Less Childcare Responsibility for Grandparents

As grandparents, it’s tough to see our kids struggling financially as they raise their children. In our day, we could get by easily on just one income

Today, both our child and their spouse need to work, and we’re often stepping in to help care for their kids even when we really don’t want to.

Sure, we love our grand-kids, but we have a life too!

We’ve likely advised our kids to do a little belt-tightening, so they can afford child-care.

There are plenty more expensive conveniences to be had today; a big-screen TV, video games, a trip to Costco for a $20 item that ends up being a $200 grocery bill.

But such advice probably hasn’t improved the situation too much.

That’s because the cost of living is so much higher.

In 2017, The Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria calculated the wage required to maintain an adequate quality of life in BC’s Capital Region at $20.01 per hour.

Anyone making less than this seriously struggles to put food on their family’s table and a roof over their head.

Last week the provincial government announced some welcome news to help struggling families.

The province is investing more than $1 billion in child care, making care effectively free for some low-income families who use licensed child care, while others will have subsidies based on income.

The investment will create more than 22,000-day care spaces and offer monthly benefits of $1,250 to 86,000 families.

What does that mean for us?

A little more time to ourselves to pursue our own interests!

 

Written by Mathieu Powell.