Advice please :)

[sunshinesmiles]

Thank you everyone for your advice and for sharing your personal experience I haven't been on this site for long but I love the support and community feel that I have seen so far. I appreciate it!
I will be going to look at my friend's house tomorrow, and if the layout works for me then I might move in May 1st. That gives me a couple of months to organize myself and aim for a July start (unless I have families who are eager and willing to start earlier). I will also have a few months living expenses saved in case I don't have any families until September. Does anyone find the summer months to be slower?

[5 Little Monkeys]

When I started, I had my boy who I previously was a nanny for but only part time and I filled 2 ft spots immediately. For a long time I had those 3 plus another one who was more casual. Than the first summer I had 2 older siblings come for the summer only. Than a little less than a year after I started,about 10 months in, I was full. If I could go back and change anything, it would be that I charged ft for any child regardless of days here. Taking pt really messes up your income because it can be difficult to find 2 children to share a spot so that you are in ratio. I have had it work a few times BUT than one of them leaves and you have to find a child who can fill their exact schedule and that can be hard. It's really annoying.

I have said that I am no longer taking pt's but I can't charge ft rate when the option to come some days isn't there so I am stuck with taking pt's for awhile longer. Hopefully one day it all lines up and I can do ft only or at least charge for ft only but right now it just doesn't work out If this was my only household income than I would definitely not take part time unless they agreed to pay fulltime. Just my advice though...