Cutting childminder's wages - how do I broach it?

jo1972

Looking for a bit of advice on my situation please, feeling a bit down about it and am a bit of a wuss, I know what I need to do but need help on how to broach it and what to say.

My two youngest kids go to a childminder, she is unregistered and is a very good friend/next door neighbour of 15 years and been looking after my kids for just over a year.

Until earlier this month she had them both (4yr & 2yr old) between 7.45am-3.30pm and I pay her £155 a week. Thing is my 4yr old started school this month and so she has them both for an hour in the morning then drops my ds to school at 9am and picks him up at 3.30pm but has my dd2 all day. It didn't occur to me till last night when moaning to my DH about money that I'm still paying her the same although she only has one child now (except for 2 school trips and 1 hour before school).

How do I broach the subject now as we're a couple of weeks into school, plus the fact that shes a really good friend and really needs the money as she's unable to work or get benefits at the moment. How much should I pay her do you think

Plus I'm thinking of cutting my hours down slightly and although I will still need her to work the same hours, I won't be getting as much money (in fact around £600 less a month) and so I really can't afford it anymore).

I hate this, it seems that everytime somebody has to be spoken to about something it's me that has to do it, DH said 'well she's your mate not mine'.

I'm so fed up, please help

Pooky

I don't want to get shot down here but you do realise it's illegal to pay someone to look after your children if they're not a registered child care provider don't you?

Not only could you cause her to be fined for taking the money but you're putting your children at risk by not having them covered by insurance.

Might be better all round if you could find a registered childminder or nursery place for your child and then you'd know exactly how much you'd be paying per month and could maybe claim some of it back via tax credits.

I've seen situations like this go so wrong in the past, it spoils friendships when money is involved.

Hope you get something sorted.

jo1972

Yes I do realise that, but can not afford registered childcare at the moment so unfortunately that's not an option. I also realise the bit about spoiling friendships and wished I'd never got myself into this situation but hey ho I have and don't know how to get out of it.

rayday2

You could point out to her that a registered childminder only has a "retainer fee" for school hours and pays per hour for the time she actually has them and point out that in school holidays she will of course get the full money.

You should really look into registered childcare I have a feeling you could be better off than you think esp with a wage cut, no harm in looking!

misspoppy

Hi

This is difficult but I'm sure she must have expected you to reduce your payments. I would work out an hourly rate and deduct the hours that she isn't having your eldest.

I'm not sure why you are concidering reducing your hours at work but if you aren't going to gain anything is it worth it? Also are you getting the right tax credits and what will happen if you do loose the £600 a month?

jo1972

misspoppy wrote: »

I'm not sure why you are concidering reducing your hours at work but if you aren't going to gain anything is it worth it? Also are you getting the right tax credits and what will happen if you do loose the £600 a month?

Hi Misspoppy,

The company I work for relocated to South London back in April, previously it was a 20 minute drive to work now I have to commute for sometimes over 3 hours a day in total. Whilst I don't mind commuting to and from work, problem is that I don't get home from work until 7.30pm-7.45pm each evening, my kids go to bed at 7.30pm and this is upsetting me. I don't see anything of my 3 kids except for the weekends. I'm looking into getting a job more local to home but unfortunately the money isn't as good, although I'll be AQAing and Ebaying like crazy to make some up!

Reducing my hours with my present company is not really an option as its' the wasted time travelling that is my issue.

blackangeluk

Hi

I would just be honest and tell her that you have been sorting out your finances and had realised that you were still paying the same as if she was having both the children. If I was her I would not expect to keep receiving the same amount of money so it must have crossed her mind.

I would also look into the registered childminder option as well, I pay £460 a month for a full time private place for my son who goes between 8 - 6pm so I am sure there must be cheaper childcare (although I guess it depends where you live?)

I understand your difficult situation. My friend looked after my DD for a few months and she put up her cost twice in 2 months :eek: It ended up cheaper me putting her in nursery.

Maybe you could look at nursery for your youngest and before School Club for your oldest - if you have anything in the area.

Good luck whatever you decided to do, it is a difficult situation but I bet you she is waiting for you to mention it anyway x

rog2

Hi Jo - just divide the amount that you pay her by the number of hours, that she used to look after each child, then multiply that by the current number of hours for example.

Previously ; 2 children between 7.45 and 3.30 = 7.75 hours per child x 2 = 15.5 child hours per day x 5 = 77.5 hours per week = £2.00 per hour per child.
Current situation. Child a = 38.75 hours per week, Child b = 5 hours per week. Allow 1 hour per day for school delivery collection, gives you a total of 48.75 child hours per week.
At £2.00 per hour that makes £97.50 a week.
I'm sure your neighbour will be happy with that, but - like the other posters - I would be much happier if you explored the 'registered childminder avenue'.

blackangeluk

Another thought....when is your 2 year old 3? I think in the term they turn 3 you are entitled to 5 free sessions a week in registered childcare so this would cut your bills even more. Just a thought for the future.......

rayday2

I see where you are coming from about work I desparetly want to give mine in its only part time but I am owed 3 years back pay pay rise so want that to come in and then we are in the middle of remortgaging to have to wait for that to go through.

Making it worse is I have a course starting which is compulsory and I don't want to do it and last night I got attacked by one of the young people my mood re work is very low. I feel guilty because two now three with the course evenings a week I am running out the house as hubby comes in and not spending time doing homework etc with the girls.

Its tough being a parent its not all about the notes!

jo1972

Thanks BA, unfortunately I live in London and childcare prices are quite high. I previously had them both in full time private nursery and was paying £1,200 a month :eek:

My previous (registered) CM would charge £866 a month for one child (and that's quite reasonable round my way. At the moment I'm paying £671 a month, although obviously she is not registered. I'll have to work out the difference with the tax credits.

Thanks for all your advice, I really want my dd2 specifically to go to a private nursery, just gotta find a way round it. Thanks for the tip for when she turns 3 too (not till next June though..)

Rog, trust you to be methological :rotfl: thanks so much for your very good advice.

Ray, tell me about it I feel like I'm missing the best part of their lives