Daycare prices make me want to vomit

[linz]

I asked a lady who is in our neighborhood but she is full. She told me her prices though so I had a general idea of what our budget was. We toured a church that is down the street from us that has a childcare center. Maybe they charge like an actual center rather than in home but it was DOUBLE what the in home price was. HOLY.FUCK. We loved the center but no way we can afford it.

I'm so excited to have twins, don't get me wrong, but this is what is going to screw us over. The one plus of this center is they provide formula and food. So we'd save on that but still.

[kermit]

Yeah, it really sucks . Even with just one it will be close to or more than our mortgage payment. I found that centers were much more expensive than in homes.

[pinotgrig]

It is depressing. We went with a center because he liked the structered environment better, but we could have saved about 40% going with an in-home.

When we go for #2 we're likely going to do a nanny share with friends. Would that be an option for you?

[linz]

May 12, 2014 17:24:11 GMT -5 pinotgrig said:

It is depressing. We went with a center because he liked the structered environment better, but we could have saved about 40% going with an in-home.

When we go for #2 we're likely going to do a nanny share with friends. Would that be an option for you?

Wouldn't a nanny be more then a center? I wouldn't mind having someone just come to our house every day.

[Mushe]

I'm sorry! It's definitely sticker shock, I'm sure, for two infants at once. MH wants to puke at our future cost for two and one is in the toddler room.

[kaybee85]

I'm trying to find out how to do a good job looking for an in-home center. Baby should be here early January. I'm a teacher, and I'm thinking I'd come back 4th quarter...so I'd only need someone for 9 weeks. Should be interesting...

[vtdiamond]

Yup, I'm right there with you!

We did our first tour last week and are seeing three more tomorrow. The pricetag is crazy, we are looking at 3 days a week and for two it will still be more then what we pay in rent!! Then they throw in the 10% sibling discount on one of the tuitions, and I almost laughed and said gee thanks!

[linz]

We're looking at 3 days a week too. This place it was almost the same price doing 3 days as it was doing 5 since they charge more for PT. I'm emailing a bunch of places in our area. There is a local website that you can search for them by zip code so starting there and then will do tours. This place gave me warm fuzzies so I was sad to hear the price but not surprised.

[kaybee85]

Are people using care.com for inhomes? Word of mouth?

[pinotgrig]

May 12, 2014 17:27:09 GMT -5 linz said:

May 12, 2014 17:24:11 GMT -5 pinotgrig said:

It is depressing. We went with a center because he liked the structered environment better, but we could have saved about 40% going with an in-home.

When we go for #2 we're likely going to do a nanny share with friends. Would that be an option for you?

Wouldn't a nanny be more then a center? I wouldn't mind having someone just come to our house every day.

When we looked into it, it worked out about the same. Maybe a touch more if we had our own nanny, but then you have the added bonus of less germs, ability to do more activities (trips to library, zoo, etc.). However, it can also bring up transportation and tax issues, depending on your arrangement.

The nanny share with friends worked out to be less expensive for both of us. We've already talked a out seriously looking into it together once we both have #2.

[thatgirl2478]

oh man, i hear you!

We were in Chicago-land when we got pregnant with DD. I looked into the on campus daycare and found out that for infants it cost $1300 a month! That was about half of my one monthly paycheck.

Luckily, we moved and my boss let me WFH. She knows that DD is home with me and doesn't have a problem with it. We have an agreement that if it ever becomes a problem, we will put her in daycare - which in our new area runs about $400/mo for a 2yr old (she's 3 now though).

[Blue Moon]

I found a center that isn't a chain that we're leaning towards. It was much cheaper than the chain center I called, with the structure of the chain but the feel on an in home. I'm not sure what part of the country you're in, but it's crazy how it varies so widely.

[linz]

I've been emailing places in the area to see for openings and prices. One lady responded that I was looking too early! I feel like it is, but I don't want to wait until I'm on maternity leave to start searching!

[Bonita]

May 12, 2014 20:27:53 GMT -5 linz said:

I've been emailing places in the area to see for openings and prices. One lady responded that I was looking too early! I feel like it is, but I don't want to wait until I'm on maternity leave to start searching!

One of the in-homes said you were looking too early?

H and I checked out two centers near us, and both said we were looking at a great time (I'm 13 weeks).  The one actually won't even have available space in the infants room until April 2015.

[linz]

Ya she was kinda rude about it. Ive had 2 say they were full but check back later just in case. The center we looked at earlier would have been fine reserving a spot now.

[blushing]

I went back to work for 9 months when DS was 13 months old (6 months full time, then 3 months part time, then stopped). It was more than 1.5 times more than our rent for him to go full time. I only earned £100-£200 more than what his childcare fees were. That is why I stopped working and became a SAHM.

[bowies]

Ugh, the daycare situation in this country is so broken (in other news, water is wet). We're lucky in that we live in an average cost area and with average competition. If our demographics were more like NoVA, we'd probably have a serious conversation about flexing our work schedules or finding less demanding jobs/positions.

If you go the in-home route, be sure to do your homework. I know in some (most?) states in-home situations are not regulated/licensed like centers. Interview extensively, check a ton of references, and do background checks on anyone with unfettered access to the home.

[ringstrue]

Do we not have a Moms of Multiples board or area anymore? I was gonna suggest to ask other moms of twins for more ideas.

Yes, home DCPs are usually cheaper. Dunno if you are up for haggling but some centers will cut you more of a break for twins. Actually IME the religious-affiliated ones are more expensive. Does the YMCA or community centers offer anything?

The nanny thing may work out also if you already have a maid coming over at all. Just add the maid and daycare cost together.