Child Care Costs

It's tough to figure out how some families survive today with expensive child care costs taking up a big part of paychecks. Even with both parents working full time, it can be difficult to make ends meet. While there are those that have the luxury of making arrangements between work and child care such as taking opposite shifts, or possibly one parent working part time not all have that option. Potentially a neighbor or family member can help out, this is great if those individuals have children of their own, but what if they don't?

Based on Stats from the US Census Bureau, moms pay an average of $73 to $114 dollars a week in child care costs. Considering this is a continuing expense that's not a small number. Until your child begins school this number will stay the same, and even then they'll likely require care after school until one parent returns home. Researching and enrolling in after school programs is an excellent option and usually the programs are offered for free. What if you have more then one child that requires care?

The expenses do start to add up, with a family of more then one child it's not out of the ordinary to have a $700 a month child care bill. So how can you save? Well one sure way to cut child care costs is to enlist the help of friends, neighbors, grand parents, and other family members. All of whom are great candidates for babysitting. Depending on the age of your child a full time babysitter may be the better way to go, and as kids get older and begging attending preschool other child care facilities can be considered. Of course significant child care costs can be incurred for child care provided in these types of settings, unless it is Head Start or other government funded program, which is income based and applicants must meet financial limitations in order to qualify.

There are alternatives to expensive day cares, and babysitters. As mentioned you can attempt to work out different schedules with your spouse, or possibly you have an older child who is old enough to watch the younger children until you get home from work. Changing your work schedule if it's an option can definitely save you on child care costs. While some parents are now opting for jobs where they are able to work from home, others will still decide to not work at all. It's a decision that must be made for the cost benefit of increased child care costs, versus the additional income brought into the house hold. It can be outrageous depending on your area what the cost for before and after school care is, think if you were able to cut those expenses it could mean a weekend away with your spouse, somewhere romantic, but wait... You'd still need to find and pay someone to look after the kids.