Daycare costs/alternatives?

[LlamaInvasion 76]

Hello, I have a one-year old son and am currently staying at home with him.

However, I believe that he could benefit greatly from more social interaction and daycare. I would also like to work, but am qualified to do absolutely nothing. Back home I lived pretty off a "McJob," (I'm one of those weirdos who actually enjoy working those kind of jobs, tending the cash register at fast food places, working at grocery stores, etc), and daycare is government subsidized so less than %5 of my monthly paycheck would go towards daycare costs. However, it seems for a McJob (assuming minimum wage, or just above it/hr), would just barely net me daycare costs! I could cut costs a little by finding an in-home daycare or a nanny instead, but not by much (not to mention, a nanny would defeat the purpose of increased social interaction for him). How do people do this in America? Because I'm feeling pretty dejected at the moment, to be honest. :/

[MichonandRuben 15]

Hello, I have a one-year old son and am currently staying at home with him.

However, I believe that he could benefit greatly from more social interaction and daycare. I would also like to work, but am qualified to do absolutely nothing. Back home I lived pretty off a "McJob," (I'm one of those weirdos who actually enjoy working those kind of jobs, tending the cash register at fast food places, working at grocery stores, etc), and daycare is government subsidized so less than %5 of my monthly paycheck would go towards daycare costs. However, it seems for a McJob (assuming minimum wage, or just above it/hr), would just barely net me daycare costs! I could cut costs a little by finding an in-home daycare or a nanny instead, but not by much (not to mention, a nanny would defeat the purpose of increased social interaction for him). How do people do this in America? Because I'm feeling pretty dejected at the moment, to be honest. :/

Hey there, Have you thought about working at a daycare as a trade? There are some types of childcare where it can be cheaper if you assist a couple of hours a week at the childcare facility. Otherwise, you might have luck meeting other mothers in the same age range at kinder gyms for that age group and you could do a mothers' group or something of the sort. When I lived in Costa Rica I actually spoke with some who posted to Craigslist.com looking for other mothers of children in the same age range to do play dates with. I hope this helps! Good luck!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I thought you came here on a F-1. Did you graduate from school?

[LlamaInvasion 76]

I did not graduate from school. It's been placed on indefinite hold after we moved so my husband could find work, and I failed one of the gen ed requirements for the fourth time (there's a limit to how many times I will mash my head against that particular wall). It's a long and lame story that quite frankly just beats the #### out of my self confidence.

I did join a couple of groups on Meetup, but it's been hard to connect with people, and most of the moms there have older kids (3+), which offer little to no actual interaction for my son, who often gets left to his own devices while the older kids play with each other.

[Pikku 0]

Hey LlamaInvsaion ! Don't feel bad about failing gen ed requirements! It happens to everyone I've seen similar cases like yours where I go to school, some people take a break or something happens, and when they try to return to school they realize they have forgotten some material or something So, what I've seen advisors suggest is for them to enroll into the remedial classes for gen ed reqs, and if they pass those with at least a C they are fine

Also, maybe you can look on a vo-tech or a community school, I found out a few days ago the vo-tech on my city has a free daycare for students who go there, and it's supervised by the professors of Early Education. Also, maybe you can look into some churches, that may have an affordable daycare

(I read you met on a MMORPG? which one did you meet at if you don't mind me asking? xD I met my fiancee the same way!

[CHarvey80 72]

Starbucks offers good wages for there entry level employees and can actually grow into some good money if you get into management.

The benefits are pretty good as well.

[LlamaInvasion 76]

Thanks for further replies so far! I'll definitely look into churches. As far as I know (according to both my advisor and the head of the department for said gen ed class), there's no other class I can take for that gen ed req. I need to pass it with a C, and I've never gotten even a D, so for the time being, I'm not interested in further schooling.

(I read you met on a MMORPG? which one did you meet at if you don't mind me asking? xD I met my fiancee the same way!

We met in FFXI.

EDIT: Unfortunately, Starbucks has a "no visible tattoos" policy, and I have a tattoo on my lower arm (as well as several more in other locations, but that's the one I've been rejected due to at previous job interviews here in America). There are plenty of places that don't have such a policy though.

Edited August 26, 2012 by LlamaInvasion

[Pikku 0]

Interesting,someone I met on my Freshman year failed Statistics, and English comp, so what he ended up doing is going to another community college on the city and he took both classes online , passed and got his credits.

As someone suggested, looking for a job on the daycare industry seems like it could be a great option for you, they might have discounted services for employees or something similar.

FFXI? So awesome ))

[LlamaInvasion 76]

I think part of what had me so dejected about it, was that I got great grades in the classes that interested me most, at least a passing grade in classes that didn't interest me - but apparently, there's one subject out there I just can't. Can. NOT.

Trying to find work at a daycare is a great idea! I know what I'm going to put my efforts into from now on, lol.

[Glyn and Kathy 288]

When my children were young, I did home daycare in my own home. I really enjoyed it and my children always had someone to play with. Rules regarding home daycare differ from state to state so you would have to look into what it involves where you live. Then, when I moved and could no longer do daycare in my home as I was in an apartment, I got my license to drive a school bus. Yes, those big yellow buses. It was a lot easier than I ever thought it could be. I drove in my children's school district and even drove my sons bus. It was great as I had school holidays off, could bring my kids with me (not all companies allow this) and when there was a snow day ( We lived in New England) I didn't rush around trying to find someplace to take my kids so I could go to work as I got to enjoy the day off with them.

Granted these ideas aren't for anyone....but they worked great for me. Never had daycare costs and I got to spend time with my kids.

[catknit 144]

You can look into local Head Start programs also - they typically have a sliding scale for fees.

[elyhim 41]

As a single parent I got a grant from the County Office Durham, North Carolina)to help with daycare. Kind of like a sliding scale type thing, was a lifesaver.

[Xanax 349]

Have you looked in "family daycare"? In Minnesota where I am we have crazy day care costs, but family daycare is relatively inexpensive around $100-180 per week (infants being the most expensive and then as the child ages rates drop).

You could look at doing a home daycare yourself, that way your child gets interaction and you get $$ too.

[LlamaInvasion 76]

Thanks for all the replies! Doing my own in-home daycare is out of the question for a multitude of reasons (space being the biggest one), and I've already looked at the costs in this area - but I've already applied to a few positions at other daycares, where I could bring my son or enroll him for a discount.