| Child care costs are are one of the most | | | | See if your public school district offers a half day |
| expensive costs associated with going back to | | | | pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-olds. These |
| work. Finding ways to cut down on child care | | | | programs are usually free and by signing-up your |
| costs without sacrificing quality child care is a top | | | | child, it will reduce your child care needs to a half |
| priority for all working parents. Here are a few | | | | day from a full day. |
| ideas that can help trim your child care costs | | | | Check to see if your employer would be open to |
| without sacrificing child care quality: | | | | flex hours, job sharing or telecommuting. If so, |
| See if your employer has a child care flexible | | | | you may be able to use these to juggle your |
| spending account. This is a special account that | | | | schedule and cut your child care costs. |
| the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - [ - created | | | | If both you and your spouse work, see if it's |
| that allows you to set aside money for child care | | | | possible to arrange your work schedules so they |
| expenses with pre-tax dollars. You ask your | | | | overlap as little as possible. This will allow you to |
| employer to take out a certain amount of money | | | | reduce the number of hours your child has to |
| each month from your paycheck and you can | | | | spend at child care. |
| use this money tax free for child care related | | | | See if there is a relative or good friend that can |
| expenses. | | | | help with child care. |
| Inquire if your company has partnerships or | | | | Consider hiring a nanny and sharing the cost of |
| offers discounts for certain child care provider | | | | child care with a few good friends. This will allow |
| services. some larger companies will sometimes | | | | you to pay less individually for child care costs and |
| negotiate discount plans with local child care | | | | the nanny will make more money overall. |
| providers to help offset child care costs. | | | | |