Childcare costs forcing us into debt.

Metranil_Vavin

The nurserys round my way charge around £340 a week for full time childcare!:eek:_pale_

I've registered my LO to start in january as I am meant to be going back to work full time (they are totally inflexible), but in reality I'm probably not going to be able to afford to go back so will just have to be a SAHM for a bit until I can find something more local and part time to fit in with childcare.

Lady_gaga

Metranil_Vavin wrote: »

The nurserys round my way charge around £340 a week for full time childcare!:eek:_pale_

I've registered my LO to start in january as I am meant to be going back to work full time (they are totally inflexible), but in reality I'm probably not going to be able to afford to go back so will just have to be a SAHM for a bit until I can find something more local and part time to fit in with childcare.

are you in London? that seems way higher than the average!!

Metranil_Vavin

Yes I am, and you are right the costs are eye watering.

That is for the private nurseries round here. I actually wanted to send him to the local council run nursery which is around half the price, but the waiting list is ridiculous and we haven't moved up it at all since I put his name down in May

Private nurseries round here are around £78 a day! It's totally ridiculous.

SuziQ

sandraroffey wrote: »

i am astounded at the prices people pay for child minders!!!!!

my daughter has two boys and some weeks they go to the minder for half an hour before school and up to an hour after.

in august, my daughters bill was £268 and the minder hadnt had them for a single day!!!!!!!!! my daughter had been off work (holiday) and the minder had been on holiday!!!

minders are self employed: surely as a self employed person you dont get holiday pay???

or maybe i am out of touch with how minders operate these days.

Childminders now pay tax like everyone else, they pay insurance,and yes they are entitled to holiday pay-just like any other worker, even agency staff these days get holiday pay. Some minders agree to less but it depends on the contract they sign with the parents, and if that is what your DD agreed to then she hasn't got anything to complain about. It is often more expensive for before and after and occasional care than it is for full time care, as the minder has to cover the hours she is not working also- don't forget that having a child here and there stops them taking on a child full time in their place!
On the one hand, yes child care is expensive, but on the other-children are our most precious gifts, and we need to pay to have them properly looked after. It's a matter of us all finding a level of care we are happy with, at a price we can truly afford. In some cases, it's not worth going going back to work.

Metranil_Vavin

I'm looking into childminders at the moment too, they do work out cheaper than a nursery but obviously you have to cover their holidays etc.

It's not stacking up too well for me though, so although my company are expecting me back in Jan, it's looking less and less likely that I will go back.

vroombroom

MV, have you thought about getting a nanny/au pair instead? Ive got a good friend whose done it for years and she does it cos she absolutely loves kids and wanted to travel - she's been all over but she is working just outside London at the mo (Reading I think?) and she's getting £120pw for doing a 40 hour week x (she has got a room, an ensuite and access to a car though) x

Metranil_Vavin

I thought for some reason that nannys cost more than childminders...maybe that's not the case?

Unfortunately we do not have the room for someone to live in either, we're pretty strapped for space as it is. One of the other 'joys' of living in London is house prices are ridiculous! I dream of one day owning a house....

vroombroom

haha I know what you mean - my best mate lives in Croyden and she pays £550pm for a tiny room, plus bills on top!

Have a look on childcare.co.uk - they have childminders, nannies, au pairs etc x worth looking into x

pyrorus

hanes wrote: »

Im not sure if we are getting the correct amount in childcare tax benefits.

we currently pay £636 p/m for one child. both of us work.
the goverment pay the first £356 but this is with ALL benefits inc (child tax etc)

leaves us with £280 to find. my partner and myself are not high earners 14k, 18k respectivly.
on top of the usual life of rent, car finance etc and living costs we are finding it impossible to manage every month.

i dont know where to begin with this, but is there advice we can seek to find out we are getting the correct amount. (we have been told this is correct) but still im not too sure.

any help would be great thank you

How old are you children?

A couple of suggestions does the school the children attend do a morning and after school club?

Also do you ever have a babysitter you use if your going out, if so would it be possible to "hire" them to babysit you children while your at work, they would probably be cheaper and you would only pay the hours you use them.

Just a couple suggestions that may work for you.

sandraroffey

maybe the answer to your child care costs problems, is to become a child minder!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they seem to be earning the most out of anyone!!!!!!!!!!!!