Returning to work after having a baby...
Discussion
...or not in the case of Mrs Will. Childcare is just too expensive.
To cut a long story short, our first child was born at the end of October last year. Mrs Will took a years maternity leave and then was made redundant shortly before she was due to return to work. A couple of her ex-colleagues recommended her to some other companies and she ended up being offered a job with a respectable salary of £29k.
Sounded great and we were all set to go for it until we sat down and worked out the costs. By the time you have taken away tax, NI, student loan and travel to and from the city she would be fetching in £67 a week more than the child-minder would be costing us. Then we'd need to pay for lunches, work clothes, etc out of that £67, meaning that essentially she would be working for almost nothing and we would not be raising our own child.
Anyway, we've bitten the bullet and decided that it's just not worth it, Mrs Will has turned down the job and is now looking for part time work in the evenings instead, followed by a career change once Little Miss Will is off to nursery/school.
How can people afford to pay over £14k out of their net income just on full-time childcare for one child? or double that for two! We are lucky in that we can cope on one salary for the time being, but what is the alternative for those who can't get by without two incomes? I can see it being very difficult for some!
To cut a long story short, our first child was born at the end of October last year. Mrs Will took a years maternity leave and then was made redundant shortly before she was due to return to work. A couple of her ex-colleagues recommended her to some other companies and she ended up being offered a job with a respectable salary of £29k.
Sounded great and we were all set to go for it until we sat down and worked out the costs. By the time you have taken away tax, NI, student loan and travel to and from the city she would be fetching in £67 a week more than the child-minder would be costing us. Then we'd need to pay for lunches, work clothes, etc out of that £67, meaning that essentially she would be working for almost nothing and we would not be raising our own child.
Anyway, we've bitten the bullet and decided that it's just not worth it, Mrs Will has turned down the job and is now looking for part time work in the evenings instead, followed by a career change once Little Miss Will is off to nursery/school.
How can people afford to pay over £14k out of their net income just on full-time childcare for one child? or double that for two! We are lucky in that we can cope on one salary for the time being, but what is the alternative for those who can't get by without two incomes? I can see it being very difficult for some!
This is exactly why this country is buggered. We (I presume chavs are still banned?). Consider such things before breeding and a lot of us will not have kids until we can afford them, or in the case of my sister your dad retires. The flip side ofcourse have as many as you can and let the state worry about the costs!.
Mr Will said:
Justayellowbadge said:
ascayman said:
did you look into the voucher scheme run by most nurseries?
Worth about a grand a year, if you're a HRT.Not really going to make a huge difference.
Mars said:
£14K a year? Where the hell are you sending your baby? Our childminder costs us about £700/month.
In fact, even with the breakfast and afternoon clubs that the elder one goes to before and after school, our total monthly bill is less than £900.
We live in London and would need childcare for over 9 hours per day, 5 days a week. It soon adds up.In fact, even with the breakfast and afternoon clubs that the elder one goes to before and after school, our total monthly bill is less than £900.
Mr Will said:
Mars said:
£14K a year? Where the hell are you sending your baby? Our childminder costs us about £700/month.
In fact, even with the breakfast and afternoon clubs that the elder one goes to before and after school, our total monthly bill is less than £900.
We live in London and would need childcare for over 9 hours per day, 5 days a week. It soon adds up.In fact, even with the breakfast and afternoon clubs that the elder one goes to before and after school, our total monthly bill is less than £900.
Mr Will said:
Mars said:
£14K a year? Where the hell are you sending your baby? Our childminder costs us about £700/month.
In fact, even with the breakfast and afternoon clubs that the elder one goes to before and after school, our total monthly bill is less than £900.
We live in London and would need childcare for over 9 hours per day, 5 days a week. It soon adds up.In fact, even with the breakfast and afternoon clubs that the elder one goes to before and after school, our total monthly bill is less than £900.
Mr Will said:
We live in London and would need childcare for over 9 hours per day, 5 days a week. It soon adds up.
And that statement doesn't ring alarm bells! I am a great believer in parents being the main carers, nobody is going to raise your child better than you.
Best option for Mrs Will would be to do evening work whilst you look after the baby, as the baby starts nursery/school then more hours can be done.
The early years really do fly by, make the most of them whilst you can, there will be plenty of other years for working after the child has grown up.
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