You love your kids, and you always want what’s best for them. At the same time, you’ve got a life to live, a job to do, and as much as you love your kids, most businesses frown on bringing your children to work. That’s why working to find affordable childcare is so crucial. Luckily, there are many different options to help make quality care affordable.
Do Your Research
A child care center with extremely low rates may seem like a good deal at first, but if you choose a center like this and it ends up providing a low quality-of-care, you may end up paying more in the long run as you then have to find a new center, and possibly even pay for healthcare costs for your child resulting from missteps made by the center. That’s why it’s important to ask other parents you know and trust where they take their children, as well as looking at online reviews, and then personally calling each center you narrow your list down to so you can check on details such as up-to-date pricing information, and the availability of any scholarships or other assistance.
A One-Stop Shop
Though it may save a little money up front, trying to split up the daycare centers you use will end up costing you a lot more in gas and lost time. For example, if you have a child care need in the morning and you use a center that has better morning rates, but you also have a child care need in the afternoon and you use a different center, all the running around you have to do to pick up and drop off your children will result in wasted gas, extra wear-and-tear on your car, and a lot of wasted time and extra frustration for you. Find a center that can satisfy all your child care needs all day, every day, even if it’s slightly more expensive than other options.
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Consider Your Finances
Taking your child to the best of the best child care center will certainly provide them with a great experience, and be a nice point to brag about to your other parent friends. However, if a center doesn’t fit in your budget, it doesn’t fit in your budget. Consider carefully the cost of child care, as it is an ongoing cost that is rather significant. Not that you should go with the absolute cheapest center you can find, but finding a middle ground affordable childcare will ensure that your children are safe, nurtured, and well-cared-for, in addition to providing a price that actually fits in your budget. After all, the whole reason you are utilizing child care in the first place is so you can work to provide more money for your family. Don’t spend it all on the child care that allows you to work when and where you need to.
Consider a Church Sponsored Daycare
Many churches have onsite daycare facilities and because they consider it a ministry to the community they often don’t charge “market rates”. Often the facilities are provided by the church so the daycare doesn’t have to pay rent which can also save parents money. In addition, often the workers are there because they love kids and consider it a community service so they may provide better care for your children than a “for profit” daycare.
Consider Assistance
Depending on your income and particular situation, you may be eligible for government assistance with your child care. Check with your local assistance office to learn about the programs that are available to you to assist you with the cost of tuition. In addition, many child care expenses can be deducted from your taxes, which could result in a larger refund, depending on your tax situation. Just be sure to research any assistance you will be receiving to understand how long the assistance will last, and if there are any special requirements you need to fulfill to maintain the assistance coverage.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask
If you’re really in a pinch, don’t be afraid to ask friends or relatives to watch your children for a lower cost or for free. Obviously, this likely isn’t a viable long-term solution, but if you need a few days of reduced-cost child care, this could be a great option. Just be sure you explain fully what your needs are, so whomever you are asking knows exactly what they’re getting into. Be sure to follow-up with a load of “thank yous” and maybe some chocolate chip cookies, as well.
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