Childcare is bloody expensive!

Spendless

Kim_kim wrote: »

My daughter is the lower earner, but it’s worth her while working - she has to do full time to make it worthwhile.
She has Saturday & Sunday off, her partner Monday & Tuesday. She works really long days mon & tue so she can finish in time to collect them from school/nursery wed, thur & fri, her partner drops them.

The 30 hours of free funded childcare for working families made a huge difference to them.

She’s lucky her boss is happy to accommodate working parents work patterns - me :-)

Does her partner have the kids Monday and Tuesday? Flexibility in what days/hours you can work makes a difference. That wasn't available to me, it was work f-time Monday-Friday 8.30-5.30 no other options. Husband's workplace was the same. My employer didn't have p-time workers. Ironically if they had, I could have afforded to work, because I could have kept my hours below where I'd have to pay tax and NI and come out with a little of wages rather than none. Said child isn't even 18 yet, so I'm not talking a very long time ago.

Kim_kim

Spendless wrote: »

Does her partner have the kids Monday and Tuesday? Flexibility in what days/hours you can work makes a difference. That wasn't available to me, it was work f-time Monday-Friday 8.30-5.30 no other options. Husband's workplace was the same. My employer didn't have p-time workers. Ironically if they had, I could have afforded to work, because I could have kept my hours below where I'd have to pay tax and NI and come out with a little of wages rather than none. Said child isn't even 18 yet, so I'm not talking a very long time ago.

They are at school & nursery on Monday & Tuesday, her partner does she school run both ends those days. She does 7-4.30 (mom & tue).

thriftylass

sheramber wrote: »

Is raising your own children not a worthwhile job?
I decided to stay at home to look after my children until the youngest went to high school. I then went back to work,
My children didn't grow up to be work shy.
My children have a strong work ethic and have well paid responsible jobs.

Yes it definitely is and it is undervalued. But in certain circumstances a break that long is not possible. I work in science and would have loved to do that but i would have rendered my PhD worthless. Too many variables to judge anyone's decision.

Loz01

Kim_kim wrote: »

What do you suggest people do when one wage won’t get or pay a mortgage? Never have children?

Well surely not if you cant afford them? Not rocket science is it? The number of people I know who have 2/3 kids and complain about childcare for babies/toddlers........ baffling that they didn't think about it beforehand.

onlyroz

Loz01 wrote: »

Well surely not if you cant afford them? Not rocket science is it? The number of people I know who have 2/3 kids and complain about childcare for babies/toddlers........ baffling that they didn't think about it beforehand.

Um most people *can* afford them if they combine two incomes and use some kind of childcare. Flexible employers willing to offer flexible hours are also a big help.

Or are you suggesting we go back to the days where dad works himself into the ground becoming a stranger to his children while mum stays at home ruining her career prospects? Surely a better solution is to find a balance? Perhaps mum and dad work 4 days each and the kids go to nursery for 3 days a week?

We don’t want a situation where the only people who can afford kids are either the mega rich or the ones on ultra low incones relying on benefits.

Comms69

Kim_kim wrote: »

Surrey - none of the above are really an option for them. By the time they paid the mortgage their child rearing days would be over.

My mum worked, my grandmother worked, I worked, my daughter comes from a long line of grafters. It won’t do my grandchildren any harm to witness their parents & grandparents work ethic.

Not at all. However I don't think people should complain about their personal choices.


Having children and buying a house are not intrinsic human rights, they are choices for which sacrifices need to be made.

ViolaLass

One can be able to afford something while still thinking it is expensive.

ska_lover

PeppaCoin wrote: »

I'm currently on maternity leave and pondering on the sums for when I return to work. I earn £28k and husband £19k. I need to return to work full time as I can't afford a cut in salary and it wouldn't be possible with the work I do. We have 2 children - a 5 year old in school and a newborn.

Newborn childcare - using a childminder at £45 per day x 5 days a week, for 47 weeks a year. £10,575 per year or £881 per month

Son - before school club for 5 mornings a week at £6.50 per session and after school club at £11.50 per session for 4 afternoons. Total per week is £78.50. This will be for 39 weeks of school term, ie £3062 per year. He will also have to attend summer club for another 8 weeks of the year 5 days a week at £25 per day (£1000). Total £4062 per year or £338.50 per month

So we're looking at spending £1220 a month on childcare alone. The thought is making me so nervous.We don't have family or friends who can help with childcare and even with the help of childcare vouchers or taxfree childcare I can't quite get my head around being able to afford it. Our salaries are £47k in total so I know plenty of couples earn less, but I have no idea how they cope.

Looking at it another way, my day rate is £107. I probably take home £72 per day net, yet it costs £63 per day during term time and £70 per day in the summer to put the children in childcare. How depressing to be working for a few pounds per day.

Am I missing something really obvious, or is this just the case until the 30 hours kicks in for us in 2020?

I am not bashing you OP, but I really do not understand your life choices. It is like there are no other priorities but £££'s


Why would someone want children in order to go to work full time, in order to pay someone else to look after them and be skint.

You could care for them yourself, and still be skint


This is some real messed up reality you have chosen

thriftylass

ska_lover wrote: »

I am not bashing you OP, but I really do not understand your life choices. It is like there are no other priorities but £££'s


Why would someone want children in order to go to work full time, in order to pay someone else to look after them and be skint.

You could care for them yourself, and still be skint


This is some real messed up reality you have chosen

This is very judgemental and rude.

It has been discussed extensively here why some women, me included, want to work, need to work etc. Again refer to my post 61 for instance. So any women with an education/further education shouldn't have kids in your opinion as she'll have to work full-time in order to not waste her education.

Comms69

thriftylass wrote: »

This is very judgemental and rude. - no really, I mean you don't agree, BUT he/she is just as entitled to an opinion as you are.

It has been discussed extensively here why some women, me included, want to work, need to work etc. - and that's fine, personal choices and all that. You could choose to drink a bottle of vodka every night, I'd have an opinion on it, but I wouldn't try to stop you. Again refer to my post 61 for instance. So any women with an education/further education shouldn't have kids in your opinion as she'll have to work full-time in order to not waste her education.

My opinion is that a woman who has a child shouldn't have to work until child is school age. That's a personal opinion. I wouldn't stop anyone from doing so.