I need to have a rant about the cost of my childcare

[MGFM]

£2200 a freaking month!

This isn't a stealth boast about having enough money to pay out this much in childcare and I also want to say I feel lucky that I used to have plenty of disposable income and I feel lucky to have two wonderful children and I don't think the state should help me pay for their care (although I most certainly have signed up to the tax free child care) but oh my fucking god , I want to cry every time I think about it!

We will have enough left over for food and fuel and clothes when desperately needed and the odd treat but it is going to be freaking miserable.

I was in an outlet store yesterday and tried on a beautiful pair of skinny grey jeans. They were soft and luxurious. I thought they were only £29 but then I saw they were £50. Hung them back up and left the shop. I have just lost all my baby weight ( I put on 3 stone - it is now all gone and I am back to my not al size so I am desperate to buy some new clothes and now can't afford any) I need a tiny violin to play for me somewhere as I feel so pathetic.

I just need to rant about this really and I have moaned to real life friends but they might get sick of me droaning on about how broke we are

I can sympathise with you op. Once childcare and travel is paid for I have worked out I earn £29 a day.

but childcare doesn't come out of your income alone (assuming you have a DP). It is a family expense.

Thats horrendous....i stayed at home with mine until they went to school then worked around my husbands job...no way could we have afforded those sorts of costs.

Totally get where your coming from. We are 10 months left of nursery after 7 years and I can't wait.

It is scary that only those who are wealthy enough or have family to help will be able to work.

The elderly have paid in through their working lives. The tiny children have yet to do so. The parents of tiny children are paying in for themselves.

Ah - you see, I think this is wrong. Pensions are a giant Ponzi scheme! The elderly are being paid for by people who are currently working and paying tax. The tiny children's contributions will be paying for their parents' generation. A welfare state is not like a Christmas club, where money you put in = money you take out.

So - this is why falling birth rates/youth emigration can cause enormous problems for a country. A reduction in female participation in the workplace would be a problem as well, as this would reduce current tax take, which is subsidising the current bills (with the elderly being a huge part of the welfare and NHS costs). So - put simply - if subsidised childcare encourages more people to work, this grows the economy and the tax take, then it is arguably of financial benefit to the whole of society at that point.

I agree with you.

For those who say that childcare should not be subsidised because children have not paid into the system - who do you think will pay into the system when the adults have retired?!! We currently pay in to support the pensioners of today. Our children will support the next generation and so on. Your NI doesn't sit in an account waiting for you to retire.

Generations need to continue. Sadly single income families cannot cope due to high housing costs in proportion to income.

Working parents are a good role model to children and instill a working ethos - ok, I am generalising but to go into that subject would take all night.

And as has been mentioned. Disposable income helps all levels of society through wages and taxation.

Childcare is subsidised in many other countries without negative fiscal effect

we used to pay £1000 pcm for our DC and that didn't include the holidays as DH is a teacher. One of the main reasons we had a 4 year gap tbh!

Julia001 do you have dcs ? Were you able to " tighten your belt" for 7 years till youngest went to school then walk back in to a job t the same level, only more flexible ( as primary schools are much less accomadating than day nurseries) ? Financially the pre-school years are tough, but logistically early primary is much worse.

It's so depressing, isn't it? I worked out childcare for two was more than I was earning (professional, not bad job). So I've taken a career break. Because it's another plate that I just couldn't cope with spinning.

At least you may receive substantial help towards boarding school fees through CEA in the future if you remain in the Armed Forces.

We've got twins and reckon we will be getting a nanny. Nursery for them will be £2700 ish a month (London) versus £2900 for a nanny. It's insane. Will get childcare vouchers so guess that will save a little. But I'm literally going to be working for no money just to keep in. And this is 4 days a week not even full time. It's utterly awful the cost, we are actually thinking of leaving London because of it but it's hard for my husband to get a job elsewhere so might have to grin and bear it.

Working parents are a good role model to children and instill a working ethos

how insulting. I am a parent of a child with complex special needs who had to give up work due to my caring responsiblies. how on earth are am I not a good role model??? I probably work harder than you ever will.

I did that - I'm sorry I bothered to work for those couple of years now. It wasn't worth it.

I am surprised by the attitude re tax credits! We would bè entitled to a big fat 0 from any kind of tax credits or child benefit. We certainly couldn't just come up with 2,200 a month if I was working, with the added commute/ work costs (suitable wardrobe, professional subscriptions and insurance) I'd be paying for an over packed existence. But a career break doesn't scare me!
Looking into a nanny might be easier than you think.

Why so much OP? A childminder would cut your bills in half. Mine is fantastic, ofsteded as outstanding and my little one LOVES her. Our nursery bill £1000, dropped to £550 per month over night.

Try childcare.co.uk that's were we found ours. I'll never understand how people can afford a nursery! If it's your choice and you have the money no judgement here :)

even though our joint income added to to above 30k jointly.

Ok but 30k isn't that much.

Coffee machine - you only quoted half of me. I said I was generalising and that it was a more complicated subject. This isn't a competition about how hard we all work.

Can I just say that it would actually be better for the economy if childcare is subsidised. The lady who commented that the country was in trouble as it is - that's purely down to a false austerity based on a capitalist economy. The 'wealth' is supposed to trickle down. It doesn't. We need to feed the economy from the bottom up to create strength. So if the OP had more disposable income she would spend more (£50 jeans) and that would boost the economy. People say don't bring politics into it, but that's ridiculous because our lives are dictated by politics, it's an inconvenient truth.

Urubu Jesus Christ!!! I'm in the wrong job.... I will look after your twins for half that why so expensive

You're leaving your prices less children so that you can pursue your career, worth every penny IMO.

@Mightybanhammer If you don't mind me asking, if you're so anti-children what are you doing here?

I'm at the other end- adult children and grandchildren, so don't have childcare costs.

But I too have about £80 a week left after bills, food etc. I put quite a few clothes in the latest charity bag to come through the door and have now realised that I can't afford to replace. It's always a question of what can be cut back on. The pips are squeaking. But I guess if we have somewhere to live and something to eat, we're better off than plenty.

I do agree that those costs are huge though. If you can see a time when it will be easier, does that help to keep going now?

Oh my Jesus I'm just back to work luckily dc1 has started school so pay 4 days nursery for dc2 and after school club for dc1 we are £800-900 a month as it depends on the school holidays.

With the tax free childcare you are not eligible to access it if you receive tax credits

julia unfortunately dropping children off at 07.30am is extremely common in my neck of the woods as so many people commute into London ( generally a minimum of 2 hours a day travelling time a day). My DD was then picked up again at 17.30. It's a long day I appreciate so I remained part time ( 3 days) until she started school. Unfortunately the cost of housing in my area is so prohibitive that many people are not in the position to take a career break or give up work. What are your suggestions? It's a modern curse

You drop your child at 0730? what time do you pick them up, sometimes, I wonder why people have children when all that is happening is that they are being brought up by a nursery. Couldn't people tighten their belts until they go to school?

How fucking insulting!!!