retired_kerich1117

Hello Forummers!

I thought this might be the place for advise.

My wife's baby is due on 15 january. Although between the 2 of us we earn close to £60000, we can't afford to live on my salary alone.

Hence my wife will go on maternity leave for about 4 or 5 months before going back to work.

Because of our salary, we get a child tax credit of £11.90 and a child benefit of £18.20 per week. So that makes about £120 per month.

A nursery place full time is almost £200 per week which we'll simply never be able to afford. Hence I am looking at a child minder which costs about £150 per week (still a lot).

The other option is an au pair at about £350 per month. But that means never having any privacy.

So I'm asking off topic forum for advice. Besides child benefit and the child tax credit, is there anything else I can claim such as childcare vouchers. But I believe that comes of your salary. So although there might be a slight tax benefit, it does not actually make any difference.

I can't ask my mom or my in-laws to look after the baby. My mom lives in Holland and my in-laws in South Africa.

A childminder seems to be the preferred option.

Advie please as to what you would do.

retired_velvet01

ahh man, if you lived in newham i could personally help you.

You need to contact your local service centres. They'll pay for pre-school and afterschool clubs if you can't afford it.

There's definatley procedures in place. I'll have a look for some contact details for you.

retired_linton_justin

au pairs are only allowed to work 25 hours a week iirc (although i cant remember if thats 25hrs is restricted to childcare only or whether it counts for all work - ie childcare, cleaning etc) so if you get one that doesnt live in you shouldnt lose all your privacy.

retired_kerich1117

Thanks Bliss. :thup:

retired_bjjc_57

£60k a year and you can't afford childcare!

Are you having a laugh?

michaelwoodcock

£60k and you can't afford a nursery place? Learn to budget a little better ffs.

retired_fabricodalacosta

Yup - was gonna say. Better off than most people, I'd guess.

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.

retired_senegalg

Surely you can find a way of paying £150 a week if you're earning around £800 after tax?

michaelwoodcock

I know the cost of living down south is higher, but I had just over half that coming in when Brandon was in nursery, and was paying almost a grand per month for private nursery costs. Earned too much for any assistance from the Government, and I was a single parent (I think the criteria is different for us), so I doubt you'll get a bean.