(NECN) - Childcare costs are soaring. Last year, in over half the nation's states, it was more expensive to send an infant to daycare than to send a child to a four-year public college, according to reports from child care aware of America.
In Massachusetts, couples are paying more than 15-percent of their income for child care, averaging $16,430 dollars a year.
We spoke with two families from two very different economic income brackets about how they are dealing with this huge financial burden.
Kate Butler is an attorney, has been married to her husband for eight years and has two children. She’s the mother of a 3-year-old and 3-week-old.
Mari Leckel is married to Jeff and has a 21-year-old and a 19-month-old.
Butler says she’s very lucky to be on maternity leave because her husband has a great job.
Leckel says they had to save money so she could stay home for a longer period of time.
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Butler says it feels like you’re working just to pay the daycare bills.
Leckel says she picked up a part-time side job just to get some extra income because of the expenses.
Butler says the cost blows her mind.
