Not enough income to support our family

WestonDave

You say your youngest is not yet 2, and so childcare costs will not come down until September 2014. Childcare costs should reduce from the term after he/she turns 3 - if you were thinking not until they start school in 2014 aged 4+ that isn't necessarily correct as most nurseries will take the government 15 hours per week payments towards their fees. At the very latest this will kick in by September 2013 in order for the child to be old enough to start school the following year - it might be May or January 2013. OK so that doesn't solve this weeks problem but at least that light is a bit nearer!

Beyond that you need to do a budget and identify where the money is going, and then maybe let people on the DFW board (in the nicest possible ways) tear it to shreds and put it back together in a more affordable form.

Spendless

When our lower income wages was at best at least the same amount of childcare and possibly more, I packed in my day-time job. A few months later needing a 2nd income I found an evening/w'end job changing after 6 months to weekday evenings. We had no childcare costs, child was always looked after by a parent and I had all day to do housework/shopping, take him to mum and tots groups.

thunderbird

Do you both claim childcare vouchers?

Kay_Peel

What is the shortfall each month? It's difficult to give opinions on how to get through without a rough idea of the sum you need to stay in the black.

zagfles

thunderbird wrote: »

Do you both claim childcare vouchers?

Or tax credits may be better. They could get quite a lot in tax credits.

rachbc

If you are both on a low income you should be able to claim working and child tax credits.

j.e.j.

This may not be a popular suggestion but would you even be better off if one of you were to stay at home and look after your children while the other earned the main household income? I don't have kids but I know from others that childcare is very expensive and a lot of the women I know who are working have said they are not benefitting financially, - they are working just to keep their jobs.

Person_one

j.e.j. wrote: »

This may not be a popular suggestion but would you even be better off if one of you were to stay at home and look after your children while the other earned the main household income? I don't have kids but I know from others that childcare is very expensive and a lot of the women I know who are working have said they are not benefitting financially, - they are working just to keep their jobs.

Not the best plan long term, when the children start school and she looks for work again the gap will be a huge problem, especially if the job market doesn't pick up much by then. If both could stay in work but reduce their hours to the equivalent of one (or one and a bit) full time jobs then that would be better, if its an option.

Plans_all_plans

I think it's certainly a consideration for the lowest earner to give up work.

I was out of paid employment as a SAHM for about 3 years and found a job easily when I wanted to return. It depends what you do during your time off: if you sit and watch Jeremy Kyle then there's no hope, but if you run playgroups, join PTAs, become a school governor, volunteer with a charity etc, it shows willing and that you've got transferable skills.

Darlyd

Bunting wrote: »

Now, now... be nice!

Are you able to car share with a work colleague? (I'm not suggesting getting rid of a car, but you could halve your petrol costs)

I work in the same industry, unfortunaly (sp) this can not be done for single calls. I've already tried.

I feel your pain OP.

But listen or will that be read, and read carefully. Government are bringing in that they will be paying clients with direct payments, and the client can pick who they want to care for them, So there will be a lot of self employed social workers/carers, I am going to be one of them, just got to get through my NVQ3, you can charge more than your being paid from company your working for, as your cutting out the middle man. . Worth considering, you can also pick your own hours.