If I give up my employment because I can't afford to pay for childcare does that mean...

[OhioOhioOhio]

I won't get any help from the government?

@swingofthings
You are a much more resilient individual than me then! My youngest starts school in a day, I am supposed to have a feeling of relief, but I am so exhausted I literally want to lie down and sleep for a week - and totally dreading returning to work (currently on a "staycation" holiday). I had something akin to a "name" before I had children, now I am one of those "well, she has young children now, y'know".

AliceWond you say If you’re able to work then you don’t need and shouldn’t get help from the government
but then you go on to say
Minimum wage plus working tax credits so working tax credits don't count as"help from the government"? Who do you think pays them?

It's a really tricky situation. Here in the South East, you'll easily pay £51 for one day of care at a Nursery. That's not even the most expensive! You'll want to do some thorough research before you take the plunge. Have you checked out the Tax Free Childcare account that the government offer? For every so much you put in, they put in so much as well. I am an Early Years Teacher by trade, and before my little girl arrived last year - I was managing a Pre School. Unfortunately, my wages in this position were not enough to cover the childcare costs and leave me anything afterwards. My husband earns a good wage, but he cannot absorb all costs. We made the decision that for now, I will work 11 hours a week at Waitrose. A Sunday and one Evening. When I had my son - who is disabled, I worked as a childminder. Unfortunately this isn't appropriate now, as he wouldn't cope with such a busy home environment. Pop onto Turn2us or Entitled To. You can plug in all your details and see whether you are eligible for any help with childcare costs, or general costs should not working save you money. It's not glamourous, or what I trained to do - but working in Waitrose is good fun. They're also very good in regards to my son, and understand that sometimes we have bad weeks and the proverbial poop hits the fan. I know how stressful it is to be in your situation, so please don't listen to the negativity that some ill informed people like to throw at others to make themselves feel good. Do your research, perhaps look at roles that can offer you hours when your other half is home - if you have on, obviously. If you are entitled to Universal Credit, just remember that you will have a Claimants Responsibility. This could be anything from simply keeping in touch with the working world, or actively searching for work. Sorry for such a long post - didn't want to ramble, but there we go. Lol. Hope you find a way through that works for your situation.

It was the ranty horse woman post

@OrangeSwoosh

and it was sound advice 😂

I just read that post. Poor Maggie. Lol.

@alicewond I can tell by your comments you're probably married and stable