Hello Everyone -

I have an essay I'm writing for English Comp 2. Just 3 more classes after this one and I will have my associates degree (graduation in May, finish last class in July!)

The topic I have chosen to write about:

The Expenses of a Single Parent. When considering cost of daycare, does it even pay to work?

In my opinion, daycare costs are too expensive and discourage single parents from working. I am aware of programs that offer assistance with daycare expenses. I feel like the cap for determining eligibility is unrealistic. I strongly believe that the government needs a daycare assistance reform that would enable single parents to work AND get ahead rather than working just to have enough money to pay necessities (rent, utilities, food, gas) and daycare.

I for one am in that boat. I work full time and barely have enough money for necessities. I have calculated kindergarten, before and after school care for my son and daycare for my daughter. Wham! The total for a year will be over $15,000.00. Unbelievable!!!

What is your opinion on the high expenses of daycare and school? Have any of you chosen to stay home and enjoy time with your children due to the expenses? Do you think the government needs to review their policy?

Thank you very much for your assistance!

It is a reality many families alike face, single or two parent. If they up the financial assistance for just single parents, it will still leave the two parent families in the hole when many times both parents work and still struggle to meet needs. Then that takes even more from them to pay for single parent needs. I too, face the same dilemma. I have 3 children, only one boy is in school and I'm paying daycare for 2 children. I make fairly decent wages, over $40,000 a year and child support for two of my children but I still struggle to make ends meet. Is that fair? No, but I've learned that life isn't fair and even though my children may have to wear department store shoes instead of Addidas and so forth, they will be raised to be decent human beings and compassionate for others in need. That is a fair better lesson then them getting every toy or game they ask for or eating out every weekend.

Back on target here after my little post. <sorry>

I think if anything needs done, instead of assistance, they need to put a cap limit on the amount a daycare should be able to charge. Or charge per child based on families income. Something along those lines. But then, you may have the problem of less daycares to chose from. Its a never ending cycle of this leads to that or that leads to this.

Hard reality is, we all face the consequences of our choices. If I couldn't afford my 3 children, then I should have taken appropriate measures that were 100% certain. I'm very blessed for my 3 children and if it costs for them to go to school and we have to live day to day and eat soup one day out of a can, so what? In the end, I have my family and we are together.

Day care expenses are out of this world. I agree with fan4mom that it is a necessary expense and there is nothing we can do about it, but, something should be done to see that the expenses don't go so high that NO ONE can afford to work. The daycare owner where my kids go told me that she only cleared 24,000 last year. Her prices are comperable and her daycare is always at full capacity and she still made less money than I did last year.

We think about the daycares clearing alot of money but in reality if the daycare is run according the the wage laws and state regulations, they don't.

Something should be done about this. Maybe the state or federal government could subsidize daycares so the owners can get ahead a little too and possibly lower the cost for the parents.

Fan4 - yes - hard reality is that we must face the consequences of our choices. I work full time, I've only been off work for maternity leave when my children were born. My children definitely learn to appreciate what we do have and not take things for granted.

I don't think the daycares can decrease their charges (not all of them) to make it affordable. Just like our costs, their costs are going up.

If the government wants to include more parents in the work force, they need to take a look at the options. I have been at points that it seems as though I can't afford to work due to daycare costs. The worst case scenario I think is for the people that bring in just a little over the eligibility for assitance.

Example: A single mother of two children that brings home $27,000.00 annually / $2,076.96 for 4 weeks. The daycare costs in the town I currently live in are $10,400.00 annually / $800.00 for 4 weeks. That's 39% of annual income and barely leaves enough for necessities.

I won't even go into the daycare costs in the town we are moving to now that I can afford it. (I have lived in a small town where everything is more affordable and commuted back and forth to work to make the money necessary to afford my expenses.)

I think the goal of our economy is to have as many people in the work force. Some people don't realize just how difficult and expensive it is for a parent to work. By offering some type of subsidy, the government not only can assist parents to join the workforce, they will also decrease unemployment rate, and it will possibly have a positive impact on the economy.

I was paying almost $24,000 when I first started as I had 3 full-timers.... Luckily I did receive child support (most of the time) and had a good enough paying job to manage it but it was about null and voice when it came to anything extra. Thankfully I didn't have credit card debt and such and had insurance. At this point I'm not putting them into any daycare as I cannot afford it right now.... in the end I have more free money because my job still works out "ok"

I tried to get subsidized but the waiting list was almost 2 years. A few weeks before I closed on this house (out of state) the letter came in the mail that I was next on the list. ugh figures right! At this oint with them all going to full-time pub school in the fall I'm feeling a lot better, just have to make it rhough summer. Free from Daycare Misery at last!

Heh...as a side note on this topic, don't you love ncp's that pay < $1000/month on CS and then ask how a kid could possibly cost that much? Jeez...I can remember $700/week daycare bills that I had one Summer...

In the short term, it certainly can be more cost effective to stay at home instead of working/using daycare. It's better for the kids too, to be in the care of a parent instead of daycare. In the long term, it is not cost effective because your earning potential decreases the longer you're out of work. When your kids grow up and move out, you will not be in a position to earn a living if you've been staying-at-home for the previous 18 years.

Heh...as for the main topic...I don't think that the daycare centers are rolling in dough. I don't think capping their income is going to help, and I'm sure the government has already placed plenty of regulations on them that are expensive to satisfy. Don't we have some daycare owners on here?

You know...if I had the choice for the government to do anything, it'd be to have year round school. Heh...I'm serious...if they gave me *that*, I'd say that 90% of the load would have been lifted from me daycare wise. Jeez...you know all those other countries that are kicking our @$$ in math and science? They all have year round school.

Daycare centers are not rolling in the bucks. Think about the costs for rent/mortgage, insurance (which is huge when are housing other's children), salaries, insurance for employee's if there are enough of them, vacation/sick pay for employee's plus paying a substitute, upkeep and insurance on van/bus equipment, and much more. They have a LOT of costs.

.....you forgot food costs....

quote:

and much more

No, just got kind of lazy, full belly and all LMAO

I bet you guys have the best lobster up there! We have to settle for the little guys at Super walmart or Red Lobster...

Well they are fresh, that is for sure! Red Lobster, irks me. I've seen commercials for it all my life and have driven by one on a vacation to Niagra Falls... WHY ADVERTISE IT?

Sue and Bobby are right,expense costs for day care are extremely expensive. They are by no means "rolling in the dough".

The objective of this paper for Mj is the cost for parents.. single parents.. but, I want to bring something to everyone's attention. Break down exactly what you pay in day care by the amount of hours your child(ren) are there. What are you paying someone to take care of the most precious person in your life? I have not paid regular day care in 7 years. When I did it was $80 a week. She was there 30 to 50 hours a week. That averages out to be somewhere in the ball park of $2 per hour. Not much to pay at all.

Thank you everyone for your input! I truly appreciate it. I am going to start my rough draft this weekend.

Thank you CA for clarifying. I agree that the cost for us is actually very low compared to what we get in return (care of our children.)

I am also going to touch on the need for preschool for children. It is very unfortunate that some single or two parents families have to weigh which is more cost effective between staying home or going to work and allowing their children to go to daycare.

MJ,
One thing to consider. I personally have a friend who babysits my children. It is a cheaper option. I pay $240 per month for both of my children. The issue is that I can't claim the tax refund based on that. And if you've studied day cares in the least, in the home care is supierior to group day care.

Guys, this isn't Russia or China. Socialism is the gov't system where the government meets your needs to enable you to work. This is a free market.