Opinions please on family child care issue

ailuro2

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/mar/26/affordable-childcare-family-finances

If you pay grandparents or friends to look after children, be aware of the tax implications. There are currently no allowances, tax breaks or grants for grandparents who care for grandchildren. If grandparents register as childminders they can receive support and training and can be paid by the parent who can claim back some of the cost through Working Tax Credit. However, at present grandparents can only do this if they also care for a child who is not a relative

taken from the above link - which although it is from 2009 I don't believe the rules on taking payment have changed.;)

Ex-Spendaholic

Just to answer a few questions.

No my mother did not give up work, she never did work.

Our school has no after school facilities and there are none in the area either unfortunately.

There are childminders in the area, several who are personally known to me so that option is there.

Working weekends is not an option. My current employer operates from 8.30 - 5.30 Monday to Friday only.

I'm not "struggling". However when I get to the SMP only part of maternity leave I go to £105 per week (or whatever it is now). From that my work take my pension of £90 per month. So to pay £150 from £330 for childcare I will not be using is the issue at hand here.

Triggles

While the request for payment for a year while they don't have the children does seem a bit odd, it's still quite easy to see who actually benefits the most financially from this arrangement... and it's not the grandparents. The amount of money you've saved over the last year alone is well over what they would like you to pay them while you're on maternity leave. If you don't want the complications of having family members watch your children (and believe me, there are almost always complications of some sort!), then stump up and pay for a nursery or registered childminder. It's really quite simple.

VK-2008

have you spoke to your parents about this in an honest heart to heart and explained the circumstances fully in a calm enviorment.?

the subject i would not of though is grandparents its more the money and costing would be same with any family member/friends? is that right?

hoping you get a resolution to your situation speedily xxx

Ex-Spendaholic

No I haven't discussed it with them fully as yet. As I have mentioned elsewhere on the forum, they have been nothing but derogatory over the fact that I'm having another child. They live in the belief that everyone should have 2 children not 1, 3, 4 or more. I don't see why they are being like this. No-one will force them to look after the 4th child and they have always been free to give up looking after the kids whenever they wanted.

I thought I would get opinions on here before the discussion arose and it is very interesting to get different perspectives on the situation. Unfortunately my mother is not the type who will listen to anything and the chances of having a proper adult discussion on the subject is not likely. She will go off on one like she always does. The reality is they think they have me over a barrel and that there aren't other child care options out there. They are also under some belief that the government is handing me hundreds of pounds each month in child care money and that I am ripping them off. :rotfl:

mishkanorman

gratefulforhelp wrote: »

Grandparents are not subject to this.

do you have any evidence of this, as a poster a few below you has ?

Loopy_Girl

Ex-Spendaholic wrote: »

I am fully aware that childcare would cost more elsewhere. However would I be paying for that childcare for a year and not recieiving it?

I've not read all of the thread properly yet so apols if said but in answer to your question then if your kids were in a nursery/childminder then actually yes, if you wanted to keep the space(s) you would have to pay whether the kids were there or not.

Nursery would be full rate and childminder at her discretion.

I realise with your 'rents babysitting it is different but maybe if you beared this in mind it might not be a bitter pill to swallow?

Savvy_Sue

ailuro2 wrote: »

Have you thought about becoming a CM yourself?

The OP would be quite limited as to the number of children she could take, because she will have a baby and three others. Can't remember what the limits are, but they will be on the Ofsted site.

mishkanorman wrote: »

do you have any evidence of this, as a poster a few below you has ?

Grandparents don't have to register as a childminder to look after their own grandchildren. However if they don't, then the parents can't claim the childcare-related tax credits. And if they do, they have to look after at least one non-related child. At least that's how it was: the evidence for that will also be on the Ofsted site.

Triggles

Perhaps they are not so thrilled with you having another child because you seem to expect them to provide cheap childcare for you and they see it as another child to watch but you still come out well ahead financially. Grandparents are not on this earth to provide cheap or free childcare. Too many people expect grandparents to just hand over a large portion of their free time to watch their grandchildren, instead of being allowed to live their own lives. Often they feel obligated or guilted into it. Obviously not a clue how this all came about with your situation, but you seem a bit smug with the "they think they have me over a barrel" type of thinking. You are getting far far more financially out of this than they are. I'd keep that in mind if I were you.

Brighton_belle

Ex-Spendaholic wrote: »

Unfortunately my mother is not the type who will listen to anything and the chances of having a proper adult discussion on the subject is not likely. She will go off on one like she always does. The reality is they think they have me over a barrel and that there aren't other child care options out there. They are also under some belief that the government is handing me hundreds of pounds each month in child care money and that I am ripping them off. :rotfl:

Just a thought OP, but do you want you children being semi brought up by someone who calls you a liar and is not capable of reasoned, kind, polite discussion?
I appreciate you may not ultimately finacially have the choice but what are they saying about you in front of your children when you are not there?