[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/personal-finance\/saving-and-budgeting\/how-to-save-money-on-childcare\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/personal-finance\/saving-and-budgeting\/how-to-save-money-on-childcare\/","headline":"How to Save Money on Childcare and Babysitting","name":"How to Save Money on Childcare and Babysitting","description":"Having a new baby is a milestone, a life-changing rollercoaster of emotions filled with...","datePublished":"2019-02-18","dateModified":"2021-09-30","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/author\/logan-allec\/#Person","name":"Logan Allec, CPA","url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/author\/logan-allec\/","identifier":4,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6e74dd0453a5871d1dcfde6d40d9494765ca8bfdb01927cefee4564d4bee9075?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6e74dd0453a5871d1dcfde6d40d9494765ca8bfdb01927cefee4564d4bee9075?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Money Done Right","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Money-Done-Right-Personal-Finance-and-Investing-Blog.png","url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Money-Done-Right-Personal-Finance-and-Investing-Blog.png","width":488,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/save-money-on-childcare.jpg","url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/save-money-on-childcare.jpg","height":667,"width":1000},"url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/personal-finance\/saving-and-budgeting\/how-to-save-money-on-childcare\/","about":["Saving Money"],"wordCount":3022,"articleBody":"Having a new baby is a milestone, a life-changing rollercoaster of emotions filled with beautiful moments. We put some time into researching and finding out how to save money on childcare and babysitting with these easy 17 tips.Table of ContentsToggle1.\u00a0Enlist Family or Friends to Help You2. Split the Babysitting Costs with a Friend3. Swap Babysitting with a Friend4. Hiring a Pre-Teen or Teenage Babysitter5. Find School Daycare Program6. Drop-off Child Care Centers7. Date Nights In8. Flexible Spending Account9. Change Your Job10. Plan Your Family Growth11. Find a Part-Time Job12. Stay Home for a Year or Two13. Familiarize Yourself with Money Saving Apps14. Barter Services15. Plan Ahead for Summer Care16. Get Paid While You Lose That Baby Weight17. Combination Method1.\u00a0Enlist Family or Friends to Help YouHave you ever heard the phrase it takes a village to raise a child? There are many benefits associated with this tactic.Free childcare and babysittingYour loved ones are taking care of your babyIt is a great opportunity for your family to bond with the new additionYou trust them more than anyone else so you will worry lessIt reinforces family relationships.Good to Know: Studies have shown grandparents live longer when they are closer to their grandbabies. You can use this as a selling point to get them onboard.Pro Tip:\u00a0\u00a0Check EverydayFamily and claim free baby stuff while accessing a wonderful community of caring parents, and a wealth of information. This one should be bookmarked.2. Split the Babysitting Costs with a FriendWhen you feel ready to get out there and socialize again, you will likely gravitate to friends who are also parents.BenefitsYou are cutting the cost in two which can be serious savings. If it costs $30 per hour to have a babysitter and you are planning to be out for 3 hours, that is a total of $90. Split it with a friend then you are only looking at $45 for 3 hours.Your little one will get to spend time with friendsYou get to double date with your friends.Going out with friends who have children can be one of the best ways to relax, as you get to talk about similar experiences, share your potential similar issues, and vent to each other.Pro Tip: Watch out for that extra drink or bag of chips. New mommies are always talking about the extra pounds! Did you know that we HealthyWage you can actually get paid to lose weight? You can earn up to $10,000 by joining challenges, or even creating your own challenge. See if your friends want to join you on a challenge.3. Swap Babysitting with a FriendThis one is a freebie it can truly save money on childcare. This is a win-win-win scenario that helps both families to save money on childcare.BenefitsYour children are with a trusted friend or relativeFree childcare and babysittingYour friends get an opportunity to interact and bond with your childYou tend to worry less because you are leaving the child with a trusted personYour child gets to play and interact with another child.While we are on the subject of swapping, considering keeping your overall childcare costs down by swapping toys, clothes and other baby items with friends.Take a look at these 17 places online where you can sell clothes for cash, and even tell your friends about it.Pro Tip: An app like Decluttr can be super user-friendly to use, and you can sell anything from unwanted clothes, toys, DVDs, and accessories. With close to 1 million visitors a month, you will probably turn your unwanted items into cash quite fast.4. Hiring a Pre-Teen or Teenage BabysitterPlenty of pre-teens and teens are looking for ways to make some pocket money.BenefitsTheir rates are cheaperThey have more energy, so they are also more likely to sit down and play with your kidsThey are usually available last minute.Warning: Depending on your state laws there might be some requirement as the age of the pre-teen or teen, so make sure you check.\u00a0It would also help if you know the parents and have some references when choosing this method to save on childcare costs.Pro Tip: If you don\u2019t know anyone you can hire from your community, or if everyone is busy we think Babysitters Registry might be a great alternative to locating a qualified babysitter.5. Find School Daycare ProgramSome schools offer several times a month \u201cParents Night Out\u201d programs, making this an excellent way to save on babysitting.BenefitsCheaper than hiring a babysitterYour child is in a familiar environmentBabysitters are certified and qualifiedYour child likely knows other kids in the program, so it is more fun for themWarning: The only drawback is that you need to coordinate with their schedule and not the other way around.Bonus Perk: You can even drop of your little one and just return home to do some well needed house cleaning, relaxing or even organizing of your finances.Pro Tips:\u00a0 Check out this new app. It will help you save money without thinking about it, and you can use that cash to pay for the childcare costs and other expenses. Also, on your downtime, explore Rakuten (formerly Ebates) and find incredible savings using their coupons and discounts. You can get up to 40% cash back at over 2500 stores.6. Drop-off Child Care CentersThis option is similar to the above, but it is not at the school your child goes too.BenefitsPlenty of options that offer monthly services and hourly services.This can be cheaper than a personal babysitterTheir average rates are around $9,50 per hour, and some of them offer late night services as wellThey are well-equipped with certified staff.They are packed with fun activities and learning opportunities for your child.You can use drop-off services to get some time to yourself, to clean the house, meet with friends or to get some shopping done.\u00a0If you are on maternity leave, and you have some extra time on your hands, you can even explore new ways to bring in cash while working from home.Good to Know: Check out these 71 side business ideas that will help you earn a significant amount, and start building multiple streams of revenue.Pro Tips: We recently discovered Cushion, a great app that will get your credit card fees and bank fees refunded. Give it a try, it is your money, why not get it back?\u00a0You can also use this well-known app and rack up points that turn into gift cards! We heard a lot of good things about these guys, and their app is super user-friendly.7. Date Nights InThis is another great option to save money on childcare. Instead of going out, drop your child off to a family member, friend or drop-off service, and return home to spend some quality time with your spouse.BenefitsYou save money on dinner in townYou can use that time to rewind, catch a good movie or cooking for just the two of you. You can even invite friends over.Bonus Tip: If you get lucky and a friend or a family member can watch your child for free, then this is the ultimate savings situation!Now let\u2019s look at some ways to save or make money to help with your childcare costs.8. Flexible Spending AccountMany employers offer the option of a flexible spending account. If you are a lucky one to have such an employer then you can take advantage of the full amount of $3000 per child with a maximum cap of $6000 per family, becoming a great method to save money on childcare.You can take any money from your tax return due to the new family addition and save it for their college fund or their yearly child care need.Pro Tip: If you need help with filing taxes, we recommend using H&R Block. They are experts at helping you file your taxes and claim any possible refunds. Highly recommended by millions of Americans.9. Change Your JobIf you are looking for a new job, especially one that will allow you to stay home with kids so you do not have to worry about their child care cost there are plenty of options. Many parents are joining the new trend to work from home.BenefitsYou make your own scheduleYou get to be around your kids moreYou can create multiple streams of incomeYou don\u2019t need to pay for a lot of babysittingThis is made possible because companies are looking into hiring remote employees to save money on their overhead expenses.Extra Perk: Studies also have shown that people are more productive when they are placed on a task-oriented schedule compared to normal office hours.Pro Tip: We strongly recommend you research this option further. Maybe even the company you work for will allow you to work remotely. To get yourself started read the complete guide to starting a money making business.\u00a0You can also check out other possibilities. Follow this link to learn about 15 companies you can sell beauty products for and earn\u00a0 a full-time living.Good to Know: When you are home you also get an opportunity to explore some new hobbies. For stay at home moms make sure you read how you can find real online stay at home mom jobs to help you get acquainted with the \u201cat home\u201d industry.10. Plan Your Family GrowthWhen starting a new family sometimes we are lucky enough and we can plan when the little ones will come along. Other times, they come un-announced. If you can help it, then plan accordingly.Benefits of Having Babies Close Together:Saves you moneySave on toys and clothesSave on babysitting, tutoring and other activitiesBenefits of Having Babies Far Apart:The oldest can be our babysitterLess fights in the houseThe oldest can help the youngest with homework11. Find a Part-Time JobIf the expenses are piling up, sometimes even with all the savings we end up needing extra cash coming in. Many parents take this opportunity to find a part-time job that can be done on your their own terms and hours.BenefitsAdditional revenue to ease some of that financial stressA chance to try your hands at something newNew opportunities and peopleAn opportunity to learn something new.This option can allow you to finally explore one of your hobbies and take it to the next level by doing it as a part-time job. For example, if you like photography, coaching, art or blogging, this is an amazing opportunity to capitalize on your interests.Pro Tip: Check out this article with incredible ideas on 109 ways to make extra money.\u00a0 If you are interested in getting your own blog going, you must explore Blogging Done Right for some great articles on how to get started, and how to optimize your blog.12. Stay Home for a Year or TwoYou will need to do some calculations and see if it is worth it for you to be away from home 8+ hours daily to make money so you can pay it all to daycare. Now if you have a high paying job, this might not be a good idea. Or if you are a career oriented individual, this option might take you a step back.BenefitsIt will give you a chance to re-evaluate your career optionsYou will save on childcare costs and babysitting costIt will give you an opportunity to look into other ways to create moneyYou will have time to bond with your child moreYou will get to witness a lot more milestones from your growing baby.Pro Tip: While you are at home you can make a lot of cash by doing remote jobs and other freelancing projects. Anything from taking surveys, check out SurveyJunkie, to learning how to invest with investment apps. Also, we highly recommend you use Cushion, a bill negotiator app that helps you save money.Good to Know: If you do decide to stay home for a while, it certainly does not mean that you will stop generating income. Check out these 31 best passive income ideas for 2019 and continue to bring in cash!13. Familiarize Yourself with Money Saving AppsWe try to do our best to find ways for our readers to save money in every situation.A Few Apps You Can Use: For new parents, saving is essential because it will allow you to have more money to spend on daycare and childcare overall. Sometimes finding cheap solutions for daycare is not an option so why not save money from other activities.Shopkick: It pays you to simply walk into stores.Dosh: An abundance of coupons, discounts, rebates and cash back programs. Definitely add this one on your list of favorite apps and watch your savings grow.Decluttr: When times comes for you to get rid of all the unwanted toys, outgrown baby clothes and other unwanted items, this is a top- rated option! Millions of visitors monthly get to sell and buy used items.Pocketsmith: This is a must! Your own virtual personal assistant to help you with budgeting, saving and planning your expenses.14. Barter ServicesEveryone is great at something. Many people swap services with others, instead of paying cash.BenefitsThere is no money involved in the transactionYou get an opportunity to share something you are good atYou become part of a bigger community which is beneficial to the kid and yourselfIt reinforces good relationshipsIt sets a great example for your kids to see their parents cooperating with others.Once they make the decision to try a new system, many parents like to build a blog around it. It helps share with an audience, it keeps you accountable, it allows you to connect with other who might be exploring similar concepts, and if done right, you can generate a lot of money from your blog.Pro Tip: You will always have the option to monetize your blog, and this can bring you extra cash on an ongoing basis. Here is a way you can learn how to monetize your blog with over 100 money making methods.Good to Know: Here are a couple of useful tools you can use, if you are thinking of building a blog.Bluehost: Is one of the largest website hosting providers and powers millions of websites. Learn more about our secure and reliable hosting services today and get your blog started. There are so many ways to monetize your blog once you start going.Fiverr: Is huge marketplace for freelancers where you can buy any design or other services you need from professionals around the world! Millions use Fiverr daily to build businesses or buy services.15. Plan Ahead for Summer CarePlanning ahead is crucial, especially for new parents. Let\u2019s assume that you have figured out the daily grind routine and you managed to get yourself at a place where you are now saving on childcare and everyone is happy.Warning: Summer is an entirely different situation. Many babysitters are off vacationing, and many drop-off centers are now closed for the school year.Suggestions on Summer Care:Find a pre-teen or a teenager who has the summer off to help you out (cheaper)Locate a private summer school options (pricey)Find a friend who works from home, and see if she is interested in making additional cash to help you out for the summer (cheaper)Save up all your vacation time and stay home with the kids in the summer (free)Summer Camps (pricey)Local community summer schools (cheaper)Church-run summer schools ( free).Depending on your local options, make sure you search well ahead of time because the cheaper, quality option do fill up first.Pro Tip: We recommend beginning looking no later than March, for June \/ July enrollment.16. Get Paid While You Lose That Baby WeightMost new mommies are looking for ways to get back in shape. Even if we are in good shape, maintaining our figure with all those new extra yummy children snacks around becomes hard.We spoke to a few moms who said that even though they lost all the pregnancy way, they ended up putting back on just by finishing their kids food after every meal.Good to Know: We searched for a good solution that can help you lose those extra pounds and bring in some extra money to cover the childcare and babysitting costs. Make money while losing weight by creating your own challenge or joining existing weight-loss challenges. Let your friends know about this and create your own challenge.17. Combination MethodWhile we just listed a lot good options to either save money on childcare, we also listed some great ways to bring in extra money. We also believe that saving money is extremely helpful.If you have the ability to combine a majority of the above tips, you will get the best results in saving money on babysitting, generating extra income, and even losing weight while making money.Pro Tip: Something we didn\u2019t have an opportunity to expand on is the investing option. If you do find yourself home, looking for ways to make more money we strongly suggest that you begin exploring various investing options. The sooner you start the sooner you can retire.Wealthsimple : Is a great place to start.. It is investing on an autopilot, which is great for beginners or busy parents who have no time to do their due diligence. Especially with a new addition to the family, getting a head start on saving for their future needs and education can be a huge relief.Ally Invest: For more savvy investors we recommend you give Ally Invest a try.Before we close the article we also want to mention Betterment, which is another gem when it comes to investing.Comment below and share with us clever hacks you do to save money on childcare, babysitting, make extra money or even invest!"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Personal Finance","item":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/personal-finance\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Saving And Budgeting","item":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/personal-finance\/\/saving-and-budgeting\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How to Save Money on Childcare and Babysitting","item":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/personal-finance\/saving-and-budgeting\/how-to-save-money-on-childcare\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]