Cost of daycare is freaking me out!!

We started looking into daycare and we know we need a family day care. Can't afford the centers out there. We got quoted 1900/mo and I know most will say that's a bargain but with all our other bills and the fact we need to pay in cash or check I don't know how people do it. DH and I make a decent living but apparently not decent enough with our other expenses. How are you ladies getting through it?? I know we have no choice but I don't even know where to start cutting corners!! Sorry just needed to vent

Re: Cost of daycare is freaking me out!!

im right there with you! we ended up going with a nanny. it was more cost effective in our area for two, and its WAYYY more convenient. If i had to pack two kids into the car every day, I'd have quit my job already!

Re: Cost of daycare is freaking me out!!

DH doesn't want anyone coming in the house because of our dog. She is very protective and he is concerned that the person couldn't and shouldn't have to deal with her.

Cost of daycare is freaking me out!!

Figure out how much money you will have left over. It may be more of benefit for you to stay home.
I quit my job & stay home. When our home was purchased we did on husbands salary alone so as far as expenses go, we are not missing it...just less to save.

Re: Cost of daycare is freaking me out!!

Posted by PregowithTwins

Figure out how much money you will have left over. It may be more of benefit for you to stay home.
I quit my job & stay home. When our home was purchased we did on husbands salary alone so as far as expenses go, we are not missing it...just less to save.

Cost of daycare is freaking me out!!

Track everything you spend in one month and see where you can make cut backs. It's hard. I have 3 year old twins in daycare as well as a 14 month old. They are all in the same in home daycare and we pay pretty much the same we pay for our mtg, a little less. we can't afford a daycare center or preschool for the twins so they will be there until another option comes along (kindergarten). We struggle every month, paycheck to paycheck. Some months we are in the negative. my entire paycheck goes to daycare and the way i get paid, depending on how many pay days there are in that pay period, i fall short for daycare for the month. If i quit my job, i'd have to go under DH"s health insurance. Him and the kids have health insurance through his job. But add me on the plan and it sky rockets and we would be negative every month on the regular monthly expenses. We recently sat down, went over everything we spend in a month and gave ourselves a budget. Mint.com is a great website we use to keep track of everything and make a budget on what we spend each month. So far it seems to be helping. It helps us to see what we are spending each month and determine what was a necessity and what isn't, allowing us to cut back the following month. It's rough, especially the first few years, but when you are forced into a situation, you make it work the best you can. We were forced to cut back and we did. trust me, stressing about it does not make it any better. I stayed up countless nights crying, trying to figure how we can save money. I'd call DH every month from my desk crying after just balancing the checkbook and paying the bills wondering how we were going to get by the rest of the month. it just makes you crazy. Once we were able to see where we were spending, and how much we can actually save each month, we put a plan in place and for now we are sticking to it.

Re: Cost of daycare is freaking me out!!

Posted by Lala08

Posted by PregowithTwins

Figure out how much money you will have left over. It may be more of benefit for you to stay home.
I quit my job & stay home. When our home was purchased we did on husbands salary alone so as far as expenses go, we are not missing it...just less to save.

Unfortunately we are in the red either way :( worked so hard to bring our debt down to where we would be debt free in a year and now that is shot. I am at a loss

Cost of daycare is freaking me out!!

I was in this bind- our debt was out of control. I work Part Time, from 3-8 every day. DH, my parents nd in-laws watch the twins. It works, and the red is slowly turning into black.
Good luck!

Re: Cost of daycare is freaking me out!!

I feel you, this is one of the reasons I freaked out when I found out I was having twins. I carefully spaced my children so we did not have 2 in daycare at once. Well, a set of twins later...plan BLOWN. HAHA!

I have a rotation of 2 babysitters coming in, and then a couple on my back up list and spend about $1600 a month (mind you this is only 4 days a week) My boss is allowing me to work from home 1 day and I count it as a 1/2 day, so currently working at 90% effort.

We also have a big dog, and it is working out ok, it would be REALLY hard to get 2 kids packed up and off to a daycare in the morning. I did it with my first, but 1 child is different than 2.

It's stressful, and we are broke, but will just try and get through the next few years as best we can. I am a new RN, and am looking for a change of job to change my hours and hopefully need LESS daycare, but we will see.

Hang in there, it really does all work out somehow, I promise

Re: Cost of daycare is freaking me out!!

Posted by lulugrrl

I feel you, this is one of the reasons I freaked out when I found out I was having twins. I carefully spaced my children so we did not have 2 in daycare at once. Well, a set of twins later...plan BLOWN. HAHA!

I have a rotation of 2 babysitters coming in, and then a couple on my back up list and spend about $1600 a month (mind you this is only 4 days a week) My boss is allowing me to work from home 1 day and I count it as a 1/2 day, so currently working at 90% effort.

We also have a big dog, and it is working out ok, it would be REALLY hard to get 2 kids packed up and off to a daycare in the morning. I did it with my first, but 1 child is different than 2.

It's stressful, and we are broke, but will just try and get through the next few years as best we can. I am a new RN, and am looking for a change of job to change my hours and hopefully need LESS daycare, but we will see.

Hang in there, it really does all work out somehow, I promise

Re: Cost of daycare is freaking me out!!

We have a babysitter that comes to our house. My husband works the afternoon shift, so he has the girls in the morning while I'm working. Our babysitter comes at 1230 and I'm usually home 330/340. We pay her $20 per hour and she gets $500 at Christmas time and July 4. Our occupation allows for this nice schedule. The other side if the coin.... My husband and I never see each other.. Days will go by and we won't see each other. He works Sunday thru Thursday. It's works best for our family... Right now. I have girlfriends that think my situation stinks, I believe it's best for us.

Cost of daycare is freaking me out!!

We basically live paycheck to paycheck and figure we will feel rich when our kids go to school full time!