To put DC3 in nursery 1 extra day to clean/save money ?

[specialk9]

DC3 (almost 3) is about to receive his 30 hours funding after Easter. This will save us £845 a month. He goes 3 days a week whilst we work. This money will go in to savings.

We pay a cleaner £60 a week / 3 hours. It takes 4 hours to clean our house.

On the 2 days I look after DC3 we go to a club, see family/friends and I do whatever cleaner doesn't finish, change the 4x beds and any other 'family' admin etc

Due to the funding we have the opportunity to put him in another day. We could cancel the cleaner and save approx £260 a month. I would then spend day 4 doing all the cleaning/changing beds etc. This money would go in to family pot for days out/treats etc.

We don't have the time / nor do we want to clean at the weekends. Saturdays are spent doing something together or with friends/family. Sundays DC1 (15) and DC2 (7) have sporting commitments.

Positives
All cleaning/beds done in one day
Save an extra £260 per month
I think I actually clean better 😆

Negatives
Lose 1 day a week with DC3 before he starts school (Sept 2025)

WWYD? Just feels a bit bad to put him in nursery another day to essentially clean !

30 hours does not cover 4 days and you say you want to do things with family yet want to put your just 3 year old in nursery an extra day to clean. Just clean with him with you like the majority of the population do. Also it doesn' take a full day to clean a house.

Wouldn’t you have to pay for the extra day at nursery? Struggling to see the £260 saving. I wouldn’t send him away for a day you aren’t working to save money for ‘family time’. In a few years you won’t be able to regularly take that time again, embrace it now

Also you can just drop the club on that day and the cleaner to save money and just clean with him home. That’d be a real way to save money and it does toddlers good to have lazy days at home pottering about

I definitely wouldn’t. Surely if you wanted to save money, you could just drop the cleaner. Being off for two days yourself plus the weekend - your DH, your 15 yo and the 7 yo - you could all get the house easily cleaned within this time frame ??

Have you checked how the funding can be used at your nursery?

Surely your 15 yo can change their own bed and keep their own room tidy ??

Don't you have to work at least 30 hours to claim the funding?

The funding is there to support you working, not cleaning in peace!

YABVU

No you don’t have to work 30 hours. It’s something like earn £2100 in the next 3 months.

Well my comment still stands. The funding is there so you can work, not clean

Depends how your nursery use the funded hours. At ours you can use 6 hours a day. Also, remember it's only term time so in the holidays you would be paying full rate for that day. I personally hate cleaning and would rather have my cleaner. Our cleaner is far cheaper though. Not sure where you live but sounds like a lot of money.

I’ve wondered this but I feel too guilty. I work two days a week although I’m currently on maternity leave and I have toyed with having both children in for three days. I’ll see how it goes but I don’t think it’s inherently unreasonable. The state of our house is getting me down to be honest!

4 days @ 9am - 3pm = 24 hours

I don't want to clean and ignore toddler though ! I want to spend any time I have with him to do things with him, playing, attending clubs etc

What happens about cleaning in the school holidays? You don’t have to ignore your toddler while you clean - that’s not how life works OP.

I’ve never mastered cleaning with a toddler around. I can get bits done but not a proper thorough job.

I’d do it. If for no other reason than I think 4 days a week is good prep for school. And it’s not awful to want a bit of time for yourself once you’ve finished the cleaning either!

It takes 4 hours to clean my house - 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms over 3 floors + changing beds + other random shit (dry cleaners, post office)

I'd have 9.15am - 2.45pm

No, he currently does 18 hours. 4 days would be 24 hours

I'd do it. Good prep for him starting school too.

I would do it as well.

Mums/women are always made to feel guilty for everything, personally I find it really difficult to actually clean and get things done with a toddler.

I would make full use of free hours without having to justify what it’s for. If you are entitled to them then you are entitled to them.

Is your son happy at nursery, thriving and learning? If so I would go for the extra day and maybe nearer the time he starts school an extra two days. It would be no different to the many mothers who go back to work full time. You will have more money and you will be free at the weekends for family time. There is no need to feel guilty about having some time to yourself not just to clean but to relax!

The free hours for 3yos are actually for their benefit, to get them ready for school, aren't they? Much better to be with friends at nursery than sitting in front of peppa pig while mum cleans.

I see nothing wrong with this.

What happens about the cleaning in the school holidays?

I don't want to drop his club. We enjoy going. It costs £7.50 a week. I don't want to ignore him and clean around him, also a nightmare trying to clean properly with a toddler following you around wanting your attention.

Yes all fine for him to attend 4x days 9am - 3pm. We would pay £2 a day towards food/other

Then do it. I don’t really care either way, you’re a stranger, it’s just you asked for opinions. But you clearly already no what you want to do so you don’t need our validation. No toddler will be harmed, I just think it’s a shame to miss the time, if you don’t that’s fine, no right or wrong in either of our opinions. Although can you even keep the club on if he’s at nursery?