4 Years in Daycare Generally Costs More Than 4 Years of College

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By S. Heather Duncan | The (Macon, Ga.) Telegraph

MACON, Ga. -- Many parents save for more than a decade for their children's college education. There are scholarships and federal assistance to help young adults and their parents afford that huge investment in their future.

But many parents are surprised to realize that four years in day care generally costs more.

At a time when most parents are early in their careers and have far less earning power, they pay thousands of dollars a year for day care — with no scholarships and, in most cases, no government help.

For many of them, the expense became even harder to shoulder during the recession, as workers lost jobs or hours. That translated into less income for day care providers and fewer hours for day care workers, who are often paid little more than minimum wage and receive few to no benefits.

There are federal programs to help the poorest families. And a 2009 national survey showed Georgia as having the fifth most affordable day care in the country for infants and school-age children, and the eighth most affordable for 4-year-olds.

But a slow economic recovery, new state day care requirements and a poor parental understanding of day care make it likely that the system will continue to experience a shortfall, many early childhood advocates say.

That results in high teacher turnover and poorer quality facilities, materials and supplies for children in care, said Pam Tatum, CEO of the Georgia advocacy organization Quality Care for Children. The agency tries to get children into quality early childhood programs by advising both parents and providers.

Read more: http://www.macon.com...l#ixzz0xLgSkdCi

[^_^ 5,021]

Isn't it deductible??

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Isn't it deductible??

I think they both are tax deductible.

[^_^ 5,021]

I think they both are tax deductible.

So then there is government assistance.

[alienlovechild 75]

Both daycare and college are choices people make to make more money. People putting their kids in daycare make more than the average childcare worker.

Besines daycare is relatively cheap in Georgia as the vast majority of people working may more than the average childcare costs. There's also no waiting lists that we've encountered so far so that's not an issue either.

Edited August 22, 2010 by alienlovechild

[mawilson 2,133]

The good news is, with so many people unemployed, they can save a bundle on daycare.

[Ban Hammer 13,465]

Isn't it deductible??

up to a limit. we was only able to deduct about half of baby boy's child care last year.

[^_^ 5,021]

up to a limit. we was only able to deduct about half of baby boy's child care last year.

but still, part of it is, which means its erroneous to state that there is no government assistance.

[Ban Hammer 13,465]

but still, part of it is, which means its erroneous to state that there is no government assistance.

i consider assistance to be help with money up front, not a deduction after you've paid for it.

[^_^ 5,021]

i consider assistance to be help with money up front, not a deduction after you've paid for it.

i disagree. a deduction is essentially a government subsidy, even though you get the subsidy later.

[mawilson 2,133]

but still, part of it is, which means its erroneous to state that there is no government assistance.

A tax deduction is not "government assistance", it's a refund of something that was yours to begin with.

[^_^ 5,021]

A tax deduction is not "government assistance", it's a refund of something that was yours to begin with.

it's a reduction in your tax liability. that's government assistance.

unless you're one of those people who don't think you owe any taxes at all the the income tax is teh eevil.

[mawilson 2,133]

it's a reduction in your tax liability. that's government assistance.

unless you're one of those people who don't think you owe any taxes at all the the income tax is teh eevil.

Yes, I believe taxation is theft, and that neither my needs, nor someone else's needs, justify coerced taking from others.

[^_^ 5,021]

Yes, I believe taxation is theft, and that neither my needs, nor someone else's needs, justify coerced taking from others.

ok.

/turns away, just like i would if i ran into a crazy homeless guy at penn station

[mawilson 2,133]

ok.

/turns away, just like i would if i ran into a crazy homeless guy at penn station

I can accept the "payment for services rendered" argument, but a tax refund is still *my* money refunded back to me, not someone else's or government's money/assistance.