Nursery and working!😬

I'm in the exact same position and I have no idea either 🤣😭 I need to sit down with my husband and literally calculate everything and try work out if it'd actually be better to have less days at nursery and work, in regards to money leftover (if there is any lol). It's really looking impossible right now. I don't really understand how anyone actually does it

Try not to worry or overthink! Most have these same thoughts especially when using a nursery (I know i did)! I also work 5 days (9-5) so my son goes to nursery mon-fri 730-6pm. It’s expensive but it’s short term expense and means I’m bringing a good income home and will be even better when we don’t have the huge fees anymore. Don’t worry about not getting time with your boy. I felt this way too and we still get so much time together and go on amazing holidays. Weekends you will make the most of. If you’re working full time then I would send him as many days as you can afford. Nursery is great for them and it’s very reliable for childcare especially when you have work commitments. You get into a routine sooo quickly ❤️ xxx

The way I look at it is yes, it swallows half (sometimes all) of your pay depending on what you do. BUT - if you don’t go back to work or reduce your hours you are still bringing home less or nothing at all and within a few years you won’t have the nursery expense so all your pay will be yours again to spend on your child and it will feel like a massive pay rise when that time comes. For me, if I left my job and went back to work when he starts school I would need to start at the bottom of the ladder again and it would be a huge pay cut. I promise every penny for nursery is worth it. They do so much there, have fun and it’s so good for their social skills and builds independence. Obviously do what’s best for your family and don’t stretch yourself too much financially but try not to let the panic of it all right now influence yours and your child’s future. It will all work itself out xx

For me it's not a question of shall I go back to work or not, it's just what will work out better money wise as in full time or part time. Not working isn't an option. Even with working, I'm not sure how we'll afford it.

We’re having the same stress at the moment. Remember you’ll get 9 month funding the term after your baby is 9 months and from September 2025 every gets 30 hours funded. Even with the funded hours, it’s still a lot. I will be going back to work but initially my whole pay will be spent on nursery and that’s with family helping out 2x a week!

I’m a single mum. Work 21 hours a week and my daughter is in nursery 3 full days. It is definitely affordable and I would never not work. Not sure if you are single or not but you might be eligible for UC. Check entitled to website to find out. If you are then you get support towards nursery fees. Your child could also be eligible for free hours. Most nursery’s would only accept 2 minimum days so probably wouldn’t let you only do one 1 day anyway. So I’d look at what you are entitled to and then look for part time. If you worked already could you not go back there part time?

@Jas yes this is the same for me! I want to work but it’s just working out the expenses i live in London so our nursery fee just for 2 days is crazy expensive! I’m not sure what everyone else’s nursery fees are like! It’s so hard ahah! 😬

@Chantelle yeah I know it’s crazy how expensive nursery is! 😬 I live in London and our nursery is just so expensive even just for 2 days a week😢 but it’s just working it all out x

@Scarlett thank you! I think it’s just because he will be young I just didn’t want to put him in nursery a full 5 days a week yet but it’s just working out all the expenses! Thank you