Stop spending money!!

[kindertime]

This sounds like an exciting time for you Emma H! When I was starting out, I had less than no money, my parents had to help me buy a house and I too don't have my own kids. So everything was new. I spent several months that spring going to yard sales. As long as the toys are clean, and in good shape, there is nothing wrong with used. Are you on Kijiji? That could work too.

I also got a lot, a lot of stuff from dc parents and neighbors. (One neighbor let me take 1/2 her garage filled with stuff. Sooo cool.) As I got more finacially stable I have been slowly replacing and adding to my collection with newer and fancier. I too love to shop but try to keep it in check because I am on my own.

I have also found, that at any one time, the kids don't need to have that many toys out and available. If you start out slowly, you may find all of a sudden, you have enough.

And if I may go off on a tangent for a moment... haven't thought of this in years but just remembered. In my first few months open, a dcm gave me a 3 or 4 big garbage bags of stuffed animals and a kid's activity desk. The desk was wired with a light but the wires were broken and sticking out at the back. I don't remember how exactly now, but I do remember that it was dangerous, I thought. So I pulled all of the wires and the light part out. So then, maybe a month later, dcm comes in one day and asks to have the desk back.... okay, sure, but it's not quite the same anymore! Sigh.

Oh and one last thing, if you are looking for books, Scholastic (the school book orders) they do daycares too. When I called, the lady I spoke to didn't know what home daycare was.... but I finally got her to understand. The parents order books and you can too and the order earns you money to buy more books. Good luck and have fun!!

[Emma H]

Thank you kindertime! I opened my daycare last August and things are finally getting good now! The first location where I was at wasn't the nicest so there were many times I was waiting for parents for interviews and they just drove away as soon as they saw the outside of the building (you had to pull in and my widows would face the drive way and I could see it every time). I filled four spots in three week and got out of there ASAP. I have a condo now but a house is just needed for me personally because I am around daycare 24/7. When I first started I bought a lot of toys from once upon a child and the library where I live would always has great books for sale ( 25 -50 cents per book).
It was really nice for your family to help you out like that. Mine wold never in a million years do something like that for me. I remember having to get a cleaning job to help pay for the toys because my parents said they couldn't help me but the went to Greece two week later! I have been pretty successful and they now expect things from me and no way no how that is happening hahah
I will definitely take a look at Scholastic! I love books and can't get enough of them.