What do you do for daycare?

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2011

I guess I am being picky because my kids have been watched out of our home for the past year 1/2 and its ruining my house! I'd rather not replace my sister with someone else coming to our home...for the reason I just said, as well as the fact that my kids are so bored at home. I really think they could benefit from spending the summer 3 days a week doing something more constructive/educational...but I guess I am going to have to pay for it right?! I just can't get over how much money it is! AH! Here's the break-down so far:
YMCA for the babies 3 days a week is like $280 (food included)
Summer camp for the boys close to $200 a week for 3 days (food not included)
I being home $1600 some in two weeks (pardon my honesty in revealing my pay...if I am anything I am honest hehe) so subtract the cost of daycare/summer camp and I will be spending close to $500 a week and bringing home only $600 for 2 weeks of work? That is only $100 a shift Oh my now I know what everyone said I was nuts for having 4 kids and going back to work for!

I have 5 kids, so I get it~

Right now I'm doing weekend work and that way hubby can have the kids when I'm a work. This whole child care thing is what is holding me back from FT work.

Sl1011 · Apr 18, 2011

You know.. now that my husband is starting to get orders for TDY and other trips.. daycare is becoming an issue She closes at 6pm, and I don't have any family here. I have friends that can help on occasion, but it's a huge pain for everyone and they aren't always available. I'm very tempted to go back to my 815-515 m-f doctor office job

jmokeefe · Apr 18, 2011

yes but then u would have to pay for FT, 5 day a week care...my only saving grace is that I only need care 2-3 days a week.

My sister is becoming more and more unreliable as the days go on also...and my youngest isn't talking as much as he should. I am thinking center daycare (YMCA) is going to be best for the babies 2-3 days a week and summer camp for the boys. I will prob have to pick up overtime here and there to afford it.

Sl1011 · Apr 18, 2011

yes but then u would have to pay for FT, 5 day a week care...my only saving grace is that I only need care 2-3 days a week.
My sister is becoming more and more unreliable as the days go on also...and my youngest isn't talking as much as he should. I am thinking center daycare (YMCA) is going to be best for the babies 2-3 days a week and summer camp for the boys. I will prob have to pick up overtime here and there to afford it.

My daycare charges by the week anyway... so I'm paying regardless of attendance for full-time care. So cost wise, that doesn't matter. I wish she would do daily, that would be awesome. But I used to run a small in home daycare before I started nursing school, so I know how it is financially.

jmokeefe · Apr 19, 2011

That's funny I also ran an in home DC before nursing school :)

linearthinker, DNP, RN · Apr 19, 2011

In your situation I suggest you look for an au pair. I never worked FT but still needed help with my 6 kids! We have had the same live in housekeeper/nanny (not an au pair, but I have a lot of friends that went that route to save money) from the time my 2nd child was an infant. There is a lot to be said for continuity of care and it is definitely worth it to have help with everything! Look at it this way, you probably have someone else coming in to clean anyway, and then you have to spend all that time, not to mention gas, shuttling kids hither and yon. having someone permanent, even if you don't opt to have them live in will save you all that time and money. Imagine, coming straight home from work and finding dinner ready to be served, kids homework done, laundry done, house clean. Now you can spend your evening hours enjoying your family, the way it should be! The best money we ever spent IMO.

jmokeefe · Apr 20, 2011

Cost?? :)

cieloarge · Apr 20, 2011

How about cutting back at work at least during the summer? That would give you enough time to find somebody else for the little ones.

You will be working overtime to pay somebody else to spend time with your kids... not only you will be extremely tired, but your kids will hardly see you.

If I were you, I would take less shifts or work when my husband is home. I never liked the idea to work extra just somebody else can enjoy your money and kids.

linearthinker, DNP, RN · Apr 20, 2011

Cost?? :)

Are you asking me? Because I don't feel comfortable answering such a personal question. I don't think my housekeeper would appreciate my telling the world what I pay her either. I think if money is a concern, the OP should consider an au pair. It will be less expensive, almost as reliable, and I think suit her situation well.

Aly529 · Apr 20, 2011

My jobs have always had a daycare saving account which was pre tax and also a reimbusment program regardless on who watches the kids. The savings account works similar to a health savings account and you have for example X amt come out of your check to save X amount per year. The amount is available on a card in full, meaning you can spend it in the first month or throughout. The reimbusment plan was one (I believe it's a gov't program) where you fill a form with the daycare/ss# of the person watching your kids and get a portion back. Granted, these were not health care jobs, but I'm going to assume most large companies provide these. I'd check with your future employer once hired on what options are available.

ShayRN · Apr 20, 2011

I can't believe the most obvious one hasn't been brought up. How about switching shifts for the summer? When my kids were little I did straight afternoons. We had a daycare associated with the hospital I worked at and they would charge by the half-day and allowed me to give them my schedule in advance. I would drop them off at 2:30 and my husband picked them up at 4. It also gave him some daddy and kids time without me hovering. They adore their daddy now! Plus, he has always done baths, meals etc...Win-Win!

jmokeefe · Apr 21, 2011

The HSA is a great idea. DH and I are looking into that, at least to get the tax break on the cost. While cost of all of this is a large factor for me, I also want my kids to have a great summer. For a 9 and a 7 year old, with 3 and 2 year old siblings, that is not at home when I am at work. So the au pair and nanny situations aren't best for us. I have a mom that lives adjacent to us (she works FT so can't do daytime care) that helps out with evening activities and weekend events...its during the week from 7 til 4 that is the issue, 3 times a week.

Changing my hours at work is not an option. We work either days or nights on my unit and its 630a til 7p dayshift. I tried nights at my prev. employer and it TOTALLY wasn't for me or my family. I just started this new job 2 mths ago so transferring to another unit isn't in the cards either, so I am stuck with FT dayshift at the moment. I don't mind working overtime, because it would be on Saturdays or Sundays so that DH can watch them...no addtl cost and also he can have alone time with the kids, which he has assured me he actually enjoys. If I did pick up an extra weekday it would be on one of the weeks when I am already regularly scheduled to work that weekend, so it would be on the day that the kids were already scheduled to go to daycare/summer camp that I would work an extra day, instead of staying home. 3 days is part time at most centers/camps. They don't offer 2 day around here and that wouldn't work anyhow for the weeks that I work 3 days.

I think we decided to send the little ones back to the YMCA for 3 day a week daycare, and sign up as member to get the discount. So it's $75 a month and that would include a family member ship at all the Y's in my state. It's worth the cost, pays for itself and then some in discounted rates for daycare/camp. For the older boys they have a summer camp (also run by the YMCA) that will only wind up costing us $150 a week after a $500 deposit for 3 days. The babies care is aprox $260 a week. Oh well, they will have a great summer, and we can spend the time I am off together at the gym and the pool :)

Everyone has a different situation and what works for one person def. might not work for another! Thanks for all of the advice everyone, it has helped me put things in order!