daycare costs more than college in 31 states

[rh71]

my wife and i don't have a kid yet, and we had planned that when we do have a kid to have her off work for a year or two to raise the kid, but after seeing the personality of my sisters kid after he's been in daycare, i am 100% for daycare now. the interaction with children and things he has learned really is a great thing. my brother's kid is also very smart because his grandmother teaches him stuff and plays with him, but you can also tell that he doesn't have the social skills my other nephew does.

It's very true. The only 2 reasons to keep the kid at home are to save money and to want to see your kid all the time. But even if you do daycare it can be half-day. Social interaction is important. Kids are a LOT more outgoing in our experience also.

This already happens on the state level. At least in MN. Low income mothers qualify for the state to pay for daycare.

Here in NY, the governor already has approved universal pre-k. And an overwhelming amount of funds is going to NYC specifically. Meaning everyone in the state is paying for these people's kids to attend PRE-K when some in their own area don't even have full-time K.

Just saw an article the other day that said there has been a sharp rise in the number of families with a stay-at-home parent, for this exact reason.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/stay-at-home-mothers-on-the-rise-in-us/

 

[tfinch2]

my wife and i don't have a kid yet, and we had planned that when we do have a kid to have her off work for a year or two to raise the kid, but after seeing the personality of my sisters kid after he's been in daycare, i am 100% for daycare now. the interaction with children and things he has learned really is a great thing. my brother's kid is also very smart because his grandmother teaches him stuff and plays with him, but you can also tell that he doesn't have the social skills my other nephew does.

What if I told you your kid does not have to go to day care to develop social skills?

 

[highland145]

Out of curiosity when you wrote up your business plan and budget did you expect these costs? What was your break even point per child per month?

I was expecting ~$15K/mo payroll and that's about what the new owners are running now. 45ish on the head count to break even.

I didn't run it, I was the backer. Most of the time, I work alone at my own office. I made mistakes but the biggest was that I trusted the wrong person with my $$. I've known her for 10+ years. This person worked for a daycare chain for a long time. They sold and the new owners had their own directors so they let her go. I checked her background and references, looked at the profit reports she forgot to turn in...:whiste:...everything looked great. Awesome location too. No good reason to not be at capacity all the time.

Except she couldn't self supervise. After I sold, the new owners gave me a laundry list of the problems. Over staffing and low head count being the biggest. Both of which she caused. Numbers were steadily declining all year because of the way she didn't handle the center.

$306K gross income, 2013
$303K expenses, 2013

My lost investment is a huge issue but the other is that she was going to ride it until I was bankrupt. That's unconscionable.

No good deed.....Back to the asshole, out for myself and screw the rest mentality.

 

[nehalem256]

ahh, was waiting for a response like this. It's obvious that we are behind Europe and need to have the government run daycare centers.

We don't need it at all. Why should I pay so that women can have careers?

The entire idea is absurd. I shouldn't have to pay so you can make money.

 

[trmiv]

This is why my wife and I retired her mom and we pay most of her expenses so she could care for our daughter. Saves us around $800 a month over what daycare would have cost.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

This is why my wife and I retired her mom and we pay most of her expenses so she could care for our daughter. Saves us around $800 a month over what daycare would have cost.

I can hardly wait for my son to say "Hey dad, I'm retiring you so you can look after my kid(s)". Won't that be great?

I hope he has a date in mind for my dirt nap too. He can keep it secret so it doesn't spoil the suprise.

 

[OutHouse]

Ours is $30/day/kid. Pretty expensive, honestly.

a day? as in 8 hours?

 

[OutHouse]

The only 2 reasons to keep the kid at home are to save money and to want to see your kid all the time.

those are the only 2 reason? really?

 

[AViking]

I was expecting ~$15K/mo payroll and that's about what the new owners are running now. 45ish on the head count to break even.

I didn't run it, I was the backer. Most of the time, I work alone at my own office. I made mistakes but the biggest was that I trusted the wrong person with my $$. I've known her for 10+ years. This person worked for a daycare chain for a long time. They sold and the new owners had their own directors so they let her go. I checked her background and references, looked at the profit reports she forgot to turn in...:whiste:...everything looked great. Awesome location too. No good reason to not be at capacity all the time.

Except she couldn't self supervise. After I sold, the new owners gave me a laundry list of the problems. Over staffing and low head count being the biggest. Both of which she caused. Numbers were steadily declining all year because of the way she didn't handle the center.

$306K gross income, 2013
$303K expenses, 2013

My lost investment is a huge issue but the other is that she was going to ride it until I was bankrupt. That's unconscionable.

No good deed.....Back to the asshole, out for myself and screw the rest mentality.

Damn that sucks. Really interesting though. Thanks for sharing.

 

[highland145]

Damn that sucks. Really interesting though. Thanks for sharing.

And the short answer is if you can't cut hair, don't buy a barber shop. I do finance and that's what I'm sticking with.

Unless I open a liquor store...

 

[OutHouse]

The downside to staying at home it the stalling of ones career

if you value your career over taking the responsibility of raising your kids, then don't have them.

 

[trmiv]

I can hardly wait for my son to say "Hey dad, I'm retiring you so you can look after my kid(s)". Won't that be great?

I hope he has a date in mind for my dirt nap too. He can keep it secret so it doesn't spoil the suprise.

It's not like she went kicking and screaming. She was going to retire next year anyway, and she was the one that first brought it up. I was resistant at first until we exhausted all the daycare options and couldn't find any we liked. She absolutely loves taking care of her granddaughter during the week.

 

[purbeast0]

What if I told you your kid does not have to go to day care to develop social skills?

i'd say you should go write a book about it and make millions off of your outstanding bright idea that nobody in the history of mankind has ever thought about.

 

[SaurusX]

I have family in Brussels, Belgium.

They get quality kindergarten free and ~€450 per kid per month.

Sure. What's their tax rate again?

 

[Legios]

if you value your career over taking the responsibility of raising your kids, then don't have them.

Thats not what im saying, its the belief that staying at home saves you money. Sometimes it doesnt.

 

[HumblePie]

i'd say you should go write a book about it and make millions off of your outstanding bright idea that nobody in the history of mankind has ever thought about.

Really? They have these things called neighborhoods full of kids that other kids to play with. And then there are parks, and other gathering areas for parents to take their young kids to interact with other kids. Get this it's all free of charge! Neat huh?

 

[purbeast0]

Really? They have these things called neighborhoods full of kids that other kids to play with. And then there are parks, and other gathering areas for parents to take their young kids to interact with other kids. Get this it's all free of charge! Neat huh?

wwwwwoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooossssshhhhhhh

 

[CPA]

We don't need it at all. Why should I pay so that women can have careers?

The entire idea is absurd. I shouldn't have to pay so you can make money.

but, think of the children!

 

[HumblePie]

wwwwwoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooossssshhhhhhh

longer WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH with caps even

 

[Broheim]

christ that's expensive, daycare is as low as $270/m here in Denmark.

 

[Eug]

In my province, Ontario, for an infant it can be over $1600 per month for a licenced daycare.

In the province next door, Quebec, there are numerous government subsidized spots so it's less than 1/10th that cost, at $154 per month.

However, Quebec also has super high income tax, and there is some evidence that the government subsidized daycares aren't of great quality.

christ that's expensive, daycare is as low as $270/m here in Denmark.

I suspect the quality over there may be decent, but the income taxes are even higher.

 

[Wreckem]

My wife and I are planning on having kids soon so we were looking into the cost.

Cheap is $800/month. Mid-range is around $1100. Expensive is $1500+

 

[Wreckem]

What's really funny is that these days you can't even use public schools as "daycare" anymore. A public education fucking nickel and dimes you to death.

When I was in elementary school, the only things we paid for out of pocket was field trips and lunches if we bought them - they were about $0.75. Hell, classrooms even came stocked with things like paper towels and tissues. These days the kids have to pay for the copy paper that their assignments are printed on and a school lunch costs as much as typical fast food fare. Not to mention that the school supply lists at the beginning of the year have things like paper towels and tissues on them. I'm surprised the schools are gracious enough to provide toilet paper and running water. Private school might end up being just as "inexpensive" these days.

I was in elementary school in the late 80s early 90s. The supply lists existed back then(tissues, etc) except for paper, most schools didn't have copiers back then and still used lithographs.

And at least where I am at(DFW area), school lunches are ~$2 per meal, hardly fast food prices and have less than doubled since I was in school which means they haven't risen as much as inflation.

As for private school. An okay private school is going to run $15k in most parts of the US. A good one will be into the $20k range, and elite ones are pushing $30k with many exceeding that. Anything beyond the okay range(which is comparable to an average good, but not great/excellent public school) is going to have extremely competitive admission processes.

 

[SunnyD]

I was in elementary school in the late 80s early 90s. The supply lists existed back then(tissues, etc) except for paper, most schools didn't have copiers back then and still used lithographs.

And at least where I am at(DFW area), school lunches are ~$2 per meal, hardly fast food prices and have less than doubled since I was in school which means they haven't risen as much as inflation.

As for private school. An okay private school is going to run $15k in most parts of the US. A good one will be into the $20k range, and elite ones are pushing $30k with many exceeding that. Anything beyond the okay range(which is comparable to an average good, but not great/excellent public school) is going to have extremely competitive admission processes.

Mimeographs.

When I graduated in the mid-90's, I never once had a school supply list to worry about other than what I personally needed for my classes (notebooks, pens, pencils). By the time I graduated, a school lunch was I think $1.25. Where my kids are now school lunches are pushing $3.00. I can easily get a "meal" off the value menu at Wendy's for $3.00.

And yes, I was exaggerating about the private school tuition comparison. Mostly.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

This is why my wife and I are bypassing daycare and enrolling our infant directly into community college.