Let me begin by saying I am the queen of planning ahead...
DH and I have been going over $$$ to be sure we're prepared financially for children, and the biggest adjustment to our budget will, of course, be daycare. Because of our unique work schedules, we have a smaller pool to chose from ---- we need a home/center that opens by 6:30 am. This definitely limits our choices. I've found two centers (through friends) that will work, but one is $759 a month and the other is $830 a month. This is nuts to me.
We are totally open to in home daycares, and I know they like having teacher's kids b/c of the schedule, but where are they??? I can't find any online and I'd really like to compare costs. What have you ladies found in your search? Am I kidding myself thinking I'll find a place that's less than $759?
Re: Moms and Moms-to-be / BR daycare
First, let me just say how smart you are to be thinking about this now. I really wish we would have had a years worth of daycare in savings before embarking on this journey.
Ok, now onto your question. OMG, where the heck have you called that is $800/mo? I thought Corban was the most expensive but they are only $700/mo.
There are good daycare centers that are way less than that. I used the BR Parents daycare guide to help me. Combined with recommendations from friends. We visited the ones on our list and narrowed it down even further from there.
As for home places, they do exist but I have found are pretty much purely word of mouth. I have the names of 3 ladies that I can give you. I know for a fact that 1 of them watches only the children of teachers so I'm assuming she'd be ok with a 630 drop off time. This is all depending what part of town you live in as well.
Feel free to email me if you want to chat further or have any questions. I could go on for days about all that I have learned about daycare! Email is shoefanatic614 at gmail dot com.
oh my God, i was wondering who is $800 a month!!
even the LSU Childcare Center is not that much. unless you make 6 figures a year. (they charge by your income)
i have a cousin who knows some really good in home people also, i think Shoe talked to her once or twice too. I can send you her email address if you want to get the names of those she knows who do in home. she would gladly help you.
i would literally fall to the floor if i had to pay 800 a month, that is almost 10k a year....i never really think of the yearly thing until january when the daycare gives you your tax form that tells you how much you paid them for the last year....i got mine last week......2009....a whopping 7480.00! but that was also for 2 kids part of the year. ah, well, that's the price you pay for your child to be in good care. i look forward to the annual fat tax refund. lol.
but seriously, i have researched a lot of the centers too and can help you out if needed.
I'm stroking out at that number.
i know, right......and that is for a toddler and part of DS after care.
they charge more for infants and as they get older the price drops.
Like, when Lacie was an infant it was 130.00 a week (although they have raised their prices since then)
and now that she is 3 it is 110.00 a week. i guess i am not phased by it since i have been paying for daycare for the past 8 years. but i am very much so looking forward to August 2011 when Lacie goes to PreK4!
Southside Child Development is $830 a month for infants. LSU Childcare Center doesn't open until 7:00 --- I looked into that one, too. I would really appreciate all the info you have! My email is cakpeterson at gmail. I don't have a preference of in home or a center, just as long as they're reasonably priced with a good rep. Thanks so much!
You just got a ridiculously long reply from me. I tend to ramble. Let me apologize in advance.
You're amazing. I cannot thank you enough.