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Original poster

Reduce my hours or hire a nanny housekeeper?

21 replies

ButtonMirror · 02/09/2018 21:36

I currently work 50 hours a week. My husband works 60 hours.

We have 6 kids aged 2 to 11.

We currently rely on a mix of nursery and my parents for 2 year old. Rest are at school and we use before and after school clubs. This gets expensive.

My husband and I have decided we need to change things.

Two options are I reduce my hours to school hours either every day or 3 out of 5 days. This would mean between 27 and 36 hours instead of 50

Or... hiring a nanny housekeeper who can do the school runs, care for my 2 year old during the day and do housework. Would keep 2 year old in nursery in mornings still and nanny can do house work whilst she at nursery. Currently she does 3 full days and 2 mornings

Help us decide what to do. Financially both options would be the same as we'd pay nanny same as what I earn an hour..

I'm leaning towards nanny because it would be fantastic to not have to worry about housework

OP posts:

KindergartenKop · 02/09/2018 21:41

I would reduce hours a bit and get a Nanny. However most nannies don't do housework other than cooking for kids.

Rocknroller1234 · 02/09/2018 21:42

Nanny definitely although the costs maybe more than expected. You will be paying them from your wage after tax, and then have to pay employers NI on top of it. So if you earn for instance £12 and you pay then £12 the real cost to you would be higher. That said, I still think it’s a worthwhile thing to do and would make your life so much easier!

Rocknroller1234 · 02/09/2018 21:42

Ah yes you would need to specify a nanny/housekeeper - as some nannies to do housework but they need to agree to it up front.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

2 year olds Childcare & nursery Families

fussygalore118 · 02/09/2018 21:44

How much would it impact on your career reducing your hours? Nanny would be good but as others have said they may not do housework.

EmeraldVillage · 02/09/2018 21:46

Well firstly kudos to you both for managing to work full time with 6 kids without a nanny! I feel faint just thinking about it.

I think it depends on

what difference does it make to your job and prospects on reduced hours v full time
would you rather spend that extra time collecting school kids, housekeeping etc or working
whether youve factored in all costs including pension, employers NI, payroll costs, extra food, higher bills.

thereareflowersinmygarden · 02/09/2018 21:48

Reduce your hours. Nobody wished they'd spent more time at work

Alfredrabbit · 02/09/2018 21:53

Nannies are not cheap, and most professional nannies won’t do housework that isn’t specific to the children. You would have to be very specific in your job description to ensure you were getting what you expected done.We pay our nanny £20k/yr for 30 hrs/week plus overtime all of which she expects to be put through the books.....works out about £16/hr gross (south east). You also need to factor in employment liability payment, and travel costs or the cost of putting them on your car insurance and the outlay of extra car seats etc if required. By the time we’ve paid our nanny I ‘take home’ less than she does (for a crazy busy senior role job). You might also struggle to find a nanny that’s prepared to take in 6 kids. I had a colleague that had to employ 2 nannies for triplets.

Bobbybobbins · 02/09/2018 21:53

I would personally reduce hours - but nanny also sounds like a positive option so whichever you go for will be better than your current situation imo.

Sarahandduck18 · 02/09/2018 21:57

Nanny and cleaner.

How on earth do you manage as it is?!

SD1978 · 02/09/2018 22:24

Agree with PP. nanny won't do housework, apart from basic stuff doe the kids- maybe hangs a bed, clean up toys etc. you would need a nanny or an au paire would work, and a cleaner. Nanny will clean up children's dishes, and make them snacks/maybe dinner but won't deal with household tasks for the whole family.

SwordToFlamethrower · 02/09/2018 22:40

Why do you have to reduce your hours?

SwordToFlamethrower · 02/09/2018 22:41

Could you both reduce a bit? There are benefits to each of you being at home more.

parietal · 02/09/2018 22:42

depends on your job. do you love your job? are you working towards a promotion and need to stay full time to get it? is this job your dream career or a step towards it? If so, get the nanny.

but if your career won't suffer from going part time, and you'd rather have more time at home, then go for that. I'd still get a cleaner though!

Ladyflop · 03/09/2018 00:04

You have 6 kids and work 50 hours a week? Good grief, why have so many kids if you need to work so much to support them and rarely see them?

Original poster

ButtonMirror · 03/09/2018 05:43

@ladyflop I took on my best friends 3 children when she died. I do see them. I work 8am to 6pm 5 days a week. I'm there when they wake up and I'm there to put them to bed. I'm there at weekends.

Husband can't reduce his hours

There are loads of nanny housekeepers advertised where I live.

I love my job. I work in a children's hospice.

I don't really want to reduce my hours but need to change our childcare arrangements to something more beneficial to both myself and the children. I need help with house work..laundry, vacuuming, dusting, bathrooms and kitchen.. so I haven't got to spend weekends and evenings doing it.

So either I reduce my hours or get help.

OP posts:

frenchfancy · 03/09/2018 05:51

Get help. You are already going over and above. It sounds like if you get help you will have more time to spend with the kids and everyone will be happier.

eeanne · 03/09/2018 05:56

Try a nanny first, if it doesn't work out then you can go back and reduce your hours. Doing it the other way might be harder and could affect your career.

BirthdayBlueBo · 03/09/2018 06:02

Can you afford to reduce your hours to enable you to do pick ups and then get a cleaner for a couple hours a week. Our cleaner will also do ironing and change all the bedding etc

GoldilocksAndTheThreePears · 03/09/2018 06:03

I knew a few nanny/housekeepers who did housework but tended to be for older children, fitting the housekeeping part around school runs. I'd imagine it'd be harder finding someone who would do housework while also caring for an under 3, as most go into nannying for the childcare part and would find it a difficult position to be hoovering or scrubbing a bath while caring for a toddler. I know parents do it, that's not the issue, it's difficult as a professional childcarer to provide high levels of care while also fully cleaning a house. That's just my perspective though, I've met many nannies and housekeepers and mother's helps and all sorts all with differing roles, timings, payscales, duties, expectations! And as others have mentioned the costs of employing are easy to underestimate, all the logistics like car insurance and even where nanny parks if they drive to work, that was an issue for some when I worked in London.

SD1978 · 03/09/2018 09:07

@Ladyflop........from the reply seems an apology would be warranted........

Original poster

ButtonMirror · 03/09/2018 09:38

@GoldilocksAndTheThreePears

My idea would be that when caring for the children that is their woke job but when my youngest is at nursery house work would be done.

I think perhaps I should begin by advertising for a nanny housekeeper and see where that takes me.

OP posts:

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