DC Area pays on average $18k for Child Care (Alexandria: day care, preschool)

[CaliTerp07]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Wonder why the banks haven't gotten into marketing "child care loans" like student loans that can be paid off later when parents move to higher income levels.

Or why it hasn't become more common to find child care centers in large office buildings. When I was a gov't contract, TONS of my military counterparts utilized the childcare service on Ft. Belvoir. Several commented that the only reason they were able to continue to work was because of the discounted childcare rates. Sounds like a good employee retention strategy for large companies.

[michgc]

Don't forget that child-care is deductilbe on your taxes, so it may not be as bad as it seems.

[newnewsmama]

Originally Posted by michgc

Don't forget that child-care is deductilbe on your taxes, so it may not be as bad as it seems.

My understanding is that you can only deduct up to $5000 if you set up the dependant care spending account. Any other ways to deduct the cost?

[michgc]

Originally Posted by newnewsmama

My understanding is that you can only deduct up to $5000 if you set up the dependant care spending account. Any other ways to deduct the cost?

If you don't have a dependent care spending account, the limit is $3,000 for one child and $6,000 for more than one child.

[khuntrevor]

I know a Thai-nanny, who was sponsored by a Walter Reed MD. If you have good employment you can get a visa for one. This gal worked for the Doc for years, and then went to work for an RE Developer. She was getting 500 per week, medical insurance, and a basement apartment in Georgetown. That was in 2007. I think you could actually get a 25 yo, with a BSRN, and a 3+ English level, for the same deal, today. They would want to go to school at night.

[yolli71]

We pay $1,700/mo for our 18 month old son at Georgetown Hill in Rockville. That price will drop to $1,300/mo when he turns 2. I'm really looking forward to his 2nd birthday.

[Jenjen391]

We pay 250/wk for an in home daycare in Arlington for our 16 month old. That is a lot cheaper than most of my friends pay for center care in NoVa.

We will switch to a center near our new house in Springfield. That will be 290/wk. I would love to have a second baby in the next year or two, but I don't know how we can swing it.

[gammann]

We pay $240/wk for our 3 yo in a day care center in Centreville. We looked at some expensive places, but I just couldn't stomach paying $1900/mo, costing more than my mortgage and more than it cost me to go to college per year.

[OaktonRes]

$1800 is for one kid. The cheapest quote I got was about $1100/m (Kindercare) for 5 days until 6:30pm. 12:30pm pickup time doesn't work for us. $1800/m is for decent preschool tuition.
$17k-$18k is for 9 months tuition. During the 9 months, there are at least 4 weeks school breaks/holidays, the drop in backup $60-$70/day. Summer is 11-13 weeks per school's policy. We need to pay for $330-$400/week/child during the summer.
I am sure there are cheaper options for families with SHM, but we need extended care.

[Novadhd5150]

My wife has to basically keep working just to support day care costs. She was thinking about being a SAHM. We pay 1500/mo at Tysons corner daycare and are about to have another one which will be up to 1800/mo! The 5 K deduction is unfortuntately for both kids thru a flex spending account.
I didnt know about the 3k and 6 K deduction thing..Is this only if you dont quality for a dependant care Flex spending?