Thats why I've chose to stay home and just live on a budget. I'd rather have to be frugal and be careful with my budgeting then work full time and have half or more of my paycheck go to daycare, it just makes more sense for me to stay home. I understand thats not an option for everyone though, my only suggestion is just to continue having friends or family do it. Good luck, maybe someone else will have a better idea :)
LOL, I do understand how you feel. My husband and I did the math and my income alone wouldn't cover the cost of daycare - so if I had gone back to work, my whole paycheck and part of his would be going to childcare. For us, it just made more sense for me to stay home. It was more money for us than if I had worked (at the time, we had no family or friends who could watch her).
I also do understand that staying home isn't the right option for everyone. My recommendation would be to do your research. Look into daycare centers as well as in-home daycares. Find a place that's conveniently located, fits into your budget, and that you feel comfortable sending your kids. There are always places that have competitive pricing for those who don't want to fork over their life savings, and you don't have to sacrifice quality.
Are you thinking about having another child?! :) Good luck!
It can be very expensive. I just started working part time last week and my grandparents have been watching DS. They don't want to be paid but I am going to give them a few dollars per hour anyway and even that is going to add up. I am very lucky that DH has a good job and we are not relying on my income. I am working mostly to get out of the house a little and to keep my teaching license current. Do you know any SAHM's who could watch your kids if you end up having more than one? That is probably the route I would go if I didn't have famiy to watch DS.
we are getting a voucher from the state to help pay for child care. the sad thing is that there is a HUGE waiting list so i got on that list the week after i found out i was pregnant, and now that Ds is 9 mo old i finally got one.
It is expensive, I know! Sometimes you just can't afford it and there's nothing wrong with that. There's nothing wrong with one parent staying home, or working opposite shifts, whatever you have to do to get by.
I think we got pretty lucky. We found a nice daycare/preschool. DD only goes Tuesdays & Thursdays (I only work those days). I make $70/day (before taxes) and daycare is $26/day so it's not much but it's a little extra money for us. And it's not all about the money, either. For us, it's also about me feeling fulfilled by helping out in the office (family business) and also feeling better that DD has friends she can play with a couple times a week.
its crazy here in atl ...we just decided that it wouldnt be getting us any more money a month for me to go back to work...but now that he is older and in preschool I have been thinking about going back and doing something pt but since hubby is also not home all the time it would be hard to find pt hours that fit my sons school hours so I will be holding off till he goes to kinder in two years
My husband and I tried this when I went back to work. It wasn't for us. Part of the reason was that he had to work on my days off and I had to work on his days off. If you can coordinate your days off, it might work better - otherwise, you're going to feel like a single parent really quick!
Quoting peggy_sue82:
You can try working opposite shifts.That's what my sister and bil do.Daycare is too expensive,this way one parent is always home.
FDA suspends license of Johnson and Johnson! Protect your kids! Educate yourself!
- sikkr
on Aug. 28, 2012 at 9:47 PM