Why is it so expensive?????

[Amimissingsomethinghere]

Why is nursery so expensive??
Ok, so not really a question but more of a moan! I understand all the overheads etc ... but for TWO MORNINGS a week, it's costing over £500 a month
We are in a rather pricey area of west London... but still... I keep thinking of all the clothes I could buy for that!!

That's really expensive. I'm in the north east and have 2 under 3s in childcare monday-thursday 7.45am-6pm and it's £230 a week for both!

Okbobble, I think you missed the point. I was just ranting about the cost!

OP both you and your partner have to be working to qualify for the 20% tax free childcare

Really? My husband has confirmation from work that he receives it and they know I am not working?

OP, Your DH will be receiving childcare vouchers, not tax free childcare. The saving will be £52 per month if he gets vouchers worth £124.

Coffee for one.. that's the one he has, thank you.. sorry I get confused... it's not much money off really is it

It's not like us staff get paid loads!

Mysterian.. I know. It's shocking how hard nursery staff work and the lack of payments.. it's such a demanding job !

I’m 40, with a degree in early years working in a senior role in a private nursery on £8 an hour. The industry in this country is a joke.

it's not much money off really is it

I agree it's pretty rubbish. Tax free is better for us as you can get £167 per month but both parents need to work. Unfortunately DH is about to be made redundant so I guess we then won't qualify, and we also wont be able the vouchers as it's closed now!

So double whammy for us - but I suppose their reasoning is that if one of you doesn't work then you don't need help with childcare costs. Fair enough but it's the little ones that could potentially lose out if they get pulled out of nursery as things are too tight due to no tax free saving.

The childcare industry in the UK has been set up and regulated in such a way as to allow corporate providers to make maximum profits.

It is an absolute scandal. Please look into the shareholders of the nursery before committing.

Yes it's really expensive in London. It does vary hugely by exact area in London. For example there is a nursery one mile from me that charges more than double than I pay.

Could you travel a relatively short distance to a cheaper part of London for reduced fees? Cooperatives and council run nurseries tend to have cheaper fees (as they don't need to make a profit) and often provide excellent quality childcare.

Some of these figures are eye watering!

Granted it's been about 5/6 years since mine were in nursery but it was about £30 for a full day then. I can't imagine it has gone up massively since then.

I couldn't justify that sort of money if I didn't work to offset it. We were very lucky that my in laws looked after ours 1 day a week so we only had to pay for 2 days a week.

Ours are now in after school club which still mounts up.

The oldest starts secondary school in September and the youngest next year and we are looking forward to having a good £100 a month extra.

Unfortunately it's just the way it is in London where I live. I NEED a break. My husband works away a lot so I'm practically a single mum. It's just a sacrifice we are willing to make so I have a break.

Why don’t you get a regular babysitter? Cheaper

Wow. I’m just down the train line in Reading and it costs £25, 8.30-1.00

My husband works away a lot so I'm practically a single mum

Nope; if you were a single mum you wouldn’t have the absolute luxury of not working and still putting your child in childcare 2 days a week.

If you can afford £500 a month for a “ break” and it’s coming out of your clothes budget, money isn’t really an issue for you is it.

OP, £500 a month for a break!!

Here is a cheaper option. Get a Virgin Active gym membership. Book your child into the creche for 3 hours, twice a week. It will cost you a lot less!

The obky catch is you can't leave the gym. But you can workout, swim, go to the spa, chill in the cafe.

That's what I did and it was the fittest I had ever been!

Jellybellys that's an epic idea! But I really need a good solid chunk of time to establish my business. And the nursery is 7-1 so does offer that... but I do really need to go to the gym!!!!

Pottering along, I am like a single mum throughout the week. I have no family near by and my husband works abroad. It's tough. Obviously a lot of people have it A LOT tougher, I'm not disputing this but I personally am finding it very very very hard.

I'm a nanny - 1 afternoon a week & 1 full day a week - 2 children and u charge less than what you are paying for nursery!

Maybe have a look into a nanny / a childminder ...

Ah, so you are working. And 7to 1 is 6 hours which was more than the half day session I was thinking of!

That changes things. The only other option I can think of is to get a part time nanny/baby sitter. Will probably cost the same or more though. But I find it is more convenient as then you can get other house jobs done as well while a baby is asleep or get errands run, etc.

Op you aren’t like a single mum, you really need to stop saying that.