How much do you pay for daycare in MA?????

[jocon]

I know a lot, but rougly how much do you pay for daycare in your area? Trying to get a feel for what the damage would be in my area of southeastern Massachusetts. Thanks

 

[Kimberle]

I'm not to far away from you.

I pay $250 per week for pre-K. Infant care is about $300 per week.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by Kimberle
I'm not to far away from you.

I pay $250 per week for pre-K. Infant care is about $300 per week.

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That is mind-boggling!!!! And you still earn enough money to make it worthwhile?

Wow!!!!

 

[tiggersmom2]

$250-$300 PER WEEK!!!!! OMG!

 

[jocon]

I was going to say the same thing about the 300 per week, but I wanted people to keep replying w/o scaring them away! The reason I ask is because my wife wants to have a baby next year. I am not against the idea, but nervous about the cost of childcare. Ultimately, we would not rest our final decision on this cost, but it will be factor none the less.

 

[Kimberle]

Good luck in your decision!

You're so wise to weight all the pros & cons. Take you time, and together, you'll do what's best for your family!

 

[Hillbeans]

Well, i'm in the Northeast too and I paid $700 a month for my 11 week old for 3 days a week in 2001.

He's now 3 and I pay $490 for 3 days/week.

My SIL who runs daycare out of her home charges about 1/3 of that price and she lives in central PA.

He is so smart at his age, and the daycare he goes to teaches them all sorts of letters, reads books, etc. I'm glad he goes there for that reason alone.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by jocon
I was going to say the same thing about the 300 per week, but I wanted people to keep replying w/o scaring them away! The reason I ask is because my wife wants to have a baby next year. I am not against the idea, but nervous about the cost of childcare. Ultimately, we would not rest our final decision on this cost, but it will be factor none the less.

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Do you have any family nearby that might be willing to care for your child for somewhat less?

My DD & her DH are very fortunate in that the other set of grandparents are retired and have alternated with me (when I'm not working) to provide daycare for my 5 yr. old granddaughter since the day she was born at no cost..

Several times they tried "outside" daycare (to give us all a break and provide playmates for their DD) but the first place was a disaster; the second place was a preschool that was fine (and quite inexpensive) but only 3 half-days a week; and then last year the Mom of their DD's best friend watched her 3 days a week for a minimal amount of money..

Although my DD makes very good money, if she had to pay $300 a week for childcare (factoring in other costs as well - clothes for work; gas; lunches; taxes; etc.) there would be absolutely no point at all in working..

That is REALLY scary!!

 

[Kimberle]

C.Ann

I *know* it sounds like "a lot", but it's all relative to where you live. The closer you are to NYC, the more expensive "things" are. For instance, the *average* 3bdrm, 2 bath house, 1 car garage, rather small lot averages around $500k here, yearly property taxes on that same house will run around $5-6k per year (or higher). Minimum wage is just under $8 per hour.

I was too, when I first moved out here from the mid-west. But you get used to "it" because it truely is "relative".

 

[coliebird]

You're right C. Ann, you need to factor in everything to see if it is worth even working. For me, it is. I pay $230 a week now, she is in the toddler class. When she was an infant I paid $250 a week. Even with those costs it is worth it for me to work. My salary pays for daycare, food, small bills (phone, cable, etc.) and clothes/diapers/extras for my daughter. BTW, I am also in the Northeast.

 

[sydally9367]

Daycare in MA is OUTRAGEOUS!! While my DH was in Korea (Army) I moved back home to Kingston and HAD to work to pay the rent etc. I put my DD in daycare and it was around $350 a week and that was one of the cheap ones I remember calling around and there was a Montessori daycare that was almost $500 per week...it's insane.

 

[aprincessmom]

I live close by to you. DD's last year I paid $210/wk...she was 6 when she left. That included 2 meals and 2 snacks. This was for school year 2001/2002.

When she was an infant she went 3 days per week and it cost about $180 for those 3 days. The cost stayed pretty flat through the years even as she went full time. So anticipate paying that amount for the entire time through to Kindergarten.

I paid top dollar for my day care. But for that money I got a loving staff with little turnover who are still loved by my daughter and spoken of fondly, who still keep in touch with her even though she is no longer there, who babysit for us, come by and visit, and have become part of our circle of friends. I got peace of mind knowning the program, staff, and building she was in was safe, she was loved and nurtured, and I could depend on them to do what they said they would.

In the end, I think you need to decide what is best for the child and the family. For my family I couldn't quit work. Having her in a center that would care for her with love and patience and kindness was worth every penny I paid.

 

[C.Ann]

What happens if you have two children? Does that amount actually double??

I read this book once - "The Myth Of The Two-Income Family" - or something like that - and it was quite an eye opener in terms of how much an individual really "clears" after all factors are considered.. Based on that, I would have to assume that people who are paying $300+ a week for childcare must have highly specialized or professional careers with hefty salaries to reach the "break even" point..

On the other hand, there was a woman around here (who incidentally is now in jail due to an infant dying while under her care - but that's a whole 'nother story) who was making upwords of $100,000 a year running a day care out of her home (and of course wasn't reporting that income to the IRS either)..

Geez - maybe I should have been a daycare provider when I grew up - LOL!

 

[dcgrumpy]

The daycare I use gives a 10% discount on the second child. Big whoop.

 

[castlegazer]

I pay about $220 a week and am thinking of having a second child and continuing to work after that and there is very little discount for a second child. I have done the math and I make enough to make it still feasible to have two in day care and still have a surplus from my paycheck.

I highly value the education my son gets at his daycare. It is much better for him than being at home because he gets so much out of his friendships he has developed with the staff and the other children.