How to Save Money on Childcare

The cost of childcare, like everything else, is outrageous! Even if you are just looking to go out on a date with your spouse, you can end up spending more on the babysitter than on the date! Well, here are some tips to help keep the cost down a bit.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Friends
• Flexiblity

1. Try to find a couple with kids that doesn't mind swapping. You watch mine Friday night and I'll watch yours Saturday. Some ideas for finding a tag team is church, neighbors, play dates, school or mutual friends.

2. Start a babysitting co-op. You can make a club out of swapping kids and have an entire group of people to choose from. For more info on this please check out the resource area.

3. Barter. Are you a hair stylist with a client list of people you trust? Ask them if you can switch a hair cut for a few hours of babysitting. Do you know an older lady who needs her lawn cut but would be an excellent sitter? See if she would be willing to trade the services. If you use your imagination I am sure that you could come up with some service that you could offer to someone that you trust to watch your children.

4. Use an in-home child care giver. Usually people who watch kids from their own home charge less than large day care centers. Just make sure that they are licensed and be sure to get some referrals.

5. If you are looking for a job, look for one that offers a childcare center on site. There are a few companies out there, unfortunately fewer and fewer, that either pay for or offer discounts for childcare. Also, it never hurts to ask a company that you already work for if they might be willing to offer some sort of benefit that would help you with the cost of childcare.

6. Finally, don't forget to write off the expense on your taxes.

Resources

• Start a Babysitting Co-op

[maryellen1001]

on 2/5/2009 Great ideas! I love the barter idea!

[MariM]

on 2/1/2009 Great ideas,sometimes it is not even worth working by the time you do pay childcare.5*recommend

[healthymomof5]

on 1/25/2009 Honestly this is very helpful! I clean a couple days a week and my husband watches my 3 year old but its getting old but yet its so counterproductive to pay someone to watch him, but looking for someone to switch with is really a great idea! 5*

[ethoslogos]

on 1/20/2009 Very good ideas on how to save money on childcare. 5*

[mosscampion]

on 1/19/2009 These are great childcare money saving tips! It's true that childcare costs are almost too high to afford these days.