How to Get Reduced Childcare
Childcare is expensive. More than half of families in the united states spend more than $10,000 on childcare per year. Here are some ways to reduce that cost.
Government Programs
There are a variety of government programs that offer assistance to families that meet their requirements for childcare subsidies. These programs may be available to you based upon your income, and if you work over 30 hours a week at a job or are pursuing higher education.
for more information about the types of government assistance programs read here.
for more information about assistance and a list of all 50 states departments of health and human services read here.
Work at a Daycare
If you already have full-time employment disregard this suggestion. However, if you have chosen not to work because the cost of childcare would make working for you redundant, listen up.
Most if not all daycare/childcare centers offer their workers a discount of 50% or more on childcare. Sometimes even free. Many of these centers surprisingly also offer benefits such as healthcare, tuition reimbursement, and 401k contributions to their full-time employees.
Most of all, they are always hiring. These places have a high-turnaround on employees, so it is not very hard to get a job at one if you can pass a criminal background check and have childcare experience.
THe benefits of working in one of these centers is not only the discount on care, but also the ease of working in the same place your child is cared for. This can not only cut down on your commute time but give you the added assurance that you can advocate for your son/daughter when needed.
Of course, this type of work requires compassion, patience, and professionalism. If you do not possess these qualities, other work may be more suitable.