"Daycare Costs Are Outrageous!" How Do You Respond??

[PitterPatter]

If they are putting their child in Daycare and only bringing in minimum wage then they've got rocks for brains.

This is where the state steps in. Here parents can make well above min wage and still get free/cheap daycare. Example; I had a client with 1 child I recently termed that made $12.00 per hour 40-50 hrs per week and was only required to pay $2.00 per day for her daycare fee.

[blessedmess8]

"sure are! Thank heavens children are priceless!"

"They sure are! But then again, ya get what you pay for, and I know where I wouldn't try and save a buck!"

I like those!!! And I think I'll start saying, "Yep! Kids are our biggest investments aren't they?"

[MG&Lsmom]

OK - let me put this in black and white for you - and I'll go easy on the costs.

$290.00 Gross Minimum wage here = 7.25 per hour x 40 hours
- 14.50 5% Tax (estimate),
-150.00 Daycare (here it's at least $150.00 for full time)
- 25.00 prepared meals/fast food ( $25.00-$50.00 per week )
- 30.00 Gas money, work wardrobe, hair & nails.
$60.50 Net

60.50 divided by 40 hours per week = $1.51 per hour.

I know every little bit helps but to me it's not worth it.

As far as holding your place in the work force.. no job is guaranteed these days.

Well there is one.. being a Mom.

This is exactly why I lost one of my dcks! She did the math. But she was only working 25-30 hours/week and paying me $25/day. Plus her job was 30 mins away driving back roads. It was good for dcb to be here, but she could not afford it and the wait list for vouchers is SO long! Now she works when dad is off or a friend can watch him for free. Too bad, cuz I loved that little guy!

[CheekyChick]

I would say...

Yes. Quality care with a trained staff (or provider) is pricey, but that's one area parents cannot afford to compromise on.

[Blackcat31]

My response: "You are right child care is very expensive but quality care is priceless."

[KDC]

$$ varies depending on location

I charge $45/day for full time. I only have one family that feels it might be high, however I've done my homework and called the surrounding area day care centers, as well as family home day cares to see what they are charging. I have a waiting list, my rate is not on the high end for my area, but is around the average. I have a website which has a blog & lunch menu as well as the parent handbook, photos and other useful information for the parents. I care for the kids as if they're my own and the parents feel that. If they're making cuts at home to afford me, I work very hard to make them feel it's worth every penny. If you're priced right for your area, don't feel bad...tell them you've done your homework and other centers are more, or that you're average. Maybe they should have done their homework and thought about child care before having children? (Maybe not say that exactly, but think it and hope they can hear your thoughts!).

[blessedmess8]

I charge $45/day for full time. I only have one family that feels it might be high, however I've done my homework and called the surrounding area day care centers, as well as family home day cares to see what they are charging. I have a waiting list, my rate is not on the high end for my area, but is around the average. I have a website which has a blog & lunch menu as well as the parent handbook, photos and other useful information for the parents. I care for the kids as if they're my own and the parents feel that. If they're making cuts at home to afford me, I work very hard to make them feel it's worth every penny. If you're priced right for your area, don't feel bad...tell them you've done your homework and other centers are more, or that you're average. Maybe they should have done their homework and thought about child care before having children? (Maybe not say that exactly, but think it and hope they can hear your thoughts!).

Wow! I charge half that and I'm on the high end for homes around my area! :-/ Actually, MY parents aren't the ones who say things like this to me. It's usually friends, family, aquaintances. Maybe the just forget what I do for a living? I don't know! Ha

[laundrymom]

I would just say, I know EVERYTHING about kids is expensive, daycare, food, medicine, college, clothes..... its hard to be a parent, but we all chose to.

[AfterSchoolMom]

I just quoted $50 per week for ten hours of morning care weekly (a school ager), plus breakfast and daily supervision at the bus stop (I walk them there and stand with them)...and they said "Wow, we weren't really prepared to pay that much." :confused:

[Former Teacher]

I just quoted $50 per week for ten hours of morning care weekly (a school ager), plus breakfast and daily supervision at the bus stop (I walk them there and stand with them)...and they said "Wow, we weren't really prepared to pay that much." :confused:

Oh I know...people want Mary Poppins but they dont want to pay for it. When I get a response from my advertisments and I give them quotes or whatever...I just tell them : you get what you pay for

[blessedmess8]

Oh I know...people want Mary Poppins but they dont want to pay for it. When I get a response from my advertisments and I give them quotes or whatever...I just tell them : you get what you pay for

Yep! I've heard crickets on the phone line when I've told people my rates! But, I'm not about to back down! Considering I have a college degree in my field, my hourly wage for my 10+ hour days is sepressing already!! Ha!

[mac60]

In our area the going rate for a home daycare is $85 per week ft child. Approx $135 per week 2 kids ft. Bottom line is, parents don't think we deserve to be paid to watch their offspring. They are fine spending their money on upscale clothing, vacations, expensive vehicles, new things for their home, etc, but when it comes daycare, they want as much as they can get for as little as they can pay. Very sad.

The thing with a job, is that you typically get some type of raises, benefits of vacations, sick days, holidays paid, insurance and your wages normally go up at specific intervals. With daycare I get none of these benefits, other than holidays paid.

No matter what type of job a person has there is always some type of cost directly related to working.....and that does not matter if I work outside the home or work from home, there are still unrelated cost there. Honestly, right now I am at a level where I think if I could find a job making $11/$12 outside the home, I would be better off, as my grocery bill would be pry cut in half, my utilities including elec/heat/air cond would get reduced, water consumption, laundry cost associated with doing all the laundry from dc would be reduced, my home insurance would go down, my extra hours working outside of my 11 hour day for daycare would be drastically reduced, the wear and tear on my home which is huge would be reduced.

[Country Kids]

In our area the going rate for a home daycare is $85 per week ft child. Approx $135 per week 2 kids ft. Bottom line is, parents don't think we deserve to be paid to watch their offspring. They are fine spending their money on upscale clothing, vacations, expensive vehicles, new things for their home, etc, but when it comes daycare, they want as much as they can get for as little as they can pay. Very sad.

The thing with a job, is that you typically get some type of raises, benefits of vacations, sick days, holidays paid, insurance and your wages normally go up at specific intervals. With daycare I get none of these benefits, other than holidays paid.

No matter what type of job a person has there is always some type of cost directly related to working.....and that does not matter if I work outside the home or work from home, there are still unrelated cost there. Honestly, right now I am at a level where I think if I could find a job making $11/$12 outside the home, I would be better off, as my grocery bill would be pry cut in half, my utilities including elec/heat/air cond would get reduced, water consumption, laundry cost associated with doing all the laundry from dc would be reduced, my home insurance would go down, my extra hours working outside of my 11 hour day for daycare would be drastically reduced, the wear and tear on my home which is huge would be reduced.

I've thought about the working outside of the home alot lately. The three things that keep me doing childcare are the field I would want to go into I would probably take about $1,000 paycut a month. Also, I wouldn't have write offs on my taxes and would probably have to start paying so there goes more money out. Lastly, I would still have to find childcare for my youngest for before and afterschool care. Right now just not the right time to leave and go outside the home.

[blessedmess8]

In our area the going rate for a home daycare is $85 per week ft child. Approx $135 per week 2 kids ft. Bottom line is, parents don't think we deserve to be paid to watch their offspring. They are fine spending their money on upscale clothing, vacations, expensive vehicles, new things for their home, etc, but when it comes daycare, they want as much as they can get for as little as they can pay. Very sad.

The thing with a job, is that you typically get some type of raises, benefits of vacations, sick days, holidays paid, insurance and your wages normally go up at specific intervals. With daycare I get none of these benefits, other than holidays paid.

No matter what type of job a person has there is always some type of cost directly related to working.....and that does not matter if I work outside the home or work from home, there are still unrelated cost there. Honestly, right now I am at a level where I think if I could find a job making $11/$12 outside the home, I would be better off, as my grocery bill would be pry cut in half, my utilities including elec/heat/air cond would get reduced, water consumption, laundry cost associated with doing all the laundry from dc would be reduced, my home insurance would go down, my extra hours working outside of my 11 hour day for daycare would be drastically reduced, the wear and tear on my home which is huge would be reduced.

Are you deducting all those things on your taxes? They pay off at the end of the year!

[SilverSabre25]

In our area the going rate for a home daycare is $85 per week ft child. Approx $135 per week 2 kids ft. Bottom line is, parents don't think we deserve to be paid to watch their offspring. They are fine spending their money on upscale clothing, vacations, expensive vehicles, new things for their home, etc, but when it comes daycare, they want as much as they can get for as little as they can pay. Very sad.

The thing with a job, is that you typically get some type of raises, benefits of vacations, sick days, holidays paid, insurance and your wages normally go up at specific intervals. With daycare I get none of these benefits, other than holidays paid.

No matter what type of job a person has there is always some type of cost directly related to working.....and that does not matter if I work outside the home or work from home, there are still unrelated cost there. Honestly, right now I am at a level where I think if I could find a job making $11/$12 outside the home, I would be better off, as my grocery bill would be pry cut in half, my utilities including elec/heat/air cond would get reduced, water consumption, laundry cost associated with doing all the laundry from dc would be reduced, my home insurance would go down, my extra hours working outside of my 11 hour day for daycare would be drastically reduced, the wear and tear on my home which is huge would be reduced.

Oh, mac, don't depress me...$85/week is the going rate, really? ARGH! I can't live on $85/week for these kids, and I have two spots to fill. A year ago I was full w/ waiting list for $120 a week. *sigh*

Although, I did email a few providers from CL who have zip codes near me and they are all charging the same or more than what I charge so maybe the trend will reverse itself? Soon? Maybe?