5 tips to navigate the high costs of child care

A few tweaks could offer some much-needed financial relief

Child cutting out paper shapes
Roughly two-thirds of parents have reported spending 20% or more of their household income on child care.
(Image credit: Evgeniia Siiankovskaia / Getty Images)

If you already have one or more kids in child care, it's likely not news that it's an expense that's getting even more expensive. Roughly two-thirds of parents have reported spending 20% or more of their household income on child care, marking a notable increase from the 51% that reported that rate of spending in 2022, CBNC reported based on an annual report from Care.com.

This reality can leave many parents stuck between a rock and a hard place, as child care is often a non-negotiable expenditure. If you're in that situation, here are some tips to consider to help you better afford the child care help you need.

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Becca Stanek, The Week US

Becca Stanek has worked as an editor and writer in the personal finance space since 2017. She previously served as a deputy editor and later a managing editor overseeing investing and savings content at LendingTree and as an editor at the financial startup SmartAsset, where she focused on retirement- and financial-adviser-related content. Before that, Becca was a staff writer at The Week, primarily contributing to Speed Reads.