If you have to pay for childcare, there's only so cheap it can get in the first few years. New York State has "universal pre-kindergarten," but it's only a partial day, so you'd still have to pay for the rest of the time, assuming full-time work. Even on a sliding scale, it's not that cheap....

Oh! I just realized I can blame Cee-Lo for the fact that I said "Fuck you!" right to my coworker's face at lunch. In a jovial way, but still. (She was saying that Kat von D isn't an artist.)

Think of it as a retirement plan... they're the ones who will be paying for the nursing home you're relegated to in your twilight years.

Think of it as a retirement plan... they're the ones who will be paying for the nursing home you're relegated to in your twilight years.

Only if they're rich.

GA has universal PreK, and after school is only $6 a day! Go team Funded By The Lottery!

But in the summers, the YMCA at $115 a week adds up, man.

Still kind of a gamble. I won't be paying for my parents' retirements (mom's already in hers and their plan is to spend everything and just leave us with nothing, which is fine by us.)

New York State has "universal pre-kindergarten," but it's only a partial day, so you'd still have to pay for the rest of the time, assuming full-time work.

I assume UPK works for enough people to be worth continuing the program, but it's so limited I wouldn't even bother to apply. It's not even remotely "universal" (very very limited slots) and if you work full time you'll still need to pay a babysitter to pick your kid up in the middle of the day and care for them until you get home.

Howdy.

Surprised to hear about the birthrate. So many folks I know are having babies or recently had babies it astounds me. I mean, kids cost a lot of money and these folks must think the future's looking pretty bright...I guess.

Hands/arms hurting so I probably ought to avoid the 'net today.

Jesse, I support you in your fuck you. Were they dissing tattoo artists in general or Kat Von D in particular?

I think in general. But of course I didn't really let her make a point, due to my "fuck you."

Out of curiosity, I went looking for NYC subsidized child care info. This is old, but still:

Families can qualify for city-subsidized child care if they earn less than 225 percent of the federal poverty level, which translates into an annual income of $26,000 for a family of two or $40,000 for a family of four. However, most families receiving child care subsidies from the city earned $18,000 a year or less, according to a report by Child Care, Inc.

Families pay a portion of the fee based on sliding scale. Those that make less than the poverty level (for example $15,967 for a family of four) are exempt from all fees and are given priority on waiting lists. Others still pay between $50 to $215 a week.

Jess, the place I used to work just rolled UPK into their full-day services. It just made it cheaper.

How could you live in New York on 26,000? I'm not sure I could live in Dallas on that much!