commander

so you earn 2.8K per month.

that is 33.6K per annum GBP before tax.

Then tax...(say 30 percent??) 23.52K per annum after tax

Your schooling is 12K per annum

your now down to 11K per annum

from that afford to live in Notting Hill in London and support a kid??

bloody hell!!

singlemum

I know sounds shocking. However, I have some rental income from a property I own in Ealing area + I have a lodger (my cousin who is a student) who pays some money towards rent. I pay 20% tax + NI but as I am self-employed I only pay tax on what's left after I deduct all my business related expenses.

December was partucularly bad month as I only worked for 12 days - we both were sick with awful flu. So with all the xmas, new year and my daughters birthday gifts etc we overspent, but I only got paid for the time I was in the office and some odd hours I worked from home. yes, its not easy.

Millhouse

a single (as in not married or divorced) woman cannot sponsor her child. A divorced, or married woman could.

Anyway - all is well, she could go for it. Still, it would be harder here than in Nottinghill I suspect.

singlemum

I personally fear that it would be hard to go back to UK if I ever leave...

But in 2005 when my daughter was born I left the country for a year. I thought it would be easier for me to spend the first year with the new baby with my family around (I already left my ex by then). And it was, however, I was so concerned about coming back to London. It seemed like the life would never be the same. I was so used to just staying home looking after my baby, I could not imagine going back to work full-time, socialising etc. Well I was very lucky to get a job immediately and although it was very difficult for the first year after our return, I couldn't ask for a better come-back! Things changed in London but everything worked out well for us.

Could maybe this time be the same...

Blue Cat

divorced!

singlemum

It is usual practice that you have to pay to submit your CVs on job websites?

and another question: what are the usual school hours for Reception class kids/ Year 1/ Year 2?

If we move and I work full-time (sometimes I understand I have to be prepared to work will 7pm??) I wonder who will be picking my child up from school...

shakh your bootie

Do NOT pay or use any of these websites - they are a rip off.

Have a look at the wiki for a list of reasonable agencies.

Blue Cat

you will be unless you use the luxury of the school bus, which personally I don't. Hours are 7.30 til about 2 - 2.30 pm depending on school

Hello.Kitty

there's also no such thing as a registered child-minder here... you either do it yourself or get an unqualified stranger - sorry "maid/nanny" - to do it...

lionheart

We use the school bus and it costs Dhs1,020 for a 3 month term, which works out at less than Dhs10 per journey.

Hello.Kitty

sure, but it's not like a 5-year old can occupy themselves at home during the afternoon until the parents come home from work...

Blue Cat

that is your choice LH, it wouldn't be for me at all, I don't trust the drivers one inch

co durham boy

You don't trust the drivers....A fully qualified heavy duty driver from Quetta who's been driving for 64 hrs and taking Captagan pills...to make him drive longer.....

Good choice B.C...!

Blue Cat

there is a forthcoming school trip coming up which involves a school bus, I shall be accompanying them

lionheart

Fortunately its only a 15 minute journey. We did make enquiries beforehand. So far there have been no accidents in the last five years involving any of this school's 35 buses. Now that they have to have conductors on board (to help crossing the roads etc.) and the buses have been standardised, we feel okay about letting our daughter travel. You even meet the drivers before the term starts, which also helps.