Avoiding the childcare trap

[Difficultquestionplz]

hi! I know there are a lot of high earners in this group so maybe other mums can help me. I am caught up in the 100k childcare trap.
back in the days when my salary was around the 100k mark, I was able to top up the pension, but that was before my child was born. Now my child has turned 3 and was hoping to finally get a little relief but it looks like it’s not the case…
currently my salary is higher, almost exclusively due to sales commissions and I am going to finish the fiscal at 260k. My husband is livid that he loses on benefits because of my salary and I am actually wondering if there is anything I could do in terms of investments that can be deducted that could bring me below the threshold.
I am not using any financial advisor because honestly when I looked into it they wanted to take 3% management fee just to manage the easy bits (pension, isas) and it obviously compounds.

thank you for helping
(please be kind, I don’t come from money, my job is paying well now but also highly at risk due to performance management or constant layoffs mixed with the joy of nepotism, unconscious bias/ blatant sexism of a male dominated environment)

Your husband is livid he can't claim benefits when you earn 260k?

You want to 'invest' more that 160k so you can claim 15 hours a week of childcare?

You're not caught in the 100K trap.
You earn way over that.
I see no reason why you should be able to manipulate your finances to claim any free hours of childcare.

What's your financial setup with your husband? Sounds like it might be time to look at that if your husband is cross at losing benefits because neither of you should need benefits with that kind of household income. And no, I don't think there's any way to salary sacrifice down from that level.

You poor poor thing, its so unfair you can't qualify for tax payer funded benefits on that wage. I don't know whether to laugh at your ridiculous level of entitlement or be disgusted by it. If this is real you really need to get over yourself.

The 100k trap doesn’t apply to people earning £260k. I think the last figure I saw was 149k. You earn way over that. I’m not saying childcare isn’t a lot of money, it is. I have 2 children in nursery.

Yes once you’ve blown past £150K that’s that

Similar to other threads recently…this one feels a bit ridiculous

Oh come on!

you are 100k over the trap! 🤣🤣 coming from someone in the trap!

From that 100k use some of it for a financial advisor, given that your role is so volatile this would make sense.

I sincerely hope you don't find a way to get someone else to pay for your childcare on that salary. It is not designed for earners like you, you have plenty of money and don't need extra help.

Would your husband be happier if you quit and get a lower-paid job, so he can claim benefits?

Is he really that stupid?

I’m sorry to hear your having such financial difficulties.

What a joke. Seriously take a look at yourself and what you are suggesting. There are people reading this who can't afford basics for their children. Pay for childcare out of your enormous salary and don't expect the taxpayer to pick up your bills.

If your DH loses benefits, the obvious thing is to give him that money. Or better still act as a partnership and share all of it?

Please confirm that this is the question you are asking -

How can I hide OVER HALF of my salary in order to access benefits/free childcare which I can more than afford to pay for?

As per other posters, there's nothing you can do. 'Livid' is a strong word to describe a stance that to us posters seems a bit ridiculous. If he's more than just an entitled eejit and his anger is scaring or concerning you, please reach out for support IRL with your friends/family, or on a different thread.

This is a ridiculous post. I mean, I guess you could move to 2 days a week and put some in your pension.... or just make sure you and your hubby split finances properly if you earn more? So he doesn't lose out?

Why do you need ' a little relief' when your salary is that high? And why would your husband be livid that you are earning that much? Is something off with how you organise family finances?

This can't be real....

Actual answer and not just a load of abuse:

At 260 there is nothing you can do.

im at 190/200 with RSUs and BIK (family dental and health) and can’t get under…
its just fucking painful I’m effectively paying 80% tax over 100k

I get no subsidy and our childcare costs £52k per annum NET. when we qualify for 15 free hours at 3 it will drop slightly lower to £48k NET

Have a chat with yourself. And you dh sounds odd. What does he earn ?

What work does your husband do? Can’t he look after the children if he earns less than childcare?

I sincerely hope you don't find a way to get someone else to pay for your childcare on that salary.

Pay your own childcare. Parasite

Yes someone on 260k is definitely paying not enough tax and is being subsidised by others 😆

However OP you aren't actually in the tax trap as you clear it & I don't believe there is anything you can do

£260k is NOT the childcare trap. Get a grip. I say this as someone in a very similar position to you.

I don't earn anywhere near the OP but think the 15 hours should be universal.