OP, where do you live? Have you checked to see if the elementary school you are zoned for has free preK? PGCPS just added free preK to a bunch of their schools as couple weeks ago.

Leave them both in and take on a job at the daycare while you are looking for job in your field. I know several women who have done
this.

Work a deal with the day care, work at the day care temporarily.

Anonymous wrote:You don't have savings

Typical!! Who said they don't have savings? 3,500 a month for child care for let's just say 6 months worth of care is 21K. Assuming the spouse can cover all of the other bills (mortgage, utilities, student loans, etc) that would deplete a VERY WELL funded savings - and what if they needed house repairs, car repairs, etc in the same time (when it rains, it pours)? Sigh. This is a tough one, OP.

If I HAD to pull one first, it would actually be the 4 year old, though that is not ideal.

Assuming you're in this area, it is much easier to find a spot for a 4 somewhere than an infant. And while you can't go on interviews and actively job hunt with either, it's easier to job hunt (though not ideal) from home with a 4 year old around. It is also easier to find a sitter for the 4 year old while you go on interviews.

You don't have savings

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take both out. If you get another job, hire a nanny until a spot opens up at daycare.

You can't just "hire a (halfway decent, legal) nanny" overnight.

Also, you can't hire a decent nanny for "until you get a spot at daycare." It doesn't work that way.

I would not give up the slot as its very hard to get a slot but talk to the day care and see if they can help if you cannot afford it. If you can, just pay. Its hard to look for a job with a little one running around.

Anonymous wrote:Take both out. If you get another job, hire a nanny until a spot opens up at daycare.

You can't just "hire a (halfway decent, legal) nanny" overnight.

The spot for the 1.5 is the problematic/challenging one.

(There are more programs for the 4 (pre-k), and the 4 will start school in less than one year.)

I would leave them both in if you can float it and reasonably expect to get another job quickly. Otherwise you can pull them and save money but you will have to scramble when you get a new job.

This is tough. You will lose your infant spot, those are hard to come by. Does your center offer any scholarships?

Take both out. If you get another job, hire a nanny until a spot opens up at daycare.

Can you take them down to part-time daycare?

How quickly do you think you'll get another job?

Currently, I have 2 kids at a center (ages 1.5 and 4). I thought that I would reduce the hours for my older DD and just keep my younger DS home to cut costs. However, it occurs to me that he may lose his spot if we take him out but at the same time, we can't afford to pay tuition for him and her. What do people do in situation like this? Yes, I will get unemployment, but it's only $425 per week not factoring taxes. Currently, we are paying for close to $3500 for two per month. Please advise. It seems like the logical thing to do is to take him out.