Should I work and pay for daycare when daycare is most of my paycheck?

If I work 30 hours a week, and pay for 1 infant in daycare, I will have to give up half of my pay check to daycare. Is it worth it to pay for daycare, work 30 hours a week and then have $700 left over from my pay check every month? I guess I have a problem of being away from an infant for so much time a month just to have $700 in my pocket to show for it. What do you think? If you are in the same situation, is it worth it to you? And when I have two children I won't even bother working since I would have $200 at the most left over from my paycheck after paying for daycare expenses.

Public Comments

1. well if you were to quit your job, could you still make it financially? if you could i would say its not worth it. thats just too high of a price and you could be spending all that time with your little one, knowing that they are getting the best possible care and love. but if you cant make it financially, then you have to do what you have to do.


2. I have debated whether or not to return to work. I have 3 children, two which are not in school. I realized that after paying the Daycare fee and paying for the extra gas I would use to drive to and from the daycare, it is not worth it. Besides, your children are worth a lot more than a few hundred dollars a month. You can cut some corners and clip some coupons to save the extra money you would miss if you quit your job.


3. i wouldnt i would try to find a babysitter maybe like a responsible teenager that is a family member or a well trusted adult that might be a lil bit cheaper


4. hello, i am a single mum of 3 kids and to tell u the truth i am better off not worling and getting income support i dont know how much u get in the usa but in the uk i just get about the same amount as i would when i would work but if i work i would have to pay traveling cost on top of that,

   dont be ashamed most of the time its better to stay at home till the child is old enough for school



5. Not unless u have good benfits and ur mate doesnt have any at their work. U also must consider gas, milage, wear and tear on wheels and car. So no I wouldn't as long as it's ok w/ my hubby


6. its not worth it when u have barely anything left to show for it . i have 3 kids and im just going to stay home for right now. if u can get a friend to babysit for cheaper then i say all the power to ya


7. Are you in a position where you can stay home or even work from home? You have to account for how you're going to pay the rest of your bills. If you're able to live without some of the things you do now and you're able to budget accordingly, then it may be in your interest to stay home.

   Fortunately, I'm in a position where I work from home. We have one child at home full time and we have my bf's kids part time. We're unable to do daycare when we have my bf's kids since the oldest is autistic and most daycares don't want to deal with him.



8. Do what you have to do, but if you can afford to, stay home and raise your child.


9. I'm in the same situation...and YES it's worth it.

   One it gives you a break from the kids.

   Two it gives you a chance to interact with adults.

   Three you can still get medical benefits and retirement from your work even if you are spending your whole paycheck.



10. MAYBE YOU SHOULD LOOK INTO A TYPE OF MEDICADE THAT HELPS PAY FOR DAYCARE WHILE YOU WORK.


11. Of course, there are other expenses to include in the decision, too. Like fast food or convenient meals that you'll most likely eat because you'll be spending more time and energy at work and might be more tired (or TOO tired) to cook. There are work clothes expenses, work lunches (even if you brown-sack it, you're still eating food you probably wouldn't eat at home), snacks at work, health care extras because both you and the child will be around MORE people thus your exposure to sickness is greater.


12. WHATEVER!!! SHE CAN DO WHATEVER SHE WANTS!!! ITS HER BODY, HER CAR & HER TIME...SHE IS THE ONE IN CONTROL HERE...ITS ABOUT HER NOT THE PARENT...GEEZ...EVEN IF YOU SAY NO (its not your right to), SHE'LL END UP JUST SNEAKING OUT OR WORSE GO AND GET PREGNANT TO A HOBBO...SO YOU'RE BETTER OFF JUST LETTING HER DO WHATEVER SHE WANTS AND GUIDE HER THROUGH IT AND BE THERE FOR HER...GOSH!!! MY 9 KIDS TURNED OUT TO BE LAWYERS, MEDICAL STUDENTS, OLYMPIC ATHLETES, BANK OWNER AND A CSI ALL BECAUSE I LET THEM DO WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS RIGHT AND WAS THERE FOR THEM WHEN THEY NEED SUPPORT...


13. It depends on how you feel. My WHOLE paycheck went to daycare when my son was 6 months but then I progressed and eventually it was worth it much more, it was good for my son as well, preschool really helped him develop. He just turned three in March and he can already recognize numbers 1-10 count 1-10 do his whole alphabet, he knows his shapes, colors and animals. I am out of work now but we have kept him in daycare 3 days a week. I am pregnant so I use those days for the Dr. and getting ready but the real reason is because I feel it is essential for him. But its really up to you, I would go crazy being with my kids 24/7, I didn't mind it for the first 6 months but at least in preschool he is able to inter act with kids his own age and work out his energy. It also makes the time we are together more enjoyable. My son loves his daycare and when He is out of "school" he loves to do things that he can take back and share with his "friends".


14. If you cannot afford to lose the benefits from work... that it the major question there... you don't mention a mate... is there any other finacial help? Daycare is WAY too expensive that is true, have you considered doing something from home? of course, again you lose your benefits... it is a two edged sword... if you quit and go on medicaide can you handle that?


15. At the beginning it is doesn't seem financially reasonable to have a child in day care and work. However, once the child is in school full time then you may think differently. Your yearly day care cost at that time will be minimal. So what you need to ask yourself is, will you be a desirable job candidate after being out of the work force for a few years? Do you have a degree to fall back on or will you go back to school?

    I stayed home with my daughter for the first couple years. I had only finished a partial year of college at that time. Yep, a college drop out! When she turned two I went back and got my AAS degree. I took mostly night classes to cut on the day care costs. Prior to going back to school I tried to get a job and was unable to compete. Being out of the work force for a couple of years really took it's toll.



16. Have you thought about staying home and watching other people's childern? I have three kids ages,4yrs,2yrs, and ten months. My 4 yr is starting pre-k in August but it's only for three hours a day and even then I would have to put three kids in day care. So I watch kids in my home. It's a win win because I get to be with my kids and I get to earn extra money (tip charge ten dollars less then a reg. daycare!) And if you can't do that try your local dept of childern's and family's (DCF)or a career center they my have a program to help you pay while you work here in FL they have what's called APLI or headstart and they pay for you (if you quilfy) I hope this helped you. If you have any question please e-mail me cml_family@yahoo.com or mommy_borsodi@hotmail.com


17. I would stay home and babysit one child. I make $600/month to stay home with my two boys and babysit a 2 year old.


18. It depends if you feel that your child is safe with the daycare caretakers. I say that because you could save alot of money by having a relative babysit for you or a close friend. But my opinion would be you can still keep your job, but your can have a close one watch your child if you trust them. More money for you. And alos you wouldn't have to pay the daycare as much.


19. There are other things to add to your equation. Do you cook dinner now? How much is gas going to be running back and forth to work ect. It may be even less then $700 at the end of the month. I worked before and stay home now. I finally figured out that after getting my kids up early and into daycare by 6:00 am and working a full day, I was taking home about $500 a month after daycare. But I drove 30 miles to work and 30 miles back. I almost never had time to make dinner so we ate out all the time, or worse my kids ate fast food and TV dinners. My oldest Daughter gained like 40 pounds in one year. So I quit and some months it is tuff. Over all Its the best decision I ever made. We can always manage and I have time now to look for sales and shop then. We usually have more money now then before.


20. the answer depends on a couple things;

    - what percentage of your check goes to daycare

    - can you survive comfotably w/that amount

    - are u single mom or married

    I pay for babysitter and work f/t, but have dh who makes way more than me.



21. I was and I quit working and am glad I did. We managed without the extra money. It is an adjustment though unless you have adult activities also. It can be pretty lonely unless you have friends that are stay at home moms too.