Job Interview

I have a job interview on Wednesday.

I've been working in a school as a supply LSA (learning support assistant) since December, I earn £65/day.  I have an interview for the same job at the same school but employed directly rather than as a supply staff working for an agency.

The job is in Chelmsford, which is 29 miles from my home.

In preparation for the job interview I thought I'd better do some maths to figure out the material benefit of getting a full time job.  After all I'd be spending the time of my life doing that work. 

It's demanding work with significant responsibility.  I've been working in education for students with special needs.  I've been bitten, scratched and hit in the face, and by Fridays I'm generally exhausted.
However, I like working, I want to continue working, and I like that particular work.  I like being part of a team and I like working with the students and I very much like wearing a lanyard and riding the commuter train and going to work.  It makes me feel that I'm participating, like I'm being a good citizen, a good role model for my children and most importantly, after an agonizing period of  unemployment, it makes me feel that once again I have a derserving and rightful place in society.

However,
the job takes my time, as well as my energy and focus, and my time is my life. Nowadays, my weekends are spent cleaning my house, tending the vegetable plot, bike maintenance, looking after myself and family and freinds and preparing for the working week ahead, all pretty normal stuff.  Full time, means full time; there's not much time to focus in a meaningful way on other activities; it means that I never will get to master the theremin, I haven't even practiced once since I started full time work last December.

But needs must, and I'm fit for work.

So, here's the maths. My question was this; what material difference will a full time job and a stable income make to my life?

I was shocked by the answer.

Annual income   £13,000

Annual travel cost from Wivenhoe to Chelmsford         £2,400
Annual council tax bill                                                    £1,800
Rental value of my house    £750/month   or P/A           £9,000

I'm not pedantic, and just wanted a very rough costing, didn't want to scare myself or face the likely reality that even in full time work, I'd still be poor, so thought I'd  stick to those 3 basics; travel, rent and coucil tax.  Three unavoidable and fixed expenses, outgoings that couldn't be massaged by maintaining a strict household budget.  Other expenses such as phone, electricity, water, food, I thought, those can be juggled, so they're less important, and I just wanted a rough costing, just to check for viability before I commit my life to a full time job.

So I added those 3 basic costs; housing, travel to get to work and council tax and it came to

£13,200.

The job isn't viable.    

If something isn't viable it means it isn't going to work.