Is it just me or is the cost of childcare insane?

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momtomum
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Is it just me or is the cost of childcare insane?

Postby momtomum » Sat Aug 25, 2012 10:11 pm

Our family just moved to London from the United States. We have five children. I've been a stay at home mom for 8 years. As our two youngest girls who are almost 2 and 3 gets closer to school age, I'm thinking about heading back to work. But oh my goodness, I just looked at the cost of childcare in this city and it seems really insane for larger families. Am I missing something? If I went back to work, we would need to find nursery places for 2 children, but at least from what I'm seeing that would cost us more than we're paying in rent (for a pretty nice house!).

What gives? How do families afford this? After taxes even if I found a pretty good job in my field I just don't know if it would work financially (I am a writer, not an investment banker...)

Any words of wisdom appreciated!!
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AbbevilleMummy
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Re: Is it just me or is the cost of childcare insane?

Postby AbbevilleMummy » Sun Aug 26, 2012 12:03 am

When you have more than 1 child, nurseries are simply unaffordable.

A nanny is really the only option and they're also the best form of child care. One to one care in your own home and completely flexible to your requirements.

Good luck, all aspects of finding the right childcare is the absolute worst part of having kids!!
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anootka
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Location: Earlsfield

Re: Is it just me or is the cost of childcare insane?

Postby anootka » Sun Aug 26, 2012 8:31 am

I have 2 children , 2 and 3 years old. We figured that I need to wait until both children are at least 4 and then off to school, then we will need a live in au pair( I've found an agency who will find one thats a bit older and has experience plus can drive). Ofcourse we will have to move to a bigger house to have a separate room for the au pair, but that is the only way we can afford for me to go back.
My sister who lives in Westchester NY,pays her nanny $800 a week/under the table. She says the first year she was barely breaking even, as finding a job after a long maternity is difficult anywhere, but now 2 years later she says it's the best decision she made.
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supermummy
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Re: Is it just me or is the cost of childcare insane?

Postby supermummy » Sun Aug 26, 2012 10:20 am

It is insane but there are a few things to consider

Children from 3 are entitled to 15 hrs free nursery education per week. This can be used at a variety of state and private nurseries/ nursery schools. The reality is that the '"free" hours Are effectively subsidised by the rates paid for extra hoursbut if you only needed part time care, you might not have to pay too much extra. Your local authority can provide you with a list of all the nurseries who take part in this scheme.

Have you considered a nanny share? It pretty much halves the cost of a nanny and makes full time care much more affordable. Loads of families round here do it. Look on http://www.nannyshare.co.uk

Or, lots of people use an au pair/ au pair plus. Some au pairs are happy to do sole charge child care though strictly its not really the idea of an au pair and obviously they are not qualified like a nanny. it might suit you if you were working part time or from home or could combine with some time at nursery.

Good luck.
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mumble
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Re: Is it just me or is the cost of childcare insane?

Postby mumble » Mon Aug 27, 2012 2:49 am

Hi you're right it's insane for most of the time I used nurseries I took home literally tens of pounds a month, for some of it work was simply an expensive hobby since it cost me more to go there than I made a month.

However my sister pays way more than I do for her nursery in CT.

So as others have said you can use the free hours for the older one, you can use vouchers if either of your workplaces have them, you can look for a cheaper nursery (generally those in poorer neighbourhoods or with shorter hours) in a year you can try and persuade some preschools to offer your older daughter full days for 2 or 3 days a week, if you can you could do 4 days and your husband 4 which reduces your childcare needs to 3 days a week ummmm now I'm running out of ideas

Oh 2 more you can work from home or back to back with your husband ie
you nights he days what fun!

Failing that how long until you can rope the older ones in!!!! :D

Oh and welcome to London

Failing that how long until you can rope the older ones in!!!!
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https://merrygoround.club/
https://www.mathnasium.co.uk/clapham
https://www.345nurseryschool.com/
https://www.nightingalemontessori.co.uk/
http://www.abbevillenannies.co.uk/home/
Langstoniamum
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Re: Is it just me or is the cost of childcare insane?

Postby Langstoniamum » Sat Sep 01, 2012 9:34 pm

Yep, insane is the right word (and we only have 1 baby). Basically I would say the same as Supermummy.
It's so crazy, we've decided I'd stay at home for a little longer until G has to start school and this is coming from someone who would actually earn a hefty salary if working full time. He's still a baby and we can - barely - afford it so happy to leave career and top diplomas aside for now.
Mind you school fees are actually so horrendous, we're serioulsy considering moving abroad to somewhere more affordable for a while!
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