Just received my first "bonus" payment from the T.E.A.C.H. grant I got when I enrolled in college. It is a grant that pays FCC providers as an incentive to further their educations. I earned a 4.0 GPA last semester with 4 classes (all while still doing child care full time!) so T.E.A.C.H. paid me $300! They also paid for books, substitute care and travel expenses for the sememster!
I also signed a new full time dcg who's parents paid me for 1 month in advance! (I only require 1 week in advance). Both her parents are Olympic medal winners! Dad is American and mom is Chech (sp?) and the little girl is bi-lingual so that is sort of neat, especially because she is only 18 months old.