Childcare shock

[LittleFonzy]

Hi. Totally brand new to the forum. Please bear with me, as I can be a little slow on the uptake sometimes.

My partner and I are expecting a baby this December and like to be as organised as we can.

We both have very average salaries and have just been researching the cost of childcare and frightened ourselves to death.

By the looks of things, the childcare would take about 70% plus of my partners salary if she goes back to work. This is for a registered nursery.

Looking at our finances we have always run a relatively tight ship, and aren't extravagant with clothes, holdiays or monthly entertainment, but we would be certainly losing money each month with these figures.

So, I guess the question is, what are we missing or what should we be thinking about? Do any members have any words of wisdom? Things to think about? Articles/books we should read?

Thank you for any help.

Childcare is very expensive.
I never had any intention of working while I had small children so it wasn't something we considered but as an exercise we worked out how it would effect our income.
The following figures are approx (I can't remember exact figures) but close enough
DH pick up - £1200ish
Me pick up- £905
Nursery - £810
My Car (insurance +petrol) - £39 +£80 =£119
Total income : £2105
Total unnecessary expenditure : £929

Whichever way you look at that it made no sense for me to work even I had wanted to. I went back when number 2 started reception (and my mum retired so I could do that after school care was still prohibitive )

@Surfskatefamily, sorry if I misinterpreted you, you’re right, it’s easy to misread tone. I agree with you, it’s common in my area for most people to go back to work. I didn’t mind the questioning as by that point I’d decided I was so I could just say “when she’s 10 months” and the conversation was over. Probably would have been different if I’d decided not to go back. I did speak to a few people at work who were surprised I’d come back and I did find myself trying to justify myself which was silly I was happy with my choice. It’s a shame people are judgemental whatever you decide to do. You can’t win! I suppose it’s human nature to judge others by our own lives though.

How is it a sexist dig? I pay children from my wage and my partner pays mortgage / bills? And he works out the same...

Go for a childminder - in my area they are nearly half the cost of a nursery and The only way we could afford it

We made sure we lived near family before having children as they help for free.

I got a job with an onsite nursery that is hugely discounted.

I changed careers to ensure i got a good maternity package of full pay, plus felxibility when i returned after 9 months. I also waited until i had gone to next level up so my salary was higher and would help to cover increased costs.

Tax free childcare.

Not everyone has family who would be in a position to help for free with childcare even if they loved close by, @Lazypuppy

@MyOtherProfile i never said they do. I just listed everything we did before having a child to help with cost of childcare. Some people will have family who will help with 1 or 2 afternoons of childcare, like i do, and others won't.

I haven’t read the whole thread.
A childminder is usually cheaper than a nursery but your holidays may have to fit in with their holidays, what would you do if they are off sick, would you both prefer your child to have one other carer than yourselves or would you prefer a nursery environment with multiple other carers but no problem with childcare if carer ill and not tied to choose holidays to fit with childminder etc. Lots to consider.
No getting around it, it is expensive but costs reduce as child gets older and eligibility for reduced prices kicks in due to age and by this time wages will have gone up. Could one of you work part time or work compressed hours in say 4 days as childcare is usually paid for from 8-6 where we are even if you drop off slightly later or pick up earlier. Or could one or both of you work from at home?
Top tip when choosing schools make sure your choice of school also has compatible wraparound childcare. As that is something else to think about which will be here before you know it.