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Original poster

what proportion of your income goes on childcare?

72 replies

elliott · 04/02/2005 11:13

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.

OP posts:

Hulababy · 06/02/2005 20:18

DD (aged 2y 10m) goes to nursery for 2 full days. I work PT, 3 days a week and DH FT. Childcare is approx. 6% of our joint income.

Hulababy · 06/02/2005 20:19

BTW, in reply to your question. No I never begrudge how much childcare costs. Infact there are times when I am suprised it is not higher, considering what an important role it plays in DD's life.

However, we are in a fortunate position where childcare is not a huge proportion of our jont income. I know for some people it is much more of a balancing act.

hatsoff · 06/02/2005 20:24

all of mine. about 7 percent of total. (pt- live out nanny)

bluebear · 06/02/2005 20:31

27% of our joint income
72% of my income - and that's because I get paid in childcare vouchers, otherwise it would be 92%.

That's for a 1 yr old and a 3yr old in private nursery

titchy · 07/02/2005 10:43

About 13% of joint income, but would be more if I didn;t get NI-free childcare vouchers from work. I pay ds' childcare which is 25% of my take home, dh pays dd's which is 4% of his take home.

Intersting to see that it's mostly mums, who generally earn less than dh/dps, that pay the childcare. Are their any dads out there who pay for childcare so THEY can work?

jabberwocky · 07/02/2005 10:48

Pre-tax it is 16% of joint, 67% of dh's. But, it is totally worth it. PT Nanny who is absolutely wonderful with ds. We would be lost without her.

jabberwocky · 07/02/2005 10:49

BTW, we are in the states.

Original poster

elliott · 07/02/2005 10:56

I'm also surprised at the low percentages - and I'm coming to the conclusion that I've married the wrong man Still at least he's at home lots and fully competent in all domestic duties...

OP posts:

PicadillyCircus · 07/02/2005 11:00

I don't really pay for the childcare (well, I do as I get nursery vouchers through work) as we have a joint account and we really do share it.

I am also amazed at the low percentages. DH and I have a joint income which is not exactly low, but I suppose that's what happens when you live in the South East.

Must get round to playing the lottery again

Original poster

elliott · 07/02/2005 11:05

oh, yes - I meant to say I would never consider that I pay for the childcare - its just another joint expense out of our joint income. In fact I earn more than dh but I have dropped my hours slightly more than he has.

OP posts:

handlemecarefully · 07/02/2005 11:06

About one third of mine (2 kids in day nursery). But probably less than 5% of our joint income.

Tissy · 07/02/2005 11:13

50% of dh's income, 8% of joint.

Dd is in nursery full-time and we don't get the grant yet.

MrsDoolittle · 07/02/2005 11:13

Much too much!!

Tissy · 07/02/2005 11:14

50% of dh's income, 8% of joint.

Dd is in nursery full-time and we don't get the grant yet.

Tissy · 07/02/2005 11:14

oops! Thought it hadn't posted first time

Caligula · 07/02/2005 11:32

Mine is less than 10%, but it's only for 18 hours, it's in a cheap area and the govnernment pays 70% of it.

PuffTheMagicDragon · 07/02/2005 11:37

I have a friend who lived in Greece for 18 years and brought her children up there.

She taught English as a foreign language and her husband ran his own business.

Nursery places for both her boys were free - paid for by the government, apparently it was the same for everyone.

Tessiebear · 07/02/2005 12:06

In a weeks time 0% Ds1 is leaving his fee-paying school to go to our village state primary ...DS2 is leaving the fee paying nursery that was attatched to the school to attend the local one with nursery vouchers covering entire cost -Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I dont even want to work out what percentage it WAS costing us [shudder icon]

HandbagAddiction · 07/02/2005 12:10

19% of my take-home - that's for one child, 5 days a week full-time....no subsidies or vouchers...

Rougly 12% of joint - but I really have no idea exactly how much dh earns....

Hulababy · 07/02/2005 13:47

titchy - we have joint accounts, so we both pay for the childcare equally.

reindeer · 18/02/2005 20:29

Nothing. I gave up work to look after my kids myself.

But then I guess you could say 100% of my income goes on childcare because that's how much I gave up.

janeybops · 18/02/2005 20:33

Over half! omg never worked that out before!

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