How will I be able to afford child care?

Question

I didn't start looking into the cost of child care until I became pregnant. Oh my GOD...its freakin' expensive. I have a good job and all that, but I don't see any possible way for me to live normally and pay for child care. I checked the dept. of social services in my state and I don't qualify for assistance. I'm really starting to freak out. I have no family in the area to help me with child care. Are there any single moms out there that can tell me how its possible to afford child care?

As a side note... I don't smoke, I haven't been out in months, and I've been keeping an extremely tight budget since I graduated. I'm just at a complete loss as to what to do. You can't get assistance anywhere unless you make less than 19k a year.

Answer 1

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/10/21/nursery121.xml

http://www.jbaassoc.demon.co.uk/watch/some%20recent%20findings%20jan%2006.pdf

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=UYKHIART3QBLDQFIQMGSFGGAVCBQWIV0?xml=/news/2006/10/21/nursery21.xml

http://www.geocities.com/Wellesley/Garden/2010

http://www.naturalchild.org

Answer 2

Oh my, I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM!!!!! I wanted to get assisntance and I couldn't because I MADE TOO MUCH money!!! No wonder why people get on welfare and never get off, if you have a job, you'll be cutt off and then can't afford anything anyway!!!! I have family that watches my kid while I work. If I were in your position, I would look into moving closer to where I could have some family support. If not, you'll have to work two jobs to make ends meet. Or quit your job all together and let the Government take care of you until you can figure someting else out. You should also get child support from the father if he's not in the picture already. I live in So Cal and you can ONLY make 700 a month to qualify for welfare, I almost crapped my pants when the social worker told me that. ONE of the MOST EXPENSIVE areas to live in, you already have to be living on the street to get welfare, it's soooooo corrupt!!! I bet if I were illeagal and had baby after baby here, Uncle Sam would have NO reservations about heplimg me out then. Sorry, I am just a little jaded with the whole system!!!! This turmed into a vent...thanks LOL.

Answer 3

You adjust. I know it sounds like a raw deal, and it is. I have three kids. Two in daycare and one in grade school ( thank god, its free). THe only thign I can recommend is to do alot of research of as many providers as possible.

Sometimes individual providers have income based fee scales. You also need to take into account that the trendy daucare/ preschool isn't always the best option for us sinlge moms. A sitter who runs a daycare out of her home may not be your idea of perfect, but if you are ingaged as a mother when you are with your child, then he'll be fine.

Also, look into churches. You may not be into religion, but some bgger churches run daycares that are cheaped then others out there. You may also have to adjust your work schedual or move into cheaper housing.

Answer 4

Instead of looking at day care centers have you thought about a home day care, where you take your child to a child care provider's home? This tends to be a lot cheaper and I personally feel children get more of the attention they need because there are not so many kids to one child care provider. I take my baby to a home day care where there is three other children versus a day care center where there may be 10 kids to one care provider. Make sure to check references and do a home visit before making any decisions though! Good luck to you!

Answer 5

See if you qualify for government assistance such as Wic. Also look into private or in home child care. Like others have said you will find a way to pay for it.

Answer 6

i'm not a mother or father but only thing i could suggest is look at all the possible things in your life you could deal without (ex. smoking, drinking, excessive snacks) any bit will help. no offense but that's why it's always easier to make it with someone that without. you could always talk to the child care places and see if there is any possible why to work things out since you are a single mother. just a suggestion

Answer 7

Trust me on this. You will be able to afford it. Mostly because if you hare going to keep working, you have no choice. Secondly, You soon realize how much money you p***ed away on a weekly basis.Before children, we all spent money a lot differently than we do with them. It will be fine. You need to realize there are a lot of things we can live without---and lots of ways to save in other areas. **** luck!! Been there, still doing it!!(5 yrs)

Answer 8

that's a tough spot to be in. Check other agencies in your area for assistance, look for someone who will charge you a little less if you pay in cash (altho you won't be able to claim this on your taxes as an expense but THEY won't need to claim it either), ask others at work what they do. good luck

Answer 9

well i am not a single mom but i am a single father that makes a decent living and takes care of my two kids one of the things that has helped me is having a live in nanny that is paid by room and board and a weekly paycheck
i found one through friends and references and a nanny agency it sounds old fashioned but it works for me and hell yeah i agree the price for childcare is outrageous

Answer 10

this is just the beginning. what i did was had my babies daddy pay for 1/2. you will have to cut back once you have a child there is no "living normally" as you said in your question. congratulations, and good luck

Answer 11

This is one of those things you SHOULD have thought about before putting yourself into a position to get pregnant. Waht about the child's father? Have you filed for child support from him?