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Paid childcare

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

Original poster

How does anyone afford childcare!!

113 replies

Char1997 · 02/02/2024 11:32

Hello,

I know there’s lots of discussion about this always but I am currently on maternity leave with my second and working out childcare costs to return to work at the end of the year/beginning of next year and for me to go back to my job full time it’s going to cost me £1800 a month!!
How on earth does anyone afford that but then on the other hand how does anyone afford to not return to work with two children?! Just seems insane to me that anyone can afford to live, buy essentials when needed, go to work full time PLUS pay that obscene amount of money?!

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Danikm151 · 02/02/2024 13:01

Funded hours and help with childcare from UC for me. I couldn’t work without it.
obviously it all depends on your income.

Original poster
Char1997 · 02/02/2024 12:57

of course it’s a joint cost in a couple. But that’s still £900 each for full time childcare which seems insane. Paying £900 for someone else to care for my child. Obviously was discussed before conception but we were trying for a long time AND the costs around our area have gone up a LOT since we started trying. For example, we used to pay around £90 a month in consumables fee when our daughter was at private nursery 30 hours funded a year ago but that cost at the same nursery is now £160.

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Jf20 · 02/02/2024 12:45

It’s a joint cost if in a couple and it’s generally considered before conception. It is also a relatively short term cost.

MamaBearsss · 02/02/2024 12:41

I’ve got a three year old and now pregnant with my second. I had a bigger gap deliberately to avoid double nursery.

Overthebow · 02/02/2024 12:33

Honest answer? We researched childcare costs before having our dd, saved some money before we ttc and planned our work hours to maximise earnings and minimise childcare costs. Before we had our second DC we did the calculations again and wouldn’t have had him if we couldn’t have afforded it. By the time he goes to nursery next year we will get more funded hours, and our dd will be at school.

Original poster
Char1997 · 02/02/2024 12:28

Yes we will! 15 hours from January 2026 and then 30 from the January 2026 - he misses out on the September funding start by 12 days 🥲

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Original poster
Char1997 · 02/02/2024 12:27

Last time we were so lucky as our daughters was looked after by different members of our family 4 days a week and then went to nursery funded once she was 3 so we have never incurred these childcare costs before :( gosh it’s difficult isn’t it!

OP posts:
jannier · 02/02/2024 11:51

Your lucky as you are going to benefit from the new funding plus you may be eligible for tax free funding.

How does anyone afford childcare!!
SpinningTops · 02/02/2024 11:49

Help from grandparents a day a week
Return to work part time
Then had another baby age 2-3 so could use free hours once I returned to work second time around.

Prices have gone up in the last couple of years though. Now I'd probably consider a break from my career. Or just 2 days a week

CatsTheWayToDoIt · 02/02/2024 11:44

I guess the answer is planning! If you want to keep your career going post early years you need to be realistic that that is your goal, and make sacrifices for it. Financially I’ve a lot of friends who were no better off for working but did it because they were thinking of the end goal. That doesn’t help single mums I know! It’s hard - and I am cross the government doesn’t do more. If they did give more early years childcare support I think we’d all benefit and the women who give up their careers would go onto pay more taxes if they didn’t!

Goinoutalone · 02/02/2024 11:40

reducing Outgoings I suppose. No afterschool or childcare bill if someone is home.

Original poster
Char1997 · 02/02/2024 11:38

So we’ve got a 4 year age gap anyway so would only have to cover after school club for our eldest but that’s still nearly £300 a month! I would happily stay home until my youngest gets 30 hours funded but then how do people survive off of one salary!

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Goinoutalone · 02/02/2024 11:36

bigger age gaps, going part time, staying home for a few years, parental help etc it’s a hard one.