the rising cost of childcare…

• missinthecity
• 3 years ago

• Wedding: November 2016

• techmom
• 3 years ago

I priced out a nanny for the hours we need (~11hrs/day) and we are approaching 5k a month. And frustratingly they all insist on being paid of the books. We figured our best option is daycare plus pick up nanny. That’s 3200/month. And that’s for the baby. My older daughter goes to a daycare that’s a steal at ~1100/month. Combined, that’s equal to our mortgage! 

• moissamight
• 3 years ago

• Wedding: September 2020 - Summer Camp!

The average around here is about 2k a month. My fiance has a flexible-ish work from home schedule, so we might just try to work our schedules so that he’s home alone with them for a minimal amount of time, or that we can hire a babysitter for a few hours during that gap. It’s a tough situation, and we definitely need to fight for politicians who support affordable/universal childcare or expanding paid family leave. 

We want 2, but even that feels like it will be difficult unless we move near our parents or to somewhere low CoL. It’s crazy because we’re solidly middle-class, so what do people with less than us do?

• TheMrsTulip
• 3 years ago

• Wedding: City, State

What’s frustrating is people who think they shouldn’t be entitled to all that.

• techmom
• 3 years ago

• LilliV
• 3 years ago

• notkhaleesi
• 3 years ago

And Techmom, have you looked into any agencies? I have been placed with families through an agency, and they’ve arranged interviews with families who need longer days. If you’re looking at 11 hour days for a full 5 days, most agencies in my area would require overtime pay for hours over 40, but usually the starting wage is a little more moderate when that’s the case- not minimum wage or anything, but maybe $16/hour for regular hours with $24/hour for the overtime rather than the usual starting rate which tends to be closer to $20/hour. It’s still expensive, but I think that makes sense when you’re asking someone to care for a small, vulnerable little person for long days with no official breaks. Is there no way you and your spouse can stagger your schedule to not require such long days? 

• TheMrsTulip
• 3 years ago

• Wedding: City, State

• techmom
• 3 years ago

Ah, the miracle that is autocorrect. I did indeed mean ‘off’. 

In any case we prefer daycare. More eyes, so safer, we think? So yeah, pick up nanny makes things a bit more manageable. 

And I’m definitely annoyed that nannies in my area don’t want to be paid legally. We’re talking 60k/year with no taxes, no social security benefits to them. 5k in cash payments each month is a huge risk for an employer to take, I don’t know why people would take that risk. Yet I know many moms who do because that’s the only way they can get a nanny. Oh well. 

• techmom
• 3 years ago

Most annoying was when one of the nannies I interviewed stated that per California law she should be entitled to a week’s paid vacation and sick leave. While simultaneously not wanting to be paid legally. Like, seriously. You can’t quote me the law when it suits you. 

I realize that most childcare workers don’t get paid nearly enough for the incredibly difficult job they do. Not the case where I live, but my area is unique in that sense. 

• LilliV
• 3 years ago