Money Management March 2017 report government measures that will distort childcare costs with a family earning the national average spends up to 1/3 of their net income on childcare costs, according to the IEA (Institute of Economic Affairs).
The government currently spends well over £7 billion a year on childcare benefits. The IEA claims that current government subsidies, such as the free hour’s entitlement, have distorted childcare prices & made childcare much more expensive.
As well as pushing childcare prices up, the IEA believes that government interventions have significantly reduced parental choice & not produced an improvement in childcare quality.
Len Shackleton, editorial and research fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:
“Regulation has led to an excessive formalisation of childcare & preschool, which has not only pushed up the subsequent costs but paid scant attention to parental choices.
“Many families may not wish to partake in the structural form of preschool that the government requires as standard.”
In this month’s Money Management December 2016 blog… More people are saving more for retirement through workplace pensions. A quarter of properties sold in Q3 2016 were second homes or buy-to-lets. Research has found that cash ISAs are the most popular way to save, but savers could be missing out on higher interest rates. And, we round up the highlights of this year’s Autumn Statement.
In this month’s Money Management November 2016 blog… 40% of families have had to cover funeral costs after the deceased didn’t make any financial arrangements. A fifth of self-employed people would cut back on insurance if they had to reduce costs. Paying a year’s worth of voluntary national insurance could boost a person’s pension by £230 a year. And, as Philip Hammond’s first Autumn Statement draws ever closer, Assured Wealth and Estate Planning focuses on the industry body expectations.
What makes an employee go above and beyond the call of duty, to put in extra effort beyond turning up on time, doing what’s required and taking home their salary?
It might be related to the goals of the business, a personal desire to work hard so that everyone in the company benefits or an internal drive to achieve great results.
Whatever it is, it should always be recognised, acknowledged and rewarded.
Rewarding staff who do a good job or get great results has a number of benefits. First, it creates an atmosphere where hard work is incentivised.
Second, it shows that managers are aware of what is happening on a day-to-day basis.
Third, it makes everyone feel like a team that is working towards a common goal.
The government currently spends well over £7 billion a year on childcare benefits. The IEA claims that current government subsidies, such as the free hour’s entitlement, have distorted childcare prices & made childcare much more expensive. 
Those aged 18 – 34 saved on average £3,701 in 2016, £450 higher than the baby boomer generation (£3,238) and generation X (£3,266).
