Youtube Link: From Overspending to Optimising: The Simple Nursery Budget Trick You’re Missing
From Overspending to Optimising: The Simple Nursery Budget Trick You’re Missing
Why You’re Probably Overspending (and Not Just on Staff): A Chat with Early Years Consultant Chris Men
We all know staff costs are the big beast in nursery finances. They’re usually the largest line on your P&L and—let’s be honest—the most emotionally charged one to manage. But if you think that’s where your cost challenges end, think again.
I sat down recently with the brilliant Chris Men from Early Years Business Solutions, a consultant who works across the board—from individual nursery owners to large groups—helping them spot efficiencies and streamline everything from revenue to operational costs. And while staff may take the spotlight, Chris was quick to point out that plenty of other sneaky little expenses are nibbling away at your bottom line.
Let’s Talk Consumables (Yep, the Unsexy Stuff)
We’re talking about those everyday items that fly under the radar—food, arts and crafts, office supplies, nappies, paper towels, cleaning products… the list goes on. These are what Chris calls controllable costs, and here’s the kicker: most nurseries don’t actually have proper checks or balances in place to monitor them.
The big issue? No visibility = no control.
Chris recommends tracking what you’re spending per child, per month (or per FTE if you prefer). Not once a year. Not a ballpark guess. But an actual breakdown. If you’re always spending the same amount on food each month, regardless of how many children are in on any given week, then someone’s either going without… or you’ve got a freezer full of waste.
And here’s a stat I wish wasn’t true, but we see it all the time: food costs spiralling out of control because occupancy changes and no one’s adjusted the spending to match.
Buying Cheap = Buying Twice
Here’s another classic pitfall: cutting corners on resources. You see a toy online, it looks great, it’s cheap. But there’s a reason it’s cheap—it’s designed for light, domestic use. Not 15 three-year-olds who treat everything like it’s an Olympic sport.
Chris put it simply: “Buying cheap means buying twice—or even thrice.” And while no one loves spending more upfront, sometimes it’s the smarter, long-term play. Better quality = better outcomes = happier staff and children = less stress for you.
Practical Tip You Can Action Today: FOOD
If the thought of building a spreadsheet makes your brain melt, start here:
Track your food cost per child, per day, per month.
You can go basic—take your total food spend, divide it by your average daily attendance. Then check the variance week to week. This gives you instant insight. Are you overspending on light days? Understocked on busy ones?
Chris also flagged the importance of supplier choice. Smaller settings may prefer supermarket shopping, while bigger operations might benefit from commercial suppliers. Either way, without a clear budget per head, you’re flying blind.
Final Thought:
You don’t need a finance degree to make your nursery more efficient. You just need visibility, consistency, and a little discipline. Start small. Track your food spend. Put in those checks and balances. And remember—profit isn’t a dirty word.
Got questions? Drop them in the comments below—we’d love to hear from you.
