to think that nursery staff and carers of the elderly deserve to be paid properly in recognition of what they do?

[TartyMcFarty]

I learned from a friend yesterday that she earns 12k working full time as a qualified nursery nurse. The unqualified staff are being paid less. With the best will in the world you surely can't expect excellent care from someone who's paid a pittance for such a demanding and important job.

Same goes for carers of course, many of whom are routinely paid the minimum wage for their attentions to incapacitated and dying people. WTF?

Why do we, as a society accept this? Our economy benefits from parents of the young and offspring of the elderly going out to work, but it's propped up by those (often women) who have to work for peanuts.

Why is childcare in particular so damned expensive when the people looking after babies on a 1:3 ratio aren't seeing the profit?

And BTW, I'm lucky enough not to have to pay for childcare when I return to work PT as my lovely mum is doing it for me. This isn't intended as a 'why me?' rant.

I think people are really wising up to the fact that you can be penalised for working hard and saving, so things will have to change. People will just play the system and find ways around it. Why should people who have worked hard and save, have to subsidise those who may have chosen not to work, or chosen to spend their earlier in their life?

'With all due respect Gina, how did you get a mortgage? You must either have a higher-earning spouse (and I think you've said otherwise) or have been on the property ladder for some time if you can afford a place in an expensive area. This is an advantage that most of the young women working in nurseries don't have. Or perhaps you come from a wealthier background? Just guessing here, otherwise I simply can't see how it's possible.'

I got a mortgage for 150k when I was earning £6 an hour and my husband was earning £5.75!

A couple of years ago they were giving mortgages to anyone so it wasnt hard and I bought in 2006. We put down £8000 (my parents gave me £1000) that we had saved up so the actual mortgage is only for 143k. We live on the coast in an area with a lot of second homes/massive houses etc so I have a place but it is at the very, very cheaper end of the market but in a beautiful, picturesque area.

My mortgage is high (nearly £800 and we only make £1500 a month + 80 child benefit with no other benefits) but Im not an expensive girl and havent got expensive tastes. I love car boots for my entertainment or thinks like going fruit picking or visiting free nature reserves. I dont care for fancy mobiles or clothes or holidays. (I do love butlins though so we go uk breaks).

TBH I think some people are mental on this site seeing some of the things they waste their money on but I suppose we are all different! To me spending time with my family and in a fulfilling job is way more important to me than material possessions.

mental! gina how very dare you

'Really, you think so? The friend I mentioned in the OP has the 'benefit' of a 10% discount for her DD if she goes back to work. All the same, that will swallow her earnings. She simply couldn't afford to go back if she has another baby.'

Why doesnt she get tax credis for childcare? she musthave a rich partner cause mine is free for 2 kids?

'some of those 'material posessions' are food. You are being very simplistic.'

As I said on another thread Im an iceland girl or the basic ranges. I dont eat a great deal and never have done. My food budget is about £30 - £40 (it becomes more when I have done my valued opinion surveys or collected tesco points) a week for 4 that includes toiletries etc which I buy from the car boot. I have always been like this. I am a committed MSer (Money saving expert.com) you would be surprised how well you can live on 20ishk if you do everything on that site.