Should we chance an Au Pair or stick to the childminder?

[NearlyMrsCustardsHardHat]

I'm becoming increasingly jaded by childcare providers and the cost of good childminders almost matching my hourly wage. As I only need after school care is it worth contemplating an Au Pair? We have a spare room BUT can you have them not live in? What are the costs etc involved?

Sell them to me or put me off completely!

Very difficult to not have them live in as then they cannot normally survive on the usual au pair level of money which is about £70 a week (understandably). There are lots of former au pairs around who have stayed on because of study, boyfriends etc but if they don't live with you they face the usual bills to pay which all of us have. If they are not live-in, they are really after-school nannies and then you are their employer and need to consider NI and tax on their salary.

An au pair is cheap because they receive room and board as part of the package. I'd they don't live in you have to pay minimum wage and then they're about as expensive as a childminder for 1 or 2 children. They're unlikely to only want afterschool hours live out which is why afterschool nannies are expensive - the part time nature of the job is compensated for by a higher hourly rate.

How much are you paying a CM at the moment? If you don't want live I have you considered a nanny with their own child or a share?