the rising cost of childcare…

• missinthecity
• 2 years ago

• Wedding: November 2016

Kslim13 :  The cost of childcare is the reason that D.H. and I don’t have children yet and will only have one.  The cheapest I’ve seen near me is 2k/month.  With both our families out of state, full-time paid care is our only option.  Like Sansa85 :  I make twice what my D.H. does, so he would have to be a Stay-At-Home Dad if we ended up with multiples.  I have had nightmares about having twins and we’re not even TTC yet.  

• techmom
• 2 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
• 2 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
• 2 years ago

• Wedding: City, State

techmom :  Why is it frustrating that a nanny would want to be paid legally and be able to pay taxes and add to social security and earn money for retirement?

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

• techmom
• 2 years ago

TheMrsTulip :  I don’t think you actually read what I said. I WANT to pay legally. They want to be paid off the books. 

 

• LilliV
• 2 years ago

TheMrsTulip :  I thought she was saying they wanted to be paid OFF the books and just missed the second “f”. I would be annoyed if I hired a nanny that wanted to be paid illegally as well – I wouldn’t totally trust that person. 

• notkhaleesi
• 2 years ago

TheMrsTulip :  @techmom wrote paid “of the books”, and I couldn’t figure out if she meant “on” or “off”. In any event (and as a professional nanny who’s been caring for kids for over a decade), being paid legally is so much better especially when the parents are the ones taking the taxes out so I don’t have to figure that out on my own. 

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
• 2 years ago

• Wedding: City, State

techmom :  I did read what you wrote. I interpreted your typo “of the books” to be “on the books”.

• techmom
• 2 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
• 2 years ago

LilliV :  Yup, thanks! That is what I meant. 🙂

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
• 2 years ago

techmom :  ha! omg that would grind my gears so much. I’d tell her “you aren’t paying taxes – that savings can fund your vacation and sick leave but I’m only paying for hours worked unless we do this properly.” Except I’d never actually hire a nanny off the books so that’s just what I’d think in my head while showing her out.