Why do people complain about childcare costs?

@camelfinger people generally could not afford back then, many things that are now routine such as eating out, cafes, takeaways.
I actually think life was better back then in some ways, and not in others. But I don't think younger adults these days would accept the lifestyle back then. Because for many people it was like lockdown, except you could visit friends and family. Most people never or rarely went to paid attractions or leisure places.

@cakeandcustard

The government doesn't subsidise things, taxpayers do! Are you saying those without young children should pay for your life choices then? I stayed at home when mine were tiny and took employment I could do from home, I returned pt when they were in school - I did the maths and it was not cost effective to work and I chose to have children. Taxpayers already subsidise nursery from 3, it's doubled since mine were tiny (I got 15 hours max).

I had children young and made do renting a tiny house, no mobile phone contract (basic payg) no gym no pay tv no streaming contracts. I resent people wanting my taxes to pay for their children when I can barely afford everything now

Given the choice, I would prefer to have children back when costs of living were lower and housing was cheaper than the “help” we get nowadays. It was definitely cheaper and easier years ago.

The issue is that it's a combination of factors that have come in over time. Jobs are expecting more and more flexibility while childcare provision is generally fixed hours and needs to be consistent. People are forced by housing and employment opportunities to move away from family networks leaving then tied to traditional childcare hours and housing costs close to city centres mean that even what used to be cheap "dodgy" areas are unaffordable adding a long commute to the childcare times both adding costs and reducing the hours that can be worked.

Admittedly you can get your child into childcare near work but this merely delays the issue until school age as you are highly unlikely to get a child into a (state) school near your work (and private school fees are more than nursery fees).

Where we used to live there was minimal wrap around provision (2 days until 5.30, one day until 4.30) and funnily enough the local childminders had massive waiting lists - which you could hardly join if you were on the edge of the catchment and not sure which school you'd end up in...

You can't simultaneously get on your bike for a job and have a robust support network around allowing you to work like you don't have children!

Women should put their career at the same level of Importance as their partners, childcare costs are split. No one is working for nothing if the costs are shared.

I never quite understand this view. We have shared finances and childcare is never assumed to be “my” cost. However if I earned less than the cost of childcare (I don’t), while I wouldn’t be working for nothing, it would still be the case that as a family we’d be better off if I didn’t work.

There is always an assumption on these threads that everyone has a career.

Because in many other countries (even poorer ones) childcare is heavily subsidized. When we bought our first home, we stopped qualifying for UC which meant we could only get tax free childcare. Even with that help, most of one of our salaries was going to pay for childcare, it was actually "more efficient" for one of us to not work, but my DH thinks he's too old for that and I'm very much a career person (it did pay off in the end BTW).

I have 20 month old twins and for them to be at nursery full time costs £2,100 per month. My full time wage is £1,500, so go figure.

Even with my husband's decent salary, it just isn't worth me working. Childcare in this country is only worthwhile if you earn a substantial amount.

It's obvious why people who are genuinely poor complain about it.

In terms of why others complain - possibly because it's indicative of how much worse the economy is than it used to be, generally, that it is now so unaffordable for parents to survive on one income. It's similar to people complaining about the housing market etc.

🙄 big of you. Single parents aren't a special category btw. They get the same as everyone else. They just have less to start with.

I'm glad you're happy about your childcare costs. Good for you.

Yes, non-working single parents used to be common. Because without subsidised childcare that now exists, only those with free childcare through relatives or earning high wages could afford to work. I know a few women who never did a paid days work after their Husband left them looking after the children alone.

Only if you live in a world where you don’t hold men responsible for raising their children.

We can all tell men they're responsible and there are a lot of great Dads out there but the reality comes down to money.

The scandalous undeniable gender pay gap means that it is usually the men who have the bigger salary, therefore the woman gives up work.

Because it's the most expensive in Europe by a country mile and because you have to have a household income of at least 40k to make it worth working, at least in the south east, which is way above the average salary so out of reach of most single parents and many couples. The high childcare costs is the most significant factor in the gender pay gap, it has a massive detrimental impact on women's lives, I can't believe that anyone would think this is an acceptable situation. Makes me furious.

Yy all those people living in a northern hemisphere country and complaining about the costs of heating and lighting. What do they expect? Etc.

We have to pay £865 per child for childcare 3 days a week where we live. I don’t complain because we can afford it but that’s the cheapest nursery around here and I know others just cannot afford that.

I’ll be honest and say, I never fully considered childcare costs before I had my two. Luckily we both earn well so it’s not too big a problem.

It is perfectly ordinary for someone to have a child. It also perfectly ordinary to feel that something really expensive is, well, really expensive. Especially when that something is essential.

Childcare is expensive. Childcare is essential.

Every winter we have articles about the cost of heating and how expensive it can be, but I don’t see anyone say, “But you know you have to heat your home!”.

Only if you live in a world where you don’t hold men responsible for raising their children

I think it’s more the years and years of entrenched sexism and structural inequality that has made childcare a tax on women, not because we haven’t been holding men responsible enough…

If you're old enough to have had babies prior to 1999 you're old enough to know that at that time, ie close to a quarter of a century ago, work, benefits especially the claimant commitment (which didn't exist), transport and housing were all very different.