Costs of a nanny?

mysk_girl

Gah! It always happens that just as I've got life on an even keel, something comes along to knock it all over again.

In a nutshell, my childminder gave me notice this morning. As it happens, they (couple who mind together) are retiring at Christmas, hence the notice.

I have 2 children currently, and one on the way due in November, and I was hoping to return to work next September. Obviously they are working until I go on maternity leave on 1st October, so this end of things are covered. I will probably give them counter-notice for 1st October, so I'm not paying while on mat leave. My DD starts school in September and DS will go to preschool in September, I've got to find 4 weeks of childcare 7.30-9am for September for those 2 as I and OH both start work at 8am. I have to pay for DS preschool until next Easter, but I have plenty of childcare vouchers saved up and I will continue to receive them while on mat leave, so that is sorted for that.

But next September....

I have an hours commute into Oxford to start at 8am. OH generally starts at 8am about 10 minutes drive away, but about 3-5 times a month he has to leave at 6am if he has an early meeting in London. I just think the logistics of the care I need for 3 children would be best suited to a nanny (live out, who could start at 7am, if such a thing even exists!). This would be for 4 days a week 7am-3pm - I am 99% back by 3pm to school pick up, but I was hoping a nanny would have the baby during the day and be able to collect the others if I were late or if they were sick. The advantages I can see is that a nanny would do inset days, school holidays, sick children, emergencies etc - which I would find difficult to manage with childminders+school+preschool.

Do nannies ever do light housework? And all I mean by this is washing up breakfast and maybe a single load of laundry into the machine (I wouldn't expect it hung out or anything, just started off and maybe tossed in the tumble dryer), also keeping the kids toys in relatively neat order, I'm by no means a neat freak so as long as it wasn't absolute chaos I think I would be happy!

OH and I both salary sacrifice £243 a month, can I pay a nanny with these? I know I would have to do tax/NI - but I already run a payroll for preschool so this is no issue to do it myself, and I know how to do holiday etc so I don't think I would need any payroll services for this.

Does anyone have any idea how much this would cost? I take home about £1300 pcm after pension and childcare vouchers deductions, and I drive 200miles a week to work and back. I need to make a profit, obviously, but if it is a tiny profit, it simply won't be worth missing all that time with my children. I do want to maintain my career, which I've worked very hard at - but it won't be at the cost of unhappy children or a stressed mother.

Any ideas? Obviously I have time on my side, but I like to have all my ducks in a row so to speak...

fluffnutter

I wouldn't expect a nanny to do any housework although keeping the children's toys tidy would come within their remit.

You can use your childcare vouchers to pay a nanny provided he or she is an Ofsted registered nanny.

You're looking at about £300 a week for a nanny. Expect to pay more if you live in London. TBH, unless you love your job, financially a nanny probably doesn't make all that sense for you - not on your current wages.

You could consider an au pair, but you wouldn't be able to use your childcare vouchers, you wouldn't get the same level of competence and you'd probably need to provide accommodation.

minimoneysaver

I am a qualified nanny, however I have only ever worked in America and not for the last 13 years! I used to get about $500-$600 a week for about 20 hours. I don't think the pay is anything like that over here though.
A professional nanny will be prepared to do household duties which relate to the child. That includes preparing meals for the children, keeping the toy areas neat and toys clean, children's laundry, and helping the older children with their homework etc.
I think you are right, that a nanny would possibly be more cost effective for you.

fluffnutter

In terms of pay, this might be useful, mysk_girl.

http://www.littledarlingsnannyagency.co.uk/salary.htm

Dunroamin

Would you be thinking of having a nanny who lives in or out?

Do you have any friends who might be interested in a nanny share?

mysk_girl

fluffnutter wrote: »

In terms of pay, this might be useful, mysk_girl.

http://www.littledarlingsnannyagency.co.uk/salary.htm

That's very useful thanks! I think I would be looking at around £250 per week, but that equates to far more than my salary (£25k gross).

I do love my job, very very much so, but I won't do it at a loss and I love my children more.

Nanny share is an option - obviously there are all the other children affected by CM retiring, so I might ask around.

Spottedleopard

Some nannies are happy to do some housework if they don't have children to look after full time.

My sister lives in Notting Hill, her nanny has 6 years experience, qualifications, OFSTED registration and looks after my 4 and 2 month old niece 5 days a week and is paid £12 (net) an hour. Most employers pay their nannys tax and NI contributions.

I just skimmed your post but here is a website that gives you a rough idea of the costs: http://www.littledarlingsnannyagency.co.uk/salary.htm
Most people in London pay around the £10net an hour mark

Nannies mainly work 12 hours day- many want MORE hours than less. My sisters nanny works 7-7, M-F.

Then there is expenses- trips out, food for the children when they are out, mileage, parking etc. My sister sets her nanny an extra £400 a month for expenses.

You might be best contacting a few agencies- DONT ASK THEM TO LOOK FOR YOUR NANNY, they charge a ridiculous amount of money! You will get plenty of interest advertising your position on Gumtree and Nannyjob.

You won't find a Nanny who wil accept £243 a month, that is more a weeks salary and then you would have to pay tax and NI on top.

I would suggest an aupair, but they only work 25 (max 35) hours a week and they don't tend to look after under 2s.

Floxxie

I have a nanny. I have to employ her and she works 8 until 5.30 Monday to Friday and costs £366 per week (including the tax and NI that I have to pay).

She is on the voluntary register for Ofsted.

I claim WTC so £210 per week is covered.

mysk_girl

So it might be cost effective for me to do 3 long days rather than 4 short ones? I wasn't expecting a nanny to accept £486 per month! But I could use them as part payment, I was thinking.

Urrgghhh such a minefield. Will be looking for a new childminder in the village also as an option and the local day nursery will drop off to the school/preschool and they open at 7am, so possible option for the 2 eldest just to do the mornings. Baby would still need full days though.

My head hurts. But I must remember I have lots of time and many things can happen before next September!

OH always says "it'll always be OK in the end, and if it isn't OK, then it isn't the end yet".

mysk_girl

OH earns too much for us to claim tax credits. And we are losing child benefit in January. I could afford a nanny if I worked full time, but I don't really want to do that.

Spottedleopard

mysk_girl wrote: »

So it might be cost effective for me to do 3 long days rather than 4 short ones? I wasn't expecting a nanny to accept £486 per month! But I could use them as part payment, I was thinking.

Urrgghhh such a minefield. Will be looking for a new childminder in the village also as an option and the local day nursery will drop off to the school/preschool and they open at 7am, so possible option for the 2 eldest just to do the mornings. Baby would still need full days though.

My head hurts. But I must remember I have lots of time and many things can happen before next September!

OH always says "it'll always be OK in the end, and if it isn't OK, then it isn't the end yet".

Don't forget, if your eldest two are 3+ they are entitled to some freetime at a nursery. I *think* its 15 hours.

If you do three days PT then you could probably look into getting an Aupair+, they dont generally do under 2s care but they MIGHT. The only problem is they don't tend to come with the experience or qualifications and many are young, and there to see the world- so expect to wake up on a sunday morning at 6am when they are rolling in from a night out. Part of their job is to do housework. When my sister had an Aupair+ they gave her £100 a week pocket money for 35 hours plus she paid for night school for her to learn English- so unless you get an America/NZ/SA/English Aupair you will have a language barrier in place.