argh don't know what to do.....WWYD?

Darcy goes to CC two days per week. Has done since she was 18months old so 2 years. We have kept her in while I've been off to secure her place for when I go back to work, however we're currently trying to figure out how I can be a SAHM.
We pay full CC fees so it costs me nearly $300 a fortnight.
She loves school and is a social and very bright little girl, however if I stay home we can't affor to keep paying....we don't get anyhtnig from centrelink and I'm not sure if that will change with me not working. There aren't any play groups around here and most of our friends kids are much older or much younger.
She will go to school in 2011 at 4.5years old so only 12months but I don't want to disadvantage her socially or accademically.
so do I cut back on other things to keep her in there???

this is a tough one
have you done a estimate on the fao site?
you can put in all the details as they would be if you were a stay at home mum
we just did this as we are weighing up wether it is going to eb more finacially sound for me to work and pay almost 500 a fortnight in child care fees for 2 kids or stay home and not have child care.

have you maybe looked into 1 day a week of a pre kindy style child care for next year so one that runs similar to school hours and only on school days so they have hollidays etc. we have a few of there around here and they are perfect for teh SAHM's and the kids as it keeps that social environment up.

and it depends on what you woudl eb going without to pay for her day care?

you may get some benefit back from centrelink like CCR once your not working or some extra FTB a or b.

its a tough choice i know we are trying to make the same choice as you.

Have you double checked with centrelink that you get no entitlement? it just seems strange that you have to pay the full amount? I mean, unless your husband is on an exorbitant amount of money.. LOL

I'd ring them again, just to check and then go from there. Maybe look around for a cheaper day care?

Could you investigate council run kindies (I think they are called different things in diffferent states - the year before you start proper school)

they are usually only for kids to go to a day or two a week are and quite cheap.

Definitely contact centrelink - I find ringing is quicker than messing around with the website - you might be surprised at what you're entitled to, as some of the benefits hinge on what the lowest income earner is getting rather than the total amount. You can even give them different scenarios, eg, what do we qualify for this year (based on what you have already earned) vs next financial year (when you might have earned nothing at all) because again that might make a difference too.

Have you investigated the option of cutting to only one day or even one and a half days? Are there any other community based child care centres or kindies that might offer a similar program for a different price?

ooh pres school would be a good idea.
We get no entitlements as I'm still getting half pay. I will do an estimate....didn't think of that.
Kawazuki yep that's us. With both of them in for 2 days it would be over $600.
woops snap MD. We live in the country. CC is verrrry limited in option. I didn't knoww that about some of the payments. Thanks :D

What about family day care? its usually MUCH cheaper. I know my sister (who was on a higher income than we were) was only paying $40 for the days (i think they went 2 or 3?) her kids were in care, and here I was working 1 day a week and paying $90 a day for both kids.

yeh its a fien line for us aswell
with me working i think we are up about 60 bucks a fortnight...

so im realy only working for 60 bucks a fortnight lol because im busy paying other people to look after my children.

but we need that 60 a fortnight it covers the extras lol and is our saving money for chrissy and cars etc.

Family day care is out...there is a huge waiting list, and I guess she doesn't really need to go. But she just loves it and they love her.

i know my DD would have withdrawls from school if we took her out
she says good night to her teacher when we put ehr to bed she runs through everyone,
good night nany poppy, mummy,daddy,cody, stitchy,kylie (teacher) lol seriously