What job for the lease childcare?

[wisheduponastar]

DP works Monday - Friday 0630 - 1630
I work in retail currently on maternity leave and was planning on going back four days a week (2 through the week and Saturday Sunday)

I checked nursery prices yesterday and is no way we will be able to afford the price for two days childcare so I will only be able to go back Saturday Sunday and probably will be making less money than I currently get on maternity!

What jobs do people have to work around childcare? I don't drive

[wisheduponastar]

Title was supposed to be what job for the least childcare cost

[Lazypuppy]

If you don't want to pay for childcare you would need to work nights while your partner works days, but you'd then have to look after kids on no sleep.

Not trying to be rude, but i'm shocked you have only just looked at cost of nursery? I had to put my dd on a waiting list as soon as she was born to get the nursery we wanted for when she was 9 months anf i was going back to work

[RandomMess]

Look for retail with evening shifts as your DP is home so early

[Tempjob]

Nanny with own child
Childminder
Nursery worker (you may get a discounted place)
Other than that, could you work evenings or weekends or try to get a better paid job? Childcare costs are horrific.

[Daisymaze]

Evenings and weekends if possible I suppose, a few of my friends in retail moved to night shifts when they had children, and then just had them in nursery for the morning sessions which saves half a day each time. A childminder could be another option, but they are still fairly pricey I suppose. The only way we can afford nursery is by being fortunate enough to being in well paid jobs, it's sad that some get priced out of the workplace due to high fees.

[wisheduponastar]

@Lazypuppy I won't be going back until May I'm just trying to sort it out now

[Lazypuppy]

@wisheduponastar what i mean is most people look at cost of childcare before getting pregnant, its a big cost to factor in.

Childcare is expensive, i never understand why it is a shock to people.

[wisheduponastar]

Thanks everyone that's an idea to work nights and then just have DS in for the morning session

[wisheduponastar]

@Lazypuppy yes DS was unplanned. DSiL was going to be having him one weekday but now pregnant and due April so that's not happening anymore

[Smallsteps88]

You could register as a childminder yourself OP and look after your DC while being paid to care for a few other DCs.

[Lazypuppy]

@wisheduponastar and what is your partner doing to 'sort this all out'? Is he considering changing his hours to help reduce childcare costs?

[NerrSnerr]

@Smallsteps88

You could register as a childminder yourself OP and look after your DC while being paid to care for a few other DCs.

It's not as easy as registering as a childminder, there's so much paperwork and mandatory training with inspections etc. All the childminders I know have big houses, many years of childcare experience and lots of resources.

[Smallsteps88]

I’ve registered as a CMer. I know what’s involved.

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Have you looked on Entitled.to to check if you would get childcare help? Complete it as ofnyou are both working and dc is in childcare with those figures.

Could your dh work condensed hours? So work 4 longer days rather than five shorter, so he is off one of the days you work?

Could you work from 5pm ish two weeknights a week (or from whatever time dh gets home)?

[Ohalrightthen]

Generally speaking, if you're working NMW your childcare costs will exceed your income.

One answer could be to retrain in the hope of a higher earning career afterwards. Lots of universities offer childcare subsidies/bursaries etc, so that might be worth looking into.

Otherwise, as PP have said, your best bet is evening shift work, but you'll be absolutely exhausted.

[NerrSnerr]

@Smallsteps88

I’ve registered as a CMer. I know what’s involved.

The OP may not though.

[OhhCarolina]

For babies and toddlers if you have a partner, definitely evening work. For older kids, school hours jobs.

Your dp finishes quite early so you could potentially be at work by 5/5.30 pm, do a six hour shift and not have to work into the early hours of the morning (which is the aspect of night working that fucks you over ime).

[Smallsteps88]

The OP may not though.

That’s why she would then look into it and decide if it’s for her. It was a suggestion not an order. Why shit on it?

[Didiusfalco]

I would try and go for evening, doing nights could be brutal with a toddler. So for example my friend has an Asda shift that is 5-10pm. Her dh meets her at the Asda on the way back from work to swap the little one before she starts. I must say though, that when I went back to work I was considerably worse off paying nursery than I had been on SMP, I think it’s just super expensive unless you’re a high earner.

[bmachine]

Child care cost should be split proportionately to what you both earn. This is especially important as it sounds like you are personally going to be taking a hit on your earning.

[mindutopia]

How much is your childcare? Because usually it's about £50 a day. Even on NMW, paying £50 a week (with your dh paying for the other day), in order to stay in work is probably still a wise move. It means you still have about £100 extra a week on top of childcare costs from your earnings.

That said, staggering your days is sensible. Your dh already goes to work early. Is there a reason he works such a long day? Could he reasonably finish earlier to relieve you at home so you could go to work by say, 3-4pm. Then you could finish up by late evening. I would much prefer that to working every weekend. Or doing a mix of evenings and weekends.

[3rdNamechange]

One weekday or a Friday or Saturday night ? Free hours available when kids are 2