Comments on: Frugal Childcare http://almostfrugal.com/2009/04/06/frugal-childcare/ Learning about frugality Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:21:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: What All Parents Have in Common with Bristol Palin - CBS MoneyWatch.com http://almostfrugal.com/2009/04/06/frugal-childcare/comment-page-1/#comment-5001 What All Parents Have in Common with Bristol Palin - CBS MoneyWatch.com Fri, 22 May 2009 17:33:42 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2840#comment-5001 [...] efforts to earn money, it struck me that she never mentions having to pay for child care — the single largest baby-related expense for many working families. In fact, in a previous article she discusses how fortunate she is to have her grandmother and [...] [...] efforts to earn money, it struck me that she never mentions having to pay for child care — the single largest baby-related expense for many working families. In fact, in a previous article she discusses how fortunate she is to have her grandmother and [...]

]]> By: The Taking Care of Children Giveaway — Almost Frugal- a frugal blog http://almostfrugal.com/2009/04/06/frugal-childcare/comment-page-1/#comment-4484 The Taking Care of Children Giveaway — Almost Frugal- a frugal blog Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:31:47 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2840#comment-4484 [...] week I talked about frugal childcare, and AuPair Care contacted me with a fantastic offer for Almost frugal readers. As a side note, I [...] [...] week I talked about frugal childcare, and AuPair Care contacted me with a fantastic offer for Almost frugal readers. As a side note, I [...]

]]> By: Ashley http://almostfrugal.com/2009/04/06/frugal-childcare/comment-page-1/#comment-4395 Ashley Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:04:47 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2840#comment-4395 Another option to consider to save money on childcare costs is hosting in au pair. Compared to nannies which average 400-600/wk and daycares that can cost a couple hundred per week per child for those who need full time childcare, au pairs cost about 320/wk no matter how many children you have. These young international domestic assistants work for room, board and a small weekly stipend for up to 45 hours a week! Plus they bring a great cultural dynamic to your home. AuPairCare is my agency of choice, check them out :) Another option to consider to save money on childcare costs is hosting in au pair. Compared to nannies which average 400-600/wk and daycares that can cost a couple hundred per week per child for those who need full time childcare, au pairs cost about 320/wk no matter how many children you have. These young international domestic assistants work for room, board and a small weekly stipend for up to 45 hours a week! Plus they bring a great cultural dynamic to your home. AuPairCare is my agency of choice, check them out :)

]]> By: Kelly http://almostfrugal.com/2009/04/06/frugal-childcare/comment-page-1/#comment-4383 Kelly Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:42:11 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2840#comment-4383 Great point Dorea! We do something like this in our family: when I'm working, ie not in school, I work 4 days a week. My husband works full time, but his schedule is a lot more flexible, so he's the one that takes off for appointments, sick kids etc. Great point Dorea! We do something like this in our family: when I’m working, ie not in school, I work 4 days a week. My husband works full time, but his schedule is a lot more flexible, so he’s the one that takes off for appointments, sick kids etc.

]]> By: Dorea http://almostfrugal.com/2009/04/06/frugal-childcare/comment-page-1/#comment-4376 Dorea Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:44:27 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2840#comment-4376 Rebecca hit on this, but I'll say it another way. Make sure that you are exploiting the flexibility in *both* parent's schedules, not just mom's (assuming you are in a two-parent family). We were able to juggle leaves, flexible schedules, working from home, and temporary part time work between the two of us to keep our first home until 15 months, at which point daycare (in the US) gets substantially cheaper and more readily available. She then went into center care 3 days a week and we each take one day home (we both work a flexible full-time). We have number two on the way now, and it's taking a bit more doing, but we'll again be able to arrange to have him/her home until about 15 months, by using FMLA creatively (which does include giving up some pay), and working some from home (our oldest will still be in part time). With both of us pooling flexibility, we can save a decent chunk of money (and get that nice time with our kid(s)). If we were relying on just one of us to cut back, or leave work completely, our bottom line would be much different. <abbr><em>Dorea´s last blog post..<a href="http://carfreewithkids.blogspot.com/2009/03/used-success.html" rel="nofollow">Used Success</a></abbr></em> Rebecca hit on this, but I’ll say it another way. Make sure that you are exploiting the flexibility in *both* parent’s schedules, not just mom’s (assuming you are in a two-parent family). We were able to juggle leaves, flexible schedules, working from home, and temporary part time work between the two of us to keep our first home until 15 months, at which point daycare (in the US) gets substantially cheaper and more readily available. She then went into center care 3 days a week and we each take one day home (we both work a flexible full-time).

We have number two on the way now, and it’s taking a bit more doing, but we’ll again be able to arrange to have him/her home until about 15 months, by using FMLA creatively (which does include giving up some pay), and working some from home (our oldest will still be in part time). With both of us pooling flexibility, we can save a decent chunk of money (and get that nice time with our kid(s)). If we were relying on just one of us to cut back, or leave work completely, our bottom line would be much different.

Dorea´s last blog post..Used Success

]]> By: Shevy http://almostfrugal.com/2009/04/06/frugal-childcare/comment-page-1/#comment-4368 Shevy Tue, 07 Apr 2009 04:05:24 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2840#comment-4368 We have a great childcare arrangement. We live in the same house with our Eldest Daughter and her family. My 6 year old is in school all day, her 4 year old is in preschool until 11:30 am 4 days a week and the 2 year old is just at home. Monday to Wednesday she takes the baby to work for a couple of hours and I go to work until 11:30. I pick up both little girls and go home with them. Then we go pick up my Dear Child at 4 pm. Those evenings I go back to the office for a couple of hours. Thursday and Friday my son-in-law is off so I work all day until I have to pick up DC. All in all, I work about 25 hours a week and everybody else works full time. But we don't pay anything for child care. (School is another story, but thank goodness for sliding scale tuition.) Right now it seems to be benefitting Eldest Daughter the most but when she was on maternity leave (1 year paid at 57% of your salary here in Canada) she was home with all the girls and that was before Dear Child was in school so it was better for me back then. We have a great childcare arrangement. We live in the same house with our Eldest Daughter and her family. My 6 year old is in school all day, her 4 year old is in preschool until 11:30 am 4 days a week and the 2 year old is just at home. Monday to Wednesday she takes the baby to work for a couple of hours and I go to work until 11:30. I pick up both little girls and go home with them. Then we go pick up my Dear Child at 4 pm. Those evenings I go back to the office for a couple of hours. Thursday and Friday my son-in-law is off so I work all day until I have to pick up DC. All in all, I work about 25 hours a week and everybody else works full time. But we don’t pay anything for child care. (School is another story, but thank goodness for sliding scale tuition.) Right now it seems to be benefitting Eldest Daughter the most but when she was on maternity leave (1 year paid at 57% of your salary here in Canada) she was home with all the girls and that was before Dear Child was in school so it was better for me back then.

]]> By: Rebecca http://almostfrugal.com/2009/04/06/frugal-childcare/comment-page-1/#comment-4367 Rebecca Tue, 07 Apr 2009 04:02:15 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2840#comment-4367 I'm lucky enough to be able to stay home with my kids now but I worked full time until my oldest son was two. My husband and I were able to coordinate our work schedules so that we only needed a sitter for him 3 hours a day, 3 days a week. A family friend watched him for us during that time. It was such a huge relief for us! <abbr><em>Rebecca´s last blog post..<a href="http://www.decorating-your-baby-nursery.com/disney-cars-room.html" rel="nofollow">Mar 15, Disney Cars Room Theme - Decorating a Room With Disney Pixar Cars</a></abbr></em> I’m lucky enough to be able to stay home with my kids now but I worked full time until my oldest son was two. My husband and I were able to coordinate our work schedules so that we only needed a sitter for him 3 hours a day, 3 days a week. A family friend watched him for us during that time. It was such a huge relief for us!

Rebecca´s last blog post..Mar 15, Disney Cars Room Theme – Decorating a Room With Disney Pixar Cars

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