On what income can you afford to send DD to private school?

[missjy123]

I always had the image that you had to earn lots to send your child to private school. But have been playin around with figures and seeing if I can afford it. Have my heart set on a school for DD which is about £2000 per term 8am to 6pm. Starting new job which pays £18500. Mortgage is £450. Usual bills to pay. Am single mum with one child. Don't really have major outgoings as I detest shopping!
Do others think it's possible on my salary or am I crazy?!

You need to check very carefully what is included and what is not - trips, lunch, before and after school care(which you'd need to cover 8 - 6pm) and clubs, even books and exam fees at secondary. We could easily spend 10% more per term on non-curriculum "extras" such as swimming, dance and music lessons and after school clubs and these tend to increase rather than decrease over time.

If I were you I would try living on that money for a few months and see if you manage it before you make that commitment. You can always send her to private at 7 or 11 if you think you have saved enough or feel a little more secure. I honestly would not do it on that salary but then I am very cautious with money!

I think you would really struggle to do it on a salary of £18.5 k.

and of course school fees are going up every single year....

If you're only planning to do this for nursery then why not, as the fees are comparable (although do your calculations include the costs of the holiday clubs?). You may find it hard to 'take her away' from her friends/school when the time come to go to reception - although she'd probably lose a lot of friends in that transition anyway if she was at a private nursery, it would be through other parents choosing other schools, and there wouldn't be an option for her to stay on - not through your choice to make her leave the school IYSWIM? So you might feel guilty?