<prompt> Human: My wife and I are about to send our second kid off to daycare, which will bring our weekly daycare costs to just shy of 440 a week. We knew of the impending cost, but its still crazy to look at. Right now we are settled into a new house in a great school district, have some funds saved up to ride out the next few years and should be in good shape, but wanted to sanity check this situation.Monthly combined income: 6,600House payment full escrow: 1,900Utilities power, gas, water, trash, internet: 300Personal insurances: 210Car payment finished end of this year: 415Student loan: 130Daycare: 1,860Foodgasdiapers: 1,000-1,500Savings: 38k401kstocks: 13kCC debt: 0 monthly floating, all paid in fullSo all in we will have a floating leftover budget of 300 bucks until end of this year where that bumps up to 700. Didnt factor in raises or side projects since none of that is guaranteed, but could be expected. In 2 more years, daycare costs cut in half, and another 3 years after that daycare costs go away almost entirely. Might have an after-school program or something, but nothing at the same scale of cost. Mental plan right now is we have enough in savings to absorb anything that brings monthly expenses to a net loss, but should be in good shape for a very small amount of padding during all of this. Health care costs are worked into this already since my wife has an amount deducted each month for a health savings account that covers up to our max out of pocket.Assistant: This will be very dependent on the exact market in the city you live in. But do you guys have any flexibility in chipping away a few hours by one person starting earlier and another staying later at work? Have you run the numbers of just hiring a nanny? It probably wouldnt save a ton of money, but would be a much better value. Your kids will get sick less, you wont need to call off when they are sick, the house will be picked instead of returning to the scene of your morning chaos, commute will be easier without daycare, some of the child related errands can be taken off your plate.It might be worth considering.Human: That is one thing were heavily researching right now. Costs are similar being in-home to 2 kids in daycare, but like you said has a ton of benefits in regards to house cleaning and less chance of getting sick as often.The double-edge sword comes in if that person gets sick or abruptly leaves. Quality daycares in our area have 6-8 month waiting lists.  <response>: Am a nanny, and as a responsible one I also have two backups that cover my vacationpersonal time, etc. So, no matter what my clients never have to worry. They call me, I just dont get paid that day and pay one of the others to sub in. Neither of them want full time hours like I have to do, so theyre happy to pick up the extra work. A good nanny really is a great option. Also, bear in mind that our jobs HEAVILY rely on references, so it would take a special sort of dumbass to just quit without warning. When you are competing with large chain daycares and other nannies this would just be stupid. 