Child Care prices

Damn am I amazed at the cost for this service. I am planning on going back to school for early childcare education this winter. I have never needed child care before but will when I go back to school. I was given a rate of $167 for my 11 month old and $140 for my 9 year old, but as it will be two kids I get a 10% discount. WOW! A big 10%. To put them in for 52 weeks it will be $15,236.00. I am so shocked! I think what we might do is put Sam the 9 year old in after school care through school during the school months to help with the cost as it will only be $31.00 a week for this. But I will have to shell out the money for summer.

WOW!!!  that is a lot!  Looking at it at first it seemed OK, then when you add it all up!  That is insane!  It's almost worth not going back to work!  (I say that to myself a lot for the future!!!)

That sounds about right for where you are. I don't have kids, but several of my friends who work outside the home spend at least that and more. I don't know how people do it.  My friend pays $1,600 a month for a kindercare daycare facility in downtown Chicago, another friend pays $2,000/month for private day care, and my Aunt and Uncle were paying $25,000 a year for 2 kids (that's per kid--$500/ week or so) in day care in the NYC suburbs (no that's not a type-o) and that was 10 years ago.  My aunt finally quit her successful job as a great deal of her paycheck was going to DC.

It's scary amount of money.  Good luck with school and i hope it works out with daycare.

It's not any cheaper here in the UK.

It's not any cheaper here in the UK.

You said it!  It's a nightmare but you can get tax credits in the UK to help sometimes. It's not very much though.   I have got three kids under five and I'm panicking about going back to work in July after maternity leave.   It was nearly half my wage to pay the nursery fees with 2 kids.  Plus, Im a nurse and I have to sometimes start work at 0630 (daycares don't open till 7), or start later and work till 10 PM (day care closes at 6PM) , one week every 3 weeks I have to do nights (no day care overnight)  oh and I have to work every other weekend and holiday (no bloody day care).  Childminders and babysitters won't touch me with a ten foot pole because my hours shift so much with no real set pattern.  Now that hubby is working these same kind of hours Im screwed and if I do find someone to watch the kids when our shifts overlap I'll have to pay them extra for the wacked out hours. 

 Sorry to hijack your thread and whine Munchie.

Having worked in child care centers in the US and UK, that isn't much compared to some places.  I know it's still a lot of money to be paying though.  Have you tried an at home day care?  They are usually cheaper.  I can also attest to the saying you get what you pay for, the more expensive places tend to pay their staff more, meaning lower turnover, degree qualified, people who want to be there.  Good luck in your search!

You said it!  It's a nightmare but you can get tax credits in the UK to help sometimes. It's not very much though.   I have got three kids under five and I'm panicking about going back to work in July after maternity leave.   It was nearly half my wage to pay the nursery fees with 2 kids.  Plus, Im a nurse and I have to sometimes start work at 0630 (daycares don't open till 7), or start later and work till 10 PM (day care closes at 6PM) , one week every 3 weeks I have to do nights (no day care overnight)  oh and I have to work every other weekend and holiday (no bloody day care).  Childminders and babysitters won't touch me with a ten foot pole because my hours shift so much with no real set pattern.  Now that hubby is working these same kind of hours Im screwed and if I do find someone to watch the kids when our shifts overlap I'll have to pay them extra for the wacked out hours. 

 Sorry to hijack your thread and whine Munchie.

sounds like a nanny or au-pair (cheaper) would be perfect for you .  are either of these feasible for you?

You said it!  It's a nightmare but you can get tax credits in the UK to help sometimes. It's not very much though.   .

Just a reminder to folks that tax credits are NOT available to anyone who is not in the UK on ILR (or as an EU/EEA national) or a naturalised UK national. 

sounds like a nanny or au-pair (cheaper) would be perfect for you .  are either of these feasible for you?

I'm going to look into getting a nanny but I have a feeling that the cost is going to be sky high.   I didn't realise that the au-pair would be cheaper so I'll have to look into that.   Anyway it will all get worked out in the end.

I do not know about anyone here, but the idea of someone living in my house freaks me out. I also do not have room for anyone else to live with us. Also I am the lucky one to get a Swedish au pair with big boobs. ubby would love that!

An au-pair is only allowed to work 25 hours/week.  They are also not to be left in sole charge of the children.  In the UK, they're more like a 'mother's helper'.  Some nannies do job share, however.  Might be something to look into.

WOW!!!  that is a lot!  Looking at it at first it seemed OK, then when you add it all up!  That is insane!  It's almost worth not going back to work!  (I say that to myself a lot for the future!!!)

This is why I have been at home for the past few years! With child care for two little ones and before and after care for the older ones chances are I would be working for nothing.

I was lucky when my children were small. We had a great reasonable daycare in our small town. Family owned(now in 3 rd generation) and operated. It was like an extended family care center. I and other working moms had no worries when our children were there. They encouraged co op care among the families who placed children there, for weekends, holidays and if a child was ill. I worked for SBC for over 20 years and even when my daughters no longer required that type of care, I was on the "list" for being MOM for those occasions if I was off work. Worked very well. Yes, some people took advantage of it, but very few. I would suggest you try finding other parents, talk, do back ground check (whatever it takes) and try this. It may work for you and save $$. It does mean mingling your family with those you chose to try it with. I always looked at it as a larger "village" type of way. Today some of those "villagers" kids have done same with their children. Not to mention my daughters acquired a lot of "siblings" and I children of my heart. Good luck       Andrea

I was lucky when my children were small. We had a great reasonable daycare in our small town. Family owned(now in 3 rd generation) and operated. It was like an extended family care center. I and other working moms had no worries when our children were there. They encouraged co op care among the families who placed children there, for weekends, holidays and if a child was ill. I worked for SBC for over 20 years and even when my daughters no longer required that type of care, I was on the "list" for being MOM for those occasions if I was off work. Worked very well. Yes, some people took advantage of it, but very few. I would suggest you try finding other parents, talk, do back ground check (whatever it takes) and try this. It may work for you and save $$. It does mean mingling your family with those you chose to try it with. I always looked at it as a larger "village" type of way. Today some of those "villagers" kids have done same with their children. Not to mention my daughters acquired a lot of "siblings" and I children of my heart. Good luck       Andrea

That sounds like a godsend.

Definately not cheaper in the UK when Jess was very young I did childminding. I charged £100 a week and still the mum whinged that it was high (then again  she had issues like arriving  2 hours late to pick her son up because she wanted to spot off at Next to buy herself a top without so much as call..but that's beside the point)    ...I babysat her son 60 hours a week. The creche at my work charged £185 a week that was 3 years ago. What I managed to do is to buddy up with another Mum and we did our own version of Jobshare. We both managed to get jobs PT and did a like for like. I babysat her son during her working hours and she did the same. We were both lucky to find PT jobs and when she moved to Australia I just managed to find a night job so I worked from 5pm-11pm at our hospital so I could drop my daughter at nursery , get things sorted at home yet still earn a living without spending on childcare.