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Paid childcare

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

Original poster

Realistically, if I moved to a bigger house, how much would a live in au pair or nanny cost me?

9 replies

BridgetTheWoollyMammoth · 17/07/2007 10:08

I have no idea, can anyone give me a crash course. Expectations. pros & cons??

TIA x

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squiffy · 18/07/2007 16:14

I paid £80 for the au-pairing bit. Petrol £20 a week (most of it used ferrying kids), car insurance v expensive so found it cheaper to get a very basic runaround instead of putting them on our insurance (makes a big difference if under 21) - you should get a quote using money supermarket or something. I'd say around £400 a year for this. Food bill went up maybe £20 because of stuff like crisps and coke and such like that they seem to hoover up between meals
£150 to repair the prang when she accidentally drove the car through our hedge (don't ask), and maybe £20 a month in ruining clothes by ironing at too high a temp...
Plus the odd christmas/birthday stuff. And a cheapo holiday once which she half-paid me back in 'extra' babysitting.
And that was about it. Would highly recommend to anyone who has the room though be careful who you get.

syrup · 18/07/2007 08:04

Ok the costs for my AP have been as follows;
£65 per week pocket money
the food bills don't seem to have increased much probably extra £15 per week. Before she arrived I bought a refurbished PC and webcam so she uses skype/msn to talk to her family so no phone bills.
I pay her pocket money when she goes home on holiday (6weeks)(Christmas/summer) this may not affect you but my AP is with us for 2 years. I think this is more holiday than most have but she takes it when I am around and it suits us both. I will pay for her flight home when the time comes.
I admit I am very lucky as my AP is wonderful and that is about the total cost.

eleusis · 17/07/2007 11:57

By the way, we moved to a bigger house when were planning DS (child number 2) specifically to accommodate a nanny. We worked out that even with the increase in rent the live in nanny was cheaper than 2 at a childminder.

eleusis · 17/07/2007 11:55

And on that note, are we arranging a playdate for your DS and my DD and DS or what?!?!?!

eleusis · 17/07/2007 11:54

Oh, bugger off, Jura. [sticky outy tongue emoticon]

jura · 17/07/2007 11:45

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eleusis · 17/07/2007 11:26

I would look for an au pair who had some childcare experience and so might be able to move into the nanny role if need be. I would not be looking for a full time nanny for one child in full time school.

But, if you only have two bedrooms, where is the au pair / nanny going to sleep? Or are you planning to upgrade to 3 bedrooms with the new salary?

Original poster
BridgetTheWoollyMammoth · 17/07/2007 11:22

erm, erm, erm... I don't know.

My dd is at school now so it would be up and ready in the morning (she's fairly self sufficient) then evening care and babysitting.

Idealling I need some help around the house - cleaning ironing. That sort of stuff.

I'm not based in London but thinking of looking for a new job which may well be in city so might possibly need to be thinking London pay.

It's just me and dd, at moment in 2 bed house but new job = new salary = more commitment = nanny/au pair requirement

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jura · 17/07/2007 10:19

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