We don't. But if you make a serious life decision, don't complain afterwards about it.
I don't bitch about getting divorced and losing half of my investments.
That's a bit unfair don't you think? We didn't develop a first world society just to be forced to choose between a family and a career.
Just put my son in a Learning Center for $500/month, will drop to $400 when he hits 1.
Originally Posted by Jumpem View Post
Not really. My monthly bills are about $4k excluding daycare.
Mortgage: $1277
Car: $535
Student Loans: $532
Credit Card: $102
Electric: $85
Garbage: $28
Propane: $100
Gas: $293
Cabe/Internet: $143
Netflix: $23
Home Phone: $34
Cell phones: $102
Auto Insurance: $81
Life/Disability Insurance: $128
Groceries: $500
Daycare: $800
WTF? 2 50k paychecks is 100k. Lets say 33% tax rate, you bring home 66,000, or $5,500 a month.
Your expenses right now are $4,763 a month, leaving you $737.
I'm looking for other things that I don't see like medical/dental costs, home owners insurance (maybe included in your mortgage includes that), 401k funding, clothing, or savings?
That's a bit unfair don't you think? We didn't develop a first world society just to be forced to choose between a family and a career.
Move out of parents basement and maybe you'll see how other people live.
If daycare is too expensive for you that means your wife isn't making enough money.
PS they need to increase the Dependent care Flex limit to $20k from the paltry $5k.
Well, Trojans are cheaper.That is all.
Or maybe I'm just a cheap bastard. We managed to find a local daycare center that we liked before our daughter was born that was just starting up, comes out to around $500 a month, but now that we have stopped in a few times they don't have it fully staffed and seem shorthanded in the morning and the bad vibes are there. Now it is down to the $1000/mo super awesome daycare that is 1.5 blocks down from my work that I could stop in at during the day, or another facility that is almost as nice for just $750/mo.
Just finished paying the truck off thankfully.
That is all.
Or maybe I'm just a cheap bastard. We managed to find a local daycare center that we liked before our daughter was born that was just starting up, comes out to around $500 a month, but now that we have stopped in a few times they don't have it fully staffed and seem shorthanded in the morning and the bad vibes are there. Now it is down to the $1000/mo super awesome daycare that is 1.5 blocks down from my work that I could stop in at during the day, or another facility that is almost as nice for just $750/mo.
Just finished paying the truck off thankfully.
My fiance works for a daycare that is operated by Bright Horizons. Bright Horizons is a nationwide chain that prides itself on being 'the best'. They charge $1600/mo (for 2 year olds) at our local center. My fiance has worked there 1.5 years and makes $8.92/hr.
If you break it down, it's actually fairly cheap for what you're getting. Let's say you have an average of 21.67 workings days in a month and pay $800/month. That's $36.92 a day. If that's an 8 hour day, you're only paying about $4.62 an hour for someone to watch your kid. I'm sure you pay a night time babysitter more than that. I know that you'd think the economy of scale would kick in and make it much cheaper, but from what I've heard it's pretty expensive to run a daycare by the book.
The $1000.00 down the street from work is a Bright Horizons.
Here's a novel concept. Don't have kids if you can't raise them.
Throw me in your basement if you want, but this really isn't about whether or not someone can raise thier kids. In some geographical areas, a dual income is necessary to have a decent quality of life. I'm not talking extravagent living. I'm talking about having a small house, a used car, food on the table, and heat in the winter. And if a dual income is necessary, some form of daycare is necessary.
Throw me in your basement if you want, but this really isn't about whether or not someone can raise thier kids. In some geographical areas, a dual income is necessary to have a decent quality of life. I'm not talking extravagent living. I'm talking about having a small house, a used car, food on the table, and heat in the winter. And if a dual income is necessary, some form of daycare is necessary.
Or Dad. Or Either.
My wife and I don't make much but have a schedule were one of us will provide child care while the other is at work. It's really satisfying and inexpensive, too.
Things may change after next year, though. I hope it's for the best.
We don't. But if you make a serious life decision, don't complain afterwards about it.
I don't bitch about getting divorced and losing half of my investments.
If she's running a daycare out of your house there is.Isn't there a tax advantage to having your wife staying home as well? I mean, you're still a couple on the taxes but you're making way less so its probably taxed at the lower rate. Whereas if you're both making 70-100K together the tax rate is higher.
Plus, around here the same applies to state income tax and they give you pretty big breaks on your property taxes if you make less money. I haven't done the math, but there's so many progressive tax structures that I'm not sure you really make more money having both of you work sometimes.