Mother's Day is just around the corner, and if you are lucky enough to have a Supermum who helps babysit your children, you can use the opportunity to thank her for saving you thousands of pounds in childcare costs every year.
For children, having grandparents actively involved in their life helps them to form a close and special bond with their wider family, but this relationship can also hugely benefits families financially too.
If your mum and dad are willing to step in and offer support with school runs, Friday night tea, or entertaining the kids during the long summer holidays you'll realise just how much of a lifesaver it can be. But what can often be overlooked is how eager grandparents help save parents on the very steep costs of childcare, with many Nannas and Grampis offering their time free of charge.
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A new calculator called Nana Nursery Calculator has been released by online gift company Prezzybox ahead of Mother's Day, so you can see exactly how much you've saved in childcare costs thanks to your heroic relatives babysitting.
According to Prezzybox: "Children are an absolute joy until it comes to childcare costs. Then, you're left wondering how on earth you're possibly gonna pay for it without selling your wedding ring, car, and possibly a kidney.
"And then, if you're super lucky, in swoops Supernana to save the day. She doesn't mind watching the little one(s) whilst you go to work. And now you're trying to decide whether the day your baby was born was the best day of your life, or whether it's this one".
To use this clever tool, parents simply add their location, with costs, of course, varying across the UK, plus the number of children under three and the number of children over three.
The online tool then asks how many days the grandparents provide childcare each week, working out just how much parents are saving in terms of annual childcare costs.
To give an example, a London-based family with two children (one under three and one over three) will be saving a huge £28,435 every year if grandparents take care of the kids five days a week.
Prezzybox brand manager Ophelia Griffiths added: "We think grandparents should be celebrated for their huge contribution to childcare.
"With childcare costs on the rise, many families would be effectively priced out of working if they didn't receive this support".
You can try out the calculator for yourself here.
