If your wife don't work, then having childcare seems somewhat 'frivolous'
I know her rents stumped up the sponds FOR A CASH PURCHASE on teh flat, but really it's taking the piss
( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:25, 2 replies, latest was 12 years ago)

She's entitled to a break for a few hours a week, particularly when I'm working away and unable to help out.
We aren't stupid with money; no cleaner or gardener - I got rid of both last year.
( Fucking hell Jeff I am not a robot, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:27, Reply)

i bloody love having a cleaner though
or i would if the current one weren't a bit shit. she's amazing at re-arranging cushions, not so good at actually cleaning.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:29, Reply)

The big problem with cleaners is that they are all a bit shit.
But then, that's probably how they ended up being cleaners.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:30, Reply)

That, and they nick passports, jewellery and bank details*


*may just be my experience, may not apply to all cleaners.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:32, Reply)

My cleaner is fucking brilliant

( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:35, Reply)

i think this is my third from this agency
the first two were brilliant. this one sucks. but she leaves me notes that say things like "hi swipe, hope you like my work!!!!!!!!!!!!" and i'm too soft to say "NO, IT SUCKS"
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:33, Reply)

yeah, but "a few hours a week" should be a couple of hundred quid a month even in London.
not a thousand, surely?

Also, she's not "entiteled" to anything. You can afford for her to have a few hours break. There's a chasm of difference.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:31, Reply)

6 hours a week @ £15 ph = £360 a month.

( Fucking hell Jeff I am not a robot, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:32, Reply)

Fucking hell.
I'll be paying less than £500 a month to put minibadger into one of the best private nurseries in Edinburgh for 3 days a week.

I take it that's a childminder? why not use a nursery?
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:34, Reply)

She's 19 months. The decent nurseries around here won't take kids under 2.
She's starting at one in September; £2.5k a term.
( Fucking hell Jeff I am not a robot, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:35, Reply)

Sorry, what the actual fuck?
Nurseries start from about 4 months old in normal civilised society.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:36, Reply)

psst
London
( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:37, Reply)

I have plenty of friends with kids in London
if anything, London nurseries take kids earlier, what with it being a fuck sight harder to survive on one salary in london.

a place that won't take kids til they are 2 isn't a nursery, it's a preschool.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:39, Reply)

Montessori doesn't. Well, the ones around us don't.
Plus I wouldn't want micro in nursery too young. She does lots of other activities though; song classes, swimming lessons etc. Starting Spanish classes soon.
( Fucking hell Jeff I am not a robot, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:38, Reply)

Right..... Montessori are schools though.
I totally appreciate that your child's upbringing is a personal choice, personally I just don't understand why you don't want her mixing with other children too young but paying more money to spend time with a strange adult is OK.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:43, Reply)

sorry, just to be clear
going totally against the tradition of b3ta here, I'm not saying I think you're wrong. I'm not sure there is a "wrong" about this. Just my thoughts.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:48, Reply)

HAHAHAHAHAHAHHHHHAAAA

( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:37, Reply)

it's up to every couple how they choose to split work/life etc
but personally there is no way i could take cash from my husband without doing something, even a few hours a week.

"happy birthday darling, here's a shirt. you paid for it, but..."
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:35, Reply)

A couple of hours a week, if that is the case is negligible on a budget of 2-4k per month. Therefore coming back to my original point, you have as much a grasp on the household budget as the Zimbabwean minister of finance does

( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:32, Reply)

We spend far too much on food; £500 a month. This is my fault as I like to eat well.

( Fucking hell Jeff I am not a robot, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:33, Reply)

well
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:34, Reply)

There's still about £2k unaccounted for.
Which, in fairness, you seem to have identified.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:35, Reply)

www.b3ta.com/questions/offtopic/post1921176
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:39, Reply)

We're quibbling at this stage when the 'entertainment' budget of booze must clock in nearing a grand anyway

( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:36, Reply)

That comes out of my budget. Only fair, she hardly drinks.

( Fucking hell Jeff I am not a robot, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:38, Reply)

Plus I pay her pension, medical insurance etc.

( Fucking hell Jeff I am not a robot, Wed 3 Apr 2013, 11:28, Reply)