$40 a Day too much?

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

I am a licensed provider in MD. I know that different areas have different rates, but that does seem high to me. I charge that rate for my full time infant slots.

You might want to call around to find out what rates are at centers and at private homes. I know here we have a referral agency that could share that info...look in your phone book. That way, at least you'd have a guideline to go by.

I'm sure it's comforting to know you have someone you love and trust to take care of your child. However, if you aren't even able to claim that money and are getting charged excessively, you may want to reconsider.

 

[madancer]

Wow! Thanks so much to all your immediate responses! It is nice to see all the great different points of view on this! I really don't want to rock the boat with my cousin, so I'll probably leave things as they are. It will be nice not to pay as much when she's in school full time.

 

[starnightstarsky2000]

Okay as a former home daycare provider I have to tell you that you are seriously over-paying your cousin. I would watch the kids in my home center from 7am to 5pm would provide all meals and snacks,formula,wipes (parents provided diapers)and I charged $25 a day for a total of $125 a week. I even had a couple older kids like your daughter who I would run to half day k everyday and I only charged them $50 for the week but that was WEEK and I had the kids before and after school until 5:00pm. I live in Kansas City, Kansas if that helps you at all.

 

[mjkacmom]

I pay sitters $10 an hour, but they come to my home, and do nothing except watch my children. I have lots of friends who've watched friends and family member's children at their own homes (able to clean, do laundry, fix dinner, get their kids to and from school), and they charged $25 for 7 hours. I'm in NJ, and $40 sounds a lot for sitting outside of YOUR home.

 

[mjkacmom]

IMO that is a steal! We pay min $15 per hour for a college age babysitter

But where does the sitting happen? It's much more expensive to have a sitter come to your home, than drop a child off at a center or someone's home.

 

[sherry7]

Like everyone else said, it really depends on where you live and the cost of childcare in that area. I'd call around to a few different places and ask what they're charging.

I've been looking into daycare costs since I'm pregnant. Around here (about a 1 hr drive from Pittsburgh, PA) a full day (up to 10 hrs) for an infant is anywhere from $35 to $37.

 

[LIFERBABE]

You have to cost out RT transportation costs and daycare separate. As I look back, I am soooo grateful to have had trustworthy care providers for my children. My worst experience was a large chain provider with a tax id #.

I paid a church 1 way transportation fee for my child to be dropped at Daycare and it was $40 a week 5 years ago. After the first year, the church determined it was not worth it and stopped offering it.

My Daycare was $85 a week for after care.

I think the fact that you are focusing on her dropping her own children and running errands as a sign that you should find an independent care provider.
I had a neighbor, that dropped and picked up my kids after school with her own children. The fact that she was going there anyway, is irrelevent.

Airlines dont give away empty seats on planes, just because they are going that way

I am not comparing anyone's child to a pet but it really puts a perspective on child care when Petsmart charges $40 a day for care and 2 walks

 

[dallastxcpa]

You really need to look into other situations. Number one you are seriously overpaying for child care. I have had nannies and used daycares and never paid that much.

Second, if you are ever audited by the IRS you are going to be in SERIOUS trouble. Child care providers unless licensed are considered employees and you should be withholding the appropriate federal and state taxes, social security and unemployment amounts and forwarding them to the appropriate taxing authority. The employers portion in Texas is over 7% so if your child goes to school for 40 weeks at $200 = $8,000 so your taxes would be over $500 that doesn't include interest and penalties they will charge you.

 

[loveysbydesign]

You really need to look into other situations. Number one you are seriously overpaying for child care. I have had nannies and used daycares and never paid that much.

Second, if you are ever audited by the IRS you are going to be in SERIOUS trouble. Child care providers unless licensed are considered employees and you should be withholding the appropriate federal and state taxes, social security and unemployment amounts and forwarding them to the appropriate taxing authority. The employers portion in Texas is over 7% so if your child goes to school for 40 weeks at $200 = $8,000 so your taxes would be over $500 that doesn't include interest and penalties they will charge you.

In a perfect world this might happen..but let's face it there are many people who do child care in their homes how charge very little as not to claim it on taxes. Many families prefer to pay less to their provider and pay under the table then pay more and claim it for taxes!

 

[Irin997]

Personally I think you are paying too much. When your child goes to school full time, check with the school directly and see if they have an in-house before and after school daycare service. My daughter's school does and it is wonderful and cheap. I pay $315 a month and they are open from 7 to 6 and school is in session from 9:20 to 3:45. It has worked very well but the only downside is that when school is closed so are they. But I've made it work with family members.

The only true way you will know how what you're paying compares to others is to call a few daycare centers. Find out what they would charge now and what they will charge for your full time 1st grader. We can only give you what we pay which varies considerably across the US.

Good luck and I HIGHLY advise that you shop around. Personally taking advantage of the dependent care credit is totally worth it.

 

[ccgirl]

I would look into a center. At my DD old preschool/daycare the kindergartners would get the bus and then get dropped off at the school. I know it is less than $40 a day because I only paid $45 for a full day and that is in MA where everything seems more expensive than other states. Plus, you could claim the deduction and they are being further educated and enriched, not just driven around to do errands. Good luck with your decision.

 

[KirstenB]

200 a week is expensive, considering she's an older kid, and it's part time. Around here, a center would charge about $150 a week for an even younger child, and that's all day.

 

[ICF]

Sounds too high to me.....

Here in a pretty well to do suberb of Indy, when our daughter was in K halfday and daycare halfday we paid $140 a week. The daycare picked her up from school at 11:30 and feed her lunch. They would keep her until as long as 6pm if we wanted.

That came to only $28 / day and we could claim the tax credits as well. Also, I prefer a daycare center due to the fact that the center doesnt take vacations or close for sick kids like an in-home provider can do.

Your location though could make this a deal too...depeding on what the rates are elsewhere where you live.

 

[Charitycase20]

I am a licensed provider in MD. I know that different areas have different rates, but that does seem high to me. I charge that rate for my full time infant slots.

You might want to call around to find out what rates are at centers and at private homes. I know here we have a referral agency that could share that info...look in your phone book. That way, at least you'd have a guideline to go by.

I'm sure it's comforting to know you have someone you love and trust to take care of your child. However, if you aren't even able to claim that money and are getting charged excessively, you may want to reconsider.

I just wanted to kick my 2 cents after reading this post...I live in MD, on the eastern shore and both of kids go to a family daycare provider full time. We pay our daycare mom $200 per week. $90 for Gracie and $110 for Zach (cause he isn't potty trained yet). We also pay her $26 per month for a craft kit for the kids to do everyday! So $40 a day for only 4 hours!! OUCH!!

 

[Skatermom23]

There is a big difference between paying a daycare provider and a babysitter. Babysitter's charge per hour (not a weekly rate) and do cost more. Personally, I would gladly pay a family member her going rate. It would be worth everything to know that my kid was with a family member. (and it sounds like you don't question that) Assuming that is the case, then the peace of mind is worth what your paying.

 

[Leajess99]

Hi there! I'm looking for feedback on daycare costs. My cousin has been charging me $40 a day to watch my daughter for about 4 1/2 hours. She's in Kindergarten, & my cousin takes her to school with her kids, then picks her up after school & watches her for about 3 more hours. She also gets all her errands done, etc. while driving my daughter around with her. Does this seem like a fair amount in your opinion? She is also paid under the table, so I can't take advantage of child care tax credit.

You are paying way too much for part day daycare. I would seriously look into a center or afterschool program for your child. I am not sure where you are but I know where I am there are daycares on the school routes so the kids just ride the school bus to and from daycare. I would not be doing it under the table either for that amount of money. You are paying $200 a week which just seems so high for part day and your child is really not getting anything out of it. Does your child have homework and if so, is your cousin making sure it gets done??

 

[kymmyk13]

I couldn't pay what you are paying, I think it is high. for my DD5 before and after school day care at a home daycare costs 40.00 a week and if it is just after school it is $25.00 per week.

 

[PaulaSue]

As a former Nanny I think it is a little high (not bad, I would do $30 a day but I'm in a med town) but I am not sure your location.

 

[daisy2jae]

I have a daycare in my home in SD. I charge $75 per week for first child and $60 for each ad each. That includes all food, diapers, wipes, etc. I don't take the children anywhere even if I have a slow day that allows me to use my SUV to do so. I'm mid to low for my area. All depends where you live and what you expect from your provider. Sounds more like a nanny situation than a daycare provider. You're always going to pay more for a nanny than a provider. But you also get more benefits with a nanny. Plus you have someone you can trust. Weigh the pros and cons. Compare other providers or nannies.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

I get my SIL's kids off the bus a few days a week (Central Mass), I have been getting $10 an hour since the school year started in 2006. I drive about 15 min or so to get to her house and drive/pick-up the kids from practices/games/etc. In the beginning it started out as supervision, now they are older and it is an issue that they need after school transportation to activities, not a babysitter. Trust me, when gas was $4 a gallon a few years ago, she was getting a good deal!