Help Childcare costs

[yummy28]

Hello im on mat leave at the moment from my full time job and i am due to go back in Nov 11. Ive found out that the average fulltime nursery cost will be £770 permonth. I only earn £1000 permonth. I called tax credits and as with my husband we have a combined income of £42000 we cant get anything.
I really dont know what to do as I love my job and would love to go back full time but I dont think that this would be fiesable as i would be working to pay my childcare costs.
Does any one have any surrgestions I know it was our choice to have a baby which was planned but i really thought that i would be able to go back to work.
Im spending my mat leave worrying sick about whats going to happen and how i will pay for everything which isnt the way its supposed to be.
Please help.

Have you looked into childcare vouchers? These come out of pre-tax income so would save you a bit of money each month. Can't link to websites as I'm on my phone but hopefully someone else will come along and explain better

Your joint income is about the same as ours and although we don't qualify for working tax credit we do get some help towards the 'childcare element'. Just waiting to renew my claim for this year so not sure how it's all changed with the new gvmt, maybe I won't get anything this time either...?

Oh this is an eternal conundrum for all families. I sympathise as I have pretty much ziltz money left each month after paying childcare but I have decided to do it this way because I would rather stay in work so that I can climb the career ladder and have also been doing a postgrad degree part-time since having my dd (now 2,5 yo) which I would not have been able to afford to do without an income. Don't know what line of work you are in but generally if you think you can get a promotion in future (or take some further steps on a career ladder) then continuing in work would benefit you. Obviously staying in work adds to your pension and can also help if you have to remortage in future (because otherwise you've only got one salary as a family to use).

If continuing in work is of benefit too you try to consider what options you may have (other than tax credits) which can lower the childcare costs for you. Have you relatives who can chip in a day a week? Can either you or your dp or both of you take a day off work a week? My dp runs his own company so have been able to work from home one day a week and our dd is at home with him on that day. He organises his day around her plus works a bit over the weekend to catch up but I've also taken a day of holidays here and there to look after our dd one day a week. This has resulted in us not needing fulltime care. Would that be an option to you? Can you reduce your hours until your dc is 3 years old and receives the 15 hours free childcare? Also look into Childcare vouchers which is something your company, or your dh's company may offer. This would help also, particularly if you can both claim them.

Try not to worry too much about it and enjoy your mat leave! Every family works something out. Good luck!

Google Childcare vouchers if you haven't heard of them yet.

Thanks for your help im in admin within the civil service and my husband is in the army so the nearest family is about 200 miles away.
Im so stuck.

If you can find a good childminder, they may work out cheaper than nursery. But yes, in general childcare is expensive. Childcare vouchers definitely worth a look.

I worked part-time after my first was born and it was ok, but a lot of my salary went on childcare. I took longer after my second (she's just coming up to 2.5) and in the process of looking for work now, have an interview next week. Childcare for DD is quite easy, now I need to sort out before/after school care for DS...

But... much as being at home is fun, I do want to get back to work reasonably soon, and am trying to see the long term, as childcare costs will drop when DD is in school in 2 yrs time.

As a Solider you DH can claim Sodexho vouchers of £240.00 a month before tax. This can save quite a lot.

And here (Army in Dorset) the civil service use, Computershare vouchers.

A Childminder is usually cheaper, although they tend to be in short supply on Army bases as, every one wants a full time space.

This is the same situation as I would be in, however now I work from home as a business partner to husband. Not only would I actually end up earning nothing but the stress of being at the nursery to collect at 6pm and no later would be too much as I live close to major motorway and is always blocked up. My husband can provide no assistance as self employed, has employees, starts early, works with heavy plant and gets in late, when early usually goes back out to the workshop until late. He couldnt be relied on at all - the day can go from bad to good in a split second.

I hardly had a career anyway, the job wasnt brilliant but company very good.

Not all employees do childcare vouchers and its only a small saving too, you do earn less out of it so they dont come for nothing. Its a shame its only (once again) certain sectors that get help.

Depends if you see the job your in as a career path, so earning very little for 4 years would be worth the sacrifice for the job when yr child is in full time education. Once again there comes another problem as who looks after child in all these school holidays, teacher training, election days.

Have you thought about a nanny share? Often people think nannies are only for the "select few" but if you can find another family near by that are in the same or a similar situation a nanny could be the perfect answer, that way your little one will be looked after in your own home or the home of your other family (often people will do one week in each home - this also means that the children will have a different environment and new toys to play with) and the benefits that come with a nanny will take some of the pressure off you at the weekends (children's laundry, freezing meals) as well as offering you advice when you need it. There are lots of agencies and websites that can help with this a good place to start is www.nannyshare.co.uk - Good luck