How do you afford childcare with twins?

[mamabeeboo]

I've just had my 12 week scan, and found out that I am due to have twins! A total shock and over the weekend I have had a wide range of emotions and worries.

The cost of childcare in the UK is a joke. I am the main breadwinner, so I will be working full time after 6 months of mat leave. DH has worked really hard to get where he is (qualifications, tests etc) and would struggle on his own with twins (and 2yr old DS at home). We have our parents help, but they are in their 60s/70s and very unfair to ask them to help regularly with twins.

We want to look at fulltime childcare options. For those out there who have twins (or more), how have you been able to afford childcare? In the area we are in, we are looking at around £2.5-3k a month in nursery fees, which will bankrupt us. I have tried to look for alternatives/sibling discounts etc, but it's only knocking off £100 or so a month.

I went back to work and reduced to 3 days a week when mine were 10 months.

Grandparents 2 days a week, childminder one day. The GPs were 60/62 and 62/66 at the time.

The childminder was so much cheaper than nurseries/nanny, which we could not simply afford on our wages.

Have you looked at childminder?

The cost of childcare with twins and an older child also is the reason I am now considering a career break. I worked out I would have max £500 left over after childcare each month. Then when you factor in costs of working like fuel to and from and my professional membership fees. Its really not worth the hassle. Also with me not working my husband can off set some of his tax onto my allowance. Its a tough decision and makes me angry that the cost of childcare has resulted in this decision. But its not forever. When they reach 3 years old they will get 3 year funding 🙁

I used my 3 day a week salary to cover childcare costs until the free hours kicked in.
But it kept me sane and my career going.

I had twins when I was on minimum wage in a difficult job. I returned 2 days a week following mat leave with gps providing childcare. However, I found myself mentally exhausted after the 2 days in work and gps kindly offered to look after DTs 1 day a week so I could have a cup of tea in silence, tidy the house etc.

When we were eligible for the 30 hours 'free' childcare, I found an easy wfh job working 3 days a week which enabled me to send DTs to nursery 2 days a week. Gps provided childcare for the remaining 1 day a week.

Now they are at school full time and older it is much easier. The early years don't last long but it is difficult. I am ready for a new career.

Life is too expensive when both parents need to work to make things work financially.