If you have 3DC or more how do you manage the childcare?

[clutteredup]

I have a DD 15 mo, DD1 starts school in September and DS is already at school. If I go back to work I'd need a CM for before and after school and obviously full time care for DD2.
I have just done the sums and whichever way you look at it I can't earn enough to pay for the childcare. i reckon after tax and travel I would bring home about £900 to begin with, although that ,hopefully would increase with time.
But by my calculations that isn't enough to cover childcare.
I don't know if we'd be entitled to tax credits as DH earns over the limit. It just seems so daft that it would cost more to look after the DC than I would get paid.
Just want to know how anyone else manages it.

i gave up full time employment after dc3, the childcare cost was nearly as high as my salary

I just hear about people who 'can't afford not to go back to work' - how?
I'm not so worried about not going back at the moment, in fact it's rather nice in a way to have the excuse not ot be able to but it just seems so wrong somehow as some days i would like to have something more to my life - oops must go and get DD2 from pre school

Well I had a ds aged 4 a dd aged 2 and baby ds. I went back to work part time and I think I ended up working for petrol money for 2 years, as virtually all my money was given to the childminder.

It was tough but basically I worked to keep my job for that time, knowing that if I had given up it would be very difficult to get back up on the career ladder

My employer now does childcare vouchers and these would have helped at the time and you may find that you would get tax credits. I think you can check on line.

I couldn't afford to work either even with just 2 DC the sums just don't add up. With 3 it's impossible unless you have family willing to help.

Some people may think it is worth it in terms of career progression/not being out of the workplace though to actaully work for next to nothing or take a loss for a few years in that it won't be forever and will be worth it in the end.

we cannot afford it either.

I gave up my pt job just before dc4 was born, and before that, my work fitted around when dh could have the dc.

I just look at it as I am lucky enough to be able to look after my children myself, and share this special time with them, while they are still so young. You will only have this time once, so enjoy it!

I honestly cannot understand people who run themselves ragged, and shunt their dc from pillar to post, to end up bringing home practically nothing - or even worse out of pocket

I suppose as I've been a SAHM for 7 yras noe I'm thinking about the grass being greener, thus the research and sums. also i was thinking i would like to contribute a bit to our household income what with the mortage going up and everything. I am lucky as DH does earn a good salary so we aren't in real financial trouble, its just it would be nice to have a bit more money to spend as I like. i do do a tiny bit of tutoring bit that is about to stop due to the exams starting.
you are right though its a much nicer life as is running back and forth from DS to dd rather than shunting them from pillar to post. just sometimes look jealously on those who have a life which doesn't entirely revolve round wiping bottoms and noses

years now - lost the ability to spell!!

I have 3 and I work

DD goes to Nursery (about 550 pm), DS1 is 19 so on days that he finishes college early he picks up DS2 from school, which means I don't pay all of the £40 a week it would cost me for breakfast club and after school club.

I really don't have a lavish livestyle, I haven't bought myself any new clothes in 18 months apart from one pair of trousers. All of DHs earnings pay nearly all of the household bills and his travel and essential stuff. If I didn't work I don't know how we would eat.

DH and I share the childcare . We both work 2 days a week and whilst one is at work the other looks after the kids. Most weeks we have a day at home together. Perfect for us - but I know, not financially viable for others. Have 3 Ds's.

On your figures that would give me £25 a week , what area do you live in as I made it more than that in my area? that makes a difference I suppose , i imaginein London its alot worse again. It does help having family to help out, ours are over 300 miles away in 2 different directions.

Starlight that's about the same as here in the south west. I still can't work out how other people do it other than have help with the children from family. i couldn't see my DH giving up work a few days a week so i could go back, also he earns more than i do so we would still be paying for the priviledge of me going back to work

You're quite right, i don't suppose if one became a childminder one could charge oneslf to look after ones own child and claim the relevant vouchers

DH and I once worked out that is I worked full time, after childcare we'd be 4k better off. For me, that would have provided a forein holiday and a cleaner. Not a worth whilen pay off for missing school plays, and not being with them in the school holidays.

I don't know any mums who work, who don't have some sort of family help with childcare.

Can you find a job within school hours so you only have to pay for 1 lot of childcare?

Yes what about the school holidays - what do people do. I teachso it would only be the odd day of overlap - but surely it just wouldn't be possible would it to work and pay childcare in the holidays too. that must cost a fortune.

Satrlight where do you live? lets do it!!
Bramshott that would be an idea but I suspect that would bring in even less and then we'd be back to square one, at least it would be an option when DD2 eventually goes to school.

bumping to catch the people i'm asking, just realised wouldn't likely to be MNing if at work.

Jobs that are only in school hours are as rare as hens teeth IMO.

If you maybe have 2 at school and one at nursery with a bit of family help or working around your DH's hours you could in theory work.

I have no family help, DP is out the house Mon-Fri 6.30am to 6pm 40 odd miles away so no chance of him dropping off/picking up. For us the sums don't add up.

I will have 3 under 5 come July so I am at home for the next few years at least, I don't look at it as a bad thing, I will never get this time back with them, I agree with caz when I see people trying to juggle childcare and work, trying to get a Gran/Aunt/Sister to take them etc whilst I'm off down the park with mine doesn't amke much sense to me.