to think it is not worth working for £10 per day??!

[1percentawake]

I've just been offered a new job - wahey as I've been trying to get a job for ages!!

Until I sat down and worked out the childcare costs - OMG I would be paying out £50 per day as the local childminder charges over £4 per hour and extra after 5pm. Also charges for meals and pick up from preschool sessions.

On top of that I don't get mileage expenses and the job is 30 miles from home..

So I would be working for the grand total of £10 per day after tax!!

AIBU or is there no incentive to leave my child all day with someone else and go to work???

'minimal after school childcare costs' i meant

I agree with you, GetOrfMoiLand, but wanted to point out that women assuming 100% of the childcare costs does harm the working women's efforts to have their financial contributions taken seriously e.g. not just pin money.

I know that if you didn't work, you would get rid of the costs of childcare, BUT whilst you do, YOUR childcare costs should be seen as shared between your husband/partner and yourself. The childcare provision isn't 100% your responsbility, and I think it helps to put things in perspective when we remember that :)

It took my H a little time to undestand this POV. We both work 3 days a week, but I feel it's unfair to look at it as in "Frgr's wages page for the kids childcare" / "Mr Frgr's wages pay for bills and life in general". Naaaaah - we contribute to a collective pot, adn although he earns more than me (despite being educated to the same level ) I'm bloomin sure they're his childcare costs too :)

Totally agree - childcare should be viewed as a joint cost, as childcare is enabling both parents to be able to work.

I was single whilst dd was a baby, had to pay for it all myself

It surprises me too, GetOrf.

Don't people think about this stuff before they start a family?

childcare is enabling both parents to be able to work.

Couldn't agree more.

I actually think £200 a month is quite a lot, I wouldn't turn it down.

I agree that childcare should be taken as a joint cost but if there isn't much left over per month it doesn't really matter whose pot it comes out of. Childcare comes out of my salary and leaves me with naff all. I could split it 50/50 with dh but then he wouldn't have enough left to cover all the bills so I would have to pay those and wouldn't be left with any more money.

One thing other thing I will say is that not long after I went back to work thinking I'm earning bugger all disposable income our lives changed.

Dh's business went under after a contract went bad. Suddenly I was the main earner. It was unforeseeable but me working became a lifesaver for the family.

Things eventually changed for the better but I would never want to be in a position where I had to rely on someone else for money.

(as it happens I am on a pretty good salary atm but could be made redundant and DH earns about 4 x what I earn BUT that period of my life is still in my mind and I thankful that I went back to work.)