Kate & Emily

Spent the day cleaning the spare room , kids bunking up and nice niece of a friend who needs a room is moving in exchange for a bit of money and a bit of child care  .

an idea that may suit you ?

Kate

Hello.  I'd look into au pairs.  When my children were at primary school and I was working I had au pairs from the local langauge school.  the school organised accomodation in local family homes and the au pair had to do a few hours childcare for me each week (can't remember how many - about 10 I think and 2 nights babaysitting) and then they stayed for free.  see if you have any local langauge schools who might do the same sort of thing, or who could advertise it for you.  I didn;t need all of the childcare time they were supposed to give me, but I found the flexibility really good as it meant I could pop out to the shops, be a bit late back from work, or leave before they got up and the au pair would look after them for me.  it also meant i was more social as I had free babysitting twice a week so I would find things to do to make the most of it.  I'd think of all the things they could do for you (cleaning, pick up from school a day a week, babysit and then of course your shift cover).  it might add up to enough to make it worth havong someone living in, but not so much that you have to pay them as they get accomodation and feeding?  good luck Emily