child-care

[singinjeannie]

My hubby and I have determined that there is no way we're going to dig our way out of this financial hole without me going to work. Now, I have to get a job paying at least $24,000 a year if I want it to be worth my while. I'll be paying approximately $47 a day in daycare costs, if I get a daytime job. If I get an overnight job, I'll need some daycare to get sleep.

Question, if you work full-time and use daycare -- what do you do when your kids get sick? I'm so stressed out right now and need an answer to thisfinancial mess. I need a job very, very soon.

Thanks!

Jean

[vendigirl]

Re: child-care

Hi Jean,
I'm new here, but I've read all of your posts about your current financial woes. I am sorry you're going through such a tough time.
Since I don't know you personally, I don't know if this is a viable option for you, but have you considered having other children come in to your house to be babysat during the day instead of going back to a formal workplace every day? It likely won't bring in the 24 K you're hoping to make, but it will cut out the childcare costs and provide you the opportunity to stay with your young ones while providing an income that will expedite your debt payments. Just a thought.
Other than that, the obvious suggestions would be some combination of assistance from friends or family for babysitting in the short term. Perhaps just until you can use some of your income to knock down that debt.
Maybe if you work nights and need help during the day it would likely only be for mornings? You should look around for a college student or someone with more flexibility and perhaps a smaller charge for childcare. If they could come into your home to babysit for a few hours in the mornings after you work, it would be a lot cheaper than to send your children to a daycare facility.
Alternatively, my friend (a nurse who works only nights) barters this sort of babysitting with a neighbour who has small children. She has to babysit in kind, but since the kids play together it is less like babysitting than a playdate. It works great for them. Just another option.
Good luck.

[terry1156]

Re: child-care

I think vendigirl has put forth an option that you should consider to see if it makes more sense than finding an outside job. Taking in other kids as a job would have a number of benefits:

Looking at your numbers $12,000 of your income will go to child care expenses cutting your take home pay in half. Subtract another $6,000 for taxes and your left with $6000 in income which doesn't even take into account your commute costs, work clothes, etc.

If you can do the day care, not only will you be able to stay home with your children, your save the $12,000 for your estimated child care costs and $6,000 in taxes. To make the same $6000, you would need to bring in $23 a day ($6000 divided by 260 work days). You should be able to get that for doing day care for one child for only a partial day and if you had 2 kids come over, you would be far ahead than going out to work.

The $6,000 in this case is before taxes while the other example is after taxes, so they aren't exactly the same. But in this case your wouldn't have to pay taxes on the $6,000 your earned since it would be a home business and you could deduct the $4,000 in costs against it (the costs you are paying already anyway) meaning there would only be $2,000 in taxable income (and probably less since it would not be hard to find other qualifying deductions)

You have to keep an open mind. Although staying at home and earning $6,000 doesn't sound like the same as earning $24,000 outside the home, it works out to be the exact same.

If you can get a couple of kids to do day care for full time, your salary would be the same as about $40,000 a year with an outside job. Please let me know if anything I have written doesn't make sense and I will try to explain it better for you, but I think vendigirl's suggestion may be your best option and will let you stay home with your kids.

[mom-from-missouri]

Re: child-care

Having done this in the past, you need to consider the following--Do you own your own home?? If not, your landlord may not give you permission to watch other children in your home. In some states, he can be held responsible should an injury result--such as a fall from a broken step, or a burn from a water heater set to high. You will also need additional libility insurance. In most states, you must be licensed to watch children. My understanding is a few states now say you must be licensed even if you are only watching 1 child, unless it is a relative. Other states say you only have to be licensed if you are watching more than a certain number--usually that number is between 2 and 4. If you are licensed, some states require that each child have their own cot or crib (depending on the age), and that daycare food must be kept in a seperate refrigerator and cabinet from your families food. Unless you are already set up for a second kitchen, this can be an additional expense.

[singinjeannie]

Re: child-care

Hi everyone:

Wow! Lots of responses and most on the same line. I will not be watching other people's kids in my own home. This is great for someone who's really great with kids and loves to be around them, I'm not like that. I have my own kids and do fine with them, but really have no desire to watch other people's kids.

Also, I live in Pennsylvania and I live DOWN a long, unpaved, private road. Very steep, not really accessable. For about 3 months every winter, I'm snowed in. You must have 4-wheel drive to get in and out of here in the winter and it's actually not passible after large snows. Just not a good place for people to have to bring their kids and drop them off every morning. Kind of impossible when we have ice on the main road, which is usually for about a week (or much longer) after we've had a big snow.

I have an interview at 11:00 today for a part-time overnight job that might be just what I'm looking for. No need to buy new clothes (it's a warehouse), little or no need for daycare, provided I can figure out how to get enough sleep without it.

I'm really hoping this is the answer. If it's not, I'm going to keep praying for a good answer.

Thanks for all the input!!! You guys are amazing and caring and I really, really appreciate it!

Jean

[Tree0164]

Re: child-care

Hi Jean

Good luck with the interview. I will keep my fingers crossed for you. Let us know how it goes.

Also I bumped under extra income legit work at home jobs for you. From posts at www.wahm.com I know that Liveops and workathome agents are currently hiring. They are both inbound phone jobs. There is also message board for workathome agents at www.workplacelikehome.com for them. Work at home jobs journal is another good resource.

Good luck

[terry1156]

Re: child-care

Good luck with the interview. I hope that it goes wells. Keep us up to date.

[miclason]

Re: child-care

...do you have relatives or good friends living in the area? (I'm Salvadoran: your family is always your first option for support, especially where kids and/or money are related!!)

[singinjeannie]

Re: child-care

Only a sister-in-law, and she's not willing to watch my kids on a regular basis. My Mother has told me, point blank, "I raised my kids, you raise yours!" and she's off doing her thing now that she's retired. My husband's parent's are deceased and any other relatives living closeby work full-time themselve. Believe me, they would be my first pick, if they were willing or interested.

Always appreciate the support. You people make me feel less alone in my financial woes!

Jean

[asrai]

Re: child-care

Can you work it so you and your husband work opposite shifts? I work mornings 6 AM to 12, most of the time (sometimes it's less than that) and DH works 3 PM-12. We don't see each other but we are getting out of debt. Even if you overlap a bit and put the kids in care for those hours, it would cut down on the costs.

[singinjeannie]

Re: child-care

Well, I did interview for the 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. job on Friday. I think it went well. I'm waiting to hear from them. (Hoping!!!) It's a temporary job, so if it doesn't work well, I'll have an easy out in 2-3 months when it's over. The fellow interviewing me said there may be other jobs opening up, so I might have the option of taking a more permanent job, once this one is over -- if I like it! We need this income badly to work our way out of the hole.

DH isn't happy about the fact that it is a 5 night a week job, but he'll have to get over it. We all need to make sacrifices now to make this work.

-Jean

[terry1156]

Re: child-care

It's good to hear that interview seemed to go well. I have my fingers crossed that you get the job and it turns out to be something you enjoy and works with all the things you have to juggle.

I can understand why your husband is not happy, but as you said, some sacrifices need to be made.

I congratulate on taking the steps you have thus far. I know a lot of them have not been easy, but once it is over, you'll be so happy you took control of everything. Just keep plugging away and taking little steps forward each day.

[Tree0164]

Re: child-care

Good luck Jean. I will keep my fingers crossed for you.