Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

CMs - Charges (struggling with ever increasing food prices)

31 replies

namechangingforthis · 19/04/2011 09:57

Hi all

I don't know what to do and was wondering if you guys could help me decide what I should do for the best?

I currently offer an all inclusive service so my fee per hour includes all drinks, snacks, breakfast, lunch & dinner if needed, nappies, wipes, outings, sun cream etc.

Unfortunately my dh lost his job a year and half ago and is still out of work :( He was receiving Job Seekers Allowance but this has stopped and although our household income was only £9k last year, we're not entitled to means tested JSA as I work more than 24 hours a week!

We have huge debts, a lot of which is as a result of problems which we couldn't afford to get fixed so put on credit cards etc (boiler problems, gas leaks, car problems etc etc). Unfortunately we've got to the point that we're a minimum of £150 down per month and running out of credit card and overdraft facility. Once these have gone, we're stuffed :( Now this isn't the parents problem, it's ours HOWEVER if we can't afford the mortgage, eventually we could potentially loose the house therefore meaning the end of my childminding business :( This WILL affect the parents.

Soooo, I'm thinking long and hard about the whole situation and how we can reduce costs. One thing I've noticed is the huge increase in food shopping, it's amazing how much stuff has gone up and I just can't afford to keep buying the 8 different fruits, all the special cereal bars and all that stuff, it's costing me a fortune and my food bill is huge.

One parent yesterday insisted I should go back to charging for food and then parents can choose whether or not to use mine or send their own. They said that the parents are saving loads currently by me supplying all this food at the same cost (I didn't increase my fees this year like I usually do).

WWYD in this situation? Should I go back to charging for meals? I never charged for snacks in the past but I used to charge for meals a couple of years ago.

My fee review takes place annually in Sept/Oct, I notify them of all changes by the end of October and the increase starts from 1st Feb the following year. On 3rd October I notified parents I wasn't increasing at that time and this is part of what I put in the letter:

I am pleased to confirm that although the cost of living continues to rise, I have decided to postpone any increase in fees for the time being and will therefore not be making the usual increase from February 2011. Instead I will review my fees once again in February 2011 and if I feel at that stage an increase is necessary, I will notify you and the increase will be from June 2011.

I was hoping to continue with no increase (and to be honest, I'd forgotten I'd mentioned I'd review again in Feb Blush) but I just cannot afford to continue like this if I want to keep my business (unless by some miracle dh gets a job soon!). Obviously I never confirmed anything in February to say yes or no to increasing in June and if I decide to increase after all, I'm still giving more than a month's notice......what do you think? Would that be ok? Tbh, I don't know what other option I have :(

My head is all over the place, I really don't want to upset parents when times are tough but I don't want to loose my home either. What do you all think?

TIA :)

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Original poster
namechangingforthis · 19/04/2011 12:03

x'd posts. Thanks crazybabies :) They are all very pleased with my service and I don't think they'd even consider leaving because of this (I've had most for 3-4 years, a couple from 8 weeks old - we're like one big family :)). I just feel so bad about changing things. My parents are fantastic, some cook me and dh gorgeous meals 'just because', a few buy me beer 'just because', I often get random things like choc bars, other snacks, pots of cream, pack of choc fingers etc etc, I've had a couple of mums take me to the local posh spa for an evening treat, i get expensive massages and various other lovely presents for bdays, Christmas etc. I could go on and on about how lovely all my families are. This is why I find it SO hard to have to change the way I charge things :( But what can I do? They need me to be able to work and without a home I can't.

I feel bad as I knew our situation was bad but sort of put it to the back of my head and it wasn't until I sat down at the weekend and did a proper budget plan thing, that I realised how much of a loss we've got each month. All this without the problems we keep getting which is usually hundreds of £s each time! (and we seem to have had stuff like this every single bloomin month since he lost his job!). Oh and it doesn't help that within 6 weeks we've paid out for 2 x £245 load of road tax!!! grrrr

Anyway, moan over. What I need to do is sort this out so we can get out of this mess, starting with me stopping wanting to give the kids everything they want!! Wink

OP posts:
Original poster
namechangingforthis · 19/04/2011 11:55

Oh, just popped back whilst dh watches kids in the garden (reg'd assistant for adhoc occasions), didn't expect any replies yet so thanks :)

Re the food I buy.......cereal bars are just offered at breakfast for those who want them (Organix range) but yes, I need to not offer these I guess (just hate it when the kiddies ask for stuff and I have to say I don't have them). The fruits I currently purchase each week are:

Apples
Oranges
Pears
Bananas
Kewi
Melon
Dried Apricots
Raisins

and then when on offer etc.......grapes, strawberries, blackberries but these are rare tbh as I can't afford them.

Fruit is offered at snack times and then after meals (i.e. they usually have a pot of yoghurt and then fruit although now they often want a kewi and melon and........) Do you lovely ladies let them choose what they want or do you offer something set? I don't let them have the same thing twice i.e. if had melon at snacktime, they have to have something different for next meal and so on (as I tell them they need 'variety'). I currently get the little pots of fromage frais but maybe I should get natural yoghurt and put fruit in? Just worry they won't eat it as tried a couple of times before and they don't touch it :( Would they if that was all that was ever on offer do you think?

As for cereals.......I offer 5/6 different sorts Blush Do you think it's fair for me to just do 2 then? Often they'll have toast anyway (some ask for crumpets but I keep explaining that they're lucky they have the variety I offer as is it!!)

As for nappies and wipes.......tbh I don't mind these being included (and currently only have 1 in nappies and they only come 2 days a week), I started including them when I had 4 children aged 18 months and under at a time and got fed up with loads of bags - I just bought a BIG change bag and started to supply my own so it was easier! Suncream though.....yes, that's not cheap so I think I'll go back to them supplying it. I don't know anyone else who supplies this for them (HSMM - I'm local to you Wink, not sure if you include this in your all inclusive?)

As for price......I charge £4.30ph which is not the cheap end but I know some who charge more (having said that, it's not so easy to keep an eye on charges now they've taken away the central database!)

Outings - yes, this is a lot and I'm now only offering 1 paid for day out a week in the school hols and had to take 1 particular place off my list (which is an hour each way and cost me about £80+ last time (prices shot up as been taken over by another company). I said I'd take them on occasion if I had a couple of £ contribution towards it. Thank god they've FINALLY upped the mileage allowance after all these years!!!

Right, best go and relieve dh, it's time for lunch shortly anyway!!

Thanks for your thoughts, keep them coming as I'm serious about making changes to what I provide as long as it's still fair to paying customers :)

OP posts:
CrazyBabies · 19/04/2011 11:45

You sound like a really caring person and you know that something needs to be done.

I think the parents will be quite happy to pay a little extra each day for food, especially if they are happy with you and the care you provide. It's just one of those things.

Just explain to them , like you have here, that as food is so expensive you will need to start charging a small amount. Also suggest that they could provide the child with a packed lunch. One of mine comes with a food bag including cereal (dried eg a wheatabix), lunch(sandwich& pud), dinner(which I reheat)and pud, and a snack.

I know of a local childminder who provides a meal, but not pudding?

I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Good luck, sounds like you are doing a good job.

ssd · 19/04/2011 10:55

op, I think you are being very reasonable and honest and the parents will appreciate that and stick by you

good luck with everything

RosieGirl · 19/04/2011 10:53

Poor you, sounds like you are struggling at the moment, I do hope things get better.

Anyway, I can't see this being a problem. I charge separately for meals £2 for a dinner £1.50 for lunch, but do provide fruit snacks. I had 8-9 children last week and couldn't afford to feed them all (not to mention the time it would take). A lot of my children are part-time so it would be unfair of me to charge an all-inclusive fee for those that wouldn't have food.

Do you charge considerably more than other childminders in your area?

I am surprised at the amount you include. I wouldn't include sun-lotion or nappies (I do have wipes). Keep outings down to a minimum. What are the special cereal bars? You probably need to re-assess what you are giving the children as it doesn't necessarily have to be fancy. I have 2 children with severe allergies and its amazing what I can make with basic ingredients.

I noticed that my petrol bill is getting silly and have informed parents that I will do different outings on alternate weeks as I live in a rural area and have to travel to get anywhere.

Good luck I am sure your parents will understand as it is getting tough for many of us.

eastmidlandsnightnanny · 19/04/2011 10:48

It sounds like you need to increase your fees and review what you buy - can you just buy in season fruit and veg, not buy cereal bars are the neccesary snacks - can you not make healthier ones or buy when on offer or have an alternative.

Just buy 2 different cereals and have toast (buy value wholemeal) and buy the large pots of natural yogurt and let the children have honey or fruit or jam on it or puree own fruit.

I would suggest you continue to include meals in fee but parents provide own wipes and nappies and suncream etc.