I don't really understand all of the complaints about the cost of daycare. The person or center is watching your infant for 8-12 hours a day, 5 days a week. They feed, change, play with, and teach your child. And some babies are a lot harder than others. They need to pay salaries and supplies. Sure some places are more than others but their services are necessary for those of us who want or need to work. The costs go down as the child becomes easier to take care of and therefore the child to teacher ration increases. For some of us, daycare is just a known and necessary expense in having kids.
I don't really understand all of the complaints about the cost of daycare. The person or center is watching your infant for 8-12 hours a day, 5 days a week. They feed, change, play with, and teach your child. And some babies are a lot harder than others. They need to pay salaries and supplies. Sure some places are more than others but their services are necessary for those of us who want or need to work. The costs go down as the child becomes easier to take care of and therefore the child to teacher ration increases. For some of us, daycare is just a known and necessary expense in having kids.
Well it's a little depressing when a good quality daycare = your entire salary. I decided to SAH because DC costs aren't worth it. For those of us who can't SAH it's hard to work full time, not be able to spend all that time with your child, and then struggle to pay your bills. I don't think anyone is complaining about what DC does for their child, but rather is (as the title of this thread) commiserating how DC has impacted their budget. A known and necessary expense for some of us, yes, but still can be a shock.
I don't really understand all of the complaints about the cost of daycare. The person or center is watching your infant for 8-12 hours a day, 5 days a week. They feed, change, play with, and teach your child. And some babies are a lot harder than others. They need to pay salaries and supplies. Sure some places are more than others but their services are necessary for those of us who want or need to work. The costs go down as the child becomes easier to take care of and therefore the child to teacher ration increases. For some of us, daycare is just a known and necessary expense in having kids.
This post comes off as very judgemental.
As someone who has previously worked in a day care facility, most pay their teachers pennies for how hard they work.
Let's assume that each family in the infant room is paying $1,000 a month for their child to attend 5 days a week. At my center the max number of kids is 12 in the infant room. Let's assume all the spots are filled. That's $12,000 a month from just that one room. Infant-Teacher ratio is 4:1 for infants in my state, so 3 teachers. No food is provided, so you figure the rest goes to overhead costs (electricity, cleaning supplies, salaries of admins, etc), I still think that is an insane amount of money. And I realize that $1,000 a month is less than many are paying.
As others have said, I knew I'd be paying for daycare, and I am lucky to only have to send my son 3 days a week vs 5, but I am a teacher with a decent (not great) paying job, all things considered, and daycare is going to cost nearly half of my take home salary for the month.
Should I have to base my decision on when, or if, to have a second child based on daycare costs? I don't think so, but sadly that is my reality, and the reality of many others.
The infant rate at my daycare is about $300 a week (I pay somewhat less because of a 2-child discount). I also pay just over $200 a week for my 3yo. My kids go to a fantastic small center that is actually a non-profit. So the money they take in pays salaries, supplies, rent, etc. it costs a lot to take care of kids. I just don't get why anyone complains or is annoyed by daycare costs being a large percentage of the monthly budget. Not every center is a non-profit so some cost more. Some cost less. There's daycare out there to fit people's budgets. But as with other things in life, you have to make decisions based on what you can afford. Having kids is expensive if you need daycare. And if you are able to stay at home, then it's great but you're likely sacrificing income to do it. Bottom line for me is that these costs and how they change your budget shouldn't be a surprise but something you've already considered before deciding to ttc.
Budget BluesJul 26, 2015 10:51:40 GMT -5via mobile
Post by kartish on Jul 26, 2015 10:51:40 GMT -5
Some of us have either had unexpected pregnancies or had trouble ttc and had the medical costs associated with that. You saying that we shouldn't complain about care costs of our children is very insensitive of the unique situations everyone is in.
I don't really understand all of the complaints about the cost of daycare. The person or center is watching your infant for 8-12 hours a day, 5 days a week. They feed, change, play with, and teach your child. And some babies are a lot harder than others. They need to pay salaries and supplies. Sure some places are more than others but their services are necessary for those of us who want or need to work. The costs go down as the child becomes easier to take care of and therefore the child to teacher ration increases. For some of us, daycare is just a known and necessary expense in having kids.
I don't think the ladies here have been complaining, really. They're just comparing situations and costs because this is the budgeting thread. I too was taken aback by how much childcare costs in my area and for many of us it's the difference that either keeps us home, keeps us from being able to lease that new car, or keeps us from being able to buy or rent that bigger house. I doubt anyone here would take back their choice to have a family, but now here we are and we have to figure out how to make it work.
Fwiw I find it terribly frustrating that in my area you can't get daycare pricing without physically going to the facility. It made planning while on bed rest very tough.
People who take care of our children through childcare and public education are severely undervalued and undercompensated. Even if every child they took care of was an angel, this would still be true. Yet, there are some nightmare kids and there are kids who are generally good and have terrible days. And don't forget about the parents this childcare providers need to deal with. With everything in the U.S. society wants the best but doesn't want to pay for it. That's how this complaining comes off to me. Children are the best part of life and their care should cost a lot. And we should appreciate the people who take care of our kids when we cannot. Without them, life would be significantly different.
People who take care of our children through childcare and public education are severely undervalued and undercompensated. Even if every child they took care of was an angel, this would still be true. Yet, there are some nightmare kids and there are kids who are generally good and have terrible days. And don't forget about the parents this childcare providers need to deal with. With everything in the U.S. society wants the best but doesn't want to pay for it. That's how this complaining comes off to me. Children are the best part of life and their care should cost a lot. And we should appreciate the people who take care of our kids when we cannot. Without them, life would be significantly different.
Whoa. No one is saying that they don't value their children's caretakers or that they shouldn't be rightfully compensated for it. Daycare costs have risen dramatically along with the cost of living. So what you are saying is someone with an average salary that needs to work FT to keep themselves afloat, and DC is 3/4 of their salary, aren't allowed to say how hard that is on them? They should have just been prepared all along to spend this much, or not have a child at all? Guess what, people do have unexpected pregnancies (gasp!) or twins or what have you. Life happens.
I guess I'm everything that's wrong with US society.
You're not. I think there should be more government financial support for parents with young kids, especially parents in school or working low wage jobs. I don't think one person's take home pay should get eaten entirely by daycare costs. I value DS's daycare teachers and understand the cost of sending him there. I'm sure the older kids' tuition offsets the cost of the baby room because I would hope the daycare workers would be getting at least the 30K in income 3 babies generate.
Knowing now how much daycare costs I can't believe my parents had 3 kids in daycare for so long.
I guess I'm everything that's wrong with US society.
You're not. I think there should be more government financial support for parents with young kids, especially parents in school or working low wage jobs. I don't think one person's take home pay should get eaten entirely by daycare costs. I value DS's daycare teachers and understand the cost of sending him there. I'm sure the older kids' tuition offsets the cost of the baby room because I would hope the daycare workers would be getting at least the 30K in income 3 babies generate.
Knowing now how much daycare costs I can't believe my parents had 3 kids in daycare for so long.
Budget BluesJul 26, 2015 13:22:25 GMT -5via mobile
Post by AppropriateChocolate on Jul 26, 2015 13:22:25 GMT -5
I'm so confused as to how this went from budgeting regarding daycare to complaining about it. There's nothing actually wrong with complaining about the cost. I used to work in daycare as a head lead teacher in the infant and I only got $8.00 and hour at a big chain daycare, but the tuition a week was $265 per week With Ratios being 1:4 the teachers should be paid more than that and once you factor in what you pay to what the teachers get paid its sad. The cost are over inflamed because it's a business to make money. I don't think anyone on this thread was discrediting the people who provide the care just the over inflated cost. We decided I should SAH because of this exact reason. I would be working to pay DC
Budget BluesJul 26, 2015 13:32:54 GMT -5via mobile
Post by seamonster on Jul 26, 2015 13:32:54 GMT -5
Back to budget things, there are several good blogs about how to feed a large family on $300 or $400 a month. I can't remember the name of any off the top of my head, but will post links when I'm not on mobile.
Budget BluesJul 26, 2015 13:39:32 GMT -5via mobile
Post by kartish on Jul 26, 2015 13:39:32 GMT -5
I'd love grocery delivery! It would definitely down on the amount of oreos we buy. But no one around here does that. I try to make a list and stick to that, but I impulse buy so bad at the grocery store.
Budget BluesJul 26, 2015 13:43:07 GMT -5via mobile
Post by seamonster on Jul 26, 2015 13:43:07 GMT -5
I've never had the option of grocery delivery. I find it best to meal plan and go with a list. I do go to two or three stores based on what's on sale at each one. It's more like Store A has a huge sale on meat so I'll stock the freezer and Store B has cheap produce, but everything else is pricey.
Budget BluesJul 26, 2015 13:55:05 GMT -5via mobile
Post by AppropriateChocolate on Jul 26, 2015 13:55:05 GMT -5
I have a bad habit of impulse buying at the grocery store. I always end up going when I'm hungry and buying more. But I have found that meal planning has help tremendously. Going from 40k to 0 affected my household tremendously so we cut back on a lot. We have grocery delivery here with a organic company but it costs a lot so it's pointless but I would love to use them cause they meal plan for you, bring you the fresh everything and you pay and cook
People who take care of our children through childcare and public education are severely undervalued and undercompensated. Even if every child they took care of was an angel, this would still be true. Yet, there are some nightmare kids and there are kids who are generally good and have terrible days. And don't forget about the parents this childcare providers need to deal with. With everything in the U.S. society wants the best but doesn't want to pay for it. That's how this complaining comes off to me. Children are the best part of life and their care should cost a lot. And we should appreciate the people who take care of our kids when we cannot. Without them, life would be significantly different.
Well, I am a public school teacher so maybe if I was compensated properly then I wouldn't have to "complain."
People who take care of our children through childcare and public education are severely undervalued and undercompensated. Even if every child they took care of was an angel, this would still be true. Yet, there are some nightmare kids and there are kids who are generally good and have terrible days. And don't forget about the parents this childcare providers need to deal with. With everything in the U.S. society wants the best but doesn't want to pay for it. That's how this complaining comes off to me. Children are the best part of life and their care should cost a lot. And we should appreciate the people who take care of our kids when we cannot. Without them, life would be significantly different.
Well, I am a public school teacher so maybe if I was compensated properly then I wouldn't have to "complain."
Exactly. If I was actually paid what I was worth, I wouldn't have to plan my family around daycare. Maybe if it didn't cost so much to live, I could afford to stay home. But that is not an option. No one is saying they don't value their childcare provider and yes it's ok to complain. Daycare is expensive and I will continue to chat about it if I please.
Budget BluesJul 26, 2015 15:39:22 GMT -5via mobile
Post by emilyz320 on Jul 26, 2015 15:39:22 GMT -5
I like it! It's all generic brand, but I think it's pretty good. The produce is iffy. I've never been to kroger before so I'm not sure what the food is like.
Post by junebugjam on Jul 26, 2015 19:37:24 GMT -5
I've never been to Aldi either. I've heard of it, but I'm not sure if there's one close by. I go to Shop Rite. Add me to the list of those who need to cut back on impulse shopping.
I also saw on the news the other day that the average family throws away 25% of the food they buy. I'm guilty of that too and wish I could stop because I'm sure it would be a big money saver.
I agree about the produce. I usually get it somewhere else. Fruits like bananas or avocados, and their organic salad mixes have been fine. I do buy some meats and they are fine. I poo-pooed it at first but I have not noticed a difference in things like pasta, granola bars, etc. It's just a generic version and what they have is what they have.
We have an Aldi near us but I wasn't at all impressed. I dunno maybe I will give it another chance.
It's not THAT bad. DBF used to shop there when we first started dating. Then again he would eat a shoe if it were covered in hot sauce.
Aldi is OK, but the selection and availability of things is inconsistent. They do have cheap diapers though.
If you live near a WinCo they are pretty cheap. Produce isn't pretty, but it is cheap and they have a nice bulk food section that's good for buying beans or less used types of flour. We used to shop at Sunflower Market (SW chain) for produce and bulk foods, and then elsewhere for everything else.
Post by junebugjam on Jul 27, 2015 11:42:24 GMT -5
So I tried to set up these budgeting things and so far it's been a massive failure. YNAB gives a free trial but is not actually free. It seems to be a one time $60 fee for the software.
Mint.com looks awesome except it doesn't recognize the bank where our paychecks get deposited and we pay all our bills from, so it's basically useless to me. Womp womp.
Looks like I have an excel spreadsheet in my future.
So I tried to set up these budgeting things and so far it's been a massive failure. YNAB gives a free trial but is not actually free. It seems to be a one time $60 fee for the software.
Mint.com looks awesome except it doesn't recognize the bank where our paychecks get deposited and we pay all our bills from, so it's basically useless to me. Womp womp.
Looks like I have an excel spreadsheet in my future.
We aren't super great at budgeting. My husband is one of those "just don't spend any money" people. We use excel sheets, though, to document our monthly bills and yearly bills (and when they come due) . It helps us say, "this month we have $x going to bills so there is $x to spend on other things."
Post by dmorgendorffer on Jul 27, 2015 19:29:56 GMT -5
I am always surprised by how much I save by doing our grocery shopping at Trader Joe's. I don't shop there that often because they don't have a a huge selection and if you need any kind of specialty ingredient forget it, but the weeks when I do go there my grocery bill is like half of what it is otherwise.
natsgirl because this is a public forum you are allowed to voice your opinion to your heart's content. However, I would like to point out that almost every post you have made in F15, for lack of a better word, has been very preachy instead of a support in our community
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