Can i afford to not get an abortion?

[Poppet626]

Hi, i have recently found out i am pregnant. Not planned atall however i do kind of want to keep the baby, i love children and i'm not worried about expenses such as food, clothing etc as i know that doesn't have to be expensive but one thing i am really worried about is childcare. From everything i have read it is about 600 pounds per month, and thats just for 3 days a week. There is no way i could afford this, i think its ridiculous. I would have to go back to work as soon as maternity is over and so i would need to use childcare as my mum couldnt help, she already has my 5 year old brother who has severe ADHD so she couldnt do it. I cant afford to not work and due to the prices of childcare would only be able to work part time meaning i wont be earning much, i work for NHS so when child is 3 i could get it for free but that wouldnt be for years. And also we both work fulltime, have used child tax calculator and we are basically entitled to nothing. I don't want to have to abort my baby but i dont know what the most logical decision is here for me and my partner.

There may be cheaper options for childcare. My childcare (9am - 4.30pm inc. lunch) is £31.25 per day. You should also research tax relief on childcare meaning you'd only, in effect, pay 80% of your childcare bill.

Do you ever want to have children, was this something you had discussed? As there will always be childcare expenses.
How much it costs does depend on where you live. Where I am it's about 40 a day for a nursery place - some charge more - and a bit less for a childminder. So a wee bit less than the figure you quote. But yes it's loads of money. There are some schemes to get some tax relief on childcare expenses though you'd need to check the latest info. If the childcare is more than one of you is paid, that person could stay at home till nursery hours kicks in (only if you're sure you could get a job again though).
People manage, you've both got jobs which is a good start. I'm not sure what to say - you are perfectly entitled to terminate the pregnancy if this doesn't work for you. I'm not sure how much logic comes into it in this decision though. Definitely take a few days to think it all over - do you know what your partner is likely to say? (Not that it is his choice but it can help if you're on the same page).

hi op

when you say you have used the child tax calculator, what have you looked at? You would possibly be entitled to some UC if you're paying for childcare - have a look at the entitled to website.

I would also recommend looking at the childcare choices website, it will ask you for a few details and recommend what it thinks you might be eligible for.

If you cant get UC, or its a teeny tiny amount barely worth claiming have a look at tax free childcare. For every £8 you put in the government put in £2 up to a limit of £2000 a year.

So for example if your bill was £600 per month, you would put in say £480

so £480 divided by 8, and then times by 2 is £120 which the gov would put in, so you'd only pay £480 instead of the full £600.

Do you work FT now? I would check your entitlement to UC based on you FT paying FT childcare, and PT paying PT childcare, you might find one is better than the other etc.

and yes, as pp said, childminders can be cheaper than nurseries.

It sounds like you are together with your partner. Another option is to tag team: one of you works night, the other days or weekdays and weekends etc. Not ideal, but an option.

If you work for the NHS look at childcare vouchers, salary sacrifice saves you about £70 a month I think? And your partner may be able to apply for them too? Also look at the flexible working agreement regarding childcare. Goodluck x

Whilst childcare is expensive, when you break it down, it is easy to see why it costs what it does.
Food, resources, insurance, heating, water bills and others (gas/ electric,) cleaners, rent and so on.
And of course: those amazing people who look after the children who need to be paid a living wage (and quite frankly, are overworked and underpaid)
The money needs to come from somewhere.