Wishing we could handle daycare costs

I just need to vent. Seeing the total amount we spent on daycare for 2024 really hit me hard—it’s $16k. It makes it clear that there is no way we can afford to have a second baby. I’m feeling so sad and angry about it.

Daycare costs are ridiculous.

We’re about to welcome our first child and daycare is around $3k a month, totaling $36k a year.

@Blaine
I’m in DC and facing $33k a year.

Briar said:
Daycare costs are ridiculous.

We’re about to welcome our first child and daycare is around $3k a month, totaling $36k a year.

Same here, it’s about $37k a year.

Jordan said:

Briar said:
Daycare costs are ridiculous.

We’re about to welcome our first child and daycare is around $3k a month, totaling $36k a year.

Same here, it’s about $37k a year.

Are you in DC, Seattle, or California? That’s just insane!

@Blaine
I’m in the Seattle area, and with an employer discount, our daycare cost is about $28k for the year. To be honest, I have friends at Bright Horizons who pay around $37k a year. I’m thankful I don’t have one nearby; I’d hate to feel guilty about going for a cheaper option! :smile:

My wife and I have agreed that we can’t afford a second child, at least not until the first is ready for school and we can build back our savings.

@Haven
We’re at a Bright Horizons in Philly, it costs about $30k a year.

@Haven
We have two kids at Bright Horizons, costing us $60k a year in the Boston suburbs. Looking forward to the older one starting school next year!

Remy said:
@Haven
We have two kids at Bright Horizons, costing us $60k a year in the Boston suburbs. Looking forward to the older one starting school next year!

$60k a year :scream: You must be earning over $300k a year to justify that!

Remy said:
@Haven
We have two kids at Bright Horizons, costing us $60k a year in the Boston suburbs. Looking forward to the older one starting school next year!

Why not just hire a nanny at that point?

@Sawyer
Exactly, I’d go for a nanny. That’s just crazy.

@Haven
When we lived in California, the employer discount was at Bright Horizons, but even with that, it would have cost $3,500 a month.

@Blaine
I’m in the NYC suburbs, and it would be even pricier in the city itself.

Jordan said:
@Blaine
I’m in the NYC suburbs, and it would be even pricier in the city itself.

Wow, I thought paying $16k for Montessori was bad.

Jordan said:
@Blaine
I’m in the NYC suburbs, and it would be even pricier in the city itself.

At least in the city, we get $3k for free.

@Blaine
Boston is the same—most major cities are just awful!

Briar said:
Daycare costs are ridiculous.

We’re about to welcome our first child and daycare is around $3k a month, totaling $36k a year.

I’m in NYC too. We’ve been quoted $3300 to $3900 a month. :tired_face:

Briar said:
Daycare costs are ridiculous.

We’re about to welcome our first child and daycare is around $3k a month, totaling $36k a year.

Honestly, $16k seems like a bargain!

Briar said:
Daycare costs are ridiculous.

We’re about to welcome our first child and daycare is around $3k a month, totaling $36k a year.

That’s just crazy :sob: I won’t complain about my $14k a year again!

Briar said:
Daycare costs are ridiculous.

We’re about to welcome our first child and daycare is around $3k a month, totaling $36k a year.

We’re in the Seattle suburbs and paying $36k for two kids at a home daycare. That’s for four days a week, with July and August off… :skull: