Todays question is what cost's over $17,000 per year, and many people can't do without?

Food? Nope! Medicine? Nope! Gas? Nope!

None of the above. It's Child Care!

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Child care is one of the most expensive parts of raising a family today. And looking at shelling out over $17,000 every year is mind boggling.

The website Self, Inc., reported In Michigan, it costs $17,538 for a year of child care for an infant between the ages of 0 and 1 years old. This is the 29th most expensive, or the 21st cheapest, costs of childcare in the country depending on how you want to look at it.

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Actually, just having children can be a budget breaker. I mean, you're raising them from early childhood through teens and into almost adulthood. Whew!

But child care, daycare, is so expensive in the early years of a child's life that many parents, who certainly can't do without it, struggle to not only find quality day care, but to afford it.

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Maybe one parent can be a stay-at-home mom or dad. Maybe they have parents or another family member who will provide daycare. But if none of the above is an option, out comes the checkbook for quality daycare.

There is help available according to Self, Inc.

Government programs
Childcare financial assistance - for low-income families through vouchers, subsidies or certificates.
State-funded prekindergarten - For children aged 3-5.
Head Start and Early Head Start - These programs help children prepare for school from birth to age 5 with early learning in development support.
Military childcare financial assistance - A number of programs help military families pay for childcare where they are stationed.
Local assistance and discounts
Sibling discounts - Some local childcare providers will offer a discount for families that enroll more than one child into their care.
Local scholarships and assistance - In some areas, local nonprofit organizations will offer scholarships or financial assistance to eligible families to cover childcare costs.
Tax-related support
Earned-income tax credit - Families on low to moderate incomes can get a tax break if they qualify.
Child and dependent care tax credit - This is available to people who need to pay for childcare while they work and look for work and is applicable to children under the age of 13.

Our kids are our blessings. Expensive blessings, but true blessings. What would we do without them!

LOOK: Here are 25 ways you could start saving money today

These money-saving tips—from finding discounts to simple changes to your daily habits—can come in handy whether you have a specific savings goal, want to stash away cash for retirement, or just want to pinch pennies. It’s never too late to be more financially savvy. Read on to learn more about how you can start saving now. [From: 25 ways you could be saving money today]

Gallery Credit: Bethany Adams

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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