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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Childcare costs- twins

26 replies

rach01pink · 12/03/2018 10:53

I was wondering what others do? I have a six year old son and 4 month old twins. For me to go back to work will cost £115 a day in childcare. My wages would be around £70 a day before deductions. My partner works full-time and earns around £1800 a month. Neither of us have any family. I have asked my work (am currently on mat leave) if I can work 1 day a week (still 400 quid a month in childcare) just to keep my foot in the door until the twins are 3 but they have refused. So I need to hand in my notice before my mat leave is up. That will leave me unemployed.. I have no idea if I can claim income support or esa due to partners income. The benefits calculators aren't much help. I have no idea how when my maternity allowance stops we will manage our rent and outgoings. I think my only option is to try find a job which is weekends or through the night when my partner isn't working... But he works every 4th Saturday so that messes it up.. If I work night shifts when will I sleep? Does anyone else here on a low income with twins work nights and how does that pan out for you? Thanks

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Tempjob · 14/03/2018 06:22

Could you train as a childminder? You would be able to look after perhaps a couple of children as well as your own three so could make £30-40 a day.

MaverickSnoopy · 14/03/2018 06:34

When I was growing up my friends mum used to work 2 or 3 nights a week stacking shelves in a supermarket. I don't think it was all night and in those days (not sure if still the case), the night rate was better than the day rate.

What is it that you are currently employed to do? Is it something you could freelance in and work during naps/night/weekends?

The childminder thing isn't a bad idea. I'll be training as a childminder soon because I love spending time looking after children and it seems to be a logical step when you consider childcare costs.

You may qualify for child tax credits athough I'm not too sure. I know it only counts for 2 children (up to a certain income) but I'm not sure how it works if your second child turned out to be twins. Use the entitledto calculator to see what you might be entitled to if you went back to work/didn't. I'm assuming you're already claiming child benefit?

Do you have any skills where you could set up your own business? Craft type stuff or make cakes. I have several friends who have done this and make good money. One has set up their own YouTube channel and also makes good money. I've read before that some people buy clothes in charity shops and sell on ebay. You can do surveys and make a bit of cash. Some of these ideas might not bring in much but combined it might make a bit of a difference. Obviously any work from home that you do you'll need to set up as self employed. I have done this and it's very easy.

insancerre · 14/03/2018 06:40

No, don't train as a childminder

Hey do people always suggest that?
People don't suggest to train as a car mechanic so you can fix your own car, or as dentist so you can pull out your own teeth
Children deserve better than that
They need people who are passionate about caring for them, not somebody who is doing it because they can't afford to go back to work

LynetteScavo · 14/03/2018 06:46

Well said @insancerre

If you can't afford to go back to work, you can't afford to...how likely is it that you'll be able pick up you're career after a few years break?

overmydeadbody · 14/03/2018 06:54

I agree with insancarre

Childminding is not some easy option that anyone can do if they can't afford to work.

Anyway, with twins, you'd only be allowed one more child full time.

SandLand · 14/03/2018 06:59

Maybe not nights, but what about evenings. You need to sleep at some point, but if you could work 7-11pm a couple of night, and one day at the weekend - sounds like Sunday's are clear, and most Saturdays, might you get enough to keep you all afloat? Childcare with 3 is expensive!
You wouldn't see much of your partner, but sometimes that's the way it has to go.

insancerre · 14/03/2018 07:17

You need to think of childcare as a shared cost
It comes out of joint income, not just your income
Look for a cheaper nursery, most offer sibling discount and sign up for child tax credits as the government will pay 20% of your costs
Look at reducing your outgoings to afford the nursey fees
It will only be for a couple of years as you can get 30 hours when they are eligible for the funding

villamariavintrapp · 14/03/2018 07:23

I'm not exactly sure but if you hand in notice while on Mat leave you may have to pay something back?

LoremIpsumMum · 14/03/2018 07:26

That's what we did until my husband died. I worked 2 evenings 5-10pm and approx 4-8 hours at weekends in a university library. The weekends were irregular shifts but they were paid time and a half. DH had to arrange to finish work early to get home in time for me to go out, one day a week and pay back by working later another day.
We didn't have lots of family time but it was ok and the only way for me to maintain my career and bring in some money without paying childcare.

HariboBrenshnio · 14/03/2018 07:39

You'll be entitled to tax credits but not income support. Definitely child tax and possibly working tax. Once you hand in your notice put in an application on the phone ask them to work it out on your predicted years income, not last years income.

In terms of work - supermarket work doesn't have to be nights and it pays okay. Sainsbury's are putting their hourly rate up to £9.20 an hour in September. I work 16 hours a week and one of those shifts is a 5.30 start on a Sunday. Lots work evenings as well. I think that's a good route to pursue while the children are young.

Grobagsforever · 14/03/2018 07:41

With low income you will get tax credits to cover most of that childcare bill. Don't give up your job FFS, you'd be an unmarried SAHM with no safety net!

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 14/03/2018 07:47

Well said insancerre. I see it suggested so often, like it’s the easy option. Childminding is a full on job/career, not an opportunity to earn pin money. It’s pretty insulting actually.

LynetteScavo · 14/03/2018 07:52

Seeing childcare costs as a joint expense doesn't work in this case.

Instead of a single income of £1800pm they'll have a joint income (after childcare) of £900pm or something like that.

jkl0311 · 14/03/2018 07:56

@insancerre well done that's post of the week to me!! I hate people saying it like they are dogs 🐶 that you can look after for extra money! Childcare is complex for someone else!!
@Grobagsforever where has she put she's unmarried?

OP don't worry you still have time to figure things out, how old is your eldest ? And any chance of flexible working times in the current job? Have you looked at the government website childcare choices? You can sign up for 20% savings on childcare or your oh could be eligible for childcare vouchers. The deadline is soon but if you know some childcare will be needed this next year I would get on and register

Passthecake30 · 14/03/2018 10:42

Have you done the maths, i.e. If you gave up work, how much do you need to earn to make ends meet?

Maybe if you can survive on one salary that's what you'll have to do until your dcs are entitled to funding?

Grobagsforever · 14/03/2018 11:32

@jkl0311 she refers to her partner not her husband

Original poster

rach01pink · 14/03/2018 12:04

Hi all. Thanks for your views and info. Being a childminder is definitely not an option. I really feel like I don't give enough time to my 6 year old as it is, I definitely wouldn't be able to give adequate attention to another child. In relation to my current job I have applied for part time hours and working from home and both have been refused as understandably they need some one full-time. I was/am a criminal caseworker and its a job I need to be in the office to do. I am required to give them 3 months notice so will do that. I didn't receive any statutory maternity pay and I currently receive maternity allowance. Surviving on one income is not possible. 1800 will just about cover the rent, bills, child maintenance and phones and car expenses ... It won't stretch to food and clothes and petrol and general living. I need to work. I think the best scenario will be weekends if I can find a job that will give me 16 hours over a weekend.. Then we have no childcare and also I can hopefully get working tax credit if I do 16 hours... If we can get by like that until the twins are 3 then I can return to office work which is my skill set. Thanks everyone who replied

OP posts:

MaverickSnoopy · 14/03/2018 12:35

I don't know anything about being a criminal caseworker. It sounds quite specialised. Is there any way you can do that as self employed? Some kind of consulting based role? Or perhaps something related?

Original poster

rach01pink · 14/03/2018 13:20

No no way at all. Its literally in house. I'm not really concerned with my career at all though. My priority is keeping a roof over our head and food on the table.. I don't care if I need to clean toilets or wipe butts I will do anything that has the right hours and Brings money in. I always know in the back of my mind its just for 3 years until we qualify for free childcare then the world is my oyster hopefully.

OP posts:

Fundays12 · 22/03/2018 22:08

I think you should look at entitled.too I suspect your entitled to help with childcare or if you give up work due to your partners income. You are also entitled to tax credits for 3 kids as your 2nd pregnancy was twins.

2cats2many · 22/03/2018 22:14

You've got a really good attitude OP. I have a feeling that things are going to work out for you.

AllTheUserNamesAreTaken · 22/03/2018 22:27

Hi op. I was a freelance criminal caseworker for 8 years after I was made redundant from a firm of solicitors.

I used to work at home the majority of the time but did need to be able to go to court/prison visits or the office to see clients sometimes - generally when I was working on the typical crown court cases. The VHCC cases were the best ones for getting lots of work which could be done from home.

Whereabouts do you live?

Original poster

rach01pink · 23/03/2018 06:38

Thanks for your replies.

I live in Hampshire. Although I asked my employer if I could work from home the reality is I wouldn't be able to do much from home. I have the morning school run and getting my son ready for school, twins feeding every 3 hours which includes making bottles, feeding bottles, winding, cleaning bottles.. Plus usual household chores, then afternoon school run, then making dinner for family then putting son to bed.... So there really is no time to do anything from home.

In addition I am completely unable to see clients in the office, do site visits, go to court/prison/police station etc.

You just woudknt believe how long it takes to do everything twice. After I drop my son at school I manage to do a little housework, make lunch and do 2 feeds each then it's time to go back to school..

I also don't have time to be self employed.. Ie. Creating invoices and chasing debtors for payment etc..

I have recently applied for a weekend job and boots and didn't get that as I failed an online quiz lol... I have applied for a weekend job at a hotel and am waiting to hear on that ....

OP posts:

AJPTaylor · 23/03/2018 06:43

hope something comes along soon. my dds did retail. one managed to fail the m and s quiz despite working in boots!

Teateaandmoretea · 23/03/2018 06:49

What about virtual PA-TYPE work? I know a couple of mums who do that. But then reading your pp you don't want to be self employed. As you say everything is really hard work with 6yo plus twins.

You need to think of childcare as a shared cost
It comes out of joint income, not just your income

People always trot this out but having a second person at work whoever it is will make them worse off which they can't afford . . .!

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