'I was in £2,000 of debt from just two months of childcare' - Meet the Britons being financially crippled for starting a family

Britain’s birth rate has fallen to its lowest level since records began, with the number of children in the UK projected to drop from 12.6 million to around 11 million over the coming years.

Demographers warn the decision to start a family is increasingly shaped by financial pressures rather than personal choice.

For many young adults, the cost of becoming a parent has become one of the biggest barriers. Childcare fees, rising rents, higher energy bills and stagnant wages mean the financial leap into parenthood feels riskier than ever.

Even among those who do have children, many say they feel penalised for working, unsupported by the system, and trapped between the need to earn and the cost of paying someone else to look after their child.

For a growing number of parents in Britain, employment no longer guarantees financial stability. Instead, work has become a calculation: earning a wage depends on paying for childcare, and paying for childcare can push families into debt.

Bethany Hewitt, 29, a single mother from the North West, told GB News she was encouraged by the JobCentre to take up part‑time work while caring for her young daughter.

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She found a cafe job that fitted around nursery hours, but the numbers “did not add up”.

“I’m a single parent and the JobCentre basically said I had to work, but childcare cost so much that I was getting less money from working than if I wasn’t,” she said.

Nursery fees reached around £1,500 a month, wiping out any financial benefit and leaving her unable to cover basic bills. “I was in £2,000 of debt from just two months of childcare. It escalated really fast.”

The pressure quickly affected her mental health. “I was panicking and really stressed. With prices going up, I couldn’t even afford the basics.”

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Her experience reflects a wider trend. According to Coram Family and Childcare, the average annual cost of a full‑time nursery place for a child under two in England now exceeds £14,000.

Ms Hewitt eventually reduced her hours further. When she approached her bank for a loan to clear the nursery bill, she was warned borrowing would not fix the underlying problem.

She was referred to Money Wellness, where she began stabilising her finances. Her total debt now stands at around £3,000, modest nationally, but significant on a part‑time income.

Childcare was another barrier. “None of my family can help out because they all work full‑time,” she said.

The family relied on the children's charity Barnardo’s for essentials. She explained: “Nappies and formula were the main things we struggled with because they are so ridiculously priced.”

Simon Trevethick, Head of Communications at StepChange, said young parents in particular were “bearing the brunt of several years of economic turmoil”.

Housing costs, low pay and insecure work, he added, are tipping them into problem debt — and childcare is often the trigger.

Frontline workers say childcare pressures rarely exist in isolation. They often collide with health crises or short‑term income shocks, leaving families with no buffer.

One mother of two‑year‑old twin boys from Woking told the People’s Channel that a sudden medical emergency pushed her family into crisis.

“We have struggled financially, mainly due to being in and out of hospital every week for around three months with our son who has a brain injury and cerebral palsy,” she said.

With no car, her partner repeatedly had to stop work to help with transport.

“It meant we were struggling to pay rent and bills.”

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In Edinburgh, a 39‑year‑old mother of three boys explained childcare costs, combined with soaring energy bills, have left her constantly on the edge.

“My Barnardo’s project worker has arranged extra support with food vouchers and gas and electricity top ups,” GB News was told.

“When I’ve hit an emergency on the gas meter I’ve had to borrow money from family members – but not everyone is lucky enough to have family members to rely on.”

With only two bedrooms, she sleeps in the living room while her sons share the remaining rooms. “It’s stressful and I’m always tired,” she said.

“The cost of living is especially tough when you have a young child.”

In North Lanarkshire, another mother said her family’s finances unravelled after a period of homelessness.

Childcare costs, combined with her daughter’s mild heart defect, have made staying afloat increasingly difficult.

“We’ve found it’s costing us a lot more to keep the house warm. My husband is working two jobs to make ends meet.”

The family also faces higher food bills due to severe allergies. “My son is allergic to milk, eggs and soya so everything he eats has to be safe for him.

But the alternatives in the supermarket cost a lot more – sometimes double the price.”

She added: “People’s financial situations can change so quickly. We were financially stable and comfortable and then we ended up homeless and with debts and bills coming in. It was through no fault of my own.”

These individual stories sit against a backdrop of rising living costs. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports that while inflation has eased, essential goods remain significantly more expensive than before the pandemic, particularly food and energy.

Private rents rose by around 8.6 per cent in the year to late 2025.

Alice Bath, Operational Manager at Family Action in West Birmingham, said childcare is increasingly the tipping point.

“When households are spending a higher proportion of their income on rent and energy, there is less flexibility to absorb childcare fees. This can quickly lead to arrears and crisis.”

Ms Hewitt believes her experience shows the gap between policy expectations and lived reality.

“I wouldn’t advise someone to rush straight into work like I was pushed to. Childcare costs are so pricey. Unless you’ve got family to rely on, it’s not worth it.”

She added: “Even if you don’t have children, the pressures are there. It leads to serious consequences.”

** Anyone who is in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide can call the Samaritans anonymously for free from a UK phone on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.**

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