So, You Want Cheap Childcare??? Get to Steppin'!!!

[Annalee]

If you are so destitute that you truly cannot afford quality childcare AND food, there are programs to help assist parents pay for childcare (or food, or both).

As a provider with a high quality program with a waiting list, I get sick of parents with expensive cars, nice clothing, hair and nails done telling me that they can't afford my rates. The truth is, they CAN afford it but they chose to spend their money on other things. Their choice, but it shouldn't lessen my income (or my program, which is what would happen if I reduced rates).

I think the cigarettes bother me more than the new cars. Most of these complainers talked about spend tons of money on cigarettes. I just don't get it! :confused:

[nannyde]

I understand that you have to charge what you charge for daycare but you do not understand that parents have to live to. I can not go broke and not pay my bills so that I can pay for daycare. We just want a good daycare for an affordable price. I think it is ridiculous that you talk about parents that way because you do not know their financial situation and what might have cause. They have to work to make sure that they put food on the table and they have to find daycare to provide the necessary things that their child might need during the day. Consider the parents and what they have to sacrifice to afford your prices instead of talking about parents. Next time be more considerate and understand the parents financial obligations. What you want me to do pay you or feed my child when they are not in your care and take care of my child.

Can I ask a question? What are YOU doing for parents who are going broke because they can't afford daycare? It's obviously a subject you are passionate about. What does your consideration and understanding translate into?

Are you offering free child care to parents who have to feed their kids and pay their rent? Are you offering free child care when you aren't working? Do you put your name out amongst family, friends and society that when you are off of work you will gladly care for their children to lift the burden off of those who can't afford daycare? Have you set up your weekends, evenings and holidays to be THAT person who DOES as opposed to say words about it?

You have plenty of time to be that person. Your family can volunteer for the parents you insist we must consider.

There are many hours in the week when you aren't working where you can volunteer for your passion. You can also barter child care with families in your exact situation. You can seek jobs that allow you and other families to care for each others kids for FREE in exchange for them doing it for you.

Go for it. Be considerate.

We don't owe parents consideration for their financial situation. What business that services children with goods or services considers their financial situation? Does Wal-Mart or Kentucky fried show you some LOVE at the check out counter? Does your utility company ask if you have kids you are struggling to feed when they tally up your monthly bill? Does your cable, internet, or cell phone give a flip about whether or not you have kids you are struggling to pay for?

We don't appreciate that sentiment being exacted upon us. Now some providers want to get their volunteerism on by discounting services but most have zippo interest in child care as their contribution to the poor or needy. They take care of kids every work day. They want to choose their own passion to do free or cheap. They don't need parents to suggest what they do for society.

When I ran my two decades of home child care I kept track of requests for services. Out of a hundred inquiries, only two were able or willing to pay my rates. I didn't give a second thought to the 98 that couldn't. It never crossed my mind to take into consideration and have understanding for the 98.

I didn't think of them any more than a car dealership would think of me when I saw a vehicle in the lot that was out of my price range. I can't afford it. So what? I didn't expect them to give my finances a second thought. They only care about my finances on the car I can afford. If they don't have a car on the lot I can afford they send me packing.

We are over it. Just because we are a profession of women... we shouldn't be expected to care or do something for the legions of families that can't afford child care. We expect people to consider that BEFORE they have kids.

[Ariana]

Brilliant nannyde and so to the point! The old adage is that we must "do it out of the kindness of our hearts" because we are women who want to work with kids. We deserve to be paid a fair and decent wage. Too many childcare providers are making BELOW the poverty line in wages while dual income families complain about our prices (which I understand because life is expensive!!). Then you have new providers who want to do charity work and will take your child in for $15 a day for 10-12 hours that I have to compete with. Makes the situation worse.

[Play Care]

can i ask a question? What are you doing for parents who are going broke because they can't afford daycare? It's obviously a subject you are passionate about. What does your consideration and understanding translate into?

Are you offering free child care to parents who have to feed their kids and pay their rent? Are you offering free child care when you aren't working? Do you put your name out amongst family, friends and society that when you are off of work you will gladly care for their children to lift the burden off of those who can't afford daycare? Have you set up your weekends, evenings and holidays to be that person who does as opposed to say words about it?

You have plenty of time to be that person. Your family can volunteer for the parents you insist we must consider.

There are many hours in the week when you aren't working where you can volunteer for your passion. You can also barter child care with families in your exact situation. You can seek jobs that allow you and other families to care for each others kids for free in exchange for them doing it for you.

Go for it. Be considerate.

We don't owe parents consideration for their financial situation. What business that services children with goods or services considers their financial situation? Does wal-mart or kentucky fried show you some love at the check out counter? Does your utility company ask if you have kids you are struggling to feed when they tally up your monthly bill? Does your cable, internet, or cell phone give a flip about whether or not you have kids you are struggling to pay for?

We don't appreciate that sentiment being exacted upon us. Now some providers want to get their volunteerism on by discounting services but most have zippo interest in child care as their contribution to the poor or needy. They take care of kids every work day. They want to choose their own passion to do free or cheap. They don't need parents to suggest what they do for society.

When i ran my two decades of home child care i kept track of requests for services. Out of a hundred inquiries, only two were able or willing to pay my rates. I didn't give a second thought to the 98 that couldn't. It never crossed my mind to take into consideration and have understanding for the 98.

I didn't think of them any more than a car dealership would think of me when i saw a vehicle in the lot that was out of my price range. I can't afford it. So what? I didn't expect them to give my finances a second thought. They only care about my finances on the car i can afford. If they don't have a car on the lot i can afford they send me packing.

We are over it. Just because we are a profession of women... We shouldn't be expected to care or do something for the legions of families that can't afford child care. We expect people to consider that before they have kids.

yes! Yes! Yes!

[Thriftylady]

I think the cigarettes bother me more than the new cars. Most of these complainers talked about spend tons of money on cigarettes. I just don't get it! :confused:

The cigarettes bother me also. Or the family I had earlier this year who were always to broke to pay me on time but the kids told me every day where they went out to eat the night before. I asked them one day "why don't mom and dad cook at home" and DCB told me "well they never buy the stuff so we have to go out, unless dad makes his famous fudge then we go grocery shopping". Not something an 8 year old would make up!

[Blackcat31]

Statistically, as sad as this may sound a majority of smokers are low income.

Often times the stresses of living in poverty cause many to smoke.

Tobacco companies also target low income people with more aggressive marketing etc.

Google it...you'll find a ton of research supporting the connection between low income/poverty and cigarettes.

[Thriftylady]

Statistically, as sad as this may sound a majority of smokers are low income.

Often times the stresses of living in poverty cause many to smoke.

Tobacco companies also target low income people with more aggressive marketing etc.

Google it...you'll find a ton of research supporting the connection between low income/poverty and cigarettes.

I have never seen any statistics, but I believe this is true. I have wondered way it seems poorer people smoke more.

[Febby]

Well...that was 3 years ago at my old job. My new center charges...get this...$340 for infants, $285 - $320 for toddlers depending on their age, $270 for preschool and $250 for Pre-K...and $138 for before and after, more for full-day school age. If I didn't get a discount my child would never see the inside of that place.

It's the same state...just 20 minutes away on the rich side of town. I've learned its all relative.

Yup. The center I work for is part of a chain and there is a $40 difference between our location in the higher end part of town and the lower end. And there's a $70/week difference between my center's rates and my city's average. Since lower rates means lower pay for workers, among other things, I don't work in the city I live in.

And, yes, being poor causes stress which can lead people to smoking. (And I'm thinking drinking, too?)

[Thriftylady]

Yup. The center I work for is part of a chain and there is a $40 difference between our location in the higher end part of town and the lower end. And there's a $70/week difference between my center's rates and my city's average. Since lower rates means lower pay for workers, among other things, I don't work in the city I live in.

And, yes, being poor causes stress which can lead people to smoking. (And I'm thinking drinking, too?)

Hmm I quit smoking 7 or 8 years ago. I have always been what most consider "poor". I guess you get used to it after awhile . But I am so glad I quit.

[LysesKids]

Hmm I quit smoking 7 or 8 years ago. I have always been what most consider "poor". I guess you get used to it after awhile . But I am so glad I quit.

I quit 15 years ago & I'm still classified as poor also... gained a few pounds, but my lungs thank me

[renodeb]

I have certainly had my share of calls with awkward silence on the other of the phone after saying what my rates are. I have tried to break the silence by saying something like " my rates are very competitive with others in the same area.
To the unregistered guest who made that comment about how we are trying to break these parents so they can't pay there other bills. We are just trying to make a living. I actually figured out what I make and it's like $3.33 an hour. I'm not exactly getting rich off that. I can not exactly imagine someone asking for me to discount that. And also this is a provider's board.
Deb

[Crazy Baby]

"To the unregistered guest who made that comment about how we are trying to break these parents so they can't pay there other bills. We are just trying to make a living. I actually figured out what I make and it's like $3.33 an hour. I'm not exactly getting rich off that. I can not exactly imagine someone asking for me to discount that."

That's what I was thinking. I make less than minimum wage. Do parents realize that they are paying someone just $5 (plus or minus) an hour to provide quality care to their child? Doesn't sound too bad when you really think about it.

[Play Care]

"To the unregistered guest who made that comment about how we are trying to break these parents so they can't pay there other bills. We are just trying to make a living. I actually figured out what I make and it's like $3.33 an hour. I'm not exactly getting rich off that. I can not exactly imagine someone asking for me to discount that."

That's what I was thinking. I make less than minimum wage. Do parents realize that they are paying someone just $5 (plus or minus) an hour to provide quality care to their child? Doesn't sound too bad when you really think about it.

The problem is the parents do "daycare math" they multiply your rate by each child in your care and BAM! They think your NET is that... They don't account for the extra utilities, insurance, licensing requirements, trainings, food, supplies, etc. many think that "because you're home anyway..." that those numbers are negligible.

[Thriftylady]

The problem is the parents do "daycare math" they multiply your rate by each child in your care and BAM! They think your NET is that... They don't account for the extra utilities, insurance, licensing requirements, trainings, food, supplies, etc. many think that "because you're home anyway..." that those numbers are negligible.

Yes I think that is why parents think it is so expensive. And like someone else posted, I have had several ask me "well what is the cost if I provide food?". Grr.

[Preschool/daycare teacher]

"To the unregistered guest who made that comment about how we are trying to break these parents so they can't pay there other bills. We are just trying to make a living. I actually figured out what I make and it's like $3.33 an hour. I'm not exactly getting rich off that. I can not exactly imagine someone asking for me to discount that."

That's what I was thinking. I make less than minimum wage. Do parents realize that they are paying someone just $5 (plus or minus) an hour to provide quality care to their child? Doesn't sound too bad when you really think about it.

Exactly! I'm making $2.27/hour per child. I am allowed up to five kids at one time, so if I actually have five kids on a specific day, I would be making $11.36/hour. Yeah, getting rich quick especially since I cut myself off at four kids at one time which brings it down to $9.09/hour. That doesn't count all the time I spend unpaid outside of childcare hours planning and shopping, etc. Then there's the taxes that are taken out since self employment taxes are higher, and then I have to take all kinds of expenses out of that for groceries, household supplies (such as soap, paper towels, toilet paper, and kleenex), art materials and supplies, preschool materials, business supplies (paper, ink, etc), the extra utilities used by having children here all day, and on and on. If I charged any less, I doubt I'd make anything from it. If parents only realized... One mom that asked for my full time rate told my friend (who she didn't know knew me) that I was "charging $x/week! Who can afford that?!" And I'm lower than any other childcare in my town, especially since I provide preschool too