Childcare is now so expensive that more families are better off if one parent gives up work to care for the children the report found.
A part-time toddler place at nursery over 30% with parents now forced to pay an average of £6,000 a year in order to work – £1,533 more than in 2010. “The reality is that for too many families it simply does not pay to work,” concluded the Family and Childcare Trust in their annual Childcare Costs Survey 2015 and the situation is getting worse not better. This is the situation Cath Harrop found herself in in 2011. 'I returned to work after maternity leave with my second son but my wages only covered the cost of childcare. It was commuting an hour each way and working night shifts as well and the whole thing was pointless as I earnt nothing after paying for childcare.' Having started a small business whilst on maternity leave Harrop decided to take a career break and develop mum2mum market instead. 'I persuaded my husband that even if I earnt nothing we wouldn't be any worse off than I was working as a doctor! Soon after I was approached by other women in similar situations who asked me to help them set up their own mum2mum market events and we now have an award winning network of franchises right across the UK.' Mum2mum market works as a flexible business with no need for childcare. The main work is marketing the events and everything can either be fitted around the children, or done with them. Our franchisees set their own hours and decide when and where to work. For more information on starting a flexible, family friendly franchise visit www.franchisebusinessformums.co.uk Do you and your partner argue about the clutter in your home? You are not alone. Couples argue 32 times a year over clutter Half of couples admit regularly arguing about how much stuff is their home - and throw away £240 of items they want to keep to keep the peace
Half of couples regularly argue over their home being too crammed with stuff, with 32 rows a year for the typical couple, a study shows with two fifths blaming their partner for having ‘too much stuff’ If you are newly cohabiting you should expect to throw away around £240 worth of possessions in the first year alone in order to keep the peace according to a survey of more than 2,000 cohabiting couples. One in eight respondents to the survey by Big Yellow Storage admitted to 'accidentally' breaking one of their other half's prized possessions so they can bin it. And in one in ten cases, a lack of space has caused couples to go back to living apart. Arguments over space forced 44 per cent of couples to throw away items they really wanted to keep, with clothes (42 per cent), furniture (36 per cent) and books (33 per cent) most likely to be culled. The research revealed clear differences in the items men and women have to part with. Women cleared out sentimental items, including cuddly toys, gifts from previous partners, school books, photos and birthday cards. Men are typically forced to give up their sports equipment – such as seasonal kit such as skis and surfboards and boys toys, including games consoles, DJ decks and wide screen TVs.
Mum2mum market offer FREE decluttering tips to ease the decluttering process. You can book a stall at www.mum2mummarket.co.uk/book-a-stall.html. Events Nationwide Do you and your partner argue over clutter? Who is the main culprit? Is your partner a neat freak who makes you chuck out your cherished memorabilia? Or does the kids stuff take over everything else? A survey by consumer website Which has identified the 10 most useful and least useful products for babies. A survey of 1,448 GB parents aged 18+ with children aged under five came up with a list of the top ten most useful baby products ranked in order of usefulness. They discounted essentials such as pushchairs, car seats and cots and came up with the list below. What do you think of this list? Do you agree? What are your baby best buys?......... or worst buys ! 10 most useful baby products 1. Stair gates 2. Electric steam steriliser kit 3. Baby changing bag 4. Audio baby monitor 5. Microwave steam steriliser kit 6. Baby sleeping bag 7. Digital ear thermometer 8. Video baby monitor 9. Dummy (although this one divided opinion and also came second on the list of most useless baby products!) 10. Baby seat/support for the bath How to afford a baby in today's economic climate With the rising cost of childcare, utilities and essentials many working parents are delaying having children until they can afford it. But what if they never can? Each year we are told that the cost of raising a child has risen and the figures quoted are in the thousands or even hundreds of thousands depending on the cut off age. But having a baby doesn't have to cost a fortune.Here are my top tips on how to afford a baby 1 Buy secondhand for your baby wherever possible. Borrow from family and friends and buy everything else at a themed baby and children’s market like mum2mum market. Google ‘nearly new sale’ to find a nearly new sale near you. Most baby clothes and equipment are used for a very short time and have very little wear and are perfect secondhand buys. The only things you need to buy new are a mattress and car seat and there are serious savings to be made. At a mum2mum market you will pay around 30% of the new price for large items like cots and pushchairs, and secondhand clothes, toys and books for around £1.You can pick up everything you need, from bedding and towels to a secondhand designer pram, large toys and ride-ons. Arrive early and queue to get the best bargains! Savings: The sky’s the limit…. The more you buy the more you save! 2 Breastfeed. It’s free! If you don’t get the hang of it straight away there are free breastfeeding clinics and support groups who will help you get it right. Ask your midwife or health visitor for details. Savings: £500 on formula, bottles etc 3 Use real nappies. Disposables cost a fortune as well as the earth. You can disposable nappies in the first two and a half years. 21st century real nappies are a world away from the terry towelling squares of the seventies and are no more gross than changing a disposable nappy …. In fact they smell much less (it’s the chemicals that make the disposibles smell). Your local council should have discounted nappy started packs and demonstration sessions or ‘nappucinos’ to get you started. Savings: Over £1000 on the first child and more if you use the nappies on subsequent children 4 Look at flexible work options which might allow you to work from home, work around your children and minimise the amount of childcare you need to pay for. Could you work flexible hours to fit around your partners work or work evenings and weekends? Could running your own business be a better option? A mum2mum market franchise allows mums to do just this- our flexible, family friendly franchises are available across the UK. www.franchisebusinessformums.co.uk Savings: A thousand pounds a month minimum for full time nursery in London 5 Sell your outgrown stuff and recoup some of the cost. If you buy quality goods and take good care of them you can sell them on at a mum2mum market nearly new sale when you are finished with them. You keep 100% of the takings on the day and will recoup some of the outlay spent. Visit www.mum2mummarket.co.uk for more information and stall booking. Mum2mummarket organise baby and children's nearly new sales where mums sell to mums. Parents can sell and save at our award winning pop-up indoor markets. www.mum2mummarket.co.uk |
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