Summer holidays and childcare

[equinox]

Hi all you lovely ladies is it just me that will be forking out £720 for my 9 year old boy's childcare over the 6 weeks summer holidays or is anybody else in the same position?

I have no family support whatsoever and my son's father has been disallowed access on his own with him owing to his recent violent conduct.

Is there anybody else out there also in the same boat that has to fork out way over the odds? I don't resent paying the childminder as such as my son is happy there and she does a very good job and he mixes with plenty of children and goes out a lot.

Needless to say I cannot afford a holiday as usual although I am hoping to go on a holiday next spring 2015 together but this will have to be saved for and will be hard to achieve. It needs to be done as I am sick of going nowhere bar a day out here and there to lighten up the schedule!

I am self-employed so if I do not work I can't earn so this is also a problem however it suits me very well to work for myself so I won't change this.

Just interested in anybody else's situation/predicament? Thanks for any shared insights/views everyone!

[sezamcgregor]

I use Kings Camps and the bill is around £130 per week for 8.15-5.45 care with 20% off - I also claim the cost back through Tax Credits, but as I already use breakfast club at school, it's averaged over the year.

Discount code F&F025 will give 20% off all bookings made now if that helps at all? They're across the UK though not in the London area.

Childcare is expensive, but Kings Camps means that I can work full time in summer and have a couple of weeks off at the end of it!

[cestlavielife]

yup I have paid out huge amounts over summer hols..bit less now as one dd now 14. disabled son fortunately only has three weeks hols usually - tho four this time.

[equinox]

Blimey Mumof3 that is high.

[Mumof3xox]

I usually pay around £400 a month for childcare for one dc

In the summer I pay for three, so could be triple that! Hopefully their dad can have them some days!

[equinox]

That's a great idea Lucy for those that can plan it like that however I may resume access next year with the ex and still dream/hope for a holiday abroad so it is hard for me to plan lol. For those that can plan ahead like that it sounds like an excellent option.

[Lucyccfc]

Sorry, that should have read 'before and after school and the holidays'

[Lucyccfc]

This may not work for everyone, but it does for me.

I sit down with my CM in December and work out all the childminding for a full 12 months, including when she will have him during the holidays. We then work out the total cost for the year - before and after school no the holidays - and get a total cost for the year. I then divide it by 12 and pay my CM a monthly fee.

This way, I don't have to find £200 a week for holidays, as I spread the cost though out the year. My CM prefers this, as she gets a fixed monthly income.

We came to this agreement after a few months trial to ensure we were all happy.

It is all agreed in the contract, including any reimbursement of fees if I moved CM or me paying her any extra I owe her.

[brittanyfairies]

I daren't work mine out 45 euros a day for two DCs. I am taking them on holiday but will be taking my laptop with me so I can work on a night. I asked ex for his dates for august but he can't have them because he's taking his partner (ow) on holiday because she needs it! The fact that it's now the middle of June and this year he has seen his DCs for two nights and one day is irrelevant. He's not going to help with childcare because I get maintenance.

[equinox]

Yes £3 is cheap but it is in the east midlands so is a cheap location to begin with IFSWIM.

[foolonthehill]

at the end of the day we get the time and the love from them....priceless!

Hope you manage to find some bright spots in the long hols...we are expert crabbers, walkers, river swimmers, frizbee players, kite flyers, rockpoolers, tree climbers, DVD watchers , freebee hunters and library haunters!!!

watch out for the free stuff at your local library/farm/museum/artgallery/river/etc

hope you manage to find some nice things to do in between the work.

[foolonthehill]

Isn't this normal? I have 4 DC, no family help and no help from their Dad. I assumed that many of us are in the same boat just putting our heads down and getting on with it.

BTW childcare for £3 an hour is amazing!

[Squeegle]

I don't have enough room for an au pair, but it's a good idea, maybe next year, we could all squeeze up and she could have my room.

[SummerSazz]

Our leisure centre holiday club is £25 a day but you can usually get a 10% discount and pay with childcare vouchers so is cheaper. They swim, trampoline. Rollerblade etc

[HSMMaCM]

Sounds about right for a CM. Are there any all day holiday clubs which are cheaper?

[equinox]

I have to say in addition my childminder only charges £3 an hour and has not put the price up in 6 years! So it is only £24 a day and where can you go out and entertain a child for that sum of money these days it would be very difficult to match it.

Not sure how other people get through I would be most interested to hear. I guess grandmas and handy exes are conveniently on hand?

[equinox]

Wow Squeegle that is such a lot!

There's no room in my home for an au-pair we only have a two bedroomed house but I think that is a good idea for people with 2 children or more maybe.

[fedupbutfine]

would an au-pair for the summer cost you less? might be more convenient?

[Squeegle]

I haven't worked it out yet- but actually I think I'll be paying even more.
Single mum. Two DCs. ExDP does give me some £££. But not a lot.

Hopefully one week hol (with me)
One week with their dad
Four weeks left
Their dad has them 1 day a week
So 4 x 4 x 60 = £960.

Eeeeeek