To not understand how couples who work can afford a second child??

[TheAngelofNitshillRoad]

Without waiting until the first child is in school, anyway!!

DD is 13 months. I work part time (3 days per week) - we pay approx £600 per month on nursery fees.

I worked full time before I went on mat leave. Only got statutory maternity pay after the first six weeks. I took 9 months off and by the end of it we were completely skint. We're building back up now but it's hard because the nursery fees are high and obviously I've had a significant salary reduction. We've stripped back our outgoings as much as we can, so we cover our outgoings and have a little bit of disposable income each month, but it's hard to save.

We had always considered starting to try for another baby towards the end of this year. I didn't want too big an age gap between DD1 and DC2 and I'll be honest, I'm really beginning to feel that broody feeling. But I just can't see how we can do this.

It seems to me that while I'm on mat leave, we will need to pay the nursery to keep DD1's nursery place open (although I don't think I would put her in for three full days each week, I wouldn't want her to feel pushed out at home with new baby). If I go back down to statutory maternity pay, we physically will not have the cash available to pay these nursery fees. So we have no option but to out DC2 off for....ages really! I've been trying to save where I can, transfer the odd twenty quid to my ISA but it's a slow, slow process.

Am I missing something?? Are we approaching this the wrong way?? How do people afford this??

On the childcare vouchers while on maternity leave, yes companies can not deduct vouchers from SMP but if you company class childcare vouchers as a benefit provided, they can not stop paying it to you as you are entitled to the same benefits on maternity leave as if you were at work

I know this is not the answer you're looking for but I only have one child and it is cheaper and easier. Actually we just can't have another though I really wanted one. When my DS hit age 5 I realized I just didn't want to start over. I think we were all ready for another tbh but we're fine with one and our lives are so much simpler - easier to travel and to do things spontaneously - without being constantly on the edge financially. You might consider it. At first it seems a heartbreak but then all of a sudden the clouds clear and it feels very free! Women are pressured to have more than one child and I was asked all the time about having the 2nd - i thought - none of your effing business!

Oh that's the other thing I forgot - DH does 5 days in 4 compressed so I work on that day but we don't pay childcare. That saves us approx 3k per year and gives DH the chance to have great one on one time with DC.

Mrsmugoo if your husband's business do not pay for them for other employees then you are in breach of the law. CCV's are non-cash benefit in the same bracket as a company car, mobile phone, healthcare etc. These MUST be paid at the same level as they were before mat leave started. Non-cash benefits and pay and entirely separate.

You cannot sacrifice from SMP as its not salary. If an employee was paid full pay whilst on ML then the employer would be able to avoid payment of CCV's and the employee is earning salary over and above SMP.

I'm so glad I came across this thread! I'm on SMP and was only getting £280 per month after childcare voucher was paid. Employer has just agreed to refund what I've paid so far and will cover the cost of vouchers from now on! They bloody knew about this as well but were obviously not going to pay unless challenged!!

I didn't work until my 2 were at school at the youngest 3yrs and at nursery in the morning.
We had hardly any cash, one car, but they were great times. No worries about childcare or costs involved. Is that a possibility for you OP? I have never regretted it. That time was precious and when I did work again the extra money was a real bonus which I appreciated all the more.

I'm pregnant now with DD2 DD1 will be 18 months when she is born. We don't pay any childcare as my lovely MIL already has DD1 and will also have DD2 when I'm back at work a few months after the birth

Apart from spending all that time with your DC as a SAHM, the other huge benefit was that lack of stress, getting to nursery before work, kids sick days etc. It was a very simple and straight forward few years.

I don't know if I'm missing something but....

You want to start TTC at the end of the year (9 months away) and then would have DC2 9 months later.

So....in 18 months time DC1 will be able to get 30 hours a week free childcare which comes into force in 2017.

Won't that help a great deal?

I doubt the 30 hours will go ahead & I certainly wouldn't base a decision to TTC on it being implemented.

The cynic in me thinks it was just a vote-grabber at the general election, which hasn't really been thought through. There's been headlines about it recently, with private nurseries saying they cannot afford to offer the hours.

Stop worrying about money. It does you no good at all. We have babies when we are meant to and our lives adjust. You are smart enough to worry about it so what makes you so sure you can't make it work? Things will get better over time and you'll see.