Childcare-whats your setup?

sterl1ng

Whilst we don't have kids at present I'm thinking be nice within year we start a family, OH is trying to find work at moment also. I don't really have a clue on costs or when kids will first go to nursery so trying to figure out how it works in terms of either.

OH has already said he's happy to be stay at home dad if it comes to it and honestly might be best solution but I want to know what other options are as I don't want him to feel isolated at same time being with kids all the time. My plan is take a year out then I guess either childcare or either of us stay at home for couple of years before nursery though how do you all juggle.

Someone told me yesterday childcare is like paying for a second mortgage!

masonsmum

My partner is the main earner in the house and I only work 3 days a week from 9.15 until 4pm.

I have a 7year old and a 2 year old and I know I am very very lucky as I do not have any childcare costs as it is all done with family, my Sister in Law take the little one on a Monday and picks older one up from school then takes them to local soft play for dinner and brings them home afterwards. On a Tuesday my mum takes them and a Wednesday my mother in law, I realise not everyone has the support network I do but if I had to pay for childcare I would probably be better off not working!

cakeforbrains

masonsmum wrote: »

My partner is the main earner in the house and I only work 3 days a week from 9.15 until 4pm.

I have a 7year old and a 2 year old and I know I am very very lucky as I do not have any childcare costs as it is all done with family, my Sister in Law take the little one on a Monday and picks older one up from school then takes them to local soft play for dinner and brings them home afterwards. On a Tuesday my mum takes them and a Wednesday my mother in law, I realise not everyone has the support network I do but if I had to pay for childcare I would probably be better off not working!

I'm one of these people. No family to help with childcare and so there's not a lot of financial point in me working.

All of my mummy friends who work have at least some of their childcare covered for free by family.

If your joint income is low enough you might get help with childcare costs from tax credits. Otherwise you'll get 15 hours free preschool when the child is three, but there are restrictions on the hours you can chose.

Back when I only had two children I did have to pay for full time childcare for a time, and that was about £700/£800 per month with a childminder.

fannyanna

I don't have a child yet but we're trying and childcare is something that I factored in financially before we started trying.

Full time childcare for one child in my area would be around £850-£900 if we found a very reasonably priced childminder. You'd be looking at £1,000 + for a nursery place.

Our mortgage is cheaper.

sterl1ng

cakeforbrains wrote: »

I'm one of these people. No family to help with childcare and so there's not a lot of financial point in me working.

All of my mummy friends who work have at least some of their childcare covered for free by family.

If your joint income is low enough you might get help with childcare costs from tax credits. Otherwise you'll get 15 hours free preschool when the child is three, but there are restrictions on the hours you can chose.

Back when I only had two children I did have to pay for full time childcare for a time, and that was about £700/£800 per month with a childminder.

On the family front none of my family are in same city but OH family about though not sure if they would want to help out but who knows!

How much must join income be to rely on tax credits? I live and work in London....right now trying to buy somewhere!

Penny1108

Looking at this right now, my son is 5 weeks old and in London that means we are a bit on the late side for getting a nursery place (we expect him to go in 1 years time...). We have no family or support network that can provide childcare for free. We are both high earners, me making a little bit more than him.

I am expecting to stay at home until April, and my partner will then take the last three months of my maternity leave as additional parental leave. We hope that we can string out the parental leave with holidays etc until August next year when the plan is for our son to go to nursery full time. The nursery we are looking at charges 275£ per week and it is not the most expensive one...

I think we have already come to the conclusion that we will never have any money ever again...

sterl1ng

fannyanna wrote: »

I don't have a child yet but we're trying and childcare is something that I factored in financially before we started trying.

Full time childcare for one child in my area would be around £850-£900 if we found a very reasonably priced childminder. You'd be looking at £1,000 + for a nursery place.

Our mortgage is cheaper.

I did read up bit this morning on preschools in the area, for 2yr full time childcare would be from £800 I think in area I'm in....that is a mortgage but if I had a second a year or so later that would be crippling so OH would be better as SAHD if he wanted as even when he is earning I'm still the higher earner.

sterl1ng

Penny1108 wrote: »

Looking at this right now, my son is 5 weeks old and in London that means we are a bit on the late side for getting a nursery place (we expect him to go in 1 years time...). We have no family or support network that can provide childcare for free. We are both high earners, me making a little bit more than him.

I am expecting to stay at home until April, and my partner will then take the last three months of my maternity leave as additional parental leave. We hope that we can string out the parental leave with holidays etc until August next year when the plan is for our son to go to nursery full time. The nursery we are looking at charges 275£ per week and it is not the most expensive one...

I think we have already come to the conclusion that we will never have any money ever again...

So should I start getting a place for my little one whilst I'm still exepecting then as I'm in London too. I guess from age of 2 could go nursery or do maybe part time and either myself or OH could do part time to fit aroudn kids. I'm really starting to appreciate having family around!

cakeforbrains

sterl1ng wrote: »

So should I start getting a place for my little one whilst I'm still exepecting then as I'm in London too. I guess from age of 2 could go nursery or do maybe part time and either myself or OH could do part time to fit aroudn kids. I'm really starting to appreciate having family around!

Part time is more realistic for many people. It can be quite hard to leave a child full time.

Have you factored in if/when you might ideally have a second child?

wendz86

My DD has been at nursery since 10 months old (is now 2) and goes 4 days a week. It does cost a lot but we save nearly £200 a month by using childcare vouchers. She doesn't get her free hours till next september which is a pain as her birthday is in april.

sterl1ng

cakeforbrains wrote: »

Part time is more realistic for many people. It can be quite hard to leave a child full time.

Have you factored in if/when you might ideally have a second child?

Well i'm thinking 2year gap of having kids but really not getting any younger!