8 Tips To Save On Child Care Costs

Written by Jeffrey Strain


Child care costs are are one ofrepparttar most expensive costs associated with going back to work. Finding ways to cut down on child care costs without sacrificing quality child care is a top priority for all working parents. Here are a few ideas that can help trim your child care costs without sacrificing child care quality:

See if your employer has a child care flexible spending account. This is a special account thatrepparttar 110467 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq-kw87.html - created that allows you to set aside money for child care expenses with pre-tax dollars. You ask your employer to take out a certain amount of money each month from your paycheck and you can use this money tax free for child care related expenses.

Inquire if your company has partnerships or offers discounts for certain child care provider services. some larger companies will sometimes negotiate discount plans with local child care providers to help offset child care costs.

See if your public school district offers a half day pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-olds. These programs are usually free and by signing-up your child, it will reduce your child care needs to a half day from a full day.

Landlords: Checking out Potential Tenants

Written by dan the roommate man


If you'rerepparttar landlord of a complex in high demand, you have to have high standards for your tenants. You don't want to rent to any Joe Blow and then loserepparttar 110466 building a month later because he's been growing an "herbal garden" inrepparttar 110467 bedroom. In order to avoid any complications with your new tenants,repparttar 110468 background check you perform should be extensive.

Typical rental applications look something like this... but if your apartment or home is in high demand, you should have high demands on your applicants as well. Don't be afraid to ask more questions. Being a little nosy can save you from some future stresses.

The sample application asks for current employment information, but it's a good idea to requestrepparttar 110469 previous employment information as well. Sally may be a great employee at Buck's Bar... but if she's only been employed there for a few weeks, it's a good idea to contact her previous employer. Did she walk out? Was she constantly late? Was she fired for inappropriate behavior?

Likewise, you'll wantrepparttar 110470 tenant's previous (not only current) landlord contact information. If you only talk to your applicant's current landlord you may hear nothing but wonderful things, but that landlord may just be saying them to get rid ofrepparttar 110471 terrible tenant! The previous landlord, however, has nothing to lose by telling yourepparttar 110472 blunt truth. Find out ifrepparttar 110473 applicant was consistent with payments, or if he or she caused any trouble forrepparttar 110474 other tenants.

Ask about annual income. According to many property managers, rent should not be more than 33 percent of income. If you dorepparttar 110475 math, and it doesn't look likerepparttar 110476 applicant will be able to afford rent, you should ask them about their plan. Robert Irwin, author of The Landlord's Troubleshooter, Dearborn, asks applicants bluntly: "Do you figure you'll be able to handlerepparttar 110477 monthly rent payments?" Irwin explains that good tenants will usually spout off how they plan to budget forrepparttar 110478 apartment. It's still important to check out their finances through their employer and credit history to find out if they're tellingrepparttar 110479 truth.

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