Why do people complain about childcare costs?

[Teawithsugar40]

I’m a working mother and 65% (was previously near 100%) of my salary goes on childcare, we get by but holidays etc are out of the question. We’re not rich and have small children, it’s just how it is. I don’t resent what we pay and feel quite lucky that we’re a few hundred better off than if I was doing the equally important job of caring for my children full time.
Maybe because when I had my first child there was absolutely no childcare help and scant provision but I really don’t understand so many people these days complaining about childcare costs, especially when it still leaves them better off working? Totally understand single parents needing help and thankfully they have had generous help for years but why are couples who are definitely not on the breadline complaining? Did they seriously think they could have children without making any sacrifices and why do they expect people often worse off them themselves to pay for maintaining their previous lifestyle?

If childcare at £700 is 65% of your income then you're earning just over 13k a year. Meaning you pay about £550 in tax a yr, I'm not sure why you think this is funding loads of people let alone yourself....

@chessycurls

If childcare at £700 is 65% of your income then you're earning just over 13k a year. Meaning you pay about £550 in tax a yr, I'm not sure why you think this is funding loads of people let alone yourself....

🤣

🎤 drop

😆

Because life is about living and if you're working with 100% of your pay going to childcare... Are you really living?

@Pugroll
I do genuinely feel for people who can’t work at all because of childcare costs, I’ve been in that position but as a couple my husband could of reduced his hours if we were really that upset about it. Even though it would of made no financial sense, however if If I was that desperate it would of been an option.
However all the people complaining I’ve come across complain because it’s a

@gumball37

Because life is about living and if you're working with 100% of your pay going to childcare... Are you really living?

Well if your work doesn’t mean that much to you then why not enjoy staying at home with your child. If your struggling to meet basic needs then you should get help, absolutely yes. Caring for a young child is a full time job, why shouldn’t it take 100% of your salary?

@Simonjt

Don’t become an accountant 🤣 there is a difference between gross and net salary, paying a lot more than £550!

I work in a nursery. What I earn wouldn't even cover the cost it would put to my child into nursery. It's extortionate.

Well if your work doesn’t mean that much to you then why not enjoy staying at home with your child. If your struggling to meet basic needs then you should get help, absolutely yes.
Caring for a young child is a full time job, why shouldn’t it take 100% of your salary?

So women should just give up their jobs and have to start from scratch again when their kids are in school?
I love my daughter and I don't mind paying for her to be in nursery whilst I work, but I'm working part time to hold my job place for a few years. I have no wage left after this. The fact you don't understand this means you are incredibly privileged.

(I do split childcare costs with my husband, but we still have mortgage & bills to pay, so after everything, we don't have much free money due to high childcare costs)

I don't even understand this thread - why do people complain about childcare costs? Because it's expensive. I don't understand the question here at all, other than the OP being smug about not complaining

@Simonjt

Plus don’t forget all the tax we’re paying as a family, from money my husband earning during time I’m also at home looking after the children

[quote Teawithsugar40]@Simonjt

Don’t become an accountant 🤣 there is a difference between gross and net salary, paying a lot more than £550![/quote]
They’re really isn’t if your annual net salary is around £13,000.

A net salary of £13,000 gives a gross salary of around £14,100, about £540 of NI and around £300 income tax. Giving a net wage of about 93%.

Don’t become an accountant 🤣 there is a difference between gross and net salary, paying a lot more than £550!

So many discrepancies in your posts but you cannot be paying much more!

You earn approx 14k then & pay £800 tax

@Simonjt snap!

@bcc89

I don't even understand this thread - why do people complain about childcare costs? Because it's expensive. I don't understand the question here at all, other than the OP being smug about not complaining

It’s

a) the implication that it’s bad value - as if the time and effort of people doing that job for you aren’t worth what your worth in your job

b) the implication that other people should be paying for it for you

c) there are so many other priorities for the country

d) people seem to have no idea how astronomical the cost of providing universal free childcare would be

a) the implication that it’s bad value - as if the time and effort of people doing that job for you aren’t worth what your worth in your job

literally no one thinks that.

b) the implication that other people should be paying for it for you

you won't be though

d) people seem to have no idea how astronomical the cost of providing universal free childcare would be

there's a middle ground

What a nasty pitiless thread, and at a time when so many are really struggling. I certainly understand why people complain, even though I'm fortunate enough to be well past those days.

Maybe because U.K. childcare costs are 3rd highest in the world? It's disgusting and a lot of the time puts women in particular at a distinct disadvantage to non parents.
Not everyone will be able to afford childcare costs even with planning. I think it's absolutely fair to complain and moan about it. It's terrible and doesn't have to be this way.

why do they expect people often worse off them themselves to pay for maintaining their previous lifestyle?

What does this even mean?

@chessycurls

You earn approx 14k then & pay £800 tax

You seem to forget national insurance plus childcare pay in holidays

a) the implication that it’s bad value - as if the time and effort of people doing that job for you aren’t worth what your worth in your job

I never said this.

b) the implication that other people should be paying for it for you

I never said this.

c) there are so many other priorities for the country

I never said there wasn't.

d) people seem to have no idea how astronomical the cost of providing universal free childcare would be

I don't want/expect free childcare.

But it does take most of my little wags. I'm glad you don't understand people's struggles in paying for childcare and keeping a place at their job. You are VERY lucky.

*little wage

£800 would include around £540 in NI and £300 in income tax. Childcare isn’t a tax, so of course it wouldn’t be included in tax calculations (unless you use vouchers).

Where I live in london, I pay £1700 for full time childcare until my child is 2, when it drops to £1500ish per month. I have two young children, and it is a lot of money for them both. Fortunately both my husband and I have quite good jobs, but it is by no means an insignificant cost to us.