I need to have a rant about the cost of my childcare

[MGFM]

£2200 a freaking month!

This isn't a stealth boast about having enough money to pay out this much in childcare and I also want to say I feel lucky that I used to have plenty of disposable income and I feel lucky to have two wonderful children and I don't think the state should help me pay for their care (although I most certainly have signed up to the tax free child care) but oh my fucking god , I want to cry every time I think about it!

We will have enough left over for food and fuel and clothes when desperately needed and the odd treat but it is going to be freaking miserable.

I was in an outlet store yesterday and tried on a beautiful pair of skinny grey jeans. They were soft and luxurious. I thought they were only £29 but then I saw they were £50. Hung them back up and left the shop. I have just lost all my baby weight ( I put on 3 stone - it is now all gone and I am back to my not al size so I am desperate to buy some new clothes and now can't afford any) I need a tiny violin to play for me somewhere as I feel so pathetic.


I just need to rant about this really and I have moaned to real life friends but they might get sick of me droaning on about how broke we are

[MGFM]

If anyone can empathise please feel free to moan away!

[pinkyredrose]

Sheesh that's a lot, are they at nursery with princess Charlotte! At least its only a few years till they go to school.

[mrsmayitstimetogo]

Why on earth SHOULDN'T the state help out? Why, for e.g., are free bus passes and winter fuel payments ok, but support for tiny children not?

The cost of childcare is completely insane. It damages children. It hurts women. It weakens the economy. Madness.

[MGFM]

Oh and we are not London but we are in the south but not somewhere super wealthy.

[Shell4429]

That sounds like a lot, how many children do you have? thinks about becoming a childminder 😃

[Gizlotsmum]

That's crazy! Hopefully only for a few more years then it will reduce as they start school

[MGFM]

I have two under three and need full time. It is a mix of nursery and childminder. Possibly could have gotten a nanny cheaper but I really wasn't keen to be an employer

[Aderyn17]

Nothing helpful to add. Just sympathising

[Mightybanhammer]

But surely you looked into the costs beforehand?
Isn't there free childcare from 3 or something? Or is that means tested?
One of the many reasons I chose never to breed. Paid off mortgage before 50, will look to retire mid to late 50's.

[afrikat]

It's ridiculously expensive. We've managed to keep costs down by both doing 4 days of condensed hours so we only need 3 days of childcare but it's still loads. Once yours hit 3 at least your costs will go down a bit...

[MGFM]

We were restricted with which nurseries we could use as I have to drop at 0730 and many are not open until 0800.

I had them signed up somewhere that was going to be £1700 a month but during the settling in it became obvious that my 1 yr old wouldn't be safe and my two year old would gain nothing from it. So I had to pull them out. Let me just say this - the babies and toddlers share the outside space and there were colouring pencils and all sorts of other crap lying around on the ground and piss poor supervision. And I am ridiculously relaxed about people watching my kids usually but I couldn't deal with that.

And I know that nursery places are like wedding dresses - you need to get in 8 -9 months in advance to get a spot in a good one. So now I have been scrambling around trying to sort something out. A highly recommended nursery that I had discounted due to the cost is the only one left with spaces. Although the next one down is only £100 cheaper per month so there really wasn't much in it. Maybe I was unrealistic tthinmkg I could get good childcare for £1700 a month.

[OuiNonOui]

I pay 1100/month for my 21 month old I'm full time.

Absolutely ridiculous

[MGFM]

Mighty - I always knew we could covet the cost but everywhere have put their prices up so even though we can still afford it , it is just more than I had anticipated. He the nursery my son was at before put their prices up to £1000 a month so I didn't bother trying for there and now they are full.

[MGFM]

I am lucky wit the child minder. She came very highly recommended and the only reason she has space was because she has just moved to my area. She is my saviour!

[MGFM]

My 2.5 year old will get 30 hours free in April next year which will bring bill to £1800 a month. Better but still a shit lot of money

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

That's such a lot of money. Add in your commuting costs and other going to work costs (clothes, lunches etc) are you sure you wouldn't be better off having a career break? A 7.30 drop off is a long day for you all too.

[Luckymummy22]

When do you get the free hours for your eldest? I reckon I saved about £3000 a year when my daughter got the 15 hours free.

And maybe be closer to £5000 a year in Jan when my son gets the 30 hours.

He goes 3 days a week and at the moment I think we are over £600.
I only had 1 year with 2 of them there thankfully and eldest was getting free hours at that point.

I'm going to be rolling in it come January.

[gingerh4ir]

make sure you get the childcare element under tax credits. unless you earn an ridiculous salary, you should get quite a bit of help.

[Stillwishihadabs]

Sympathies OP, it is tough. I would not recommend a career break, perhaps you could both go pt ( if you have. Dp ) I kept going even though the nanny took 1/3 of our joint salary. I am so glad I did- most of the women who gave up work now bitterly regret it. The early years are tough but it will be worth it.

[skyzumarubble]

make sure you get the childcare element under tax credits. unless you earn an ridiculous salary, you should get quite a bit of help.

That's not true at all.

[MGFM]

Not eligible for any tax credits and no option for part time for either of us. We are both in the military.

Career break also not a good idea. I'm not cut out for staying at home and my husband is in the pension trap.

[DesignedForLife]

YANBU. Childcare for my two under 3 would be £1900 a month (in cheap as chips Wales). I can't find a job that will cover that and leave me with anything (I was made redundant in pregnancy). It's rubbish.

[gingerh4ir]

Not eligible for any tax credits and no option

not meaning to sound snotty but then you can obviously afford the childcare. The income thresholds for help with childcare are quite high and if you don't qualify with that kind of childcare, you probably really don't need it.

[spacefrog35]

I'm clearly in the minority but if that's for 2 then it seems quite reasonable, I pay 1350 for one

[JagerPlease]

I've condensed my hours so DS only goes to the childminder 4 days a week and that costs us £1100 a month (also South east). It's painful but I'm just holding on for 2 years time when the costs start going down and we get that money back!