How??

[meeeeh]

Just after some advice really. I'm on maternity leave, my baby is 4 months old. Just considering how I will afford to go back to work, we won't have any help with childcare from family by the looks of it. My daily rate in work is similar to the cost of a day in nursery so hardly seems worth it. I work for a company that pays above average so I would like to stay in with them but it won't have a big effect on my career if I do 1 day a week or 5 days a week. I'm considering going back 1/2 days a week when my husband is off and he can look after our baby. Though we won't have any time together as a family then. Is this what most people do in my position work the days their partner is off?

With all our outgoings if I work 1 day a week we'll have about £500 left over at the end of the month which isn't great :(

Also we would like to have another baby but I'm not sure we can afford it. I don't know how people on average salaries do it. Would it be better to have another baby close in age so that they're both in full time education sooner and I can go back to work full time then?

If you've read this far thank you, any advice would be much appreciated!

Nursery is so expensive isn't it? With my eldest DS, I worked full time and DH worked evenings and weekends. It was really hard but we managed to get through it knowing our careers were in their early stages. By the time DD came along, we were in a much better position financially. If you feel your earnings are likely to increase, you might be able to handle some short term pain. Two lots of nursery fees is crippling, so if you have another baby soon, you probably will have to work at least part time, or while your DH is at work.

You could also look into a childminder, you can pay just for the hours you need which is cheaper than paying for a full or half day at nursery if you don't need that long.

Nursery fees are expensive so I understand. I'm in the same situation

Depends how much you value your work and career. Personally, I'd keep a foot in the door and work 2-3 days. Even if that means breaking even each morning.

Encourage your husband to do a day of childcare too. It's good for them to understand how hard that job is.

Once child is 3, you can get help with costs and then have a second. Or explore other options like childminder if that's cheaper?

It's tough but not forever. Keep your financial independence and career.

*breaking even each month

Do either of you work weekends, I’m confused about your question of family time.
Have you looked at childminders, they can be cheaper

Dh and I earn 26k each. Nursery here is full time £210 a week, with tax free childcare that brings it down to 168 a week, plus 50 a week for afterschool for the big one. We do it because it's only for 2.5 years, then the 30 hours kick in and it's been worth it. We have a 4 year age gap as couldn't afford 2 lots of nursery fees. 500 a month leftover after all bills etc paid is a good amount. You'll be fine

It's tricky.

Tax free childcare will take 20% off the nursery bill
If you're on certain benefits you can get 15 funded hours from age 2
All people get 15 funded hours from age 3 (or 30 funded hours if both parents work over a certain number of hours)

I know people who had children close together and it nearly financially crippled them for a couple of years, but they were back to "normal" (apart from before/after school clubs etc) sooner than those who had a bigger gap.

Thank you for all the replies! Childcare is so expensive!
Me and my husband both work in jobs that cover 7 days but we could ask to work set days to cover childcare so we don't have to pay for it but then we won't have any days off together as a family. We could do that and just look forward to annual leave I guess. Lots to think about!