Final SOA - Any advice would be great - thanks :)

lisa.89

PippaGirl wrote: »

The OR may ask you what hours your child is cared for as part of this arrangement and will look at whether the amount of money you are paying is reasonable and whether you could find cheaper child care possibly.

Thanks. I have already done this in the event that OR will want to see this.

I am a bit worried though as don't want to be forced to move my child to a stranger when he loves it at nanny's..

JCS1

lisa.89 wrote: »

Thanks. I have already done this in the event that OR will want to see this.

I am a bit worried though as don't want to be forced to move my child to a stranger when he loves it at nanny's..

The OR does not have the ability to make you change childcare, as long as you aren't paying over the odds it will be fine.

lisa.89

lisa.89 wrote: »

Thanks. I have already done this in the event that OR will want to see this.

I am a bit worried though as don't want to be forced to move my child to a stranger when he loves it at nanny's..

Just to confirm that Nursey would be around £50-£60 more a month and child minder would be around the same - maybe a few pounds cheaper, depending who you use but I don't feel comfortable with this, would rather keep in the family.

PippaGirl_2

if they did say that a childminder would cost less and give you an amount they would be happy with you paying, would your Mum accept this lower payment or would she refuse to care for the grandchild for less money? If she'd be happy with the drop then there would be no need for a change of carer.

lisa.89

PippaGirl wrote: »

if they did say that a childminder would cost less and give you an amount they would be happy with you paying, would your Mum accept this lower payment or would she refuse to care for the grandchild for less money? If she'd be happy with the drop then there would be no need for a change of carer.

If they did say this, I would have to run this by her. She doesn't know about BR, cannot bare to tell anyone at the mo..

I am hopefull that she would be ok, so long as it wasn't too much less as she needs the money so needs to be worth her while or she will go get a cleaning job.. stressing about this!!

Thanks for advice, its helpfull to prepare us.

Thanks - Gonna re-post my SOA with revised bits in a mo.. I am quite sure though that they would take my hubbys OT as an average as about 10 out of 12 payslips have the OT on it as its 1 in 5 saturdays and guranteed - although not in contract..

PippaGirl_2

I know what you mean about not wanting to tell people, I have told no one and don't want anyone to know either. It is hard!

lisa.89

Thought I would get back to my SOA.

Please see below revised soa, taking into account the advice on mobile phones etc.. although our contracts are £30 each and we would like to keep them if poss... any comments/advice?

Household Information[/b]
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household......... 1
Number of cars owned.................... 2
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 688
Partners monthly income after tax .. 1767 (not inc OT)
Benefits................................ 81
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 2536
Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 750
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 118
Electricity............................. 40
Gas..................................... 60
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 30
Telephone (land line)................... 20
Mobile phone............................ 40
TV Licence.............................. 13
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 22 (dongle on contract with laptop - no arrears so hoping to keep)
Groceries etc. ......................... 440
Clothing................................ 60
Petrol/diesel........................... 217 ** Not sure if I will be allowed to keep my car if i work 2 x days a week... **
Road tax................................ 30
Car Insurance........................... 125
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 30
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 300
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 86.5 (will get GP note to back up accupuncture paid private)
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 15
Life assurance ......................... 25
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 0
Haircuts................................ 30
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 60
Emergency fund.......................... 20
Total monthly expenses.................. 2531.5

Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 2000
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 2000

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts
Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly.. .APR
Total unsecured debts..........0.........0.........-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 2,536
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 2,531.5
Available for debt repayments........... 4.5
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 0
Amount left after debt repayments....... 4.5
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 2,000
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -0
Net Assets.............................. 2,000
Created using the SOA calculator at www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using IE browser.[/font]


In all your opinions / experience - what do you think my chances are for keeping my car?? I will be using it for work 2 x days per week to drop son to mother in laws then go back to work.. allowed around £40 pm for petrol, she lives around 2 miles away from new home.

rising_from_the_ashes

lisa.89 wrote: »

Thanks but i think you are wrong as lots of grand parents provide child care in this country and I am very sure that most are not registered child minders.

princessdon wrote: »

Just to clarify, it is INFORMAL childcare if unregistered not illeagal or many grandparents and friends would be in prison

You can't claim tax credits to pay the childcare but you can be a decent human being and pay grannie a few quid to cover lunches, trips, outings, leccy etc. In fact many people do as they wouldn't like to think they are adding to the financial burden of a relative who is already doing them a huge favour.

Agree with the above but £300 / month is not a few quid and most arrangements like this that I know of, tend to be doing a big sm shop for them etc

AFAIK Grandparents are exempt from being registered as childminders but only if they don't receive payment

PippaGirl_2

Just noticed your car insurance is 125 which is really high, the OR might want to know why. Mine is £340 per year for my car, so even if that monthly amount is for two cars that is really really high.

PippaGirl_2

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

AFAIK Grandparents are exempt from being registered as childminders but only if they don't receive payment

No they are exempt from the need to be registered on the basis of their close relationship and they are allowed to be paid. But you can't claim your child care costs back through tax credits unless they are registered.

Actually, that is a good point, as you would be able to claim back much of the cost of a registered child minder through tax credits, not doing so and paying your Mum Lisa is a massive difference in price and maybe it will be an issue.