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?

Hi Clary, we live on borders of South East London/Kent.
Sorry, did not mean to imply that you thought we were not happy. I just thought I would add that bit because imho, having a lot of money does not necessarily translate to happiness. Mind you, when we no longer have the nursery fees to pay, detach house here we come!

sorry speedymama, not ignoring you, had to go and do some work (!)
But yes, I agree, we only have childcare costs for ds2 now, and when he is at school we will be so cash rich! (maybe...)
BTW my maths is awful, I divided by 3 not 4, that's more like £30-odd a day. Whew tho the south east is dear. Up this way nursery is more like £25 a day.

You certainly need to seek a patchwork of arrangements... it gets cheaper but probably more complicated... So, DS1 is 4.5 and DS2 is 2, we've recently changed our arrangements and it's worked out cheaper than a childminder using an afterschool club + nursery only because DS1 is in Reception and they only have one intake and so he's started full-time school early and he then attends an afterschool club @ £12 per PM (3-6pm)and DS2 goes to a nursery which costs £39 per day... so £51 Vs £60 per day on a part-time basis (3 days) - both arrangements are geographically located in the same place to pick them up. It will get incrementally cheaper over time - when DS2 is 3, going to a state nursery etc.
We also get to take holidays when we choose although we have to account for holiday scheme for DS1 to cover our annual leave shortful.
None of this would be possible without DH having a flexible job; doing the school run and working Tues-Thurs + Sat. I alas work fulltime... We claim what we are entitled to and I use the Co voucher scheme.
Schools are key to making this all work - the school secretary put me in touch with the Afterschool Club and I got my last childminder who was newly registered by advertising on the school notice board.
They ought to offer new parents change management classes as it's such a merry-go-round!

Haven't checked this thread for a while and didn't realise there were so many replies!

Our nursery charges about the £1,600pcm for two mentioned by Handbag, so it's a scary issue. (Not the most expensive nursery locally, by any means - SW London btw.) They do the nursery grant thing, so that will help when DD is 3, but it's not a huge saving, especially when the costs for a second child kick in. Mind you, better than nothing!

Uwila - thanks for your response on my other thread (about nanny shares).

It looks like whatever we do we will be hammered financially for a few years (unless we decide we can't afford any more children ). Thing is, both DH and I really want more children, so I daresay we'll find a way. I don't want to wait tooooo long, either, even though I know that would be the financially prudent thing to do, because I'm in my mid-thirties as it is.

Maybe we should sell our flat and go and live in a yurt?

Btw - do childminders always charge for holidays? DH is a teacher, so if we could find a way to not pay for school holidays, that would save us a lot over the year . . .

I believe so. unless you want them to give away your place.

does your dh get paid during the holidays?

Yes he's a salaried teacher. I see your point - a childminder has costs all year round, regardless of whether it's the holiday or not. It was just a thought... am trying to think laterally here (and not succeeding!)

No - childminders do not always charge for school holidays! I have children who come term-time only, children who come in school holidays only, children who come on an occasional basis. You will have to ask individual minders because, obviously, some will charge all year round (but may well be a reduced amount for holidays).

My c/minder doesn't charge for holidays ie when we are off work and have the children.
It does vary and some will insist on maybe half fee or full fee. But yes, some children only need to be at the minder in school hols so they can sometimes box and cox.