To ask how people afford to have a family...

[TiredMumma88]

DH and I earn £57k as a household.

Outgoings are c. £2.5k per month (household bills, travel, food and childcare).

DS is 19months old and we'd love to have another but cannot for the life of us see how we could afford it.

PILs have DS a couple of days per week while we're at work so we only currently pay for 3 days nursery, but after doing some major maths - whether I go back to work or not after we still won't have enough to pay the mortgage...

How do people do it??

defineme £600 will not cover childcare for a baby plus an increase in childcare for the dc currently taken care of by grandparents though? Nowhere near. You need to look really carefully at timings op so that you take the 30 hours into account but on the face of it, no you can't afford another.

It's do able we've managed 4 with less than that and own our home, you May have to make small sacrifices for a short time.
Do you not save any money monthly ?

Right.

Well firstly I would go through all bills and bank accounts with a very fine toothed comb. Make sure you're on the best deals for everything, look at whether you could get cheaper contracts on your phones if you're soon to upgrade, ensure you're accessing all relevant cashbacks etc. And take your lunches to work, don't buy them. That's a money pit.

And if there isn't enough wiggle room there, just don't TTC until 9 months before your eldest gets free hours. Also consider a CM rather than a nursery, it's usually cheaper.

Renting is higher than a mortgage in most cases! Who would think it's cheaper? You don't get to keep the house either. No security! I rent! I have had to move more times than I care to remember as the landlord decided to sell. One time the landlord didn't pay his mortgage! So we had to move! Find another deposit etc. It's not cheaper

Also who earns what OP? If one of you earns less than the other, it may may sense for that person to cut their hours if possible. The 5th day of the week is the worst paid. Actually even if you both earn the same it maybe still would be.

Don't have another baby until DC1 is in school/free childcare.
Actually probably more tax efficient for higher earner (if in higher rate tax bracket) to drop a day if possible.
Look for jobs with more flexible working.

Our salary is equivalent to yours. Our outgoings are a lot less though. I worked part time evenings around DH's hours after having our second so we didn't pay childcare for 3 years. Now youngest is 3, I've gone back full time.

If DC1 is 2 then by the time you had a baby they'd be three and in or near 30 hours free child care. Depending on how long you have off you won't need wrap around care. However you save every penny of that money into a separate account and put it towards the childcare for when you go back.

However you will have to make some cut backs. It depends what you want more.