3 kids, 60k this upcoming school year in childcare/tuition. Are we insane?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's more than my salary....

Same here. I'm a teacher and I couldn't fathom spending that kind of money on childcare. Go public with the oldest one and save the money there.

[Anonymous]

OP here-thanks everyone!

To clarify:
We actually share nanny for infant=$28k per year
toddler daycare=$16,000
Private Kindergarten=$12,000 + after care activities for K

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here-thanks everyone!

To clarify:
We actually share nanny for infant=$28k per year
toddler daycare=$16,000
Private Kindergarten=$12,000 + after care activities for K

Get a nanny for the toddler and infant - you will save money. Not a huge amount but certainly a bit. Go public for K if at all possible.

[Anonymous]

Another alternative would be to put the infant into the toddler's daycare. That would bring your costs down some. Is private KG your only option? Why? For KG, I think you could attend most schools (even in DC) and have a good experience. Then, if you need to, transfer to private later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here-thanks everyone!

To clarify:
We actually share nanny for infant=$28k per year
toddler daycare=$16,000
Private Kindergarten=$12,000 + after care activities for K

Do you have a room for an au pair? For what you're paying for the nanny share, you could host an AP and pull the toddler out of full-time day care and take the older one out of after-care.

[Anonymous]

We actually share nanny for infant=$28k per year

We pay less than that for 1:1 nanny. She's full time, and granted we WFH 2-3 days a week, so she may not stay the full day, but 28k seems like a lot for a nanny share (your share!) OP, will your nanny cost drop as the child ages? Or will you go to daycare? FTR, we pay the same for the 2 year old as when he was an infant. I think her job is infinitely easier for a little more $ (pay increases). I think of it as a retainer for the next kid....

Is it safe to assume you're talking about spend 1/4 of your gross income on childcare, not your net income?

[Anonymous]

Not insane, but maybe irresponsible. It doesn't sound sustainable (unless you have free housing, a ton saved for retirement, and college is covered). even if you eventually move all three kids to the same school, you're looking at $50K for a lot of years.

[Anonymous]

is this 3 different drop offs in the morning or is the nanny share at your house?
i agree you should get a nanny for the younger two who can also take care of after care for the oldest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

We actually share nanny for infant=$28k per year

We pay less than that for 1:1 nanny. She's full time, and granted we WFH 2-3 days a week, so she may not stay the full day, but 28k seems like a lot for a nanny share (your share!) OP, will your nanny cost drop as the child ages? Or will you go to daycare? FTR, we pay the same for the 2 year old as when he was an infant. I think her job is infinitely easier for a little more $ (pay increases). I think of it as a retainer for the next kid....

Is it safe to assume you're talking about spend 1/4 of your gross income on childcare, not your net income?

Wow, you pay less than $14/hour for a full time nanny? Sucks for her.

[Anonymous]

You're paying a lot for a nanny share.

Is your oldest at the same daycare center as the toddler this year? If so, you're saving money!

Are you in a poor public school district or do you just like this private school? And how much are the "+aftercare activities for K" going to run you?

I definitely think that you need your own (reasonably priced) nanny for the infant and toddler. Said nanny can cover after school hours for your kindergartener, who should really go to public school.

[Anonymous]

I have also 3 kids and slightly higher HHI and I don't think much is saved every year.

I think an OK nanny can be $40K - $42k with all the taxes (I think that's what I pay), and that should cover infant and toddler care plus some non in school time for KG.

I pay $5K for private preschool for toddler, but the older one is in public school.

I would seriously consider getting one full time nanny and moving to better school district if possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're paying a lot for a nanny share.

Not really - If she is paying the nanny $10 an hour for the 1st 40 hours and time and a half for the next 5, it would be $475 a week.
If you add in SS/FICA of 6%, a holdiay gift, another nanny for 2 weeks paid vacation it is right at the amount she shared.

[Anonymous]

Why are you paying private K? Did you strike out with the lottery or selecting to do Catholic School?

[Anonymous]

No. Not insane. This situation will pass eventually. I would think that you need a full time nanny for both the baby and the toddler.

If your kids are happy I would stick with this. Please do not have more kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH is right. What's the alternative?

Absolutely. What are the things that are important to you? Start there and decide, or move to where school costs are cheaper, or change your values (last one isn't easy or necessarily recommended).