How to Find Child Care

Whether you’re heading back to work after a mat leave or you’ve moved to a new city, there are lots of factors to consider before your search begins, such as your schedule, location (and how much you can afford.
Next, consider your parenting style; you’ll want a caregiver who shares your childcare philosophies and goals or you could run into problems. If you’d prefer to send your child to a place that’s licensed and government regulated, run by professionals and one that offers an age-appropriate curriculum with daily routines, then childcare centers might be right for you. If you’d rather take your child to a caregiver’s house where an intimate and small group setting is encouraged, think about home childcare. And if you’re looking for help with your kids and some daily chores, you may opt for a live-in nanny.
Depending on your child’s age, childcare centers can be anything from a nursery school to a before-and-after-school program. The way to start investigating this is by calling a handful of potential centers and ask how long they’ve been operating, if they’re licensed, the age range of the children in their care and the ratio of staff to children.
You should also ask about availability. Are they accepting new clients? What are their qualifications? How many adults are onsite? Depending on age of the kids and where you live, you could be looking at $800 to $1,000 per month.
Follow up your phone calls by scheduling a tour, or better yet, drop in unannounced to see how the centre functions. Make sure there are fire detectors in the place and that the kids look content. Are they attentive, disciplined and pleasant? What will they do if your kid gets sick?
Go through a private home-daycare agency to find a placement for your child in a private home or conduct the search yourself. No matter how you choose to do it, you’ll want to look for someone who promotes a supportive learning environment in their home.
You should also ask about the number of children in the program, hours, health policies (television rules, sample menus, daily schedules and references.
Be prepared for the caregiver to have her own questionnaire, says Bernard. She’ll ask for parent contact information, medical history, favorite toys, allergies, diet restrictions, emergency contacts and who is permitted to pick the children up. The more permission the place requires the better it probably is as they are trying to protect your kid!

Parenting Tips
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Ways to Save Money for Families

Most families today are dealing with overwhelming debt. I have found that one way to cut down on spending is to separate my wants from needs. Those fancy $200 boots are a want. Don't listen to that saleslady that is telling you they will last you forever and that they are an investment. You can probably invest in much cheaper boots somehow! Food and shelter are a need! Designer clothing is not
If you're in debt then it only means one thing. It means you've been spending more than you earn. Write down everything you spend for one month – you'll quickly see any areas of waste where you can cut back and save money.
Even debit cards can encourage you spend money you can't afford. There is something about plastic and not seeing your balance that makes you spend more. By withdrawing a set amount in cash for the week, you're better able to manage your spending within a budget.
I have found that making lunches, drinking coffee at home and cutting out taxis can make a big difference over the course of a month. Living without cash is a lifestyle choice – if last summer's dresses are still wearable then resist the urge to splurge on something trendy and new.
Another tip is to carry cash. Basically if you cannot afford to pay for it in cash leave it in the stole. Keep your credit cards for exceptional purchases that require the use of plastic, like airline tickets or hotel reservations.
Don't let that big mortgage balance stop you from trying to pay it off. It might take awhile, but paying down your mortgage will save you heaps of interest in the end. Use extra cash, bonuses or tax returns to pay down your principal. If you can afford it, consider switching to a shorter amortization period. For example, a $200,000 mortgage with a 25-year amortization period sees you paying a whopping $148,990 in interest over that period (and only if interest rates don't rise in the meantime!). Double up on your monthly payments and switch to a 10-year amortization and you pay just $53,969. Making regular payments against your principal will also knock those costs down.
Bottom line is that we should all plan to have six months of living expenses in a savings account in case of a health crisis or job loss. This is called 'Creating a Cushion.' Without an emergency fund, even the most frugal people can quickly spiral into debt when hit by an unexpected expense.

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