Each and every parent knows the financial pressures that having a child brings. Food, clothing, toys—it quickly eats up parents’ salaries. But one of the most essential expenses for parents of young children is daycare. Without it, parents would be severely limited in their employment prospects, if they could even work at all. The annual cost of childcare can easily reach $10,000 or more, and that cost is rising at a rate faster than inflation. And since child care is such a crucial concern, parents are understandably unwilling to compromise quality for affordability.

There are, however, several things that parents can to do reduce this cost. First of all, check to see if you qualify for subsidized child care or other government assistance. If not, see if your employer has any sort of negotiated discount with any local daycare centers. Don’t be afraid to change your childcare provider, unless your current one continues to offer the best in care and affordability. For more information, click here.