How on earth do you pay for two at nursery?

[Verso]

Discuss!

Seriously, though. I do wonder how people manage this. I realise a lot of people have small mortgages, because they did well out of the property boom, but for those of us with big mortgages to service, how do you ever manage to have more than one child?

(btw I had my first this year, so I am getting somewhat ahead of myself here - but DH and I were talking about planning the next one and childcare is a huge consideration . . .)

If either of us gave up work we would have to move away from London to be able to put a roof over our heads (and even then I know property is not cheap elsewhere - I used to live in Edinburgh)

So - how do you do it? What choices have you made to make to make it work?

Also, DH really wants a 3rd child so we will probably start trying when twins are 3 years old and then we will have 3 at nursery for just over a year so we will have to tighten our belts further. I don't what we will do if we have twins again though?!

The other consideration is that it's really not for long that you would have 2 kids in nursery - perhaps for 2 years?

The company I work for has just been bought by another one, so it has occurred to me it's possible that the nursery voucher scheme is already in place in the other company. I will have to investigate!

We have been vaguely thinking of moving back to Yorkshire (where I'm from), and, on reflection, it looks like this might be the way to go. We've some experience already of pruning our budget back in order to afford #1, so I'm sure if we were creative about 'wants' versus 'needs' we could cut it back again. Amazing what you can save when you put your mind to it, really. Btw, I do believe that if you really really want to do something, you will somehow find a way to make it possible, however difficult it may be.

Thank you for all the responses.

twirlaround - we looked into childminder's around here but they cost exactly the same (and sometimes more) than the nursery!

at the concept of a second set of twins, speedy. Blimey! I suppose if that happens then you're forced to find a way to make it work!

@ my greengrocer's apostrophe. Oops.

I don't know how to put into words when I saw this thread!
Sometimes, I do feel sorry for myself too as I want to have another kid but simply just can't afford it at the moment!
How sad is that because of the financial issue!!!
As other mums said, just wait for another year or so, then the childcare will be cheaper!!

Any ideas how much will a live-in nanny cost?

Here's a question for those using the nursery voucher scheme. If both you own employer and your DH/DPs employer operate the scheme - can you both claim vouchers and therefore get double the amount?

Just expecting no 2. and based on some quick calculations have worked out the my nursery fees for two could end up being about £1,600 a month!!

Message withdrawn

An employee is only entitled to one exempt amount of £50, even if childcare is provided for more than one child. However, it is permitted for two people to enjoy the exempt amount for the same child.

Message withdrawn

I think the answer is 'for as short a time as possible'. Actually I think you tend to lose sight of the fact that the 'two in nursery' phase is really quite short. I have two years between mine and I was only paying full double fees for about 8 months before the 3 yr old vouchers kicked in and reduced my bill by about £100 a month. Then I was able to use the childcare vouchers which knocked it down again, and now my rising 4 year old is at full time preschool nursery (I know that is a bit lucky as most state schools don't offer a full time option) I am only paying for after school club for him.

Verso we have used childminders to get round this. Often a c/m will give you a discount for a second child.
Also some of the time they will only charge you for the time the child is there (if yr 3yo is at nursery school, you see).
Not all do this tho (and that?s fair enough as they still have to keep the place open.)
But I have found it a more cost-effective option.
Second jamiesam?s suggestion of nursery vouchers through work to save the tax.
We have 3 children, and yes, a certain age gap will help. Have never actually had all 3 in childcare, as by the time I went back to work after ds2 was born, ds1 was at school.
We also do the complex juggling thing mentioend by Bozza - dh works 4 days, I work 5 but spread over 4.5 days, do late shifts and Sundays to cover, so we only have childcare 3 days a week.
Bluebear at what you have had to do. Also and that people would put off baby no 2 till older one is at school. I mean, it?s awful if the cost of nursery is forcing them to have a bigger age gap than they wanted. Understand it of course and not criticising anyone, just a bit for the mummies and daddies and babies.

Normsockers - thanks for the clarification, good to know we can get some money off. We are in South West Surrey - dd's fees for over 2's are currently £912 for a full-time, 5 days a week place. In theory, by the time no 2 joins her there, dd will be over 3 so the fees go down plus I will be able to get a rebate from the govt. for their contribution. We also get a 15% discount on the oldest childs fees when the younger one starts. So £1,600 is really a worst case scenario and like everyone has said, it's only for a shortish time...and if it means we have to forego holidays for a year or to, then so be it.

Being able to claim double the relief through vouchers though will make things a whole lot easier!

At one point I had 3 pre-schoolers (ds1 just in reception now) but still have 2 pre-schoolers now.

I got round it by leaving work and becoming a freelancer and I do my work in my 'spare' time so have negligible childcare costs (none for ds3, ds2 goes to a morning nursery 3 days a week). Not an option for everyone i know but I'm quite aware that we'd not have been able to afford to have 3 so close together AND me work. Well, we would but we'd have little disposable income I think.

Maybe leave a 3 yr gap so you get the nursery funding for your 3 yr old and then they'll soon be off to reception?

I've got 2 who after xmas will both be at the same nursery. Its really expensive, will be about £900 a month and that for one 4 year old full time and one 18 month old 3 days a week. I'm starting work and will be 3 days but soon upping it to full time. No other way around it. I can't not go back to work because if I leave it much longer (I've just had 2 years off) I'll have to re-train. (I'm a lawyer). I already feel like I've missed out on quite a lot and am feeling quite scared about it. It's never ending though as private school fees will kick in next September. DH and I have just accepted we are going to stay in the house we are in and extend rather than moving and have camping holidays in the UK for the forseeable future.

Message withdrawn

just reading through this thread has actually given me a little bit of hope. First of all how do you qualify for nursery vouchers? I have a son that turned three in october so he wont actually be starting state nursery till next year but would like to put him in a nursery b4 that as he doesnt really interact with any other children.

I gave up work when I had my second because at the time, my salary would only just have covered 2 in nursery or a live-out nanny (we were in west london then).

I really don't think it gets that much easier once they are at school though. If you have a demanding job, it's virtually impossible to sort out your childcare without having a nanny. If you live in London and your house is big enough, you can get a live-in which does work out cheaper but has all the disadvantages of having someone else living in your house - if (like most people in London) your house isn't big enough to have someone else in it, you have to fork out live-out nanny fees which are going to cost you around the same as having 2 in full time nursery!

Contact local nurseries and ask if they take children on the nursery grant. If they do and the nursery meets with your approval stick his name on the waiting list asap. The nursery will deal with all the paperwork.

speedymama is my maths right? Is thatnearly £40 a day you pay per child?
I pay (gulp) a lot less for my childminder. But then I am in the sticks as well.

Clary

Yep. We live frugally and we are very happy!

DH really wants another child but I've insisted that we won't be trying until they turn 3 (2007). That way, if we do have twins again, all my salary will go towards paying nursery fees for 1 year only!

I could stay at home but I don't want to - have to keep contributing to my pension pot!

speedymama where are you then?
(PS I am sure you are very happy, sorry didn't mean to suggest anything else, blimmin internet with no tones of voice etc...)

I got a live-in nanny. It's cheaper than 2 in full time nursery. How crazy is that?

we paid more than £900 a month for our 2, 3 days a week. dd1 now at school. it's hideously expensive, but imo you get what you pay for.

hi uwila , would you mind to tell us how much will that cost for you live-in nanny?