Oh Boy I Dunno

[Thriftylady]

...because it's insulting to some. (bolded)

Based on what you just said (underlined above), it should be insulting to you as well.

Well it isn't insulting I don't think. It is just stating fact. When you choose care with someone who isn't even really running a business, you get what you pay for, which is a cheap babysitter. When someone wants to put the work in, have a handbook and contract, etc there is a fee for all that and someone has to pay it.

I am pretity cheap really, but I cut costs in other ways by making my own laundry soap, making my own clorox wipes, hanging laundry on the line to dry, cooking from scratch. I do all that for my family to keep our cost of living down. But I do keep up with the business end of things, which parents pay for in an enrollment fee and such. I guess for the people around her who do things that way it seems they are not doing "childcare" just making a buck or two. I saw a post on facebook a lady looking for care for three kids. A lady responded that she could to it for $10 a day, I thought well low but okay. Then the posted "oh and $10 a day is for one child or three all the same $10 per day". The only way she can make any money on $10 a day filling three slots is by taking more kids than she is supposed to IMO.

[Blackcat31]

Well it isn't insulting I don't think. It is just stating fact. When you choose care with someone who isn't even really running a business, you get what you pay for, which is a cheap babysitter. When someone wants to put the work in, have a handbook and contract, etc there is a fee for all that and someone has to pay it.

I am pretity cheap really, but I cut costs in other ways by making my own laundry soap, making my own clorox wipes, hanging laundry on the line to dry, cooking from scratch. I do all that for my family to keep our cost of living down. But I do keep up with the business end of things, which parents pay for in an enrollment fee and such. I guess for the people around her who do things that way it seems they are not doing "childcare" just making a buck or two. I saw a post on facebook a lady looking for care for three kids. A lady responded that she could to it for $10 a day, I thought well low but okay. Then the posted "oh and $10 a day is for one child or three all the same $10 per day". The only way she can make any money on $10 a day filling three slots is by taking more kids than she is supposed to IMO.

So what you are saying below then is you lowered the quality of care you will be providing now for $60 a week compared to the level of quality you used to offer for $100 a week?

I have lowered my rates from $100 a week to $60 for now to get some families in.

[Annalee]

Thrifty, are you charging at least what others in your area are charging? Just thinking about such a drastic drop of $40. I am licensed for 12 kids. My philosophy is I would rather have 7 that paid what I wanted to charge than to have 12 that didn't follow my contract/handbook. Years ago, I always tried to stay cheaper than the centers but not anymore. I, too, am in a high unemployment area and the majority of my clients work outside my county, but parents will learn that they get what they pay for. I don't get every client that interviews here but most of the time, when I do enroll the client, they stick around until Kindergarten. When your business gets rolling I feel you will, too, but the $40 drop is huge....that is why I am asking if $60 is the normal fee for your area. If it is higher, do not lower your standard to get enrollment. Best wishes

[Baby Beluga]

Well, I certainly don't mean to insult anyone

My thought is that there is a big difference between lowering prices to accommodate your specific area and offering a low price because you want to make a quick buck without having to put in any work. There are providers out there who are on the lower end of their areas price scale and do a wonderful job. There are also providers who are on the higher end of their areas price scale and do a terrible job. However, when someone is making .60 cents an hour (assuming DCG was in the previous provider's care for an average of 50 hours per week) before taxes and business expenses I would assume she is not going to put much pride into what she does.

[laundrymom]

Wait. She as paying $6 per DAY?! I misread and thought you said 30 per day.
Holy crap. $6 a day. I can't even justify getting out of bed for that.
Wow. I'm befuddled.

[Thriftylady]

So what you are saying below then is you lowered the quality of care you will be providing now for $60 a week compared to the level of quality you used to offer for $100 a week?

No I am not saying I have lowered my quality of care. What I am saying is I am still charging enough to make money and keep a program. I guess you and I are going to have to agree to disagree on this one, because no one I can think of is going to pay money to watch other people's children. At $6 a day there is no way you can afford any curriculum, any new toys or equipment, any decent food. Heck milk in this area is over $3 a gallon. So what I am saying is at a point you go so low it will cost you money to do this if you offer any program at all. I lowered my rates to a point that I can have a program and still make a little money. No I am not going to get rich right now, but then again that isn't my dream anyway.

[Thriftylady]

Thrifty, are you charging at least what others in your area are charging? Just thinking about such a drastic drop of $40. I am licensed for 12 kids. My philosophy is I would rather have 7 that paid what I wanted to charge than to have 12 that didn't follow my contract/handbook. Years ago, I always tried to stay cheaper than the centers but not anymore. I, too, am in a high unemployment area and the majority of my clients work outside my county, but parents will learn that they get what they pay for. I don't get every client that interviews here but most of the time, when I do enroll the client, they stick around until Kindergarten. When your business gets rolling I feel you will, too, but the $40 drop is huge....that is why I am asking if $60 is the normal fee for your area. If it is higher, do not lower your standard to get enrollment. Best wishes

Rates in my area vary a ton. The average is 20-25 a day. But many are charging by the day and not by the week, so if you miss a day you don't pay for it. I am not willing to do that, I would rather have steady income that I can count on. But with the legally unlicensed thing her, we have a ton of SAHM's doing it dirt cheap but just "watching" kids. Meaning no program at all. No arts and crafts, no learning, just an adult to hang around basically. They don't offer any contracts, so in the case of this DCM, just don't open the door if they choose not to work one day and say "oh I can only work a couple of hours today" the next. And by facebook posts, it appears that many of these SAHM's are taking more than the six (including there own) they are allowed to have. But that is a whole other conversation that ticks me off, I stay legal and I don't like people who knowingly don't.

[daycare]

i would take them back and I would tell dcm this.

glad you got to see that the grass was not greener on the other side.

I see that you didn't like the way the babysitter worked out, but something that i am concerned about is:

1. you want things ran your way, that won't be possible here and heres why
2. you will leave again once you find cheaper care, here is why
3. state your other concerns.

I would require a $350.00 deposit and a 90 day min contract. if she leaves before the 90 days are up she looses all $350.00

I started the 90day contract when people started enrolling at the start of summer and pulling at the end. their preschool closed for summers, so I was the fill in. No more, never again. So I have this clause in place now.

I would also lay down the law and tell her that the you will run the show. If she is not on board, then RUN..

I had a first time parent do this to me, come back and they are still here. I think some people just don't know what to expect...


good luck

[Thriftylady]

Well I did take her back, the DCG is awesome except at naptime. I had that a long way toward better, but today it seems like I lost all that. I am afraid she is going to leave again for cheaper care. She told me she isn't. I told her if she does, she can't come back here again after that. A large deposit would be nice, but she can't afford it. She qualifies for state assistance with child care, but her and dad are trying to get an apartment together. She has been working on that with an income apartment for awhile, but it hasn't happened yet. When they do move in together she has already been told their income will be to much for the daycare assistance.

I am taking a chance on this, but at least I know going in this time. We shall see.

[Heidi]

Well I did take her back, the DCG is awesome except at naptime. I had that a long way toward better, but today it seems like I lost all that. I am afraid she is going to leave again for cheaper care. She told me she isn't. I told her if she does, she can't come back here again after that. A large deposit would be nice, but she can't afford it. She qualifies for state assistance with child care, but her and dad are trying to get an apartment together. She has been working on that with an income apartment for awhile, but it hasn't happened yet. When they do move in together she has already been told their income will be to much for the daycare assistance.

I am taking a chance on this, but at least I know going in this time. We shall see.

Why not apply for assistance now? If she eventually taps out, fine. What if there is a change in the meantime, or they grandfather people in? It happens. In her shoes (and yours), I'd lock in what assistance she can get.

[Blackcat31]

No I am not saying I have lowered my quality of care. What I am saying is I am still charging enough to make money and keep a program. I guess you and I are going to have to agree to disagree on this one, because no one I can think of is going to pay money to watch other people's children. At $6 a day there is no way you can afford any curriculum, any new toys or equipment, any decent food. Heck milk in this area is over $3 a gallon. So what I am saying is at a point you go so low it will cost you money to do this if you offer any program at all. I lowered my rates to a point that I can have a program and still make a little money. No I am not going to get rich right now, but then again that isn't my dream anyway.

I totally get what you are saying, I am just trying to make a point that quality has nothing to do with cost.

Many providers do not have the same expenses so to equate cost to those things makes no sense.

I don't buy curriculum, do not have to buy new toys and/or equipment and have food costs covered via the food program so none of those things effect my rates.

I am not trying to give you a hard time :confused:...I am simply speaking from perspective... like Baby Beluga said there are many expensive programs out there that **** and many low cost providers that are fantastic!!! It's the quality of care and services offered that matter NOT the rate.

Perfect example is the lady who lives down the block from me. I've used her as an example before. She watches kids for pennies. She might not even charge them at all but her program is FABULOUS!! Probably one of THE best in the area. If others judged her based on her rates (or her lack of) it would be sad.

Anyways, I am out... we can agree to disagree.
I just didn't think it was fair to make a sweeping generalization and assume it applied to everyone.

[mommyneedsadayoff]

I guess I am a little confused too. If the average rate is $20-25 a day, then why would you charge $60 per week? That is only $12 per day, which is very close to what the SAHMs are charging, so why undersell yourself if you are offering a program and more than just watching kids? If the myth is that you get what you pay for, why put your self in that category? I may be misunderstanding, but if a daycare was only charging $10 to $15 a day, when the average is $20+, I would question what my money is paying for. I know many people who charge very little and provide excellent care, but I think pricing your care too low can be VERY bad for business. Again, sorry if I am missing something, but I could just never do my job for $60 a week. Bills or not, I would rather work at Mcdonalds than put in 50+ hours a week for pennies.

[Thriftylady]

I don't accept the assistance. There are few in home providers that do, there are centers here that do. But when dad goes back to work on second shift some nights she has to work until 6:30 and our centers close by then. So I think that is part of it. Part of being legally unlicensed in Ohio means you can't take state subsidy, not sure I want to anyway they only pay for hours used so if parents just don't show up for a day or three I wouldn't get paid,.

[Scribbles]

Maybe people aren't signing on with you then because your rates are so low? Especially if theyve seen you advertise at a higher rate before. Maybe theyre thinking you get what you pay for.

[Thriftylady]

Many of the people I have interviewed have told me I am to high. It is really a matter of all the SAHM's charging so little. Like the one who said she would watch 3 kiddos for $10 a day. People have told me that some of these people don't offer what I do, but they can't afford to pay more. I really don't understand why then they don't get state assistance. Most the people who call me work, fast food, grocery store or temporary work and are on the lower income scale. There are not a ton of good jobs around here. But I refuse to lower my program to what I have been told some others are doing just to get more kids. It saddens me that people will take the attitude that it is okay just to have an adult around with their child with no real "care". But the fact we can be legally unlicensed means that this can happen. In the end it is for the parents to choose, I just wish they would choose better. I know if I get one or two really good families in, word of mouth will work wonders for me. I am hoping that happens with this grandmother who just signed her grandson. He is temporary while she has him for the summer but she works at WM, so may know a lot of people needing care. The way I see it when people find I am an awesome provider they will knock down my door. I hope.