How to Get Cheap Daycare

Child care doesn't have to be costly.

There are several ways to get cheap daycare for a child of any age. If your daycare costs are eating up a big chunk of your monthly income, you may still have options that can help you lower the bill. Some methods will require some creativity and flexibility on your part, but they could all save you a bundle.

Instructions

1. Apply for Title XX, a government subsidy program for child care expenses. Your eligibility depends on your household size and income. You can apply for Title XX through your county job and family services office. You will have a small co-payment for daycare costs based on your income. It may be as little as $10 or $20. The majority of the daycare costs will be paid by the government, making your daycare very cheap.

2. Arrange a child care swap with another family. Identify a family you trust to watch your children while you work. This would have to be a family that works a shift opposite yours. Arrange to watch their kids while they work and you're off from work. Then swap when it's time for you to go to work. This could make your daycare cheap or even free.

3. Barter with your current daycare provider for a service of your choice. If you are a professional stylist, lawn care professional, accountant or you do any other valuable service, ask to barter this service with your daycare provider to get cheap daycare.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't want to swap services for cheap daycare, you could offer to pay the month's daycare fees upfront in exchange for a discount. Or you could offer to refer new families to your daycare in exchange for a cheaper rate.