18 Easy Ways To Save On Military Child Care | Wildchildretire

Key Takeaways:

• There are countless options to help families save on military child care.
• You can find non-DoD sponsored assistance, such as getting help from a family member, hiring an Au Pair, and even teleworking.
• There are government programs military members can utilize, like the CDC, Child Care Aware, and the Army Emergency Relief.

Looking for some ways to save on military child care?

We got you covered.

Here we’ll show you 18 helpful ways to save thousands of dollars annually (sometimes monthly) on military child care.

One of these options below has helped my wife save enough money in daycare funds to pay for our home in cash!

So if you’re interested in saving some cash by getting military discounts, help from family members, live-in nannies, and more, check out the valuable read below.

Let’s dive right in!

How To Save On Military Child Care Costs (18 Effective Ways)

1. Military Discounts

One of the first go-to’s as a military member is to check and see if the place you are looking for has a military discount. Many businesses offer discounts to those who have served or are currently serving. In addition, some providers will also offer a military discount when it comes to child care. So if you’re trying to save some cash while you serve, check with your local providers to see if any offer a military discount.

2. Flex Hours At The Office

Working flex hours can be a great way to save on military child care costs. Many employers are willing to offer this option to employees who need it. This can help reduce child care expenses by allowing you to work around your children’s schedules. Talk to your boss about this option and see if it is something that would work for you.

For example, if your children are in school during the day, you may be able to work flex hours and leave early on days when they have after-school activities. This can help you save on child care costs and still be able to participate in your children’s lives.

3. Family Assistance

This is a big one. As stated above, I saved over $150,000 in potential child care costs by having my mother-in-law move into my home and watch my children. You can also ask other family members or friends to help with child care. This is a great way to save money on child care costs.

4. Stay At Home Spouse

If you’re married or have a partner willing to stay home, you could save tons of money on child care costs. But what if they have to sacrifice their current career and still want to make an income?

Introducing Fiverr! On Fiverr, your partner can offer their services and skills to earn an income while staying home with the kids. And because Fiverr is an online platform, they can work from anywhere worldwide.

Here are some examples of services your partner could offer on Fiverr:

• Virtual Assistant
• Social media manager
• Graphic designer
• Web developer
• SEO Consultant

The possibilities are endless! And with Fiverr, your partner can work as little or as much as they want, making it the perfect solution for families with military children.

5. Military Spouse Groups

One of the best things about the military is the support system. You can always find other military spouses willing to help and offer a discounted rate for child care. All you have to do is search on Facebook for military spouse groups in your area. This is a great way to save on child care costs!

6. Telework

Ever since the Covid pandemic, the virtual meeting situation just took off, which can be a blessing for folks with children at home. You can now ask your boss if you can telework a day or two weekly to help offset child care costs. Plus, you don’t have to worry about the commute or getting dressed up for work! It’s a win-win.

Just log into Zoom for your meetings, and set up a space in your home that you can use as your office. Then, when the kiddos are in bed, you can put in a few extra hours to make up for the time you’re taking off during the day.

7. Au Pair

Believe it or not, having an Au Pair stay with you could save you a little money on child care costs. In fact, according to the website Au Pair in America, “The average cost of au pair child care is about $17,000 per year, compared to the national average annual rate of about $19,000 for professional child care.”

So hiring an Au Pair may be the way to go if you want to save on child care costs. However, research beforehand and find a reputable agency to work with.

8. Parent Co-Op

A child care co-op is an excellent choice for parents looking to save money and have a large group of friends. In a co-op, parents share the childcare responsibility by taking turns watching each other’s children. This way, everyone gets a break, and no one has to pay for childcare.

There are many different ways to set up a child care co-op. One parent might, for example, take care of another parent’s child on Tuesdays or two half-days. Or, a swap might be arranged so that one parent watches the other’s children on a weekend evening or Wednesday. In some parenting groups, parents babysit each other’s children. In contrast, some groups watch all of the children at once.

If you’re interested in starting a child care co-op, talk to your friends and see if they would be interested in joining. Once you have a few families on board, you can start brainstorming how you want to run your co-op.

9. Leverage The Local Teen or College Workforce

School-age folks are always looking to make an extra dollar or two. You can find these folks by advertising on local Facebook groups or leveraging your personal network. This can be a great way to get quality child care at a fraction of the cost.

Here are some things to consider when hiring a child care provider: 

• Make sure they have experience or are studying child development
• Do a background check
• Meet them in person to get a feel for their personality
• Get references from other parents

When you find the right fit, be sure to set clear expectations from the start. This will help avoid any misunderstandings down the road.

10. School Programs

There are a few ways to save on child care costs if you have a child in your care. A useful way to find child activities is by searching local school programs. School districts across the country offer half-day pre-K programs for 4-year-olds. These programs are generally free or cost a small amount of money. This can allow you to reduce your child care needs to half a day.

Another way to save on child care costs is to look into the YMCA. The YMCA often has affordable child care programs that provide a safe environment for your child.

11. Church Programs

If you are a military family with young children, child care costs can be a significant financial burden. Fortunately, church child care programs can help ease the financial burden. Here are some tips on how to find and take advantage of these church-sponsored child care programs.

1. Ask your church’s office staff if they are aware of any child care programs offered by local churches.
2. Contact the child care coordinators at nearby churches to inquire about their programs.
3. Research child care options online through the Military Families Learning Network’s website.
4. Talk to other military families in your community to see if they are aware of any child care programs offered by churches.

Once you have found a church-sponsored child care program that meets your needs, please take advantage of it! This can be a great way to save money on child care costs.

12. Child Care Aware

Child Care Aware can help with child care costs for military families. The program offers a variety of resources and services to help families with children find affordable, high-quality child care. Families can use Child Care Aware to search for child care providers in their area, get discounts on child care costs, and access other resources and services.

13. Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN)

The MCCYN program is a fee-assistance program from the Department of Defense available to qualifying families. This program eases the cost of community child care programs for families unable to access installation child care. In areas where nationally accredited community-based providers are not available, MCCYN has expanded to become MCCYN-PLUS.

MCCYN-PLUS is a subsidy program that pays for quality child care in the home or at community locations such as daycare centers, family child care homes, and before- and after-school programs. MCCYN-PLUS provides up to $1,000 per child annually for families who qualify to help subsidize child care costs.

Visit the Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood website to learn more about MCCYN and how to apply. You can also contact your nearest military child care office for more information.

14. Operation Military Child Care (OMCC)

OMCC is a child care fee assistance program offered by the Department of Defense. The program provides National Guard and Reserve families with monthly fee assistance for those who are activated or deployed, as well as active-duty Military families whose children attend non-DoD licensed child care programs.

Families eligible for OMCC assistance will receive a subsidy toward their child care costs. The subsidy amount is calculated using the family’s income and the number of children in childcare.

To apply for OMCC assistance, families must first complete an eligibility assessment. The assessment will determine whether the family qualifies for child care fee assistance.

15. Child Development Centers (CDC)

CDCs are a great way to save on child care costs. The centers are usually open Monday to Friday, during regular work hours, throughout the year. The CDC programs offer several choices: full-day, part-day, and hourly child care (depending on availability), as well as part-day preschool. The price is calculated using your family’s total income. Parents looking for child care options for their military children can find more information on Military OneSource. So make sure to take advantage of this great benefit!

16. Family Child Care (FCC)

Parents who want to reduce their spending on daycare can take advantage of the FCC’s wonderful programs. Providers care for children aged 12 or younger and infants either in their homes on an installation or off it. In addition, as a general rule, the hours for FCC providers are adjustable to support parents with differing care schedules. This can include full-day and part-day care during the school year, summer camp, and sometimes 24/7 or extended care.

Families should contact their local child care program to request an enrollment packet.

17. Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) families can receive respite care. This care is offered to Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps families in a limited capacity. Care can be provided in-home or at an assisted living facility. Families who enroll in the EFMP program are required to follow specific rules and regulations. Also, if they have dependent children aged 0-18, they can receive free care through the program.

18. The Army Emergency Relief (AER)

Eligible families can now receive $1,500 from the AER program to help pay for child care expenses during and after a PCS. This is an incredible opportunity for families to receive assistance with childcare costs – which can get very pricey. This program will also help participants budget for new child care costs in expensive areas by connecting them with qualified financial experts.

FAQ

Does Tricare pay for day care?

No, Tricare does not pay for day care. However, there are other child care assistance programs available to military families.

Do military bases have child care?

Yes, most military bases have on-base child care programs available for service members that are military parents. They can also help with: background checks for nannies, special needs cases, finding off-military installation day care centers, KinderCare learning centers, in-home day care, early childhood education and school-age care programs, community programs, financial assistance, lowering child care fees for low-income families and any other additional information.

Will the military pay for a nanny?

The military offers a child care subsidy program to help offset the high cost of child care. The program will cover full-time care for a minimum of 30 to 60 hours of weekly child care. Each family’s total income will affect the amount of approved fee assistance. Visit your local child care office for more information.

Do you get extra money for having a child in the military?

Yes and no. You get an increased BAH which some people refer to as dependent pay.

What is the Military Child Care Act?

The Military Child Care Act (MCCA) of 1989, as amended, establishes the authority for the Department of Defense to provide child care services to military families in a safe and age-appropriate environment. The act also sets quality standards for child care programs and provides for the accreditation of child care programs that meet these standards.

Summary

Now that you know some great ways to save on military child care, it’s time to put that information into action! These methods can help reduce your expenses by thousands of dollars each year. So get started saving today and enjoy the extra money in your pocket.

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How do you save on military child care? Please tell us below!