Childcare - How Much Do You Pay?

Lord Fart Bucket on 21/03/2018 - 09:30
Last edited 12/01/2020 - 15:33 by 1 other user

Morning OzB.

What brought this question on? A fee increase letter. I will now be charged $109 per day for childcare for my 4 year old (Parramatta NSW area).

Of course, there's little real justification in the letter… I know the staff aren't getting a pay rise. Yes, cost of living (groceries, electricity, etc) has gone up… but it's an increase per child of $10 per day. With over 50 children at this centre and the owner having 4 centres, it's looking like a nice money grab of over $500,000 per year. (50 kids per centre, 5 days per week, 52 weeks a year, 4 centres).

And yes, they do have you by the balls as it is hard to move your kid when he/she has friends there, places are limited, etc.

So, here's my question… how much do you get charged per day (excluding government rebates, etc). How old is your child… and what's the postcode of the childcare centre?

Financial Childcare

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 21/03/2018 - 09:45
    +1

    $125 for over 3 yr old. Everything included, nappies, all food etc. Post code 2010

    • Scrooge McDuck on 21/03/2018 - 11:53
      +41

      How much for a toilet trained over 23 yr old?

      • Donaldhump on 21/03/2018 - 13:28
        +9

        sign me up, nappies and a buffet

  • [Deactivated] on 21/03/2018 - 09:49
    +6

    offload to my parents

    • Scrooge McDuck on 21/03/2018 - 12:01
      +32

      That's all good until your parents need their own care. Hopefully then you can negotiate a group discount.

      • idonotknowwhy on 21/03/2018 - 17:27
        +7

        Thanks for the heavy comment :(

      • pennypincher98 on 21/03/2018 - 18:56
        +1

        Haha +1 for making me laugh
        The imagery of either toddlers in a nursing home or seniors in day care is hilarious.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 21/03/2018 - 19:50
          +3

          I think they'd get along quite well. They both eat baby food, wear nappies, misbehave, etc.

        • paaj on 21/03/2018 - 20:11
          +3

          It has happened before

        • syousef on 22/03/2018 - 06:41
          +2

          @paaj:

          That actually looks like a good idea, so long as the seniors aren't burdened beyond their ability and the children aren't neglected. You'd still need staff, and I'd be worried the company doing this would use the elderly as free labour and cut costs.

        • paaj on 22/03/2018 - 10:50
          +2

          @syousef: you're spot on. I think the main take away is that toddlers and elders get to play with each other and get some bonding. Not so much for the free labour - though it is easy to manipulate.

        • syousef on 22/03/2018 - 10:51
          +2

          @paaj:

          I've always hated how the very young and very old are increasingly being treated as an inconvenience.

        • eggles01 on 22/03/2018 - 15:03
          -2

          @syousef: EXTREMELY WELL STATED if more parent/s did not jump for the big baby bonus they would have 1 less thing to whinge about,remember you did the deed so now that it is time to look after the little bundle you want the Government or somebody else to keep paying you for the rest of your lives,the same reasoning is,why buy a motor vehicle and whinge when you have to pay the cost of fuel if you want to drive it

        • sparkanum on 22/03/2018 - 18:54
          +5

          @eggles01: Unlike a car, those bubs will one day be funding your retirement / healthcare / public infrastructure. It's in society's interest to ensure they are well cared for, educated, and healthy. Hence why it's not unreasonable to at least partly subsidise childcare in the same way we fund their education and medical costs in later years.

          Do you really think that many people had babies purely to get the baby bonus? And that those are the same working families that are looking for childcare?

          I think syousef makes a great point, but I suspect for different reasons to you.

        • [Deactivated] on 24/03/2018 - 04:30

          @Scrooge McDuck: Life cycle. We end the same way we began - bald, vulnerable, useless, toothless, incontinent, and babbling nonsense.

          Poetic.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 25/03/2018 - 23:08

          @blue-dinosaur:

          Yes, except in the Western world the financial situations of the two are often vastly different.

          It is said that youth is wasted on the young. The flip side of that is that wealth is wasted on the old. Who needs a home more, a young couple who owns none, or an old couple who already own one or more?

          Conventional "wisdom" tells us to work hard when we are young, fit and healthy, and delay gratification until we retire old, sore and achy.

        • Baghern on 28/03/2018 - 16:06

          @sparkanum:

          Thats such a cheap copout… how on earth did society operate before…

        • sparkanum on 29/03/2018 - 09:00

          @Baghern: Yeah, history was awesome. We should never look to improve on anything.

      • ozbjunkie on 27/03/2018 - 02:15

        Or if you get the timing right, oldies look after kids, then they swap.

  • bonezAU on 21/03/2018 - 09:52

    $97 per day, 5 days per week for a 2 year old. We get a slight discount for having him there full time, if we cut it back to 4 or less days it increases to about $102 per day. Postcode 6060. We have to supply nappies but everything else is included.

    We just found out that as of 2nd April the government CCR limit of $7500 will be reached, so instead of being ~$450 per fortnight out of pocket it's now going to cost us $790 per fortnight until the new financial year :(

    It's going to hurt for the next few months, almost not even worth my wife going to work but she will keep slogging it out for a bit as there'll still be a bit of her pay left over after childcare expenses.

    • Looking4Bargians on 21/03/2018 - 11:22

      How did you found out that you will be reaching $7500 CCR limit ?

      • bonezAU on 21/03/2018 - 13:59
        +2

        Noticed on my invoice that the CCR had dropped by more than half. I queried the childcare centre and they told me we had almost reached the limit and this would be the final amount until the next financial year.

        You can query your childcare provider at any time throughout the year and they can look it up for you. You can also look at it through MyGov, it's buried deep somewhere in the Centrelink area as well.

        • Cadic on 22/03/2018 - 12:58
          +1

          From July 2018 there will be no more cap CCR and CCB will be one.

        • Inzo on 22/03/2018 - 17:18

          @Cadic: I thought that CCR was going up to $10k per annum?

        • Cadic on 26/03/2018 - 09:45

          @Inzo: For an individual and any partner earning between $185,710 and $350,000, an annual subsidy cap of $10,000 per child will apply.
          If your join income under $185710 then you have no cap .
          you can try this https://www.education.gov.au/sites/education/files/chcare/es…

    • FiDad on 21/03/2018 - 12:31
      +3

      Good news is that as of July 2018 this $7500 limit is increasing to $10000 or possibly more based on your income levels. Here is the link for more information

      • Ace26 on 21/03/2018 - 15:54
        +3

        Or less depending ones income

      • MrGareth on 21/03/2018 - 19:45

        From what I can see:

        You need to hit a combined family salary of $65k for an 85% subsidy, $170K for a 50% subsidy, $340K for a 20% subsidy (i.e. the subsidy gets lower the more you get paid).

        There is no annual cap at all until you hit a combined family salary of $185k, then you get a $10k cap.

        • syousef on 22/03/2018 - 06:43
          +2

          Work harder, earn less. Sounds familiar.

        • Jolakot on 22/03/2018 - 11:50
          +5

          @syousef: What, do you expect people earning 180k a year to get Centrelink too?

          The entire point of them is to make it easier for people to have kids so we don't end up like Japan with a population bomb or like Europe where they're forced to dilute their culture with mass immigration, by making it financially viable. What's the point then of giving it to people who don't need It?

        • syousef on 22/03/2018 - 12:43
          +3

          @Jolakot:

          The familiar cry of "middle class welfare". But someone who earns $180K/yr usually has to sacrifice quite a lot and ought to get something for it. The job may involve shift work and/or travel and working on the weekend. You're pretty much expected to put your personal life on hold if there's an emergency. A lot is expected if you're earning that much. There aren't people at the local supermarket trying to sign you up for that sum.

          If they're cut out of $20k in various benefits and levies, and then taxed at the highest rate for half of that $180K, why the hell should they work that hard? Better to work half as hard and earn $120K? By the time you cut them out of $20K in benefits and tax them an extra $22K, they're not much better off.

        • Baghern on 28/03/2018 - 16:12
          -1

          @syousef:

          It covers two people…. earning above average wage, well above mediam wage.

          In that case few people are working extremely hard, most would be 9-5 office workers.

          If its one person… why do you need childcare…

        • syousef on 28/03/2018 - 17:46

          @Baghern:

          Most families are not on a total of $180k. I'm not saying none are. I'm just saying that is a ridiculous thing to expect - "two people…. earning above average wage, well above mediam wage.". In any case if you have a single main breadwinner this discourages them from working any harder.

        • Baghern on 28/03/2018 - 18:33
          -2

          @syousef:

          People earning 180k, are mostly not working that much harder, than the labourer doing 50-60hrs weeks

          They're earning that much, because of the market. They're not working more hrs, they're not going to dumb themselves down because they're not getting subsides.

          Someone on 180k, isn't getting inflation type annual raises, 3% would be $4,500. No they're getting minimal 5% to 50%

        • syousef on 28/03/2018 - 21:17
          +1

          @Baghern:

          So your argument is that office workers don't work as hard as labourers? And therefore they should have it all taken away from them? And it's not going to affect the economy if they work less?

          Reality check: Almost no one is getting 5% never mind 50% annual raises. I'm not going to bother discussing this with you any more. Based on what you've said I don't think it's your area of expertise.

      • sanjeevkathuria on 22/03/2018 - 12:53
        +1

        that limit is if you have more than $180000 per annum….otherwise Caps will be removed and there will be no cap.
        "If your family earns $185,710 or less, you won’t have an annual cap on your CCS."

      • sanjeevkathuria on 22/03/2018 - 12:54
        -1

        that limit is if you have more than $180000 per annum….otherwise Caps will be removed and there will be no cap.
        "If your family earns $185,710 or less, you won’t have an annual cap on your CCS."

      • FW190 on 24/03/2018 - 19:25
        +2

        wow, $10k…… wish us SINK would get some handouts…..I mean getting some of our taxes back too….

        /brace for the neg storm

        • Daabido on 25/03/2018 - 12:43

          What would you like a handout for?

        • Baghern on 28/03/2018 - 16:13

          I demand to hug and kiss a dozen babies a year as a refund!

        • FW190 on 28/03/2018 - 18:16

          @Baghern:

          yep, make those babies work for our tax dollars :)

        • FW190 on 28/03/2018 - 18:17

          @Daabido:

          What would you like a handout for?

          as long as I get $10k, I am not picky, any excuses will do :)

    • ilikeradiohead on 21/03/2018 - 16:38
      +1

      $790 or $970? You wife must love going to work for 8 hours to be able to afford a packed of chips at the end of the day :/

      • bonezAU on 21/03/2018 - 17:00

        $790 per fortnight or $395 per week.

        • syousef on 22/03/2018 - 12:48

          My wife is a qualified primary teacher who prefers to do casual work and she stayed home with the kids for almost a decade. She couldn't always guarantee the work but child care fees would have to be paid regardless. Therefore we would have been paying for her to work. It was only a little better once they hit preschool age because she couldn't pick them up in time and even though I work shifts. I could do dropoff maybe 1 week in 4 but never back in time for pickup.

          As it is, since returning to work part time casual she's only making a minor contribution to the household financially. And that's before you consider expenses involved with remaining qualified as a teacher. (Hard to claim on tax when you haven't had to pay any). It sucks because she's great with kids and has a keen mind. When people start going on about how overpaid teachers are or how little they work I almost want to grab them and shake them.

        • Skinnerr on 24/03/2018 - 22:18

          @syousef: sucks because she's great with kids and has a keen mind. When people start going on about how overpaid teachers are or how little they work I almost want to grab them and shake them

          Ive never heard this in my life. If anything its the opposite. Projecting here but this is almost the entire problem with public schooling.

        • syousef on 24/03/2018 - 23:14
          -1

          @thedude23:

          How many school teachers do you know personally? How many have you seen buy things for the kids with their own money? How many that stay up till 2am grading? How many that have had to jump through certification hoops in "their own time"? Are you even aware of what the recent certification requirements are?

          It's called ignorance. Of course you can look from up on high and poke holes when you have no idea what it takes to teach. And of course there are teachers that suck or are lazy but it's the exception not the rule.

          Sad thing is the ones that take it seriously burn out quickly with all these pressures, and meanwhile people like yourself, ignorant of what it takes, urinate on them from on high.

        • MaxIndiana on 24/03/2018 - 23:39

          @syousef:
          I think he meant he has only ever heard the opposite to what you said, that teachers don't get paid enough

        • syousef on 25/03/2018 - 00:11

          @MaxIndiana:

          If so I apologise.

          I've heard a lot of people criticize teachers. Even extended family whines about them "getting too many holidays".

        • Daabido on 25/03/2018 - 12:45

          @syousef: It's the only job where you steal from home and take it to work.

        • Daabido on 25/03/2018 - 12:48

          @syousef: Damn straight. They are so lazy. 12 weeks holiday a year. The work from 9 to 3 with an hour off in the middle to chat in the staff room. All the day's marking and preparation work and meetings and certification and planning and so on and so on get done by a little magic fairy called "Ignorant idiots don't know how hard teachers work".

    • letmesingh on 23/03/2018 - 11:02

      Hate When CCR finishes every year in last week of Feb and cost goes almost $500 week for a 4 year old. next 3 months be pain

    • virhlpool on 24/03/2018 - 19:20

      Whilst the CCR cap is $7500, Centrelink often stops paying the rebate/CCR to the centre after it reaches approx $6500 (not sure of the exact amount) for the financial year to keep some amount withheld for future adjustments against any over-payment in your CCB (or tax dues, I guess) when you file tax return after June. It's because CCB is income tested and the exact CCB can be calculated only when you file your tax return based on your taxable income. Though I understand that CCB is mostly too small or even zero in case of both partners working full-time and there's no major adjustment needed to hold $1000 against, this is the standard process they seem to follow.

      You get the withheld money into your bank account after final adjustments once your tax return is processed. So in this case, the fees debit amount from your bank account can increase almost from Feb and go until June, depending on the childcare fees. I am not sure if it happens in case of everyone but I have seen this for 2 yrs now and several of my friends tell the same.

  • [Deactivated] on 21/03/2018 - 09:53
    +2

    The good news it you better get used to it. I pay $136 a day to send two kids to high school.

    • Malarkey on 21/03/2018 - 13:03
      +16

      I'm assuming that's by choice right?

    • easternculture on 21/03/2018 - 17:41
      +25

      Username doesn't check out

    • abuch47 on 21/03/2018 - 17:56

      1365 = 68010 = 6800*4 = 27200/2 = $13,600 per kid that's pricey school or did you include lunches, bus, textbooks, uniform, computer, stationary?

      • [Deactivated] on 21/03/2018 - 18:00

        (25000 x 2) / 365

        Tuition fees + levies + camp

    • OzzyOzbourne on 21/03/2018 - 19:07
      +2

      Expensive for a public school

    • addicted on 22/03/2018 - 09:44
      +1

      expensive private school..mine is cheaper..costs 75$/day for 2 kids..

    • eggles01 on 22/03/2018 - 16:49
      +1

      well put them into a state school,easy

  • chumlee on 21/03/2018 - 09:57
    +88

    I leave my kids in the car at the casino. Costs $6 a day for parking

    • [Deactivated] on 21/03/2018 - 11:24
      +1

      My wife remembers this happening to her and her siblings back in the day.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 21/03/2018 - 12:04
      +79

      I leave my kids in the car at the casino. Costs $6 a day for parking

      You are a terrible parent!

      .

      RSL Clubs have free parking!!

      • OzzyOzbourne on 21/03/2018 - 19:08

        Waste of $6

        • serpserpserp on 21/03/2018 - 19:49
          +9

          You are not taking into account of the gains from the casino.

      • Quantumcat on 22/03/2018 - 00:20

        +1

    • reactor-au on 22/03/2018 - 00:11
      +3

      No kids, but going to look for a casino near the office in CBD, thanks for the tip

  • Seraphin7 on 21/03/2018 - 10:02

    You're getting it for cheap. Our place is about $135 for a four year old, may have even just gone up. I know others in our area go higher than this.

  • JimmyF on 21/03/2018 - 10:03
    +2

    I will now be charged $109 per day for childcare for my 4 year old

    Sounds like a steal! I wouldn't look after your 4yo for that a day!

    • ausdday on 21/03/2018 - 10:19
      +8

      Well, I am guessing female liberation means a man can quit his job and be a stay-at-home dad, if it comes to need. It doesn't have to be female staying at home.

    • chumlee on 21/03/2018 - 10:22
      +1

      Wow. You should give up eating a bowl of lemons for breakfast.

    • Lord Fart Bucket on 21/03/2018 - 10:33
      +2

      Can I ask why bother commenting if this is all you have to contribute?

      • Scrooge McDuck on 21/03/2018 - 12:09
        +30

        I'm not a political scientist, but I'm pretty sure that's a right wing comment.

    • MeesusEff on 21/03/2018 - 10:44
      +9

      Lol what a nut. I earn more than my husband, he can be the one that stays at home. It takes two to make a child so why should only women put a hold on their career.

        • altomic on 21/03/2018 - 12:45
          +22

          I agree with Herodotus.

          why do we outsource raising children?
          in fact why do we outsource their education as well?
          why the hell am I outsourcing my responsibility for my kids clothing? should be making them my self.
          (profanity) it, why outsource their health needs? my kid needs brain surgery, I should step up.

        • MeesusEff on 21/03/2018 - 12:55

          You are right, I should just be living off Centerlink money instead! Should I also spend my days cleaning the house, making sure there's a nice hot dinner, draw a bath for my husband and massage his feet every night? Pffft

          We aren't in the 1950's anymore. I get home at 6pm so he better have dinner prepared since he gets home at 2. If he wants a nice hot meal from me, well the burgers are better at Hungry Jacks.

        • Herodotus on 21/03/2018 - 14:21
          -7

          @altomic:
          Why not just slide them out of the womb into an incubator and tell your ma that you too consumed the procreation product.

        • SlickMick on 22/03/2018 - 13:30
          +1

          @altomic:
          I thought your were serious:
          * Outsourcing raising children - yeah somethings gone wrong with society on that one
          * Outsourcing education - hmmm I like to think a trained teacher would do better than me, but with gender identity nonsense going on at the moment, okay maybe schools can't be trusted anymore
          * clothing. Oh, this is sarcasm.

          There is a good point Herodotus alluded to, but anyone who shares that view would be groaning at that presentation.

        • gezza90 on 22/03/2018 - 20:25
          -1

          @altomic:
          I agree with Herodotus as well. We're living in a society where people pay others to do things be it cut their lawn, clean their house, have food delivered, buy take away, mobile mechanic, fix computer, renovate kitchen etc… Everything is at our fingertips now with smart phones and people are just becoming more lazy. Outsourcing childcare is a different can of worms. A couple decades ago it was common for the mum to look after the kids and the father to bring home the money/food. Now women are working and living expenses are on the rise. If a woman works, does that not make her more independent? Hence higher risk in divorce. And where does that leave family values?
          Unfortunately it's just the way the world is now. We are in this never ending cycle of coming up with solutions to problems.
          Even if childcare was free, I would not take my kids there. I cannot emphasise how important family values are. I am trying my best to build myself up financially so that my future wife doesn't need to work and can look after the kids. If she wants to work, then part time yes and hopefully the kids grandparents could babysit. FYI, my mum has never worked in her life and all she's done is look after me, my brother, cook dinner everyday, clean the house, laundry for over 30 years. My brother is a qualified actuary and I'm a qualified engineer with two masters. Not trying to be devious but just sharing my story…

        • Ulysses31 on 22/03/2018 - 20:45

          @gezza90: While I don’t disagree with your comments… I cannot emphasise how important social interaction & cultural tolerance is. We could tick boxes for days on the benefits from each side of the fence. I feel you only see one side.

        • Skinnerr on 24/03/2018 - 22:48

          @altomic: Why arent you a brain surgeon? WEAK!

        • Daabido on 25/03/2018 - 12:50

          @kza2610: Yes, yes you should. I'm glad you've finally come to your senses. Its "1950s", by the way.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 21/03/2018 - 12:13
        +2

        It takes two to make a child so why should only women put a hold on their career.

        In actual fact, it takes a woman about 9 months to make a child, but it takes a man only about 9 minutes.

        • MeesusEff on 21/03/2018 - 12:36
          +3

          Not even 9 minutes for some :P

        • altomic on 21/03/2018 - 12:43
          +2

          @kza2610: depends if you want to do it twice

        • Scrooge McDuck on 21/03/2018 - 17:43
          +2

          @kza2610:

          Not even 9 minutes for some :P

          Condolences.

        • Daabido on 25/03/2018 - 12:52

          Nine minutes? What is he, a superhero? I would be dead if my child making part lasted that long.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 25/03/2018 - 23:11

          @Daabido:

          Not all heroes wear capes.

    • OzzyOzbourne on 21/03/2018 - 19:09

      Clearly trolling or not on this planet

    • carnyturbo on 22/03/2018 - 17:20

      "Why have kids? If you can't keep away from the office for your child's first 4 years you are either a dupe or a slave".

      The average working mother/parent in 2018 spends more quality time with their kids than a stay at home mother/parent did in the 50s/60s/70s. Due in large part to a reduction in time spent on mundane maintenance activities (food prep, cleaning, etc.), and changing cultural norms. On that basis (and many others) I can't see how "female liberation" or females entering the workforce is an issue at all for child development.

      • Herodotus on 23/03/2018 - 10:54
        +1

        No doubt your idea of "quality time" justifies the thousands of hours your child will spend in a paid facility. Keep telling yourself that a few fleeting moments BTW release and sleep are quality.

  • coolhead on 21/03/2018 - 10:05

    $98 per day for 5 days a week and $103 per day for 4 or less days a week. 3yr old in childcare.
    Of course you get rebates on this but since first week of march everything out of pocket as Rebate quota has exhausted.

  • altomic on 21/03/2018 - 10:44
    +3

    if you have a spare bedroom in your house then get an Au Pair.

    • 2jzzzz on 21/03/2018 - 10:48

      How much a week? Less than $500?

      • altomic on 21/03/2018 - 11:29
        +3

        according to friends who have had them ~$150-$200 a week. you pay for their food and they live "for free" at your house in exchange for looking after the kids

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