Childcare costs- twins

[rach01pink]

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

We’ve got 2mo twins and a 3yo who’ll go to school sept 2019. I work part time (3 days) in a gov dept which is a good job and secure flexible etc but pays poorly and has little scope for progression unless I move locations to london which isn’t really possible (DH already works in London, can’t have 3 kids in nursery and both parents an hour and a half away. Plus travel would eat up most of the pay increase to the next band).
Nursery here is minimum £60 a day, actually the one our daughter is currently in is £75. The only way we’ve made it currently work is for her to do two days at nursery and family look after her on the third day. It is Cheaper now she’s 3 due to some funding but still works out at £60 a week as nursery don’t just give us free hours.
Anyway I’ll be quitting my job at the end of Mat leave. We just can’t make it work here for the first 8m before DD goes to school (would lose a few thousand pounds), and after that i would be working for a few pounds a day. Also that is all based on them being in nursery for just 2 days a week and I don’t think it’s fair to dump THREE kids on mIne and DH parents who are all over 65 now.
DH has a decent salary thank goodness but we live in an expensive area so will be paring the budget to the bone.
DD will be leaving her nursery and going to a preschool so we can make the most of the funding. I have a few skills (sewing etc) I can use at home to bring in some money and could also freelance in future too.

Every time I see a post from someone being really prudent and planning for DC2 I want to wade in and shout “but what if it’s twins?”. They really do throw a spanner in the works don’t they. But my current mantra is “at least it’s not triplets”...