Realistically, when do the child care costs calm down?
Discussion
Sheepshanks said:
okgo said:
The minute they leave nursery of course.
Our private school is thousands a year cheaper than the nursery was.
What happens outside school hours?Our private school is thousands a year cheaper than the nursery was.
okgo said:
Even with 90 mins extra after school it’s significantly less.
I really hope you've considered the characteristics of your school "bubble".Doesn't matter if its state or independent, whatever behaviour kids see around them becomes their normal. That can get very expensive... doesn't matter if it's wanting the latest trainers or a fancy ski trip, it can get difficult to manage. It's hard to say no if all of the other parents are saying yes.
Around 24&26 for mine. Once they both had a degree / job and a property, by the time we had helped with these it started to simmer off.
If you think once they go to school it settles then you have a great outlook……it doesn’t!
Each phase is relative….
Child care / sitters etc
Nursery
Before and after school clubs
School trips
College trips
Learn to drive
Cars and insurance
University and accommodation
Property
Rinse and repeat oh look……. Grandkids.
Hang in there, you do actually stop counting after a while; when you have paid the mortgage you can give them more and sign your house over for future planning.
All things aside it was good fun, planning and being careful have led to us ending up with quite a luxurious retirement.
If you think once they go to school it settles then you have a great outlook……it doesn’t!
Each phase is relative….
Child care / sitters etc
Nursery
Before and after school clubs
School trips
College trips
Learn to drive
Cars and insurance
University and accommodation
Property
Rinse and repeat oh look……. Grandkids.
Hang in there, you do actually stop counting after a while; when you have paid the mortgage you can give them more and sign your house over for future planning.
All things aside it was good fun, planning and being careful have led to us ending up with quite a luxurious retirement.
croyde said:
Both boys 18 and 22. Don't work and eat like horses. Plus 18 year old has a nasty drug habit where the dealer gives him 'free' stuff, then threatens so his mum pays the bill.
If they both lived with me they'd be both on the street, as I have spent loads and have had enough.
Daughter is mid 20s, is a lovely person, independent and doing fine.
Just a warning folks, the early years are the easiest.
Difficult times am sure. Both of mine were told….. come back with anything related to drugs and you’re out. I’m grateful both abided by that rule but jeeeez they did bring some grief to the door as teenagers doing silly things. If they both lived with me they'd be both on the street, as I have spent loads and have had enough.
Daughter is mid 20s, is a lovely person, independent and doing fine.
Just a warning folks, the early years are the easiest.
LooneyTunes said:
I really hope you've considered the characteristics of your school "bubble".
Doesn't matter if its state or independent, whatever behaviour kids see around them becomes their normal. That can get very expensive... doesn't matter if it's wanting the latest trainers or a fancy ski trip, it can get difficult to manage. It's hard to say no if all of the other parents are saying yes.
Surely anyone going ahead with paid schooling does their due diligence.Doesn't matter if its state or independent, whatever behaviour kids see around them becomes their normal. That can get very expensive... doesn't matter if it's wanting the latest trainers or a fancy ski trip, it can get difficult to manage. It's hard to say no if all of the other parents are saying yes.
For us definitely eased up a lot when Nursery finished but we are very fortunate to have family nearby who assist with before and after school cover.
There are still expenses associated with school life but nothing compared to Nursery fees in my experience (mine in school years 3 and 8 now).
There are still expenses associated with school life but nothing compared to Nursery fees in my experience (mine in school years 3 and 8 now).
okgo said:
LooneyTunes said:
I really hope you've considered the characteristics of your school "bubble".
Doesn't matter if its state or independent, whatever behaviour kids see around them becomes their normal. That can get very expensive... doesn't matter if it's wanting the latest trainers or a fancy ski trip, it can get difficult to manage. It's hard to say no if all of the other parents are saying yes.
Surely anyone going ahead with paid schooling does their due diligence.Doesn't matter if its state or independent, whatever behaviour kids see around them becomes their normal. That can get very expensive... doesn't matter if it's wanting the latest trainers or a fancy ski trip, it can get difficult to manage. It's hard to say no if all of the other parents are saying yes.
That's largely irrelevant though and it doesn't matter if it's state or private... there's always pressure to help children fit in with whatever is normal in their environment. That can get expensive for parents whatever their frame of reference.
I can recommend not letting them have horse riding lessons, I said NO and lost that argument with the wife, I also said a firm NO to a horse…we are now on our 4th horse.
£30k to buy and £1000 pm to feed, £200 pm to insure and the last vet bill (partially covered) was £8500!
I’m doing this wrong aren’t I?
The Lorrys are like boats, everything costs 5 times as much as a car, 2 best days are the day you get them and the day you sell them.
£30k to buy and £1000 pm to feed, £200 pm to insure and the last vet bill (partially covered) was £8500!
I’m doing this wrong aren’t I?
The Lorrys are like boats, everything costs 5 times as much as a car, 2 best days are the day you get them and the day you sell them.
okgo said:
This from website of nursery. Monthly fees.
Standard fees
3 days
£1,491.75
4 days
£1,889.55*
Full time
£2,299.78*
Holiday camps are still considerably cheaper than nursery per day. Around half. But yes it likely narrows the gap. But when you see what the kids get up to and have access to at the school it makes it seem exceptional value.
Nurseries in the U.K. are a joke, you could divide those numbers by ten in most major EU countries and it would be close.
As you say, a school environment (qualified teachers with ratio restrictions, grounds and facilities cost etc..) is vastly different to running a holiday camp (minimal outlay running large kiddie group playing foortball etc..) which is also vastly different to a full blown nursery business open for 51 weeks of the year between the hours of 7.30am to 6.30pm.Standard fees
3 days
£1,491.75
4 days
£1,889.55*
Full time
£2,299.78*
Holiday camps are still considerably cheaper than nursery per day. Around half. But yes it likely narrows the gap. But when you see what the kids get up to and have access to at the school it makes it seem exceptional value.
Nurseries in the U.K. are a joke, you could divide those numbers by ten in most major EU countries and it would be close.
I know you are paying a London premium for nursery cost (but that's your own choice), but for a like-for-like comparison, you would need a school to be open for an:
1) additional 17 weeks to cover the various half terms, Xmas and summer break
Cost an extra 1/3 to school fees.
2) additional 4.0 hours hours per day X 51 weeks e.g. 7.30-8.30 and 3.30-6.30 to match the nursery opening hours.
Cost an extra 1,020 hours.
If you were able to find a school providing this same service over 51 weeks of the year (highly unlikely!), I believe the comparable school fees won't be a million miles from your current nursery cost.
okgo said:
Nurseries in the U.K. are a joke, you could divide those numbers by ten in most major EU countries and it would be close.
A colleague in Sweden said they pay max (based on earnings) around £100/mth, and that's for the first child, it goes down as they have more kids in nursery. He was flabbergasted by what it costs in the UK.Caddyshack said:
I can recommend not letting them have horse riding lessons, I said NO and lost that argument with the wife, I also said a firm NO to a horse…we are now on our 4th horse.
£30k to buy and £1000 pm to feed, £200 pm to insure and the last vet bill (partially covered) was £8500!
I’m doing this wrong aren’t I?
The Lorrys are like boats, everything costs 5 times as much as a car, 2 best days are the day you get them and the day you sell them.
I was going to comment on the post saying things like trainers and skiing trips are expensive that the costs pale into insignificance compared to paying London nursury fees, but you've taken it to another level!£30k to buy and £1000 pm to feed, £200 pm to insure and the last vet bill (partially covered) was £8500!
I’m doing this wrong aren’t I?
The Lorrys are like boats, everything costs 5 times as much as a car, 2 best days are the day you get them and the day you sell them.
Sheepshanks said:
Caddyshack said:
I can recommend not letting them have horse riding lessons, I said NO and lost that argument with the wife, I also said a firm NO to a horse…we are now on our 4th horse.
£30k to buy and £1000 pm to feed, £200 pm to insure and the last vet bill (partially covered) was £8500!
I’m doing this wrong aren’t I?
The Lorrys are like boats, everything costs 5 times as much as a car, 2 best days are the day you get them and the day you sell them.
I was going to comment on the post saying things like trainers and skiing trips are expensive that the costs pale into insignificance compared to paying London nursury fees, but you've taken it to another level!£30k to buy and £1000 pm to feed, £200 pm to insure and the last vet bill (partially covered) was £8500!
I’m doing this wrong aren’t I?
The Lorrys are like boats, everything costs 5 times as much as a car, 2 best days are the day you get them and the day you sell them.
I am not a good example really, I pay silly school fees too…well, I soon won’t (fingers crossed) as we are in the final year and I refused to fund anymore so she will have to choose a non fee paying college for A levels (now I am budgeting for a car, petrol, insurance and food).
CraigyMc said:
Caddyshack said:
Horses have shoes every 6weeks!
Not if you barefoot them.We did with ours (both of them were arabs, both were Endurance GB competitors).
(Past tense because the ex-wife kept them).
RUI488 said:
Evening all.
Bit of experienced advice please on when the pretty tight squeeze on our house hold finances will loosen a bit?
2 kids, both under 4, with 14 months between them.
One child gets 23hrs/week funded, other one won’t qualify until September ‘25.
Current child care for 3 F/T days/week is £1200 a month.
Both earning slightly over U.K. national average, no debt except a £120/month loan and a mortgage.
No store cards, no credit cards, no car finance etc
We also both start work before school starts and finish work after school finishes, so there’s going to be costs there for wrap-around care when we get to school age.
I’m also half expecting a “It doesn’t really calm down, just changes!” response.
Thanks in advance.
I take it your second child turns three next September? There's some circumstances, both set and discretionary, where local authorities will provide the 1140 hours to two year olds.Bit of experienced advice please on when the pretty tight squeeze on our house hold finances will loosen a bit?
2 kids, both under 4, with 14 months between them.
One child gets 23hrs/week funded, other one won’t qualify until September ‘25.
Current child care for 3 F/T days/week is £1200 a month.
Both earning slightly over U.K. national average, no debt except a £120/month loan and a mortgage.
No store cards, no credit cards, no car finance etc
We also both start work before school starts and finish work after school finishes, so there’s going to be costs there for wrap-around care when we get to school age.
I’m also half expecting a “It doesn’t really calm down, just changes!” response.
Thanks in advance.
Utilise the 20% top-up when you start paying for childcare.
Our kids are currently 11 and 15 years old.
For us, costs over the first four years we're high, with nursery fees etc. and no family locally to help. But things eased up for a few years after for various reasons..
1. Local networks of friends with kids at school helped during holidays (we obviously helped in return).
2. My wife extended her maternity for the first three years of child number two. So childcare costs dropped significantly, despite a drop in income. Now she works less hours and WFH which has helped with school collections and supporting clubs.
3. Activities werent too expensive.
4. We weren't so bothered about 'hand-me-downs' clothes and neither were the kids.
5. Bikes and other stuff we always went second hand if possible.
6. Camping holidays always used to be good value.....
However the costs have started to ramp up again.....
1. School trips and hobbies. Lad plays football in two different leagues requiring weekly ferry travel plus associated fees Daughter dances in national comps requiring transport and hotels twice a month, plus the inevitable dance class fees.
2. They are both more aware of fashion, so shoes etc. now 'need' to be the best.
3.Daughter at 16 wants to study on the mainland. Travel costs likely to be in excess of £2.5k per annum.
4. Dental perfection - braces £3k.
5. And now trying to put money away for university support too..... Just the left overs each month at the moment. Should have considered this when they were 4 years old a little more seriously.....when the costs dropped.
6. Driving lessons. Insurance.
It does not help living on the Isle of Wight to give them the best opportunities, but the reward is good. (Just not financially)
There are loads of other incidental costs too which you can probably guess at.
I would look at saving a little now for when they are older and get more expensive again......
For us, costs over the first four years we're high, with nursery fees etc. and no family locally to help. But things eased up for a few years after for various reasons..
1. Local networks of friends with kids at school helped during holidays (we obviously helped in return).
2. My wife extended her maternity for the first three years of child number two. So childcare costs dropped significantly, despite a drop in income. Now she works less hours and WFH which has helped with school collections and supporting clubs.
3. Activities werent too expensive.
4. We weren't so bothered about 'hand-me-downs' clothes and neither were the kids.
5. Bikes and other stuff we always went second hand if possible.
6. Camping holidays always used to be good value.....
However the costs have started to ramp up again.....
1. School trips and hobbies. Lad plays football in two different leagues requiring weekly ferry travel plus associated fees Daughter dances in national comps requiring transport and hotels twice a month, plus the inevitable dance class fees.
2. They are both more aware of fashion, so shoes etc. now 'need' to be the best.
3.Daughter at 16 wants to study on the mainland. Travel costs likely to be in excess of £2.5k per annum.
4. Dental perfection - braces £3k.
5. And now trying to put money away for university support too..... Just the left overs each month at the moment. Should have considered this when they were 4 years old a little more seriously.....when the costs dropped.
6. Driving lessons. Insurance.
It does not help living on the Isle of Wight to give them the best opportunities, but the reward is good. (Just not financially)
There are loads of other incidental costs too which you can probably guess at.
I would look at saving a little now for when they are older and get more expensive again......
LooneyTunes said:
I suspect most schools don't have their trip schedule fully planned out before children join in their first year, and a child's interest can change significantly over time. Sure they may have their regular annual trips, but a lot drop in extra ones.
That's largely irrelevant though and it doesn't matter if it's state or private... there's always pressure to help children fit in with whatever is normal in their environment. That can get expensive for parents whatever their frame of reference.
I’m sure most people cope just fine with it. Don’t remember it being an issue for my parents and can’t see it being one going forwards. That's largely irrelevant though and it doesn't matter if it's state or private... there's always pressure to help children fit in with whatever is normal in their environment. That can get expensive for parents whatever their frame of reference.
okgo said:
I’m sure most people cope just fine with it. Don’t remember it being an issue for my parents and can’t see it being one going forwards.
The local school that my little one thankfully chose not to go to (despite the full Olympic swimming pool) had school trips to Galapagos. They also had Saturday morning classes, which she was not up forGassing Station | Finance | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff