Struggling - Affordable Daycare in Loudon County

[SuperMomma3]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could maybe find a nanny for $20/hour. She probably won't be good though.

Can your partner stay home?

I think out in Loudoun she can probably find someone for $15/hour, but there's still taxes and overtime to be paid on top of that. For 50 hours a week, before taxes, that is still more than daycare.

OP, you aren't going to find full time childcare for less than $250/child per week. $3000 for all 3 of them in full time care is a bargain here.

You are going to have to adjust your budget in other areas, rent a less expensive place, have you or your partner get a second job at night or on weekends, etc.

Thanks everyone for your insight. I figured as much. It just is what it is. I was hoping that maybe the sticker shock I was getting was some anomaly... looks like its not. Relocating from a less expensive part of the country and this is something unexpected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey Guys,

Can anyone provide guidance as to where to find affordable daycare in this area? Relocating and OMGGGGG I have call countless centers and they are asking for no less than $3k for three under the age of 4. I know, I know... its just gonna suck because I have three toddlers, but goodness. The area I am coming from was half this cost...

any advice on in home centers would be great... thanks again.

Maybe you should get an au pair? I've heard they cost about $25K a year. Plus you don't have to drop off/pick up, etc. OTOH, I don't know if au pairs would want to live all the way out in Loudon unless they had access to a car, etc. I would definitely go this route, if I couldn't afford day care or nanny. Does it make sense financially for you to WOH instead of stay home? The quality of care in trying to get your day care costs under $3k a month may be less than other places that charge more. Good luck, OP.

[Anonymous]

Do you have room for an au pair?

[Anonymous]

I'm not flaming you, but did you think childcare costs would be the same as a place with a cheaper cost of living? Literally every single thing is more expensive here.

[SuperMomma3]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey Guys,

Can anyone provide guidance as to where to find affordable daycare in this area? Relocating and OMGGGGG I have call countless centers and they are asking for no less than $3k for three under the age of 4. I know, I know... its just gonna suck because I have three toddlers, but goodness. The area I am coming from was half this cost...

any advice on in home centers would be great... thanks again.

Maybe you should get an au pair? I've heard they cost about $25K a year. Plus you don't have to drop off/pick up, etc. OTOH, I don't know if au pairs would want to live all the way out in Loudon unless they had access to a car, etc. I would definitely go this route, if I couldn't afford day care or nanny. Does it make sense financially for you to WOH instead of stay home? The quality of care in trying to get your day care costs under $3k a month may be less than other places that charge more. Good luck, OP.

Thanks, Its the sticker shock of the cost of daycare in this area. No Less than $250 a week is what its going to be

[Anonymous]

I would go the nanny route, if you can find one.

One idea I've always thought about was just starting your own in home daycare. The demand is certainly there. You can hire a few people and have them work in your home, offer a couple of slots. I know one person who did that and now 10 years later, his kids are in middle school and he's got a a thriving side business and tax shelter.

Just a thought.

[Anonymous]

Do you have room for a live in nanny? You could find a quality live in nanny for 10-12 per hr. Also live in nannies are not entitled to time and a 1/2 over 40 hours in Virginia.

[SuperMomma3]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not flaming you, but did you think childcare costs would be the same as a place with a cheaper cost of living? Literally every single thing is more expensive here.

HAHA... Well, I am moving within the DMV area... so no, I did not think a couple miles would mean twice the cost of childcare. Its okay, I get it. I have provisions in place, I am mostly asking if what the hell I am getting quotes is literally what its going to cost me, or if there are other less affordable options. It appears that there are, however, I am not going to risk worse care for cost.

[Anonymous]

OP, if you have 3 daycare aged kids, likely this is only a 1 year thing, right? 1 will probably head to kindergarten in the fall? If you can find it in your budget for 1 year, then some pressure will come off! (Hopefully you aren't going to say you have 1 year old triplets...)

[SuperMomma3]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have room for a live in nanny? You could find a quality live in nanny for 10-12 per hr. Also live in nannies are not entitled to time and a 1/2 over 40 hours in Virginia.

We would have room for a live in nanny... that's a great idea. I would need to go through an agency correct?

[SuperMomma3]

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you have 3 daycare aged kids, likely this is only a 1 year thing, right? 1 will probably head to kindergarten in the fall? If you can find it in your budget for 1 year, then some pressure will come off! (Hopefully you aren't going to say you have 1 year old triplets...)

haha! If I had one year old triplets I would most definitely be a SAHM and we would just need to figure something out. You are correct, in that it will be a year or so, and they will all be in public school. Hence the move as well - better school system. Just the sticker shock! Wowzers!

[SuperMomma3]

Anonymous wrote:I would go the nanny route, if you can find one.

One idea I've always thought about was just starting your own in home daycare. The demand is certainly there. You can hire a few people and have them work in your home, offer a couple of slots. I know one person who did that and now 10 years later, his kids are in middle school and he's got a a thriving side business and tax shelter.

Just a thought.

Funny you mention that! My uncle was saying the same thing when I mentioned the prices around here! "We are in the wrong business" he said, lol!

[Anonymous]

I live in the area. There are some sad, cheap looking daycares in the strip mall area near Pleasant Valley Road and Route 50. One has a playground next to a dumpster.

I just looked on a map for their names.

Dumpster playground is called Monarch Christian Montessori.
Nearby is The Learning Experience, Freedom Montessori, Imagination Learning Center.

[Anonymous]

SuperMomma3 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not flaming you, but did you think childcare costs would be the same as a place with a cheaper cost of living? Literally every single thing is more expensive here.

HAHA... Well, I am moving within the DMV area... so no, I did not think a couple miles would mean twice the cost of childcare. Its okay, I get it. I have provisions in place, I am mostly asking if what the hell I am getting quotes is literally what its going to cost me, or if there are other less affordable options. It appears that there are, however, I am not going to risk worse care for cost.

If you are only moving a few miles from where you live now, why not just keep them in the same daycare that you can afford? I'm confused.

[SuperMomma3]

Anonymous wrote:

SuperMomma3 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not flaming you, but did you think childcare costs would be the same as a place with a cheaper cost of living? Literally every single thing is more expensive here.

HAHA... Well, I am moving within the DMV area... so no, I did not think a couple miles would mean twice the cost of childcare. Its okay, I get it. I have provisions in place, I am mostly asking if what the hell I am getting quotes is literally what its going to cost me, or if there are other less affordable options. It appears that there are, however, I am not going to risk worse care for cost.

If you are only moving a few miles from where you live now, why not just keep them in the same daycare that you can afford? I'm confused.

A few miles, meaning about 45