OneOrBoth

    Family Work & Childcare Affordability Calculator

    Make informed decisions about work, childcare, and your family's financial future. Compare scenarios side-by-side to see what works best for you.

    Family Finance Insights

    Expert advice on childcare costs, work decisions, and family financial planning

    Calculators that answer these questions

    • Two-Income Break-Even Calculator

      Find the exact salary a second earner needs before returning to work pays anything. Compares both working, one at home and part time, with real tax bands.

    • Childcare vs Salary Calculator

      See what share of your salary childcare actually consumes and how much take-home pay survives daycare, tax and commuting each month. Free, no sign-up.

    • Childcare Cost Calculator

      Free childcare cost calculator. Enter your daycare quote and salaries to see the monthly cost, what share of pay it takes and what's left. US, UK, CA, AU, SA.

    • Stay at Home vs Daycare Calculator

      Compare staying home with your child against paying for daycare and working. See monthly cash left in each case and the salary where work starts to pay.

    • Tax-Free Childcare Calculator

      Work out your Tax-Free Childcare top-up: the government adds £2 for every £8 you pay, up to £2,000 per child a year. See what you really pay each month.

    • 30 Hours Free Childcare Calculator

      See what nursery still costs with 30 funded hours in England. Enter your hourly rate and hours used to get your monthly bill after free hours.

    • Nursery Fees Calculator

      Work out monthly nursery fees from a day rate and days per week, then see the effect of 30 funded hours and Tax-Free Childcare. Free UK nursery cost calculator.

    • Universal Credit Childcare Calculator

      Calculate how much childcare Universal Credit pays back: up to 85% of costs, capped at £1,071.09 a month for one child or £1,836.16 for two or more.

    • Maternity Pay Calculator

      Calculate Statutory Maternity Pay: 90% of average weekly earnings for 6 weeks, then the flat weekly rate for 33 weeks. See total pay and your income drop.

    • Nanny Cost Calculator

      Calculate the full cost of hiring a nanny: hourly wage, overtime, employer payroll taxes and extras. See weekly, monthly and yearly cost compared with daycare.

    • Nanny Tax Calculator

      Work out nanny taxes: employer Social Security, Medicare, FUTA and state unemployment, plus what to withhold from your nanny's pay.

    • Dependent Care FSA Calculator

      See how much a dependent care FSA saves in tax compared with the Child and Dependent Care Credit, and the best way to combine them for your childcare costs.

    • Au Pair Cost Calculator

      Calculate the real yearly cost of a US au pair: weekly stipend, agency fees, education allowance, room and board. Compare with a nanny and daycare.

    • Cost of Raising a Child Calculator (UK)

      Estimate what raising a child in the UK costs from birth to 18: childcare, food, clothes, housing and activities, minus Child Benefit and free hours.

    Latest articles

    My Daycare Costs More Than I Make: What to Do

    April 27, 202611 min read

    If daycare costs more than your salary, you're in the second-earner trap. Here's the real math — and seven ways out before you choose between work and home.

    Returning to Work After Maternity Leave: Guilt, Money & a Real Plan

    April 27, 202612 min read

    Returning to work after maternity leave is brutal — emotionally and financially. Here's the plan I wish I'd had, with real stories and expert quotes.

    The Real Opportunity Cost of Staying Home With Kids

    April 27, 202613 min read

    Quitting work for kids can cost 3–4× your annual salary in lifetime earnings. The full research, your personal number, and 4 ways to reduce the damage.

    Living Wage for a Family With Kids: 2026 Numbers by Country

    April 27, 202612 min read

    What income do you actually need to support a family of four? Real benchmarks, sources, and a 5-step way to calculate yours.

    Nanny vs Daycare vs Au Pair: True Cost Comparison (2026)

    April 27, 202611 min read

    Side-by-side cost comparison of nanny, nanny-share, daycare and au pair — including hidden tax, payroll and PTO costs most parents miss.

    Can I Afford to Be a Stay at Home Parent?

    March 1, 20269 min read

    Staying home with your kids sounds wonderful—but can your family afford it? The answer isn't as simple as comparing one salary to your current expenses. Here's how to figure out the real numbers.

    Part-Time vs Full-Time Work After Kids: What Makes Financial Sense?

    February 20, 20268 min read

    It doesn't have to be all or nothing. For many parents, part-time work is the financial sweet spot—but how do you know if it's the right move for your family?

    Hidden Costs of Working Parents: The Expenses You're Forgetting

    February 10, 20267 min read

    You know about childcare costs. But there's a long list of expenses that quietly eat into your take-home pay as a working parent—and most people never add them up.

    When Does Childcare Get Cheaper? Age-by-Age Cost Breakdown

    February 1, 20267 min read

    If childcare costs are making you question whether working is worth it, there's good news: costs don't stay this high forever. Here's exactly when they drop—and by how much.

    How to Live on One Income with Kids: A Practical Guide

    January 20, 202610 min read

    You've run the numbers and decided one parent should stay home. Now what? Here's a practical, no-fluff guide to making single-income life work—and even thrive.

    Is It Worth Going Back to Work After Having Kids?

    January 15, 20248 min read

    After having kids, one of the biggest financial decisions families face is whether one or both parents should work. With childcare costs soaring, many parents find themselves asking: 'Am I actually making money, or just working to pay for daycare?'

    Childcare Costs by Country: What to Expect in 2026

    January 10, 20246 min read

    Childcare costs vary dramatically by country and can represent one of the largest expenses for working families. Understanding these costs is crucial for financial planning.

    Two Incomes vs One Income: Which is Right for Your Family?

    January 5, 202410 min read

    The decision between maintaining two incomes or transitioning to a single-income household goes beyond just the numbers. Let's break down the financial implications.