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Paid childcare

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

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Original poster

What should the plan be? Childcare

26 replies

Thecostoflove · 10/05/2024 16:50

My husband and I are thinking of trying to have a baby next year. We both work full time, I’ve finally found a job I like but I only earn £23,500, we live just outside London. My husband earns more than me but how would we afford to pay someone to look after the baby after maternity leave? So if I earn £23,500, childcare for full time hours will be even more than that. What does this mean? As I would technically be bringing no money home, just outlaying on travel and the added extra of nursery as it is very expensive. We will be no better off than if I went back to work or I stayed home and only my husband worked. Am I missing the point? Just feeling a bit negative, would like to work still, or even just part time. Just trying to understand if it would be better to wait longer and try to save as much money as possible, I’m 32 and my husband is 35.

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LottieMary · 10/05/2024 16:59

First, you aren’t solely responsible for childcare. Reframe that immediately as ‘childcare will cost x% of our take home pay’.

it is hard. You need to do the sums and there’s no way round that - check an average of nursery fees, consider both of you making flexible working requests. Look up the funded hours which will kick in for 9mlnth olds in September (assuming there’s spaces near you) but do also factor in the top ups nurseries have to charge for that to work. You’re also eligible for tax free childcare.

it is also short term expensive - it’s a few years of pain but gets a bit easier after that

we’re v fortunate my mum does a day but we also ‘dropped’ a days work each (1 pt, 1 compressed hours) and made a choice to use a slightly cheaper nursery.

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