Originally Posted by Play Care:
I'll admit I didn't love it when I was tier 2. Right before I was bumped up, DH and I had seriously discussed being done with the FP and having parents provide the meals.
Personally, I think in-homes SHOULD be tier 1, especially as the food program is pushed heavily to licensed providers (and most state regulations about food are food program ones)
That said, I have been on long enough to make it work so I do MAKE money (which helps immensely because the $2 per hour you make off each child's tuition hardly covers it)
There is a health food store that sells organic oatmeal in bulk. You can get a 5 or 10 pound bag (I haven't had to buy in a while) for pretty cheap. And oatmeal is CHEAP to serve and lasts in airtight containers forever. Plain oatmeal, oatmeal pancakes, hm granola, oatmeal cookies for a rare treat, etc etc Chicken is another one - our grocery store has sales where boneless chicken breasts are $1.99/lb. I stock up. Grilled chicken, hm nuggets, hm chicken soup, chicken tacos/quesadillas, etc etc
Otherwise it wouldn't be worth it. And frankly, it's none of my clients business what I do with the money I make. Just as its none of my business what they do with theirs.
I come out making money in the end as well. I try and shop smart and plan my menu out BEFORE I go to the store.
I use fresh organic ingredients only. Everything I buy is Organic AND Natural/Real food
I am not sure if it would be worth the amount of work for Tier 2 rates.
My monitor is great, I actually enjoy visiting with her.
My menu and what I serve wouldn't change if I decided to leave the FP.
However, the amount of work that it takes just to enroll a child is crazy. I use a Mac, and of course were still using the ancient grandmother that is MM.
The Kids 2 go app constantly crashes, it can take me up to 40 minutes some evenings just to get through recording one days meals for 8-9 kids.
I have been told for over a year now that the update is coming our way, any month now, etc etc.
If I lost my Tier 1 status I would really have to consider if it would be worth staying on the fp. At this point I don't think I would.