Mothers forced to work to make ends meet.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2130770/Mothers-forced-work-make-ends-meet.html?ITO=1490

What do you think of this story? Has if affected you? Discuss here.

I think it is extremely hard now to keep a house running without the input of two wages unless there is a very good earner in the household. We manage on a single low wage simply because we paid off the mortgage a few years ago and keep a tight rein on spending so there is no need for me to be forced into going back to work. I feel very sorry for mums who are forced back and hate every minute of it and the stress/unhappiness it brings so count myself very fortunate even though we don't have oodles of spare money. Hadn't seen the article so thanks for posting.

I do think it's wrong for couples to have children if they can't afford to look after them and expect taxpayers to hand out monies to them.

If you can afford to have children then brilliant if you can't then don't plan to have them. Of course there is always the possibility of an unplaned child if that happens you have to do the best you can to support your child.

I don't think mother's should feel they have to either, 'Go to Work' or Be Stay at home Mothers' that's a personnal choice. but whatever you choose to do don't expect other's to pay for you to have babies.

No mother should be made to feel guilty for either choosing to stay at home or going out to work.

ooh er i think that if people waited till they could afford to have children though they wouldnt have any.

There is a girl moved in near to us with 4 children, she had her first at 15, had one failed marriage now got another child with someone else, never worked, she has been given a lovely new house, she runs a newer car than us a people carrier and seems to be able to afford a far better lifestyle, has sky etc, than we are able to working with one low wage. There is lots of incentive with the benefit system to keep having children and not afford them.

TP wrote:ooh er i think that if people waited till they could afford to have children though they wouldnt have any.

I agree with you there TP!

There isn't the security of a "job for life" type thing anymore so someone who thinks they're in a secure job now might not be a couple of months down the line. Dan has what seemed like a secure job but since the election in 2010 there have been 4 rounds of redundancies and rumours of another "rationalisation" to come. Since October 2010 there has not been a month in which his tem haven't been part of one reshuffle or another. It's a terrifying time - we couldn't even get mortgage protection insurance if we wanted it now. I know people who have never been out of work, worked for the same place for years and have been made redundant - they already have children. So if people who have worked hard for 20 years don't know what the future brings what hope for younger people? How long should someone wait before having a child?

How lond should they wait? Untill they've at least saved up some monies so if the worst happens they have some leeway in your finances.

It is irresponsible when you have no income to pay the bills, put food on the the table, and put adequte clothes on your back to then go and say let's start having babies. How do you expect to provide for them? do you expect everyone esle to provide for them?

There will always be time's of uncertianty but to say we are trying to have a baby when you know you are going to be unable to provide and care for them then that is stupid.

It is selfish to say I'm going to bred just because I can.

I must admit we are feeling the pinch here and DH earns a fairly good wage.

Things are getting tighter as Dh has now taken a lower paid job, but he has recently found out that his old job will be gone within 6 months anyway. So we were willing to sacrifice a few things for a little job security.

Up until a few years ago, DH worked in the civil service, and was told when he first went there it was "A job for life, great pension and perks etc". However, his department closed down, people were shuffled around to different parts of the country, some jobs were done away with completely - He had no job security whatsoever.

I would love to have another child, however for various reasons including financial, we have decided to wait a few years.

Aisles - I do agree with some of what you said about people not having children if they can't afford them. I know a few people have had some children just as I way of getting a big house and lots of benefits - I think this is wrong and the government should be clamping down on the people abusing the system.

For instance I know a family where the mother had more than 10 children (I don't know the exact number as the first few were taken into care) At one time she had 7 children at home, her rent/council tax was paid for and the amount of benefit she received was enough for each "child" to have a laptop and mobile phone each, sky tv, top of the range TVs, etc.
She admitted that she only had them for the money as well, poor kids

The problem with clamping down is how do you clamp down and if you dont give people basic money to live on, then there would be many more homeless, many more problems with crime, and society would become an even more hostile place to live.

The government has to be seen to be looking after its people and at the end of the day parties wont people to vote for them. I just dont see how you can clamp down on people having sex.

I think the proposal for a cap on child benefit was a good one, where it would only be paid to the first 3 children born.
Here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2111883/Government-considering-controversial-plans-cap-child-benefit-children.html

Government can not clamp down on couples having sex but havn't people heard about contraception oh yes it's free for women isn't it.

I do think Child Benefit should be on some kind of sliding scale this would then assist more those who truely require some extra help.

I agree with you TP.

I do know people who think that people who work are suckers and that they'll work the day hell freezes over and there is not a tap anyone can do. If their benefits are cut they'll find another way to get what they need. There is no legislation in the land that will change them (they even enjoy being in prison).

But that's not the majority of people and I think people need help when they fall on hard times. It doesn't take much for someone to be in a position where they can lose their house and if they have children already there's not much they can do - they can't send them out cleaning chimneys and what's the other alternative - putting them into the care of social services? That would cost a lot more than child benefit and free school meals. Some people have been responsible and have 12 months emergency fund thinking that's worst case scenario but then the cost of living has gone up, the interest on savings has gone through the floor and a full time job with a living wage isn't anywhere near to arriving - these people have been responsible but they're still in trouble.

As a childfree by choice person I totally agree that it's selfish to say "I'll have a baby because I can" but that's what everyone does when they have a baby surely? Whether they have a million quid or they think it's their way out of a situation they don't want to be in.

Aisles wrote:Government can not clamp down on couples having sex but havn't people heard about contraception oh yes it's free for women isn't it.

I do think Child Benefit should be on some kind of sliding scale this would then assist more those who truely require some extra help.

its not like that anymore, world has changed whether we like it nor not, we will never go back to the way it was, also dont forget the men when you say women

TP wrote:

Aisles wrote:Government can not clamp down on couples having sex but havn't people heard about contraception oh yes it's free for women isn't it.

I do think Child Benefit should be on some kind of sliding scale this would then assist more those who truely require some extra help.

its not like that anymore, world has changed whether we like it nor not, we will never go back to the way it was, also dont forget the men when you say women

Yes but contracption for men isn't free where it is for woman. Not that man shouldn't be taking care of their own sexual health with the great rise in STD and HIV

condoms are free arent they from clinics for men and women?