daycare arrangements/alternatives

Ok ladies, nows the time that i have a bit of a whinge. well not really. but today, i sat down and figured out our estimated budget once i begin working. I found that with my probable starting wage, added to mikes current wage, we will not be eligible for any daycare subsidy apart from the 9 hours a week available to everyone. we will also lose accomodation supplement, and our family assistance will go down to $80 a fortnight. we are currently claiming living costs off my student loan of $150 a week, so that will stop also. which means that in all reality, I will be going off to work each and every day, to pay $300 worth of childcare, and we might not even break even with what we are currently getting right now.

so, other ladies that work full time - do you have any other ways of doing things so that the daycare $$$ isn't so much. I have thought of booking them in for mornings only, so that someone picks them up for the afternoons, and that way Paris could enrol in Kindy. However, i seem to have a lack of suitable people that could take the kids - while mum seems the obvious choice, i have seen what she was like after leaving Ayja with her for a few hours - and would definately NOT feel comfortable with leaving her for the whole afternoon, every day etc. even more so with adding PAris to the mixture, and remembering that mum also has my nephew to take care of as well.

argh, i spose it all just felt like everything was fruitless. all this hard work to get nowhere really - possibly worse off even.. until Paris starts school and daycare cost goes down.   CAn definately see this NOT helping the arguement for having another baby.. in which case we might qualify for more but then the cost is more too.

am not complaining as such at not getting subsidies any more, as we will be better off than a fair few people, and i beleive it should go to those who need it most.. believe me, we have been there for the last 5 years!!

all i can say is ARGH!

hey, also, what is the usual rate of tax deductions? probably ano brainer question but i seriously don't know. at least them i can estimate what the deductions from my wage would be so i can figure out if we are gonna be able to live.

Hey Chick, are you sure you will only get $80 a fortnight family assistance? we aren't entitled to ANY childcare help, not even the nine hours, and we will be getting $230 a fortnight?

I hope things work out for you? Have you thought about switching care?

I really don't have any suggestions, but I hope it all works out for you!

we do get a small discount for having more than one kiddie there, the main thing for me is that because i may have to do day shift OR night shift at any given time, and my hours aren't really set ones each week - i have to have them booked in between the hours of 8 and 5 even if they aren't going to use it.. therefore i pay for that, which is kinda sucky.

With the family assitance, i used the calculator on the IRD website.. and i just assumed that the 9 hours was for everyone, however i might look into that - actually i think it only may have been for children age 3 and up. hhm.

I think there is more funding going into ECE, making it free for kids aged 3 and 4 from 2007. Don't know the details properly but I'm sure Paris would fall under this.
Childcare subsidy has just had another adjustment, did you factor that in? (Though I'm sure you did, you seem like you'd have all your bases covered!)

i friend of mine just rung and told me that laubour have bumbed up familiy surport and dpbs not sure by how much but every little bit helps also the working for familiys is spose to go up its spose to start around the 1st off this month will have to look into this   

oh jax thats suxs about your job not coming to the party make sure u do what is right for your family cause everyone is diff good luck

ohh scary its only two months till james is 1 sounds like u have got it all sorted

I'm Back!! (sorry had internet probs and I have been working full time for the past few weeks!!)

Anyway - I had a hunt around childcare places and Arna goes to a community based one and it is $3.50 an hour and I think we can get 90c an hour off through Working for Families but as my hours are erratic (sometimes I work 40 hours sometimes 25) We are keeping a track of everything and claming back.
Another childcare place I went to to enquire was $5 an hour and was no where near as good at the community one - they offer morning tea and afternoon tea and take the kids on trips (with our permission) and is really great in there, where the one that was $5 you had to provide everything...
You may have the girls in a childcare place you like and I'm not sure if PN has a community based care but suss it out!

Emma - I didn't know you were having twins!! Awesome!!

have you thought about sharing a nanny?   i don't think WINZ will subsidize this, however, if you aren't entitled to the subsidies anyway, shouldn't make much differnece

I would suggest looking into in Jax. I was looking for daycare for Jake and Taine for three weeks in June. i started looking in Feb and actually found it VERY difficult. the MOE has guidelines about ho0w many teachers are needed for under twos. Consequently the under-twos area is smaller and in demand. Do it now, and then after you find some places, look up their Education report on www.ero.govt.nz to make sure they aren't dodgy.