Rate increases

[bright sparks]

I would mention it o the families, present your case as to why you are not going to do organic...if they see it is to prevent THEIR daily fees from rising I suspect most will be fine. The family that was keen for organic will likely be fine with their child having non-organic food for the remaining months of care. I have a vegetarian family here that is fine with their child eating meat while in my care (daily) because they realize the trade off of having their child eat meat is that their child is in a daycare that both child and family are happy with. Surely they could find a vegetarian daycare but they would just be trading off for something else. I would find it surprising if they left care so close to the start of school because of a change in food, especially if you explain the reasoning.

Wow! There is a significant difference in eating organic or conventionally grown versus being a vegetarian and eating meat at daycare. Why would they need an exclusively vegetarian daycare to accommodate vegetarian meals? It's not hard to accommodate that in the slightest or have the parent send food. Sorry going off topic but I just find that alarming!!

[Lee-Bee]

Wow! There is a significant difference in eating organic or conventionally grown versus being a vegetarian and eating meat at daycare. Why would they need an exclusively vegetarian daycare to accommodate vegetarian meals? It's not hard to accommodate that in the slightest or have the parent send food. Sorry going off topic but I just find that alarming!!

As easy as it seems to skip out on the meat for a vegetarian child I don't think it is THAT easy. For one the meat is a huge source of protein and if I just cut it out the child is now left with starch and veggies everyday. A vegetarian incorporates other sources of protein in place of meat in their diet to compensate for the lack of meat. In addition a LARGE amount of my meals are made in the crock pot...so even the starch and veggies are soaked in meat juices for hours :-) It's hard to get around the meat when cooked like that!! Obviously the family isn't so hard core vegetarian that their child having meat here is an issue.

I wasn't so much comparing organic to meat/vegetarianism but to point out that a lot of families are comfortable flexing on some issues to keep their child in quality care. Therefore I don't think informing a family that is keen for organic meals will result in pulling a child out of care.

I wouldn't have signed the family on if they wanted to send their own meals to avoid meat. I would possibly (possibly) consider doing it for a family that has been in care for a long time and needed to suddenly change their child's diet for health reasons...but I have no desire to start serving different children, different foods.

[bright sparks]

Amanda and 5LM I think that is the route I will be going. I need to make more money but can't risk raising my rates with the current situation in my town. I have one family now who loves that I am all organic so that may be a sore spot for her but then her son leaves for school in Sept 2015 so I don't think it will be a deal breaker. Everyone else seems happy that it isn't processed foods and all home cooked. I reduced the frequency in which I take the kids out in my minivan to cut costs recently too. I would love to eliminate my van altogether as it would save me a lot, but I need to be able to be their for my own kids in an emergency should the need arise and I would not be able to do that if I didn't have a vehicle to cart all the daycare kids in. Also in the summer months while school is out I wouldn't be able to taxi my kids to their day camps so I just don't take the kids out anywhere unless absolutely necessary or if it isn't within walking distance with the stroller.

Would anyone suggest I even bring up the change in food with any daycare parents?? I feel deceitful to be honest seeing as that is one of my big selling points for daycare regardless of whether or not that one thing was why they chose me or whether it was the overall package I offer. That being said I'd hate to piss anyone off for signing up offering organic and then no longer offering it.

Thoughts??

[nschildcare]

Amanda and 5LM I think that is the route I will be going. I need to make more money but can't risk raising my rates with the current situation in my town. I have one family now who loves that I am all organic so that may be a sore spot for her but then her son leaves for school in Sept 2015 so I don't think it will be a deal breaker. Everyone else seems happy that it isn't processed foods and all home cooked. I reduced the frequency in which I take the kids out in my minivan to cut costs recently too. I would love to eliminate my van altogether as it would save me a lot, but I need to be able to be their for my own kids in an emergency should the need arise and I would not be able to do that if I didn't have a vehicle to cart all the daycare kids in. Also in the summer months while school is out I wouldn't be able to taxi my kids to their day camps so I just don't take the kids out anywhere unless absolutely necessary or if it isn't within walking distance with the stroller.

Would anyone suggest I even bring up the change in food with any daycare parents?? I feel deceitful to be honest seeing as that is one of my big selling points for daycare regardless of whether or not that one thing was why they chose me or whether it was the overall package I offer. That being said I'd hate to piss anyone off for signing up offering organic and then no longer offering it.

Thoughts??

I would tell them.

[mickyc]

I wouldn't say anything. Do you parents actually care what their kids are being fed everyday? Mine don't. I don't post it, they never ask and I never say. Some days we eat healthier than other's, some days we don't have milk etc.

[Fun&care]

I would for sure let the parents know. Just a heads up, you don't have to make a big deal of it but if all your current clients signed on while you were offering all organic meals, I think they deserve to know that you are changing that. If they find out somehow through another source they might feel it was deceitful of you not to say anything.

I seem to have mostly families who like to know what their kids eat so if it were me I would for sure have to say something.

[bright sparks]

I would for sure let the parents know. Just a heads up, you don't have to make a big deal of it but if all your current clients signed on while you were offering all organic meals, I think they deserve to know that you are changing that. If they find out somehow through another source they might feel it was deceitful of you not to say anything.

I seem to have mostly families who like to know what their kids eat so if it were me I would for sure have to say something.

I agree. I signed them up with a promise of certain things and for me to go back on that is one thing but to lie about it is deceitful and really says a lot about my character. Any suggestions on how to justify it and/or explain it to them?

[5 Little Monkeys]

I would let them know that in an effort to cut costs and be able to make a profit that you will be decreasing the amount of organic food but still offering as much as you can. Explain that you are taking this approach instead of raising fee's so that you are able to stay open.

I'm not huge on the organic bandwagon but I've read a handful of articles that go into detail on what items you can save money on and not buy organic. Some food just tastes better organically so I do buy a bit of those items. See if you can find a happy medium that keeps parents happy and doesn't bankrupt you.

Cutting down on other expenses will help too. For all of us that means different things. If you don't already, have you considered making your own laundry soap, hand soap, body wash, cleaning supplies? Can you cut down on cell plans, cancel tv for the summer, things like that. Keeping lights off is a good idea!

Use coupons for things you do use like condiments, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, hygiene items. If you shop at Costco know your prices, some things are awesome at Costco and some are more money. I compare to sale prices.

[bright sparks]

I would let them know that in an effort to cut costs and be able to make a profit that you will be decreasing the amount of organic food but still offering as much as you can. Explain that you are taking this approach instead of raising fee's so that you are able to stay open.

I'm not huge on the organic bandwagon but I've read a handful of articles that go into detail on what items you can save money on and not buy organic. Some food just tastes better organically so I do buy a bit of those items. See if you can find a happy medium that keeps parents happy and doesn't bankrupt you.

Cutting down on other expenses will help too. For all of us that means different things. If you don't already, have you considered making your own laundry soap, hand soap, body wash, cleaning supplies? Can you cut down on cell plans, cancel tv for the summer, things like that. Keeping lights off is a good idea!

Use coupons for things you do use like condiments, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, hygiene items. If you shop at Costco know your prices, some things are awesome at Costco and some are more money. I compare to sale prices.

I have started price matching with an app called "flip" It is so much better than paper flyers as it is very quick and something I can check if I ever go back to the store in the week for top ups or extras. In addition I have been going to superstore for everything as they price match and I also get pc points. I have 85 dollars racked up since March which makes me very happy. I have also been buying items in bulk when on sale.

I think for me this is not specifically about me being financially short, but that I feel a bit entitled, please don't judge lol. I feel I am entitled to a pay rise, let alone a rate increase just to cover inflation. I know I can cut back to make my outgoings balance this but it kinda sucks that I have to do that to make sure it doesn't end up costing me more annually to run my daycare but shouldn't that really be an added expense of the parents that childcare costs increase and that I annually make more money?? I feel like I am penny pinching and cutting back on things in my life so they can keep their pockets fuller even though their wage goes up. I am trying hard to cut back anyway to set myself up for being a one income household in the next year or two, but my ego feels very hard done to haha...there is always something though right, such is life.

[5 Little Monkeys]

We're self employed so the only time we get a raise is when we give ourselves one. Nothing wrong with that.

For me, I don't feel entitled to a yearly raise. However, that could be because I know not all my parents are at jobs that receive annual raises either. I am lucky that my expenses don't increase each year so I also don't feel the pinch as hard as some others. I grew up with a family run business and know that being self employed is hard work, long hours and can sometimes bring in less money than working for someone else. I am lucky though that my hdc is profitable and makes me more money now than at my last few jobs. It's all relative though and for each of us it will be different.

I have decided that the only time I will increase fee's is for new families and it won't be every time. Right now I increased it by $2 and it will likely stay at this rate for at least 2-5 years. However, if things ever changed and I needed more income, I would consider raising fee's or more likely, decreasing costs. Do what you feel is best for you and your business. When the market is at it's best for us, it would only make sense to increase. When the market won't allow for an increase, we have to deal with it in other ways. Owning our own business means we will always be weighing the pros and cons of staying open vs finding work out of the home.

Good luck to you in whatever decision you decide to go with!