted directly by employers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744969 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 20:14:02 +0000 wheres_c 2744969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2littlepumpkins: Interesting...perhaps it varies by agency and skill set?<br /> I temped in Los Angeles at 18/hr in 2005 and in Miami in 2010 at 22/hr.<br /> The only skill I brought to the table was Excel and Fast typing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744937 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 18:07:17 +0000 Meow 2744937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: ooh, I forgot reservations agent. A few weeks ago I sat next to one in first class where we both flew for free courtesy of our employer. He told me he loved his job but I'm sure I love mine more :) The nice thing too is once you work for a major airline there are other internal opportunities to move around like going from ground crew to flight crew. </p> <p>Yes the flight benefits is huge! I haven't purchased tickets in a decade. My family and best friends have flown on first class to places like Hawaii and Asia for free. Free coach is nice enough but first class to anywhere isn't an opportunity we would've had otherwise and totally a game changer esp on those 7, 10, 14 hr flights! So if flight benefits is a major factor for you in choosing this route, I'd highly recommend employment with one of the big three airlines instead of a contractor because mainline employees have higher boarding priority than employees of contractors. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744929 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 17:57:27 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2744929@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wheres_c: what?? I did this years ago and didn't even crack $15/hr.. and as I ended up job hunting (not for that but I saw it on indeed) about a year later I know the wages were about the same, or at least advertised about the same... I doubt it's changed much now. Obviously you can make more but at least where I am (and it's a HCOL area) the going rate is significantly lower..</p> <p>I work PT but break even. I may take on a bit more possibly subbing preschool or something along those lines (already have a little experience) but it'd have to be something really flexible due to my other pt job. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744926 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 17:50:29 +0000 Cole 2744926@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Meow: I really, really like this idea. I'm not sure why it hadn't occurred to me to be honest, my mom was a reservations agent for years and loved it and we traveled all the time. Plus, one of the financial goals we're working on is traveling more as a family so not only would the income help but it would also decrease the amount I would need to make for us to reach that particular goal. We're also fortunate enough to live within a reasonable commute of a major airport. I'm going to look into this, thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744925 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 17:45:06 +0000 Meow 2744925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: I don't know how feasible this is for you, but how about the airline industry? Namely, flight attendant or gate agent. Pilot pays the best and I would recommend that career track to anyone but it takes years of training and $$$ to get there and I get the sense you're not looking for that kind of commitment.</p> <p>I can only speak for the flight crew portion of the industry as that's where my experience is in, but airline careers offer a ton of schedule flexibility. The first couple months/years might be rough (they were very rough for me, but I started my career shortly before the recession and before regulations changed for the better.) You'll be gone from home more than you care to in the beginning due to the nature of the seniority system. But once you gain some seniority you could choose to work as much or as little as you want and choose what days/nights of the week you work, etc. </p> <p>A common misunderstanding is that we are gone from home and family a lot, which is true to some extent. BUT, on the flip side of that, when you're off from work you're completely off - 24 hrs a day for 3-4 days in a week, every week. To me that is more valuable than having maybe a harried hour in the morning with family and another 2-3 hrs at night. And no work to bring home, ever.</p> <p>I'm at the point where my seniority can hold 18 days off a month every month with a regular work load. That's not including vacation. I'm often asked if I even have a job. I CHOOSE to be on reserve (or "on call" as they call it other fields) because I live where I'm based and I'm only called out if I'm needed, so if they don't call me it's essentially a day off. I handpick each day I'm on call, and I work maybe one day a month from all the days I'm on call (because I'm rarely needed.) I still collect a guaranteed minimum pay check. It's so ridiculously good, I feel every day I truly hit a career jackpot. So it totally makes up for the first couple years of working like a slave both in terms of hours worked and money earned (none.) </p> <p>Now I AM glossing over the details and there are definitely some downsides to this industry as well. But nothing is perfect.. this to me is as close to perfect as it gets.</p> <p>Plus, travel benefits! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744900 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 16:07:12 +0000 cookiemomster 2744900@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wheres_c: not trying to hijack coles thread, but where would you suggest looking for that kind of work? I feel like I have a ton of experience in admin work (I've temped a fair amount, and the past eight years I've worked in a call center with lots of data processing thrown in) but I'm at a total loss as to where to find something WAH that's not commission based. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744898 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 16:02:56 +0000 Cole 2744898@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: this has been on my radar and I was just thinking I need to get the ball rolling. I'm uncertain about what my schedule will look like right after the baby is born but I chatted with someone else who does it and she said you can schedule yourself for zero hours as well so I may try to set it up to start in October. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744897 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 16:01:01 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2744897@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: Have you heard or looked into VIPKID? <a href="https://t.vipkid.com.cn/login?prevUrl=/recruitment/index" rel="nofollow">https://t.vipkid.com.cn/login?prevUrl=/recruitment/index</a> - they pay anywhere from $18-22/hour and you teach completely from home via Beijing hours (so it would have to be early mornings/nights). You just need a computer, webcam, and headset. Each class is 30 minutes long, and ideally they'd want you to have at least 7.5 hours a week available. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744895 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 15:54:58 +0000 Littlebit7 2744895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just did the math if we put two into daycare when LO two comes along (I currently mostly SAH, except for about 8 hours a week). We'd be paying probably about 4-4.5k per month for two in daycare. My take home is equal or less than that. I don't carry our insurance. DH travels 75% of the year. For us, it's not worth it. So I'm going to continue staying home. I only really make money when I work weekends and DH watches LO, but I never see him so the desire to work weekends isn't that strong </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744891 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 15:34:55 +0000 Cole 2744891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catlady: I've definitely considered this and it's certainly an option but I'm kind of at a point where I'm feeling like some time away would be better for me. From a purely financial standpoint though this is likely the best option. Everyone I've known who has done it has wound up feeling burnt out pretty quickly though and I'm prone to that if I'm not careful without adding the stress of an extra child. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744749 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 11:09:12 +0000 lamariniere 2744749@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can commiserate. We were in a similar situation when we lived in NY with LO1. I ended up quitting my desk job pretty much for the same reasons/calculations. I started WAH more seriously on a side job that I had been doing casually while I was employed, and 6+ years later it has turned into a decent WAH job. Our expenses are much different now that we live in Europe, but I'm pretty content with what I'm doing and the flexibility it affords our family is nearly priceless. I guess it really depends on if you want to be able to go back to your job in a few years, or if you are fine with moving on to something else to fill in the gap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744686 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 09:09:14 +0000 Anagram 2744686@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: I'm in the same position. We pay about anywhere from 3000 to 3700/month in childcare for our nanny. And I only clear about 4k a month after my retirement is taken out, all the other taxes, and I pay for my whole family's health care (My husband's plan is not near as good, so he declines and we're all on my benefits).</p> <p>So, on paper, it seems like it's not worth it. And many days I question it myself because the grind can be very challenging. But having great health insurance these days is pretty priceless. And so is building a decent retirement savings of my own. And as you said, this period of barely breaking even is short. For us, we only have 1 more year until both of our kids are in free pre-k or Kinder, where all we have to do is pay before/after care, so our costs we be more than halved.</p> <p>Having said that, barely breaking even isn't for everyone, and I get that. It kind of just depends on your overall family situation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744681 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 09:04:46 +0000 Anagram 2744681@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catlady: That's a great idea! I always say, if I quit working I'll take in another child, even if it's part time! I'm a teacher, so it would be right up my alley, and then I would have a little extra play money. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744679 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 09:01:49 +0000 catlady 2744679@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about nannying, doing a nanny share type thing where you watch your own child plus one more child? That way, you wouldn't need to put out any money for childcare at that same time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744657 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 08:30:11 +0000 looch 2744657@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about becoming a real estate appraiser? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744647 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 08:20:47 +0000 Banana330 2744647@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I follow the same principle as @winniebee: Long term it's better for us financially for me to work. Retirement savings, earning potential etc so while it's tough in the short term it's worth it. I do have a government job with better benefits and flextime so that helps during the interim for sure. Our day care for two could be almost 4000! (I'm hoping closer to 3K) but that should only be for a year or so and then it will drop. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744644 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 08:17:17 +0000 Cole 2744644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for all of the commiseration and ideas. I'm thinking that for right now tutoring might be my best bet. This conundrum definitely highlights the issues in the US with regards to parental leave and childcare costs. I'm definitely aware that I'm arriving at this from a point of privilege but if we can't figure it out with college degrees and a six figure income how do people making minimum wage.</p> <p>@wheres_c: the only reason I mentioned the idea of something not career tracked is because my old career isn't the right option right now and everything else that seems more career oriented that I'm interested in requires more education. I'm definitely looking into that option longer term but in regards to the next two years in feeling a bit stuck. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744636 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 08:07:29 +0000 winniebee 2744636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: Our childcare expenses are astronomical with me working even 25-30h a week. After paying 3400/month in childcare (right now it's 2700/month but adding a third will raise it) and me contributing to my 401K and paying my law school loan, there's literally nothing left. I'm doing it for (1) my sanity (2) to stay relevant in my field (3) to contribute to my 401K and pay my law school loan (4) if god forbid something happens to my husband I can step back into the workforce full time. And, it's all short term. In 2 years when the baby can go to school our childcare expenses will be a little less....and in 3 years they will be slashed in half when the middle child is in K. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744622 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 07:59:03 +0000 matador84 2744622@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was also thinking along the lines of working in a child care, substitute teaching, or part time tutoring. I know my school district hires a lot of tutors who are either retired teachers or SAHM's because they can usually set their own schedule and/or hours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744617 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 07:48:17 +0000 Anagram 2744617@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: Medical transcription? I have a cousin with a degree in something like English lit who ended up taking a quick course in medical transcription/billing (I don't know what the official term is) originally for a part time, at-home job. The company she started working for had a certain computer program and she worked from home submitting billing stuff for a chain of doctor's offices.</p> <p>Eventually, she ended up switching to a doctor's office and doing it full time, in-office because she found she like it and it was a good money maker compared to her other options. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744614 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 07:43:40 +0000 arosebyany 2744614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@annem1990: before even reading your post, waiting tables was the first thing that came to mind.<br /> I waited tables for 4 years, then managed a small chain store for 6 years. Roughly I had about 7-10 employees under me. I made more money waiting tables, and absolute would have quit and gone back, except that the insurance where I was, was amazing. When DS gets a little bit older I hope to find a local place where I can wait tables a few mornings a week. We have a really good lunch crowd locally because it's a chemical and nuclear plant area. The really good money is definitely weekends and nights though. Depending on the restaurant it's not unheard of to walk out with $200 on a 5 hour shift. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744594 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 07:08:29 +0000 petitenoisette 2744594@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travellingbee: Was going to say the same thing, I would look into tutoring. I know someone who stopped teaching for 5-6 years when she had her kids and tutored and I think she basically had the same take home pay (but obviously no benefits, payment into retirement, etc.). Even if you had to pay a babysitter, if you tutored 10 hours a week at $60 an hour - $10 for babysitter (which admittedly seems a little low) for 10 months a year would be $20,000. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744589 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 06:56:52 +0000 travellingbee 2744589@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In my area, tutoring is $60/hr. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744580 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 05:59:23 +0000 MrsSRS 2744580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is 90% of why I work in a daycare. Industry standard is to give teachers 50% off tuition, but I got hired when they reeeally needed someone just like me so I got better than that. Pay is closer to 10/hour, and I supplement it with teaching dance which is 25/hour. It's still not much money, but it's the difference between struggling and being ok. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744571 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 02:34:03 +0000 Teachermama 2744571@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know this depends on your state and district, part time teachers and substitute teachers at my school make $20+/hr.</p> <p>What about job share with another teacher, half time teaching, online teaching? Open your own daycare? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744568 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 01:40:47 +0000 wheres_c 2744568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is there a reason why you wouldn't want a flexible "career"?<br /> What area are you in?<br /> Temping as an administrative assistant makes $20-25/hr. If you are interested in a career, many tech companies pay over $20/hr and are super flexible. I work from home full time, and do very well salary-wise. I have total flexibility and unlimited PTO. All you need is admin skills for an entry-level tech job. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744539 Tue, 06 Jun 2017 22:07:49 +0000 youboots 2744539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, I was looking at this recently. I'm not good at 'just' SAH. I looked into a few options- if you are real estate minded you could work as an underwriter or something else in the field. I opted to go back to my work as a photographer because it's flexible and I make good money- but I've had 10 years of experience. If you are artistic minded you could be an apprentice to a wedding photographer and work your way up as as a second shooter. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744528 Tue, 06 Jun 2017 21:41:56 +0000 mrs.kiwi 2744528@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No help but i feel you. Thankfully i don't mind staying home with the kids but yeah... if i wanted to go back to teaching it would NOT work financially. What about tutoring? As a private tutor you can make good $$ per hour. It would be a side gig not so much a career.. But it would keep your mind sharp and still look good on your resume. If your husband can solo parent a couple nights a week you could do 3 hours a night... 6 hours a week.. maybe $240 a week, around a $1000/mo...... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-back-to-work-financially-makes-little-sense#post-2744526 Tue, 06 Jun 2017 21:40:35 +0000 annem1990 2744526@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: Waitressing can make a lot of money. You definitely have to choose the restaurant wisely, though. I make roughly $25-35/hour part-time. It's super flexible, but you do have to work nights and weekends. </p>