Childcare Costs Hit Couple Hard

Hearld Sun
JILL and Paul Humphries rely on just one income after the cost of childcare for their two daughters became too much.

The couple say they are worse off than they were five years ago because of the rising cost of childcare, electricity and petrol.

Housing costs are also rising and have forced the family to move to a cheaper rental home - from their current address in Hampton East to nearby Moorabbin.

The cost of food was the only decreasing day-to-day expense, Ms Humphries said.

"The cost of food is better, but to take advantage of that you have to be prepared to drive to three different supermarkets and use coupons - it's a false economy," she said.

After having the couple's second child, Lola, now 18 months old, Ms Humphries gave up full-time work while Paul continued working at Crown as an environmental and services manager.

The busy mum said returning to work would have meant spending most of her income on $800 a week in childcare costs.

Instead, Ms Humphries cares for her two daughters, Alivea, 3, and Lola, at home.

She works from home as a milliner during the busy spring racing months.
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