To wonder what you do when you earn too much to qualify for any benefits

[stangel]

But outgoings don’t add up?

Giving serious thought to having a child: monthly income is £2400. Bit mortgage and nursery fees wipe out £2000 of that leaving £400 for bills, food and petrol.

It doesn’t add up, does it?

If your income isn't very high you may well get help with childcare. Also look at childcare vouchers etc through work.

Otherwise, can you reduce your outgoings? Have a SAHP for a while to avoid nursery fees?

You save up first. We saved six months salary before TTC, so we had a buffer.

Yes, but even so it’s not going to pay for mortgage and childcare for two years with maternity taken into account too.

Is that a joint income? If one of you were to give up work then would you qualify for help? Plus then you wouldn’t have childcare to pay for.

Look at chidminder rather than nursery, at least for the years until free hours kick in. Childminders are usually cheaper.

2k is a lot for one child. Are you sure that's right?

Is this any help? They were talking about it on BBC news this morning saying lots of people are unaware of the help they can get with child care costs. www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

Monthly income of 2400 isn't a huge amount.

Don't forget tax free childcare knocks off 20% of your childcare bill.

I only took 9 months maternity leave and had 6 months of that full pay.

Family help us so nursery isn't as expensive

That's not a high salary. Do you definitely not qualify for eg childcare?

Bugger all. Try being disabled with a husband who wants to work for a living but earns minimum wage, so you literally can't afford to live. It's stupid.

It’s an income of £45,000. I’m pretty sure that’s too high to qualify for tax credits or similar. Free hours at nursery but only when the child is 3.

Look after your own child yourself??

£2400 would be living very well for my family, it’s all relative to situation.

stangel are you hoping to have a child on your own? If so no it’s not much. Definitely look at childminders rather than nurseries. Could you work 4 days in your job for a while? Or work from home a bit to save on transport costs.

Is that joint income and if so, what would be the split between both parents

Regardless of what you hear on mn about paying £1.5k + a month in full time nursery fees, very few people i know in rl do this (or could afford to).

Most I know have some childcare but work opposite or compressed hours to accommodate this.

Dh and I do this...we both work full time hours but compressed over four days. I have Fri - Sun off. Dh has Sun - Tue off.

So we only need two days childcare a week. We’d never afford ft childcare Mon- Fri.

iceicecoffee but how much is your rent or mortgage from that and do you get any benefits?

45k? Is this a bragging thread?

Look after your own child yourself??

And live on what, fresh air?

If you do want tax credits, look into making extra pension contributions. You still have to survive on what you are left with though, like everyone else.

45,000 should give you more than 2,400 a month income surely? Even after tax.

Is that a joint income, as a £45k salary would give more take home than that?

Where do you live that a standard nursery is £100 a day?

You do get help towards childcare costs and the amount you are allowed to earn whilst receiving tax credits goes up considerably if you have a child in nursery, I will see if I can find a link, I’m sure it’s 43k it close to that

45k salary can come out at 2400pmc after pensions - teacher pay is that after tps pensions