Minimum £72k salary required to allow me to take home same as my 19 year old nanny

In principle I know that father's salaries are relevant to childcare costs, but in practice it is the woman who takes it into account when making choices.

Whether we like it or not, it is a women's issue.

Well I never found it cheaper and I have two children and it certainly isn't now that DS is at school. I am paying about £42/day in termtime for childcare for a 5yo and a 2yo, I surely couldn't employ a nanny for that amount, it would be £4.02/hour gross not taking into account other expenses.

In the holidays it is £60/day.

Speaking of work, I best return to it... will be back later.

Fio, it is in part an issue (although I completely agree it shouldn't be) for women because they still make less than men, and therefore are generally the one to give up their work when it doesn't pay for the childcare.

The answer is to keep women in work (if they want to). And in order for that to happen childcare needs to be affordable.

Bozza, the reason normal people need nannies is because they are cheaper than nurseries and childminders once you have 2 little ones. And , that is crazy.

Having a chauffeur is tax deductible, why shouldn't childcare be?

Never mind the affordability for a minute. Women fought for equal rights in the workplace, why shouldn't they be able to afford childcare to allow them to continue working.

As for which services would be cut.

Did you know that if your employer runs an on-site daycare centre, you can do a salary sacrifice that means you get a full tax deduction already.

So the principle has already been established by the govt. It is the availability of it that needs to increase.

Normal people on average incomes do not have nannies.

Well, as it happens I didn't change my name specifically for this thread. I just got tired of Uwila so changed it. And, I've made no secret of it.

You do need £72,000. If I used a childminder for my 2 kids, it would cost me £37,440 per year (£6 per hour, per child, and 12 hours per day to allow for cummuting to my full time job). Okay, it's tax free. But, I only have 2 children and a live in nanny is cheaper.

What the government needs to address is whether they really want normal people on average incomes to return to work.

Wanting to keep some of the money that I earn does not make me selfish. I'm quite happy to pay the nanny what I can. It is Gordon Brown's portion that I have a problem with.

lol @ Fio

some people just want to earn a lot of money and get everything for free

I do think that there is an issue with arguing for tax breaks on childcare - in that, where is the tax revenue going to come from then or what services are going to be lost.

yes i agree it is possibly on the high side - children at school, a lot of cms have reduced rates for siblings, etc

(but i was trying to prove a point!)

The obvious answer is - well don't get a nanny then. nailpolish, I think your CM figures are on the high side because it is likely that at least some of the four childrean are at school. I pay £10.50 a day for my CM to have DS before/after school but that is at a rate of £3 an hour. And she is cheaper for fulldays - so it is £28 for a full day in the holidays. But still in termtime that would only be £55/week/child.

But I am like www - waiting for DD to start school in either Sept 2008 or Jan 2009. Although my next milestone is this September when DD will get the nursery grant - a massive savings on 3 days at nursery.

but you choose to have children

im not sure it should be tax deductable

I agree with fiofio that looking after your children is the most important job in the world, and as such is most likely underpaid.

I think that childcare should be tax-deductible - that is why I find this a worthwhile discussion, if it gets more women realising what is going on and lobbying their MP?

The wider awareness of this issue is worth the debate.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO EARN 72K TO PROVIDE CHILDCARE

THE END

FULL STOP

FFS!

I think this topic is worth posting. I know these numbers shock and horrify me every time I run. It's probably better not to run them.

But, I do think it's worth debating the cost of returning to work if we as a nation do want our citizens/reidents to keep paying taxes.

Do you want a free NHS? Do you want benefits for the poor? Do you want quality state schools?

If the answers are yes (and of course they are) then we better think about how we are going to raise the taxes to fund these things. And if you have to make £72,000 year just to get by with childcare then surely we must realise a lot of people (mostly women) will leave the workforce.

Fair point fiofio and nailpolish. Whether a troll or not, I certainly didn't mean to wind anyone up.

yes me too fio

childminder - £4 per hour per child

4 children - £16 per hour

10 hours a day - £160 per day

times 5 = £800

therefore what you are paying your nanny is fine

and as MP said, if you are a greedy pig and want to keep all your money to yourself and not pay other people for things you should never have had children, or you should have at least thought of childcare costs before you had sex

ok? now no more threads PLEASE