Rate increases

[5 Little Monkeys]

They all supply their own sunscreen and as I have said a couple of times we only make crafts around themes. This isn't a case of not being able to afford to run my daycare but simply that as the cost of running it goes up the expense is not passed on in any portion to the parents, it is coming out of my pocket, my earnings.

Yes I read that about crafts but I asked about gifts. I do a lot of baking with the children and will often send it home, I make up goody bags for various holidays such as valentines, Easter, Halloween etc, I buy birthday and Christmas gifts for the children and I make up a family basket of gifts when a family leaves. The amount of money I spend on these will sometimes vary if my extra cash fund is low at the time.

What specific costs have gone up that you are referring too? Knowing this will perhaps enable us to offer better suggestions. Some things go up in price but it won't always be up to the parents to pay for it if you know what I mean? For example, sometimes our cable/internet go up in price but I wouldn't necessarily raise my fees to cover that, instead I would decrease my package if I couldn't afford it anymore.

[bright sparks]

Yes I read that about crafts but I asked about gifts. I do a lot of baking with the children and will often send it home, I make up goody bags for various holidays such as valentines, Easter, Halloween etc, I buy birthday and Christmas gifts for the children and I make up a family basket of gifts when a family leaves. The amount of money I spend on these will sometimes vary if my extra cash fund is low at the time.

What specific costs have gone up that you are referring too? Knowing this will perhaps enable us to offer better suggestions. Some things go up in price but it won't always be up to the parents to pay for it if you know what I mean? For example, sometimes our cable/internet go up in price but I wouldn't necessarily raise my fees to cover that, instead I would decrease my package if I couldn't afford it anymore.

So the cost of utilities meaning gas, hydro and water. I'm not talking about things that are not related to daycare. Cable is not part of daycare expenses. Also the cost of gas (fuel) has gone up tremendously over the last few years during which time I haven't raises my rates. I hardly ever take my kids out in the minivan anymore although I specifically lease my 8 seater for work. My husband pays my cheques in now so I don't make that trip and I have managed to get my insurance down nearly 100 a month. Gas, hydro and water rates go up annually and I can't imagine that being any different in other provinces. Property tax goes up but obviously that isn't effected by my daycare but I use a hell of a lot more of the above three for business use even though I am very concious of what times I use my washer and lights being left on etc etc.

@momof4 yes hotdogs are just parts. I have had friends ask me if organic hotdogs are okay and my response is always to see if you don't mind eating organic bum holes hahaha. My 13 year old has now started asking what things are made out of and is being much more concious of the quality of food she puts inside her when she is eating food that someone else has provided her. She does a lot of camping so the bulk of that food is horrific. That being said she is still always polite it would always try and make plans ahead.of time otherwise if something was in front of her she would either eat it or leave it but would pull her face or complain about it if there wasn't another choice for her. Thankfully I raised her right on this area because I stood to my guns and don't run a restaurant in my house but at the same time if I know my kids don't like a certain thing, and especially for these types of reasons, I won't force them to eat it.