Money
Saving Tips for Daycare Providers In
this trying economy we have all had to deal with the shrinking dollar
and likewise less money to complete our daily tasks as daycare providers.
The Daycare.com forum was recently abuzz with ideas from many directors,
teachers, assistants and parents from across the country lending some
great cost cutting and money saving ideas. We would like to share
them with the hope that it will make your daily tasks a little less
stressful. One Moderator, mac60, first posted "I am sure we all
have our own little things we do to cut back and save a few dollars
running our business." Here are some money saving tips from our
members that may help you stretch those dollars. Daycare.com Forum Member Carole's Daycare wrote "Another thing I do is on my monthly newsletter I let my parents know if there are craft or curriculum supplies I need for the upcoming month, or borrow things for specific themes. My parents are happy to help out. I also am lucky whenever kids are bored with toys or activities, my parents bring toys from home that they've outgrown & donate them to us." There were those that were glad they were not alone in their cost cutting remedies. Kitkat penned "I was feeling so cheap by cutting the napkins into smaller pieces. I'm so glad I'm not the only one!" adding "I use a ton of scrap paper for printing off the computer. My mom's work always saved it, but they hardly used it. She gave me a ton and it's lasted for about a year! She doesn't work there anymore, so I'm going to have to find a new "supplier" soon. I dread the thought of actually having to buy paper." One daycare operator asked parents to donate a box of baby wipes one time a month, then the next one in line will bring it for the next month and so on. She started by giving a note to every parent about donating baby wipes for accidents, meals, snacks, activities to wipe hands and face areas. She wrote "I have them donate one box every 6 months - I don't think 2 parents like it very much but I don't think it is too much to ask. I was always using my own for everything!" Another daycare provider uses Golf towels - (they have a grommet for hanging, small tea towel sized) in different colors for each child. After meals rinse them off in a water/bleach solution to disinfect & hang them on rubber suction hooks to dry. Then give it a rinse in warm water before using it. Buy toys/baby equipment at garage sales/Goodwill and purchase wipes in bulk at a wholesale club. Always purchase holiday craft supplies AFTER the holiday to use the next year. momofsix wrote "We use face clothes instead of paper towels for hand drying and that's worked out quite well. One mom suggested the idea of using wash clothes for cleaning hands and faces after meals and snacks (right now I use baby wipes). At first I didn't give it much consideration, but now I'm thinking it may actually save a ton of money." While another member continued "I use washcloths for meal clean up too. Each child has a different color. I bought those 3M hooks to hang them on, which works really well. I also buy almost all my toys/baby equipment at garage sales and Goodwill. I buy wipes in bulk at a wholesale club. I buy holiday craft supplies AFTER the holiday to use the next year. We need to do everything we can to keep a little bit of money that we work so hard for!" If you have any other cost cutting suggestions or money saving tips we would like to hear from you. Please join in the conversation in our Daycare.com Forum! In considering the money saving advice from our forum members, Daycare.com would like to remind our readers to stay within your state's licensing standards and guidelines. Please see your states licensing requirements for more information. |