Spouse and I have 1 3 year old son who is autistic. He was recently accepted into the public preschool system, with a class size ratio of 20 students to 4 adults (1 EC teacher, 1 ECSE teacher, 2 paraeducators). He will receive free breakfast and lunch while there. Preschool hours are 8:10 am bus pick up to 12:20 pm drop off. We will need care for him from 7:15 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday during the academic year early August to late May. We have found a homebased childcare location that is willing to do public preschool drop off and pick up (helping son get on & off the school bus).
This childcare option is charging $5,000 annually with a full time spot for 1 childcare provider and 6 kids. Our kid would be one of the oldest, with other kids ranging in age from sub 1 year to 4 years old. This childcare will not charge us for 11 weeks that I'm off in the summer.
We could look for a new childcare spot for our kid that's cheaper. I think we could find it. Quick searches reveal that we'd save approximately $500-$1,700 annually on childcare expenses. Spouse is in favor of keeping son in the current $5,000 annual set up with free academic preschool. He favors this for ease of childcare transportation (directly on my way to work, bike route) and consistency for our son (he is comfortable with the provider and has friends at this childcare). Spouse had few friends and a childhood filled with a lot of moving between schools. I understand his concerns and reasons, but considering the financial optimization side of things (reducing cost by up to $1,700) I can't shake the desire to optimize and lower costs.
MMM community, weigh in.
Spouse and I pay for childcare with the $5,000 dependent care FSA.
Other financials: including all healthcare costs, 529 costs, childcare costs with $5k annual option, we spend $38,000 for 2 adults, both 36 years old, and 1 3 year old. We have a paid off house that we don't intend on moving from, zero debt beyond a credit card that we pay in full each month. We jointly earn $112,000 per year from our regular employment (dual income, both in public education at different institutions in different roles). Side hustle income amounts to $5,000 to $12,000 annually, in addition to our regular salaried income.