Managing fluctuations in childcare costs DFW style

all_hours

How do other DFWers manage an increase in childcare costs for school holidays? How do you budget for this so you don't end up putting back on the cards?

The term time cost will be about £100 per week and holidays would be £200-£250 for a full week. I don't think I can get extra tax credit to cover the shorter holidays - doesn't it have to be an increase for 4 weeks before they will reassess?

Any help or ideas are welcome.:beer:

Thank you.

msmicawber

Hi all_hours,

When I had this problem I used to put a bit aside for the holidays throughout term time because the tax credits didn't cover the holidays I had - I am sure you're right about the 4 weeks because it changed when I moved to my current job. If you get housing benefit, they will assist without a 'qualifying period' (though I found that they always messed it up and it took a while to sort out).

A lot of leisure centres have cheapish playschemes (just refuse to let the kids take the go-karting option!). Also, if you're not getting assistance from tax credits, you don't have to go for registered child care, so can use friends, acquaintances and family and pay much lower rates. Is there anyone that like that who you can ask to look after your children? Could you do a reciprocal arrangement with someone where you babysit for them at weekends or something if they look after your youngsters during the holiday?

By the way, where are you? I'm in Oxfordshire and managed to get a (horrid) call centre job school hours only, so would be happy to help out.

Very best of luck.

Snaggles

When I renewed my Tax Credits this time, I was told (by them) to total up the amount for the whole year and then divide by 52 to get the weekly figure - so I worked on 39 weeks (term time) at the lower amount and 13 weeks (school holidays) at the higher amount to get my average weekly childdcare cost. So then I can save a small amount each week/month to make sure I have enough to cover holidays. It doesn't matter if there are small fluctuations in the amount of childcare you need, because you only need to tell them if it changes by more than £10 per week I think. Is this right?

all_hours

Hi,

Thanks for the kind offer msmicawber, unfortunately I'm in the London region but thank you again.

I hope you don't mind me asking how did you find a job for school hours - did you go through an agency and tell them those are the hours you're available or did you get the job then negotiate hours?

Relatives will be able to help out if I leave the LO with them for the whole week - it wouldn't be practical on a daily basis.

Snagglepuss I think it would be fine for me to do the same as you. If I can get the cheaper child minder the average is only £10 more per week than the cheapest week.

Thanks

msmicawber

Hi - sorry I didn't see your question until just now.

The job I have is with an educational computer company, so at their busiest is during term time. I had heard of them and responded to an advert in the paper. If you look for any job adverts to do with education you'll often find there's option to work term time only, or school hours only. Make sure you negotiate the hours at the interview, though. Local councils also have a variety of education related jobs, so it might be worth having a look on your council's web site.

Although I earn less, my housing benefit is messed up less often now, and I get to help with the children's homework, study myself, and my children have a more 'normal' life as they can have friends round, go out to play after school, join clubs, etc. It's served me well and I can recommend it if you manage to find something along these lines. Best of luck.

all_hours

Thank you that's given me other possibilities to look into. I could only think of dinner lady or lollipop lady. I couldn't think of any other education related roles.:o

msmicawber

IT Support's a good one as some local authorities have their own teams, there are also private companies out there that specialise in educational IT support. Also IT or admin. jobs at secondary schools and colleges (it's harder to get into primary schools, there's fewer opportunities, lower pay and the jobs tend to be oversubscribed ... and there's the nit problem!).

Best of luck.