childcare costs

[splashymcsplash]

This is something that has been brought up time and time again.. childcare costs are very expensive, especially in London/SE.

AIBU to ask you to sign this e-petition so maybe, just maybe, something could be done about it?

Widow my mindee parents are friends who work part time,juggle and don't moan about paying for their dc's care.I have no contempt for them what so ever.

I work 3 days a week with 2 mindees but not during the school holidays.I have high utility bills,wear and tear,food,insurance,Ofsted fees,play materials,cleaning materials to pay for and mountains of paper work.Believe you me my pay is buggar all but I'm good at my job.

fanjobanjowanjo because circumstances can change - you can lose your job, become ill, whatever. Should parents whose circumstances change sell their children on to the highest bidder?

Nobody on this thread said it specifically but hint at it, consciously or not. Someone upthread said the nursery provides their daughter with a loving and stimulating environment with more fun than they'd get at home. I would dispute that.

But some people hint at it, that should be.

Crikey. Not much empathy on this thread is there?

We live in London (we're both journalists - not a lot of work elsewhere for those of you who helpfully suggested we should move) and our finances are about at breaking point. Thankfully, my older son starts school on Monday so we'll save about £400 a month.

I work four days a week, have a childminder for my two children for three days and my mum does one day.

My childcare bill is about £1200 a month. My travel is £180 a month. My take home pay is £1370 a month. It's not quite that simple because we both get vouchers, so we do save a bit on that, but it still doesn't quite add up. We used to get some tax credits but they got stopped when they changed in April.

It's really, really hard and I think a bit of government subsidy would go a long way.

All this thread needs now is a: Women! Know your place!

MilaMae - you don't seem to be able to understand the point that it's not about moaning about paying for childcare, but about being physically not able to pay for childcare, as it would make the outgoings higher than the income.

Nobody is saying that the nursery workers or childminders are getting paid too much, just that without subsidy a lot of people can't afford to pay these fees, so they have to stay at home.

By subsidising you create people's ability to work plus the jobs for those in childcare.

Buts it's temporary mrskpw also you knew before you had dc there would be costs so not getting the need for empathy.

soverylucky so can you find good quality childcare at the drop of a hat as soon as a new job opportunity comes up? Really? Also, my nursery, e.g. expects two months' notice of termination, I expect other nurseries work in a similar way. So if you give notice as soon as you lose the job you still have to pay a couple of months' worth - if you find a job in the meantime you have to be either lucky to get back into the same place, or find somewhere else quickly. It's not that simple, really.

That's an interesting idea joben, I think a lot of people would go for that

mila

At the moment we can afford for me to work as my parents provide some free childcare, as does DH's dad.

DH recently lost his mother to cancer and his father is around at our place most evenings for his meal. The children see him about 4 x a week and my parents about 4 x a week. M

My DH and I are both from very close-knit families - my DH has a brother and 3 sisters who he sees regularly, I see my family a few times a week.

We both grew up in this area, we both have friends that we have had since primary school ie 30 years.

You want us to move.

So we lose: 3 days a week free childcare, DH's dad loses his evening meals and close relationship with his grandchildren and the support of DH and I after the loss of his wife, my parents lose the close relationship with the children, as do all of DH & I siblings. My parents when they become aged and need care will not have anyone locally to do it. Plus all of our friends and support network that we have had for 30 years.

I have suffered post-natal depression and anxiety which I am on ADs for.

You want us to move away.

POsts like that make me feel so sad - people genuinely seem to have lost any understanding or interest in basic human needs like friendship, community, family. Treating everyone as discrete nuclear units and then wondering why our society is getting in a mess.

So shortsighted.

Mila are you saying that having children should be only an option for the rich?!

splashy that is what these threads always seem to come down to

I especially love all the advice to 'just downsize', I think you will find many of the people who are struggling with childcare costs cannot downsize any more than they have.

Do people understand that the UK needs it's population to reproduce, and it would be a shame if the only people allowed to reproduce were the rich?

Exactly Sovery and the fact is that many mums would actually rather raise their babies and toddlers themselves.I certainly did and had a career break/change to enable me to do so. Sovery took it on the chin and will probably be far better off financially in the long run as her career had been untouched.Why on earth should the tax payer fund women who make the choice to continue working but give nothing to those that wish to stay at home when quite clearly in the long run those who continue working will be far better off.

You take your choice re kids and working.I don't expect anybody to fund my career break so why should women who choose to work have their choice funded.

Widow sorry if you're unable to pay for your childcare you shouldn't have had children in the first place or at least saved for the childcare bills you knew would be coming.

Sardine life is tough,we've had to move several times away from family/friends in order to keep a roof over our heads,keep a career going. You do what you have to do.

MilaMae alright, so only children for the rich, preferably those who don't depend on work for their income. Or those with a crystal ball who know exactly that they will never lose their job.

Oh come off it mila how many people know exactly what all the costs associated with children are before they have them.

Before I had DD1 I had never even held a baby, much less know that it would stop my career, what different sorts of childcare there are, how much all the options cost, how much school uniform is etc etc.

When most people are TTC they read up on folic acid and BF, not the intricacies of child tax credits and how much nursery lunches will cost 4 years down the line.

Sorry Sardine I disagree only a fool would stick their head in the sand before getting pg and hope the childcare fees/mortgage would pay for themselves.I don't know anybody who would be that daft.

Milamae you read about my DHs recent loss and how his family are supporting each other, and about how I am struggling with mental health issues, and you say we should move away from all of these support networks, just chuck them in.

I think that you are really not a very nice person.

fanjobanjowanjo because circumstances can change - you can lose your job, become ill, whatever. Should parents whose circumstances change sell their children on to the highest bidder?

These areas aren't a permanent state of affairs are they though? it's not the same as I said, in your current situation you are barely scraping by but go ahead and have another anyway is what I mean.

Sardine maybe people should be doing a bit more research into this area?

Widow if my dp lost his job we'd be in the shit but we've made plans just incase,surely most people paying a mortgage look ahead to the what ifs.If not they're barking mad.