OMG, Here Are The 5 Hidden Daycare Costs (Most New Moms Know Nothing About)...
So, your child is starting daycare, huh? Maternity leave is ending, your daycare search is starting and like most new moms you may be wondering....
How much is daycare really going to cost?
Well, here are 5 hidden costs on top of daycare tuition all new moms should be aware of!
But first, if you're new here, welcome to The New Mom's Daycare Blog! As daycare owner for 14+ years I love giving new moms tips to choose the best, safest daycare for their family! Have a daycare question? Leave a comment and I'll be happy to answer!
The SAFE Daycare Checklist For Moms
Let's get back to your daycare costs!
Here are the 5 hidden costs of daycare you may need to factor into your daycare budget!
Increased Commute Costs
Unless your daycare is located in your immediate neighborhood, you'll need to factor in additional commute costs such as gas and toll. On average, many moms report an increase of $10-15 per week in commute costs so generally commute costs aren't a big deal.
Overtime Care Fees
Depending on your daycare's business operating hours, you may need to pay an overtime care fee for early drop-off and late pick-up. Overtime care fees can range from $25-50 extra per week (an extra whopping $100 - $200 more per month) so it's important to discuss overtime care fees with your provider prior to starting care.
Meal Surcharges
With the cost of food rising, many daycare centers (and home daycare providers) have opted to charge a monthly fee for daycare meals. While meal fees can often be paid weekly and vary from provider to provider you may want to discuss any meal charges with your provider.
Enrollment Registration Fee
While typically reserved for sports activities, registration fees ( a one time processing fee for daycare enrollment) has gained popularity in recent years. Typically, daycare registration fees can range from $25-35 and our paid at the time of daycare enrollment.
Toddler Potty Training
While potty training may not be an immediate need, additional charges for potty training is something new moms should include in their budget. While potty training charges vary from daycare to daycare , potty training charges normally are an add- on fee in addition to weekly daycare tuition.
So, what's the best thing for new moms to do now to prepare for daycare costs?
Start putting these hidden daycare costs in your budget.
Rather than wait until additional daycare expenses come up, start a personal Daycare Funds Savings.
Open an account and set aside $10 -$20 each week to cover daycare additional daycare expenses.
Fund the account each week for the next 5 years and use the money for extra daycare expenses as they come up. Once daycare ends you can turn the account into a School Savings Account to cover small school expenses like extra uniforms or supplies.
At the end of 5 years...
If you save $10 you'll have $2600.
And, if you save $20 you'll have $5,200.
(Give or take, some of those hidden daycare expenses).
Give yourself daycare peace of mind + make sure you are enrolling your child in the best, safest daycare possible. Grab the SAFE Daycare Checklist for New Moms HERE!
The SAFE Daycare Checklist For Moms
