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Saving Money on Daycare

June 29, 2007

Photo of a kid finger painting.During the summer months, child care costs can skyrocket for families with kids getting out of school. What are your tips for saving money on child care?

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Boys And Girls Club Income Based Camp

I don't know where you live, but if you have a Boys and Girls Club there, their summer camp fees are income based. I have a 6 year old boy who goes there and he loves it, and since I just recently seperated from his father and have no job yet, I'm not paying anything for it.

By Jaclyn

Network With School Friends Or Neighbors

If you have school age kids, sometimes you can arrange for a stay at home mom in their class to watch them for cheap. Their kids get playmates for the summer and you could work out some sort of a trade, watching all the kids in the evenings or on the weekends. I have also heard of groups of moms banding together and each taking all the kids for one day a week.

Until I was able to work at home full time, my daycare was my next door neighbor. She watched my baby Ethan from the time he was two months old and is like a second mom to him. She charged me less for my two kids than I was paying for one toddler in Boston. She doesn't advertise, just word of mouth but she is pretty much always full. Look around your neighborhood or ask your circle of friends if they know anyone like this.

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By Jess

Network With Moms

Network with other moms! I think I have said this before, get to know the parents of your children's friends. I have 2 moms that will switch off daycare with me. I have only had to pay a sitter one time this summer. I need a sitter every Saturday for my 6 year old from 2 till 8 PM. To get the help I need, I keep one little girl 3 nights (overnight) a week as her single mom works third shift. My back up is another mom who works second shift, but not Saturdays. I keep her daughter every other Friday when Dad can't. It takes planning but it can work.

By Billie Jo

In Home Child Care

Definitely check out family (in home) child cares. Fees are less than centers generally and will often accommodate more part time schedules.

By Slransom

Staggering Work Hours

We saved money on child care by staggering our work hours so that our child was with the sitter a few hours a day rather then a full day. Not every job/career can allow for this but when they do it makes life a little easier for the family and the pocketbook.
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By Sara

Several couples that I have met manage child care expenses by working different shifts. A nurse I know works the night shift at the hospital. Her husband works days.They never need a sitter for longer than 1-2 hours in a day. It works for them.

By Coreen Hart

Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

If your employer offers a dependent care flexible spending account where you designate tax free dollars toward your dependent (child and elder) care, sign up for it. In most cases the tax savings are greater than if you had just taken the tax deduction. If you work for a large employer check and see if you get discounts at any day care centers as an employee benefit. Ask your Human Resources department.

By Mesarobins

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ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.

April 24, 2011

I am having a very hard time finding cheap child care, The day care people here ask way too much money and think we are being selfish by saying it's too much.

 
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