retired_recca

60k in London for a couple and a kid sounds slightly tight to me.

retired_aag117

Childcare vouchers are quite good. The scheme takes about £50 a week from you salary and in turn you pay a bit less tax (as you don't get taxed on the vouchers)

If you and your partner both do the scheme, then you'll save about £120 a month, which is a bit of a help towards the childcare.

retired_jennifer89889

You are assuming of course I have no other expenses.

There is building and content insurance. car insurance. The loan to pay for the car. The study loan. The mortgage. Unemployment cover as well as critical illness and death cover.

Telephone, water & electricity, and TV etc.

Plus food, council tax, transport to work on the train and the tube is costing £270 per month.

So as you can see, child care is not that simple. </BLOCKQUOTE>

Refuse to believe even still you have no money for childcare. No savings to eat into? No cutbacks can be made?

People raise kids on a hell of a lot less than 60k a year.

retired_Thessel

Bergy, when you calculated your Tax credit and benefits did you include the childcare costs as well?

michaelwoodcock

You are assuming of course I have no other expenses.

There is building and content insurance. car insurance. The loan to pay for the car. The study loan. The mortgage. Unemployment cover as well as critical illness and death cover.

Telephone, water & electricity, and TV etc.

Plus food, council tax, transport to work on the train and the tube is costing £270 per month.

So as you can see, child care is not that simple. </BLOCKQUOTE>

When you phone the relevant Government department to ask for assistance, explain it just like that :thup:

"I need you guys to pay for it, I've got to keep my TV and phone on ffs!"

You have a kid now, learn to prioritise. Go without so they can have instead. Welcome to parenthood, it's all fun and games from here on in

retired_kerich1117

I've heard of these vouchers.

How do they work actually, and could it really make as much difference as £120 per month?

retired_kerich1117

I phoned the tax office who gave me those figures.

retired_aag117

Yes, you don't pay tax on the vouchers coming out of your wage. Speak to your payroll/ HR dept. They should be able to give you further details.

Btw, I'd choose nursery anytime over au pair. I know it's a lot more expensive, but it's amuch better learning environment for you child.

retired_kerich1117

You are assuming of course I have no other expenses.

There is building and content insurance. car insurance. The loan to pay for the car. The study loan. The mortgage. Unemployment cover as well as critical illness and death cover.

Telephone, water & electricity, and TV etc.

Plus food, council tax, transport to work on the train and the tube is costing £270 per month.

So as you can see, child care is not that simple. </BLOCKQUOTE>

When you phone the relevant Government department to ask for assistance, explain it just like that :thup:

"I need you guys to pay for it, I've got to keep my TV and phone on ffs!"

You have a kid now, learn to prioritise. Go without so they can have instead. Welcome to parenthood, it's all fun and games from here on in </BLOCKQUOTE>

Have no doubt. I'm absolutely going to love. :cool:

Bought the pram, the car seat, the cot etc.

We've already bought a lot of baby clothes. We are thrilled to finally be parents after struggling a lot to fall pregnant.

retired_Thessel

I phoned the tax office who gave me those figures. </BLOCKQUOTE>

i only ask as we have just put our boy in Nursery and we now receive an additional 300 quid from them to assist with cost of child care on top of the tax credit and child benefits we were already getting.