what proportion of your income goes on childcare?

[elliott]

ok another nosey thread following the recent debates about affordability of childcare. So, what percentage of your total household income (after tax but before you spend any, including both partners) goes on childcare?

For us its around 15% of our combined income (we have two kids in part-time nursery, one is getting the govnt educational grant). As a proportion of the lowest earner's income, its nearly 40%.

Am I the only one doesn't particularly begrudge what I spend on childcare? It would certainly cost more for me or dh to stay home.

Around 40% of my net income goes on childcare. That equates to 11% of joint net income (before bonuses)

Childcare = 1 day at nursery for both children and 3 day of nanny per fortnight.

Was momentarily horrified at the cost (I hadn't added it up recently as I pay the nanny daily). Have just worked out that I won't actually be paying that more when ds1 starts school in Sept (private).

Is it worth it?

I need a day away from my wonderful kids each week for my own sanity I'm afraid. I originally took on some consultancy work to justify this. That's grown a little, but I have now got a very flexible arrnagement which will keep me going through school years (flexible hours, work from home, do nothing if I don't want to...). But I still have to be a professional and that sometimes measn that I have a couple of busy weeks where kids get much less of me than I would like.

I only do this because I have 3 wonderful nannies who come and take up the slack. The kids love them. The nursery is cheaper and can take up the slack if the nannies are not available or something crops up at short notice. And it is a different sort of care - they enjoy some of it, but not all. If I had to drop the nannies for the nursery, then no it wouldn't be worth it. The nannies are so much better at some stuff (arty stuff, role play) than I am. But they need me too!

Lady Muck, plse tell me more about logistics of setting up your consultancy + childcare.

My DS is 21 months, could go into pre-school locally at 30 months if potty-trained. We have f/t nanny on contract until July so that I can finish my research project / hobby and get some of it published, then have a month or so to research biz ideas (incl consultancy work). She is excellent so don't want to lose her but can't afford her f/t after July. Will suggest 75% time as she has said she would like to do an OU course on child psy / edu.

Any similarities / tips?

A topic close to my heart! We have ds in nursery 4 days a week and this equates to £900 per month (we are in Surrey). 25% of our joint income.

I work PT (3 days/week) - about 16% of my net monthly income goes on dd's nursery fees (2 days/week). This equates to about 8% of our joint income.

By the way I'm also an accountant!!! (working in corporate tax though....)

I feel like starting an accountant thread.

Maybe we've got here because our brains go "ooh numbers, let's join in".

Mine is 25% of my income (hubby's income is inconsistent) then the mortgage is another 50% I work full time and C is 18 months, bit scared of having another as I can't work out how I would afford to get them both taken care of

oh yeah and I'm an auditor

10% of joint income or 25% of my take home. That's for one DD and is for wraparound care at her private school+hols.

We've saved over £300 per month since she was 2.5y just by moving her to a school nursery, we're just grateful she's the sort of child who thrives in a more formal environment!

About 55% of my income or 20% of our joint income.

I think childcare costs in this country (especially London) are outraqgeous. And I would like to see more government support n the form of tax breaks and the like. But, I NEVER want to get to a place where the government can tell me who can or can't look after my children. There are a lot of issues here and I look forward to seeing Labour and the Torries battle it out in the upcoming campaigns.

Further to my post, our light will come when both kids enroll in a state school and then we can gratly reduce the childcare costs. Yippee. Can't wait. ALthough the youngest hasn't been born yet so we have a while to go.

we have 1 ds who goes to nursery 2 days a week. this costs 4% of our joint net income, though will reduce slightly now that he's 3. it's 16% of my income (i work 2.5 days a week). i guess this will double when no. 2 arrives in the summer. we live in central london, but are very lucky that ds goes to a fantastic subsidised sure start nursery.

90% of my income used to go on childcare. Now it's about 80% since I reduced my hours and took over more of the childcare myself....nanny was getting paid more than me...and I'm a professional (architect)

SofieAmes - so are they

0%
My sister and I do a job share so we also share childcare! Works out really well at the moment.

Pamina3, I too am amazed at the low percentages people are quoting. Some of you guys or your dps/dhs must me earning phenomenal salaries!

Message withdrawn

soapiebox, I never said they weren't. I wouldn't let anyone that I didn't consider a professional look after my child. But that doesn't alter the fact that I couldn't afford it.

48% of my take home pay (taking into account ctc, if I don't take that into account it's 79%).

24% (40%) of joint income.

I have dd2 at nursery full time (I work full time), dd1 & ds at after school club 2 afternoons per week, live in Worcester. dd2's nursery is the 2nd most expensive in the city, but I don't begrudge it as I have the total peace of mind that I wouldn't have had, had I used one of the others.

100% of my salary

49% of my take home pay

26% of joint net income

I have to work as we need the other 51% of my income to make ends meet. Given a choice I probably wouldn't until dd's a bit older (she's 7mo). Having said that, she's at the best nursery in our area (imo) and I don't begrudge the extra money it costs to send her there.

22 per cent of family income

that's for one child