Taxes...claiming food

[sandylynn]

Hi there, I know this has been talked about before but I need some input....I don't shop separately for the daycare....I have been claiming 4.00 per child per day....so 100.00 a week....have I been under estimating how much I spend. When I look at my monthly grocery bill..it's astronomical....my husband and I don't eat that much money in food!!! Would anyone be willing to share how they work their food deduction out...Thanks a bunch,

[BlueRose]

I claim $8/child/scheduled day
$2/snack x 2 snacks/day
$4/lunch x 1 lunch/day
total $8.00/day/child

If you offer breakfast or dinner as well that will up the amount.

[sandylynn]

Thanks BlueRose for your reply....I offer breakfast, snack, lunch and snack...so I think I am on the LOW end...definately

[bright sparks]

Thanks BlueRose for your reply....I offer breakfast, snack, lunch and snack...so I think I am on the LOW end...definately

My accountant always says that claims for food at $10 or more will flag the CRA so for those not shopping separately to be very very careful calculating it this way. I claimed $10 a day per child for two snacks and lunch in 2015 because that is how much it cost for me to serve a fully organic from scratch meal plan. Maybe CRA will question it, but I have my receipts and menus to back it up so Im okay. I now claim $7 a day since scrapping the organic because that is a very close number. Don't cut yourself short sandylynn.

[lemondrop]

I took a typical week's menu and figured out the cost, which turned out to be just over $7 per child per day, so I claim $7. I was told by a friend who is an accountant that since I don't buy daycare food separately, to just keep my sample menu and my cost calculations with my other receipts and that would be enough 'proof' if I was ever audited.

[sandylynn]

Thanks bright sparks and lemondrop....I really have been on the low end....parents always tell me that they eat better at my home than theirs....I think I should up it to at least 5.00 / per child....they eat well here ....

[BlueRose]

My accountant always says that claims for food at $10 or more will flag the CRA so for those not shopping separately to be very very careful calculating it this way. I claimed $10 a day per child for two snacks and lunch in 2015 because that is how much it cost for me to serve a fully organic from scratch meal plan. Maybe CRA will question it, but I have my receipts and menus to back it up so Im okay. I now claim $7 a day since scrapping the organic because that is a very close number. Don't cut yourself short sandylynn.

Thank you for letting us know. My accountant has never mentioned this to me, but I have always claimed less then $10.

Anyone who is claiming a $ amount per child should check with their accountant (if they have one) or with cra to confirm they are within the proper claim limit if they are unsure.

[Busy ECE mommy]

I shop separately for daycare. We eat healthy but not organic, and I have a menu. I can't imagine claiming $8 a day per child. My food totals are about $450-500 a month for 5 full time children. That includes 2 snacks and hot lunch(southern ontario)

[5 Little Monkeys]

Fwiw, I have 4 daycare kids and 2 adults in my household and I buy my groceries all together (personal products brought separate and not claimed) and then I'm able to claim half of my grocery bill, with receipts to prove. (50% is the amount I can claim for most things because I have a daycare dedicated space)

I figured out a rough daily cost it would be given last years total and it works out to $8-$9. That is with lots of fruits and veggies, baking supplies etc. Oops, just realized I didn't factor the 2 adults into this so maybe $5 per child is pretty reasonable? I guess it will also depend on your area though and cost of groceries

Whatever you claim, just make sure to have the receipts to prove it and even if you're audited, it shouldn't matter because you can back up your claim :)

[5 Little Monkeys]

This works out to about $5/child/day. I'm thinking that's probably the average for most of us

In reply to busyecemommy's post....

[bright sparks]

I think the key thing here is claim what it costs, or extremely close. I don't think it is a good idea to guesstimate to be honest, but I do not have time to do separate grocery shopping unless I am doing my batch cooking technique which I haven't been doing religiously since reopening in May. I serve zero processed foods but am not organic anymore. My weekly grocery bill for fruit and veg alone for my daycare kids averages at $60-$70 and can vary dramatically depending on the time of year and the fluctuating cost of produce. I've had a couple of recent weeks at $50 but I'm serving a lot more raw veggies for snacks instead of fruit now. I bake from scratch and freeze in single portions and typically buy those ingredients in bulk when on sale. I also buy my rice and pasta in bulk organic and gluten free because its actually cheaper than conventional this way.

I have been looking into the Walmart and Superstore click and collect. I am a terrible impulse buyer lol I like the idea of purchasing all on line and then hubby picking up on the way home. That way I have separate receipts for daycare groceries and only buy what I need. I'm also starting to serve more vegetarian bean and lentil based meals because my next biggest expense is meat. My son is vegetarian so its no biggy. I don't serve fish anymore as I have children with fish allergies.

I used to have a no expense spared attitude towards my daycare menu plan and served fully organic. A couple of years I claimed very high for food. Now I am constantly challenging myself to buy healthy whole foods at the lowest prices. Such a turn around in my approach since recovering from a year as an unemployed full time student. It's quite satisfying and yes I know this makes me kind of sad lol Means more money in my pocket though at the end of the day and my daycare kids are still eating wicked healthy grub!

[lemondrop]

I use the 'dirty dozen' list when deciding whether to buy organic or not.

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/queen-of-green/faqs/food/what-are-the-dirty-dozen-and-the-clean-fifteen/

[5 Little Monkeys]

The SS click and collect is AMAZING!! Lol. We've used it a handful of times and my husband goes during the week (cheaper then weekend days) and picks it up. They are super friendly, even load it if you want, come out and grab your coupons. It's great :)

I was never a SS shopper and was leery of their produce but it's been awesome. I'm converted :) We still go to Sobeys for some produce and our meat but I no longer waste a day shopping!!

[Fearlessbaby]

50% of my grocery bill

[bright sparks]

The SS click and collect is AMAZING!! Lol. We've used it a handful of times and my husband goes during the week (cheaper then weekend days) and picks it up. They are super friendly, even load it if you want, come out and grab your coupons. It's great :)

I was never a SS shopper and was leery of their produce but it's been awesome. I'm converted :) We still go to Sobeys for some produce and our meat but I no longer waste a day shopping!!

I really want to do this, but i can't use coupons or price match so it isn't worth it 😬

[5 Little Monkeys]

Why can't you use coupons? As stated in my previous post, I've used them.

I wondered about the price matching too but always forget to ask. I don't price match very often at all so it hasn't been a big concern of mine. If it's a lot cheaper somewhere else, I'll just go to that store (there are some things I won't buy at SS) and if it's not too much more, I just grab it from SS. The time it has saved me is awesome!! I also save money because there's no impulse buts anymore (aka $20 on junk lol)

We still shop at a couple other places but SS is definitely where we buy the bulk of our stuff now :) and I never used to shop at all, what a change!

[sandylynn]

Has anyone out there ever been audited

[Van]

What is CLICK AND COLLECT???
I shop at s/store so I am missing out on this as I never heard of it LOL

[sandylynn]

When it comes to paper towels, toilet tissue, cleaning products etc. is this a percentage also, I noticed someone claims 100% of these products

[Van]

The SS click and collect is AMAZING!! Lol. We've used it a handful of times and my husband goes during the week (cheaper then weekend days) and picks it up. They are super friendly, even load it if you want, come out and grab your coupons. It's great :)

I was never a SS shopper and was leery of their produce but it's been awesome. I'm converted :) We still go to Sobeys for some produce and our meat but I no longer waste a day shopping!!

I can't believe it but s/s does NOt have click and collect in BC !!
it would be sooo handy for daycares everywhere home and group daycares.
I emailed them requesting that service in BC as it sounds like it is the rest of Canada so why not here too?

[RedWagon8823]

This is wonderful! I was so nervous about tax time because u never actually thought to desperate the food bills or even how that would work. What other things are we allowed to claim?