Please help with childcare options- all too expensive!!

The reason it doesn't add up is not because childcare is too expensive but that average wages have stagnated, and the pay gap between those at the top and those at the bottom (or in the middle) has opened into a huge, unsustainable chasm. Childcare workers can't live on less, and nurseries would close were it cheaper, but you and I should be seeing more of the money we're helping our employers earn. It should at least be keeping with the rise in living costs, but it isn't! And meanwhile the richest get richer. The trickle down effect doesn't exist.

Assuming that's aimed at me. I'd day bills are also a joint cost. If every penny from a 38k salary is going on bills I think you need to look at reducing those. Check you're on cheapest utilities, meal plan etc. Is he paying for anything you don't really need like unused gym memberships and tv packages you don't watch. A good money sort out could help. Assuming after tax it's about £2k take home that's a lot for bills even in central London. If it's rent could you move to a cheaper area?

It’s so frustrating when people say “childcare is a joint cost””. Yes, it is. But the OP has already said that all of her partners wage is allocated for other things. So if that brings the “family pot” to zero, then what she earns is in addition to that. However if the childcare is more than what is earned... When fri bds did these calculations her going back to work netted them £5 a month!

Does the job have prospects? Will it help you get a better paid job?

I had 2 under 2 in London and me and DH earn less than yours so it is possible. You seem to be only considering your wage but childcare is a joint cost!
We both went part time and then only had 2 days of nursery to pay for on the days we both worked.
Combined income of 68k is quite a lot. If you have your heart set on a nanny perhaps look at a nanny share. Otherwise nursery is usually cheaper.

Where in London are you? It may be worth looking just outside your area. In Hillingdon Child-minder rates vary from £4 per hour in the south to £8 in the north so parents can save a lot by going 10 minutes in the opposite direction. If you can then hope on the tube its not a problem. You may also find a cm who will do a lower rate for siblings.
I wouldn't mention your education as many of us have degrees and work for less than minimum wage.

Could you and your husband look at your combined income and try and see where you could make savings on your monthly outgoings? There might be some non essential bills coming out of your husbands salary. I feel for you though OP , how can 30k not be enough.

I also couldn't afford to live in London!

this is the point how can childcare cost more than available jobs are willing to pay!?!?!?!?

Pretty easily, I suppose when you have three children!

I am sympathetic-We have a larger family as well and the early years are very tough. I knew that would be the case though, when we decided to have the last.

If you’re looking at around £1500 a month then tax free will save you £300 making it £1200.
Then in two years the youngest will get 30hrs funded.

Me and dp have just been juggling a similar dilemma. We've decided to only pay out for four days a week childcare but we both need our full time salaries to afford it, so we're going to take it in turns to take a day's holiday per week. All year. That's all our holiday. But needs must, and luckily for us we get some funded hours for one after that year. Good luck.

It will only be a few brutal years of not making anything, but then it is worth it! I went from making about £150 after childcare a few years ago, to now, where due to children hitting school age combined with promotions etc I now make £1500+ after childcare

Childcare vouchers/tax free child care account. This will save a fair amount

If you have a spare room an au pair might be an option

Compressed hours? For either you or DH?
Or what I do is do some hours from home once kids are in bed which saves me a days childcare.

Most people make it affordable by some kind of juggling.

Do you have room for an au pair? She could supervise at least the older two. You should also be eligible for tax free childcare if both parents are working. If these aren't possible then you may want to consider cutting costs else where for example by moving out of London/into a small house/flat. Or, if you can afford it you can accept the additional cost as the cost of you being in work. Or, again if you can afford it, you could just not go back to work until you qualify for state funded childcare for the youngest.

Yeah it's horrific sorry. Not uncommon to work for almost nothing until the kids are at school, in order to take or restart a good job.

I paid very little for a nanny share but I only had one child and it wasn't in London. IMO nannies are always really expensive, I don't think you can afford one tbh.

I would start work, live on rice and value beans, go into debt if necessary and hope for the best. On the positive side as soon as the school years really get going you will feel like a millionaire.

Tax free childcare WILL save you money. And you will qualify once you are in work.

Childcare is expensive because they have to pay salary for staff, rent, tax rents, utilities, food, Ofsted fees, massive insurance cost, employee pension contributions, staff training, toys, resources, etc, etc. You cannot expect that people who work in the childcare sector will be paid below minimum wage.

A childminder might be a good option for you, someone who would take all three children in her house. Depending on where you live, this can be between £45 and £65 a day for the one year old, plus an hourly rate for the two after school. But it won't be cheap.

Can you look into part time positions? For me, 3 days a week was the optimum balance that meant less tax in earnings, less childcare costs but being able to use full childcare vouchers. I was on a similar wage when I went back after DC2 (DC1 was in school). Was a couple of hundred pounds better off working 3 days whereas if I had increased to 5 I would have been paying to go to work.

You need to take in to consideration 2x salaries. 68k is quite a lot of money. Obviosuly i know you would get taxed on that too.
See if your new work place offers childcare vouchers (these aren't the same as benefits)
£100 for 2 kids for after school is a bargain. That's £10 per child for presumably a few hours of care and in London too!
I'd expect a nanny to want more than £10 per hour in London as that is their sole income. I am paid a few pounds more than that for 3 children and am not in London. It's not me trying to be mean but I'm just trying to explain. I think people forget that being a nanny is a profession. It amazes me that people will pay their cleaners £12-15 an hour and then moan that a nanny might charge £10 per hour. Kids are the most important things in our lives and they are very hard work!

Yes, look at workplace nursery on google it explains it all on the first few results. the employer just agrees to partner with your nursery and then you can save the tax and ni.

Oh and claim childcare vouchers or tax free childcare for the other kids out of school stuff. There is a cap on this but any saving is better than none.