Cars and kids

[HoustonLX]

As you all know I sold my stang a little while back as I had lost interest and decided it was to expensive of a hobby. Good thing too as it appears my new hobby will be even more expensive. The family hobby.

With the twins due early next summer, we decided to price day care centers. HOLY &*%#$@%#&#%!*#&#$!@^!!!!!!!

$261 a freakin WEEK! That's even one of the cheaper places we could find. For the price, the wife and I could both be driving around in brand new vehicles. And here I thought the Mustang hobby was expensive.

/me heads to the blood bank to try to make some extra cash.

Maybe I will hit up ebay to see what the price of a kidney is going for these days.

[Frank5L]

Heck yeah. We pay about $610/month for both our kids here. If it was $261/wk I would just about consider quitting my job! HAH

[trbstang]

I hope that is for both of them! That is the main reason my wife stayed home or only had a part time job (at the preschool the boys attended) until they went to kindergarden last year. When our older two were in daycare, we were very lucky to find a grandmother that only charged $50 a week per kid.

But at least you do get to take credit on your income taxes for 20% of what you spend on child care. Add that to the $2,000 child credit, plus the additional deductions you will get. That is until Hillary socks it to us "rich" folk.

So it all evens out........ yeah right!

Good luck on finding a good place.

[Timebomb]

Also remember that flexcare is a good thing if either of the places you both work for provides it. Thats over 13K you won't have to pay taxes on.

[White90GT]

We were paying around $810/month for Riley and Regan. That was with the YMCA, but it included YMCA family membership.
Luckily in November we were going to transfer them to another daycare in Deer Park near where we both work and it was going to be the same, around $200/wk for both, however, my mom feels like she's missing out on them growing up and said she wants to watch them for us again. So the last two months she's been watching them and not charging anything, so we're saving $1600 a month to pay off some credit cards.

When I started working at Oxy, we decided to take out $4000 per year for FSA dependant care. In other words, I'm pulling that money out before tax, it goes into an acct and I submit claims to be reimbursed. Then I can still file all of it on the taxes.

Wait til it comes time to put them in dance or sports!

[Wild Stallion]

The costs of babys in diapers is unreal, they require extra feedings, and a lot more face time with an attendant. My son is 7, and I pay 12 a day for school drop/pickup service. unlike babys, multiple older children in daycare get discounted. You can expect a drop in price when bottle feeding stops, another when they can feed themselves, another when they potty train, and another when they start school. It's almost worthwhile to hire a nanny for the first year and a half or so. 200 a week plus room and board sounds good when you consider the fact that you are already paying for your house and utilities....

[maveRick]

"Raising Your Child: The Costs

According to the 2005 report from the Department of Agriculture, the cost of raising a child to the age of 17 will be approximately $500,000." source (http://www.pregnancy-info.net/raising_child_cost.html)


That's to the age of 17 - they haven't started colidge yet.

[FE_rex]

I don't have kids - don't know how those that do cope with the money.

[red95gts]

As some of you know, my wife used to run a home-based daycare and you see why! It's not cheap! She was charging $145/week and knows of people charging $180-$190 per week per child.

My neighbors accross the street were paying $260/week for ONE kid at a local "Kids R Kids" chain daycare place. It's crazy, but it's the going rate. With Dylan being 8 mos old, that's the reason my wife only works part-time right now... the daycare costs would eat up a vast majority of her income anyway.

Kids are expensive, but they're worth it!

[TxBandit]

I don't have kids - don't know how those that do cope with the money.

Werd!!

[Otis!]

It's not easy some times, both from a financial and time standpoint, but like Darrell says, they are worth it! Or at least I hope they will be, as I'll need somebody to take care of me shortly, LOL!

O(ld)!

[HoustonLX]

That price is for both kids. We considered one of us being a stay at home parent. Had the wife had tripplets, I would have quite my job and been a Mr. Mom. With what the wife and I both make, it still makes sense for us to both keep our jobs and just put the kids in day care. I still can't believe I am going to be shelling out $1,100+/m just for a babysitter. One place we checked out quoted us $1,900/m! :riped:

[89 coupe]

Wait until they are older. The money does not stop. Mine just crashed his car again.

[Chad82GT]

We pay $15k/year for each of my sons (preschool and Kindergarten) at one of the better private schools here. $30k/year total, and that's just for the regular school year, not including summer. It's worth every penny over the $1100/mo we were paying at the "cheap" place there were at before. The difference in them is amazing, not only academically but socially as well.

We're very lucky our parents are helping with that cost since my business is far from able to cover it just yet. Seeing the kids do so well is one helluva motivator to get the business going!

[Redsnk95]

Ok I'm not having kids now, thanks guys.

[Rusman]

Yeah, Shane, that's why my wife and I decided she would stay home and take care of our kids. While I really like the fact that my dinner is ready when I get home, the house is clean, etc., I will really like the money she makes when she gets back into the workforce in a few years.

[gc90notch]

we are paying $229 a week with a discount for our one kid :crying:

[REX331]

Wow we pay $75 a week but we have to provide lunches, except for Thursdays we send $3.50 for Sonic day. Its a great daycare with nice people.

Rex

[gt350mustang]

Let me check..............yep, I pay $0. :)

[Chad82GT]

It's amazing the price is that high in Houston with the low propery prices. I can understand $1k/mo for 2 kids here where the property value is outrageous and rents are high, but where's the overhead to justify those prices in Houston? Or is it just a supply/demand deal?