Any creative ways to save on childcare if no friends nor family to help??

[Dariafan]

Baby just turned 4 months today so not massively urgent but.. it looks like FT childcare is £1100 and my salary is £1275. We're homeowners so UC will help with about £500 regardless if I go PT or FT. The most sensible way around it so far is to go PT (20hrs) and tutor in the evenings. I'm also looking for better paying jobs as my plan A .

Do remember that it's not forever. Once child is 3 they get some free hours.
Tutoring is a great way of making money, especially if you can tutor to A level.
Can you sell any bits you're not using on eBay or something?

I did a childcare share with another mum - from 6 months we each took care of both kids for a few hours at a time so the other could work.

What percentage of the total income (you and dh) would childcare work out as and what percentage of the total income are all your other bills?

Tax free childcare will save you 20%.

Work alternative hours to baby's dad.
Childcare swaps with other parents (you mind their baby 1 day, they mind yours another day).
Price around...nursery, childminders etc. The most expensive isn't necessarily the best.

Use a childminder especially one who doesn’t charge for their holidays as that saves us around a month of childcare fees each year. The downside is our annual leave is all based around hers but that money is needed and pays for us to be able to go away.

Childcare should be paid by both parents.

Don't forget that work has other benefits eg building your pension, free training and keeping your skills and experience updated.

Childcare should be paid by both parents

The OP hasn't said only she will be paying. She is using her salary as a comparison point.

I have used babysitters when unable to get cm but it hasn,t worked out well. Informal childcaare can be a mindfield legally and morally.

Is there a possibility for one of you to do compressed hours, so five days over four? My DH does that and has the DC on the other day so one day less to pay for.

I used to have a smaller amount leftover than that when I first went back to work. It was hard some days knowing I was working for pennies (and my pension) but in the long term it's been worth it. when I split with my ex I was especially grateful that I had kept my career going. I have some SAHM friends who are really struggling to get back to work.

As others have said, it's gets a bit cheaper from 3 onwards.

I definitely can tutor at A level for MFL. I think I can potentially get up to £25ph. GCSE it can even go as broad as physics and math but do t know if they lay as much. Yes, my current job is great for keeping a title and skills up to date so unless I get something better it isn't worth getting rid off.

*pay

Are you a teacher?
It might be worth looking at some online calculators to see how different hours will affect your take home.
You may find that due to the tax free allowance there is very little difference between 3 and 4 days per week. If both you and your DH/DP work four days you may end up better off than him staying full time and you going part time? Are you even the lower earner? If not, has he considered reducing his hours?

NEVER see your income as paying for childcare, you both pay half, you both have careers.

I have more of a career as I have more earning potential. (Someone with my skills in London has a salary of up to £75k but that's a different matter). No, I'm not a qualified teacher but have a degree from a Spanish speaking country and lived and studied in France for a couple of years so more than capable to teach Spanish and French.

I'd start by rethinking the salary thing. Say your contribution to the family pot is 40%, your DP's is 60%. Your share of the childcare is £440/month.

I know some see this as semantics but it's really important when thinking about your long term career to not distil the worth of what you financially contribute to the household as childcare.

I found childminders cheaper than nursery, especially if you provide your own food and nappies.

Childcare swaps are a lifesaver if you can find likeminded friends.
There aren’t really any hacks for FT childcare though.
I had to back my employers right up to the wire to wfh.
If they hadn’t given in, there’s no way I could have kept my job with 3 under 3.

Not massively helpful but just so you know it’s not you, it’s the stupid adherence to outdated working patterns.

What @SpaceCadet4000 and others said. And I don’t think it’s just semantics.

My husband and I intend to return to work doing our full time hours over 4 days a week each. I will work 7.30 - 5.30 (or 7 - 5) and he'll work 9 - 7. This means that baby will only be in nursery 3 days a week, from 9 - 5.30.

If both of you can go part time this can sometimes be a good option for cutting childcare costs. My DH was able to do 5 days in 4 (I.e. 4 really long days) which meant it didn't cost us anything for him to care for our children one day a week.
Childminders can be cheaper than nursery and if you take your holiday when the childminder takes hers then usually they don't charge you for those weeks.

There's a small chance my boss my let me WFH but it's not certain. It's very frustrating that many in my position ( MW job) simply stay at home until baby gets the 30hrs. We can't afford that luxury so that's why I'm looking for remote jobs with a pay scale closer to my skillset. Unfortunately most companies still want you within commuting distance so not truly remote.

I found a good local childminder who charged £25 a day rather than £70 for a day in nursery. And DH did compressed hours over 4 days. And tax free childcare saves 20% in real terms.

The cheapest I can get is 4.5 ph which isn't as bad. My DH could also go part time (he has high commuting costs)