HOW TO WORK OUT CHILDCARE COSTS 2024 UK | Tax Free Childcare & up to 30 Hours Free UK

[@saharalou3051]

I can never thank you enough for talking about tax free childcare in your first childcare costs video. Although living in the North East our costs are WAY less than yours, I returned to work full time so it's still a good chunk of our outgoings and you have saved me a fortune! Now to sort out the 15 hours free for my 2yo 🙂

[@Jo4167]

Fab video, as a childminder I’ll share it with my parents to explain it all. You’re right we don’t know exactly how it’s going to work yet. Just to let people know it is going to come into force the term after your baby turns 9 months old so some babies could be closer to 12 months, (we’ve been told to class it as a 9 month birthday, then apply for the next term), something to bare in mind, same for 2 year old, 3 year or 4 years it’s always the term after their birthday so Jan, April or September xx

[@HomeWithShan]

Red and you so much! I can’t imagine how hard it is for childminders and other childcare providers as I know you haven’t had much (if any!!) guidance on what this means in terms of funding! Good luck with it all ♥️♥️

[@WeronikaEvans-r1w]

Very helpful video. Thank you! The only feedback. You did the tax fee calculation on 25% government top up instead of 20% ☺️

[@rajashrana1048]

Very helpful video and I agree the account page does not state when the period ends, I was looking up for when the period ends and came across your video. Just as a minor point the government top up is 20% capped at a maximum of £2000 a year and not 25% as you mentioned one can put £8 and the government will put £2. Thank you so much this video which is a great, helpful and educational to all parents who are unaware of TFC. Keep up the great work.🙏

[@annamace7544]

I really want to go back to working in the week, my son is 8 months old and I currently work weekends, I feel like I’m missing out on loads, this video is very helpful because I have been so stressed about trying to figure out childcare costs ❤

[@emmataylor2748]

I watched this even though I live in Australia because I was curious, wow the UK make it really confusing and complicated! Here we get a subsidy up to 90% based on household income, and amount of hours subsidised is based on the activity hours (work, volunteering, study etc) of the parent who does the least. I’m a solo parent and get 89% of my childcare subsidised.

[@HomeWithShan]

It really is convoluted and over engineered over here and it!! Australia sounds like they have a much simpler system!

[@KatyKent]

Sola parents in the UK get 85% subsidised over 16 hours

[@amberb3963]

Thank you so much for this! I recently had my first baby and have started thinking about what will happen when I have to go back to work. I've been baffled by all of the childcare gov't schemes and felt overwhelmed by it. This makes it all much clearer!

[@HomeWithShan]

I’m so glad it helped a bit!! I felt exactly the same trying to navigate all of this, but being a civil servant myself, I can at least TRY to unpick all of the language and understand what the hell is going on hahaha! It had been tough though 🙈😅xxx

[@nicolesurphlis1558]

@@HomeWithShan know the cramligton canter trying there last time there won't have her bottle and dummies too they say she doesn't need it anymore

[@sophiesayswatcha]

Really helpful video explaining all the schemes thank you! I've always worked out how much to put into my childcare account by working out 80% of my total bill and then the government puts in the additional 20% to ensure I have enough to pay nursery but you way works too! 😊

[@HomeWithShan]

I’m glad you found it helpful! And yeah that way works perfectly if your bill doesn’t go over the £600/£650 mark, as that would take you above the cap for govt support. So insanely complicated and poorly explained, so I did my best here, but even so, I still look back and think I could have explained that a lot better haha! Xxx

[@nicolesurphlis1558]

Don't see her very much now

[@nicolesurphlis1558]

​@@HomeWithShan yes right there I got her auntie Wendy looks after amber 5 day week she started to stay overnight first night at auntie Wendy now on this weekend so get to work early in morning on Monday and Friday morning now on I pick up from auntie Wendy 4pm

[@J.Jones2]

Ah so helpful thank you Shan! I didnt know they will only contribute £500 over 3 months so thats so useful and will do the calculations youve suggested! Love your videos.. you've honestly got me through my first year as a mum! ❤

[@HomeWithShan]

Trust me, it caught us out big time when we got hit with that 😅😂 thank you so much for the support, it means a lot - l doing these videos helps me through motherhood too! 🙈♥️

[@nicolesurphlis1558]

@@HomeWithShan amber not sleeping well at moment because don't like cold weather forecast for snow

[@aurorebunga5656]

Such a great video, thank you! Gonna remember 4.33, I've been doing the long-winded *52, ÷12 - great tip! 😅

[@homeofhowards4776]

This was so helpful to workout the gov contribution on the tax free childcare, thank you. Also reapply is in the diary with alerts 😊

[@siddiqahali1653]

Eagerly waiting for 7:30!

[@nicolettaporceddu794]

Great video Shan, thank you!! Will definitely re watch it when it’ll be time for nursery 😊

[@TashExdee]

Thank you, this is really helpful no nonsense advice. Like you say mum to mum ❤

[@HomeWithShan]

That’s exactly how I wanted it to be, cause wow, it’s sooo hard to navigate 😂😅♥️

[@HarrietSmith-t3s]

Hi lovely, the top up is 20% if its £2 for every £8 you pay.

[@HomeWithShan]

Hey! It’s 25%, as if you pay in £8, the government contributes 25% of £8, which is £2. I deffo thought this originally too though, they don’t make it the clearest do they!😅xx

[@KarolinaTL]

⁠​⁠@@HomeWithShanit’s only 20% unfortunately. I pay £600 and they top up it with 20% which is £120 x

[@saharalou3051]

Mine is definitely 25% of the amount I pay in e.g. my last payment into the account was £405 and the top up paid was 101.25

[@HarrietSmith-t3s]

But if you use an online calculator (y is what % of x), £101.25 is 20% of your total invoice which is £506.25. Therefore, you pay 80% of your bill and the government tops you up the extra 20%. So yes it is 25% of what you pay, but only 20% of the invoice you receive from nursery. If you’re trying to work out how much of a nursery bill you need to put into your childcare tax account, it is 80% of the invoice which is what you would use if budgeting for fees.

[@saharalou3051]

Ah, so we're all talking about the same thing just looking at it in different ways 👍

[@lifelivinglite]

Thanks for uploading this. I'm so confused and we're due to start nursery soon. It gives me such a headache 🤣

[@jodiesadler8427]

My girl will be starting nursery the second week of April (she will be 9 months!) When do we check eligibility and when to apply for the tax-free child care? Also, when it runs out after 3 months, when should we renew it? 😊

[@HomeWithShan]

Hey! You should check asap!! Applications are open now! And you should renew every 3 months, it tell you on your account when you need to do it by. Deffo be sure not to miss it! 🥰

[@bexyboo6]

I think my previous comment got deleted, not sure why. The government top up the bill 20%. For example, total bill £1000. You pay £800. Government pay £200. £200/£1000 = 20% 😊. Hence the term “tax free childcare” as tax is 20%.

[@SandraRudane]

Great video especially considering how complicated the system is. If your child is already two can you still get 15 hours from April 24?, I struggle to find this info anywhere as they talk about birthdays that are upcoming only. Thank you for great motherhood content 🙏

[@HomeWithShan]

Hey! I *believe* so! If your child is 2 in or before 31st March 2024, you *should* be able to apply… IF you’re eligible! Good luck ♥️

[@SandraRudane]

@@HomeWithShan thank you ❤️

[@mahadyh]

Very helpful video...thanks so much :)

[@BethanyClaireh]

I've recently looked into childcare for my 2 year old George and because I only do 14 hrs per week I'm not eligible for free hours or tax free childcare even though my partner works full time which is annoying 🙈 thanks for doing videos like this i think they're really needed and useful ❤️

[@HomeWithShan]

Ahh that’s such a shame! No idea why the criteria is the way it is! 🙈

[@BethanyClaireh]

I do get that as I'm now part time instead of full time since having George that I don't need as much childcare as someone who is full time does but I'm almost 6 months pregnant with my second, and I already know having them both 24/7 while on maternity is gna be tough 🥴 so I'm just having to find the money to put George into nursery. Also for his benefit as he's more than ready 😊

[@SA-kg4mg]

It’s what about what you earn for those 14 hours, it needs to nmeet a certain threshold

[@BethanyClaireh]

@abi_smith I was going to go down this route but not sure if my boss would go for it as I'm going on maternity leave soon and it's very quiet at work atm 🤷‍♀️ xx

[@BethanyClaireh]

@@SA-kg4mg I only earn just over minimum wage 😟 when I had a look I didn't meet the threshold xx

[@Lyricvids72]

My three year old started nursery today. We are eligible for free 30 hours but I have not spoken to her nursery about as I wanted to see if she even likes it but I’m not sure if I have to pay more than the lunch time fee as her nursery closes during term time. I work weekends aswell and would see her less if she were to go full time which I doubt they have space for her now

[@Abakada-r8p]

Thank you coz I’m so confused with the childcare account .

[@janer471]

We got our “30 hours free” from this month and wow, blew my mind how much our bill was reduced by, especially with the tax free childcare, obviously it has its drawbacks as it’s not 52 weeks but it has helped hugely! I really hope the free hours comes through for 2025 so I can plan baby number 2! 😅 xx

[@HomeWithShan]

Doesn’t it make the biggest difference!! 🙈 I doubt a new govt would overturn the childcare schemes, but you really never know I guess 😅

[@nicolesurphlis1558]

@@HomeWithShan amber going to auntie Wendy house next week but she have her on Sunday night and Monday morning and night Tuesday morning and night Wednesday morning and night Thursday morning and night time 🌃 Friday morning I pick up at auntie Wendy

[@nicolesurphlis1558]

Am work 4 day am off Wednesday s all day

[@nicolesurphlis1558]

​@@HomeWithShanamber is going to auntie Wendy house overnight 💙

[@BellaBeanHead]

£48 a session before deductions😩😩 this is a dream! Ours is nearing £100 😢😢

[@MrScottpug205]

Hi Shan in your example childcare bill says you would need to top up £24.49 at the end of each period but I’m confused £50 x 4 days is £200 x 4.33 = 866 we pay £699.33 so for a 3 month period it’s £699.33 x 3 = £2097.99 + £174.83 + £174.83 + £150.34 = £2597.99 (£866 x 3 = £2598) so I’m not sure why the £24.49 needs to be added be great if you could help please

[@sabine46]

Currently looking for pre schools for my boy and picking one out! First appointment soon. I'm so scared of leaving my child with people I don't know! How do you get rid of that nagging fear! Allthough I do know it will be so good for him!

[@nicolesurphlis1558]

My baby amber going her grandma and grandad house overnight stay first time next week Monday to Friday morning

[@nicolesurphlis1558]

Don't think amber would t like it

[@chloegould1482]

My advice is to just do what feels right to you - if you need to readjust your agreements then do so! You’re the parent and you know best! X good luck Sabine

[@nicolesurphlis1558]

@@chloegould1482 think you

[@nicolesurphlis1558]

Don't lasting to her that chole ok

[@agatakrupczynska9581]

Would you maybe do a video of approximate monthly child expense ?

[@jenniemcshane7184]

this is sooo helpful. Quick (maybe stupid) question. Is the £500 top up per child or per total childcare bill for both children (I have a 2 year old and now a 9month old about to start nursery).

[@honeybee19892]

Hi Shan, when they say contribute £500 in 3 month period does this mean have to wait 3 months if transfer money in monthly? A bit confused by that. Thanks

[@rayman1237]

I'm a little confused when you say 25% tax free childcare discount. Because should it not be 20%? TIA

[@laurab4868]

Can anyone shed light on my situation? My son started nursery in January. We ended up paying a whopping £806 because we didn’t receive our tax free childcare in time. I thought this was because I applied too late, but it’s been ages since I set up the tax free childcare account and I’ve heard no response from them in regards to eligibility. My son turns two on March 30th so I should be entitled to 15 hours free but I can’t even get the tax free childcare sorted.

[@bradleyarcher9840]

Need some help please :) as I can’t seem to find an answer anywhere. Say you top up £667 a month to get the full £500 a quarter, what happens when your child comes of age and no longer is eligible?

[@LauraEverton-w9t]

Does the childcare account tell you how much to put in or do you just have to work out 25% off and deposit it?

[@debomcd7]

If you’re referring to the tax free childcare account, you put in an amount you want. The government top up is automatically added on top, and then the nursery deducts their fees. The top up is worked out over 3 months, so once you go over the limit (2500 for 3 months), it won’t be added any more until the next set of 3 months. We add a wee bit more than 75% each week to cover the shortfall. If you end up with too much money in the account, it’s easy to withdraw it again.

[@shannonryan32]

Erm tax free childcare has everything to do with tax...government is essentially footing the 20% of tax applied to the price of the nursery fees

[@natashaplatts3216]

💗💗💗 Love watching your videos Xxx

[@HomeWithShan]

Thank you so much, your support mean sooooo much 🥰

[@nicolesurphlis1558]

​@@HomeWithShan me too

[@WoodyWanderer]

Should do that sep 2025 30 hours this September why wait a year ?

[@jadechandler3054]

I’m a SAHM My daughter is 3 and her nursery are only giving her 9 hours a week instead of 15 that’s she’s entitled too as that’s all they have available, any advice I don’t really want to move her as will unsettle her x

[@nicolesurphlis1558]

Amber too little for the that she going her auntie Wendy s house day time 5 days of the week now on

[@KatyKent]

If they haven't got the availability then there is nothing they can do. If you want the full 15 hours then all you can do it is move her or keep her where she is an wait for the full hours to become available.

[@nicolesurphlis1558]

@@KatyKent not really she like going her auntie Wendy house looking af

[@nicolesurphlis1558]

That is like amber she like cramligton canter the staff members from baby day care wouldn't give a bottle and dummy though the daytime warm bottle up now on it not on friend of mine he has take her and dropped her off at her off wen am at work,

[@MsAndyandra]

Great video. Thank you! Can you do more videos about the investments that you have made for George, how does his investment stand at the moment? Kind as of a follow up to the one that you have already. ❤

[@LeahMillthorne]

Soooo helpful ❤

[@spuddy100able]

20% right? Not 25 % so that's why it's 'tax free' because it's 20 percent off

[@HomeWithShan]

Hey! They give 25% of what you put into your account. E.g. when you pay in £8, the government contributes 25% of £8, which is £2. I probably could have phrased it better, but gosh I find the whole thing so convoluted😅

[@spuddy100able]

@@HomeWithShan oh we always work out 80 percent of our bill and then the government tops it up to the correct amount of our invoice so I just assumed they topped it up to 100 percent if that makes sense.

[@xjessii89x]

Yeah it's 20% as far as I understand it, so if your childcare bill is 10,000 you contribute 80% (8000) and the govt contribute 20% (2000)

[@kirstyscholes8924]

Yeah, we put £400 in a month and the government top up by £100 which is a 25% top up

[@kowai03]

I'm still confused

[@shesagoddess3592]

❤ thank you

[@Hollyjollychristmas7]

£48 a day?! Where are you getting such low cost childcare 😂 also how were you paying £48 a day 3 days a week but somehow the monthly total was £1200? The sums don’t add up in the slightest.

[@Lyricvids72]

It’s around £68 where I live

[@Hollyjollychristmas7]

@@Lyricvids72 Same. £48 is definitely lower than average. With the 20% tax free childcare off aswell making it roughly just under £40 i’d be buzzing to pay that little 😂

[@clearreflections516]

I was going to ask to, sorry Shan you said it went down to under £300 from £1.2k I don’t know how that was calculated, mine is similar to yours over £1k but it went down to about £700 a month? ( we do 5 days )

[@nicolesurphlis1558]

Amber going going her auntie Wendy 5 day s week 💙 ❤now on Monday to Friday and night time

[@chloegould1482]

Are you not looking after her anymore?

[@nicolesurphlis1558]

@@chloegould1482 am at work all time now

[@nicolesurphlis1558]

@@chloegould1482 stay with her auntie s now on

[@nicolesurphlis1558]

@@chloegould1482 do you work

[@nicolesurphlis1558]

@@chloegould1482 I work every day so hard her grandma and grandad and her dad don't care about her

[@ronlarratt9642]

Why should the tax payer foot the bill for childcare we didn’t get help back then.

[@chloegould1482]

Sorry but comments like this really annoy me. You didn’t have half the treatments for things like “cancer” back then. So should we just not give them to people anymore?

[@ronlarratt9642]

@@chloegould1482 if you can’t afford kids then don’t have them

[@chloegould1482]

@@ronlarratt9642 that’s not what I asked though is it? It’s like saying we should scrap OAP bus passes as they’re also paid via tax. If you can’t afford the bus, don’t take it.

[@chloegould1482]

@@ronlarratt9642 Also this is quite funny considering most of the schemes mentioned are for working parents only.. working = tax paying. It also is to encourage people to go back to work and not stay home with their children due to high childcare bills.. so your point is really misinformed and rather silly

[@piledriverpotter9847]

​@@chloegould1482 Parents who get free childcare should be made to pay more income tax to cover the cost.

[@csillahegedus2473]

What the actual hell 😂 my mind has exploded… Shan you are a superwoman (and all the other mums) who get this astrophysics 🥰😅 why this have to be this complicated ? 🥹

[@HomeWithShan]

It’s an absolute nightmare isn’t it 😅😅 I have made so many mistakes over the past 2 years of my son being in childcare and payed the price… LITERALLY! So hopefully this video can help others to not have to go through that 🤞🏼♥️

[@MrScottpug205]

Hi Shan loving all your videos I’m about to become a dad for first time and literally trying to understand everything, I’m trying to work out if my wife should go back to work 3 days or 4 she earns 21k per year but I’m struggle to work out the math also I didn’t understand the 4.33 is this related to days work so (4 days) and 3 days would be (3.33) and so on, I understand the 25% free gov top up also we live in wales so not sure if we will get the 30 hours free from 9 month + from sep 2025

[@nicolesurphlis1558]

​@@HomeWithShanam back work today and tomorrow and Thursday and Friday morning s

[@chloegould1482]

@@MrScottpug205 4.33 is the average amount of weeks in a month