Pull from savings for preschool?

[Anonymous]

Right now I have a 4 yo and a 1 yo.

4 yo is in a private preschool and will be for one more year.

1 yo will join the 4 yo in preschool next year, but only 3 days a week.

I'll need to keep our nanny probably until the 1 yo goes full time to preschool, which means that for a period of time, I'll have 2 kids in private school and a full-time nanny.

I can't afford this month to month, but we have hundreds of thousands in savings and taking 15K out per year wouldn't hurt us.

It feels silly to take money from savings for a preschool, but on the flip side, I'm thinking it'll only be for a couple years.

Is this stupid?

[Anonymous]

Kind of. Why don’t you just wait to put your younger one in preschool when he’s 3 instead of 2. During that time, buckle down to save and tighten your investments.

[Anonymous]

Why on earth do you need an extra $15k for a 1 year old's preschool? Just keep the baby with the nanny.

[Anonymous]

Were the savings inherited? How did you amass those savings but not make enough to pay for this care without pulling?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth do you need an extra $15k for a 1 year old's preschool? Just keep the baby with the nanny.

The child will be 2 when he starts preschool, and will turn 3 shortly thereafter. Sorry that wasn't clear. I'm planning a couple years out.

I want to send him at that time for a variety of reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Were the savings inherited? How did you amass those savings but not make enough to pay for this care without pulling?

My husband and I both saved a lot prior to having kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were the savings inherited? How did you amass those savings but not make enough to pay for this care without pulling?

My husband and I both saved a lot prior to having kids.

Actually, though, you may have just answered my question. I'm currently putting aside 24K in retirement / year so I guess another option is that I take a couple years off contributions.

Would that be a better way to pay for this?

[Anonymous]

This is why part-time preschool is only for the SAHM crowd or the incredibly wealthy.

[Anonymous]

Do not stop/lower your 401k contributions to pay for preschool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were the savings inherited? How did you amass those savings but not make enough to pay for this care without pulling?

My husband and I both saved a lot prior to having kids.

Actually, though, you may have just answered my question. I'm currently putting aside 24K in retirement / year so I guess another option is that I take a couple years off contributions.

Would that be a better way to pay for this?

No, you should not pay for private preschool and a nanny when you can't afford it. Especially not at the expense of your retirement.

[Anonymous]

This is what we are doing...

[Anonymous]

Either do a cheap preschool part time 3 AM a week for 4 year old and nanny. Or put youngest in day care and oldest in full time school.

[Anonymous]

yes. You will catch up and be stress free, worth it

[Anonymous]

Full-time daycare/preschool (for the good ones there's no difference) for both is cheaper.

[Anonymous]

We also pay for nanny+AM preschool. We're big savers and it's hard to deplete them, but we figure it's only for a few years, and it's the best set up for our family/our kids.