Manchester parents reflect on childcare costs

[celeste]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26626238#

'My whole wage goes on childcare'

[Adsum]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26626238#

'My whole wage goes on childcare'

When I was growing up working mothers were the exception rather than the rule. The kids who's mothers worked and they were rare, were called Latchkey kids. In my day we were poor and it would have been nice to have the extra's an extra wage would have brought in. However we were happy, our mothers were there to greet us when we came home after school. I am not condemning mothers who work, but I am happy that mine didn't and was there for me when I needed her the most.

[Cupcake]

Many have no choice today.  With the national average wage at £26,500 and the average 3 bed semi costing over £250,000, the truth is you need two average salaries to pay an average mortgage on an average family home.   

[Adsum]

Many have no choice today.  With the national average wage at £26,500 and the average 3 bed semi costing over £250,000, the truth is you need two average salaries to pay an average mortgage on an average family home.

I posted on my Facebook page last week, the letter of confirmation and monthly payments required for our large family home which my father purchased in 1952. The house cost £820, and the monthly payments spread over 20 years were £5.7.10pence. five pounds seven shillings and ten pence. Per month. Somebody calculated, and I haven't checked the figures. that if the house had risen at the same rate of inflation as most other things, it would now be worth in the region of about £25000. I shudder to think how most people on a normal wage can possible afford to buy a home today.

[celeste]

15,000 - 20,000 houses are to be built in Ebbfleet - a new garden city - I wonder what sort of wage-bracket will be moving in or will it be 'help to buy'

[sheilanz]

We have the same problem here in New Zealand,thecost of houses is way out of reach for
so many people, and rents are,nt cheap either.Back in 1971 we built our own house (paid a builder)
we paid $12,500 for the land and the house together.
Today the Land on its own is valued at $135,000 and to build a house like mine would now cost round the
$260,000 that as you can reckon about , thats not
counting the cost of the land
If you half the amounts stated thats about UK prices
We are cheaper than UK but wages work in comparision as well

[sheilanz]

Never thought  I have a three bed.Lounge..D/room, Kitchen, Bathroom, Shower, toilet And Laundry,
fully insulated gas heated. 1/4 acre land andof
course a garage.. ...Oh forgot a Conservatory

[celeste]

I've noticed huge adverts for immigrants to go to Canada and Australia, I wondered if we'd be seeing New Zealand advertising

[sheilanz]

NZ is not very good at advertising, 44 years ago
we answered an ad the size of a matchboc against one from Oz 2 whole pages
 
Not sure but I think we only take dribs and drabs
rather than a full scale invasion,  having a job to
come to is most important cos work is short here like
in many other places...So if you have,nt a job make sure you have plenty of money to keepyou going
 

[celeste]

Maybe they will all go to Northern Territory!

[sheilanz]

Well they would certainly find solitude there
if nothing else, oh maybe a few snakes and Kangeroos

[Cupcake]

I thought NZ had no snakes?  Giant insects, mind.... 

[celeste]

Maybe they are all under that there Ayers Rock

[sheilanz]

Northern Territories are in Australia.
                                        _______
North Island is New Zealand.. a few thousand miles away
 
NO WE DO NOT HAVE SNAKES
YES we have some giant insects

[Cupcake]

Australia has something like 7 out of the world's deadliest 10 snakes.  Not to mention Sydney funnel-web spiders - as big as golf balls and unusually aggressive towards humans.  That's before you get to the 20 foot crocodiles......  it's not on my holiday list!