Just as parents look for ways to save on school supplies, fees and parties for their children, child care providers are always looking for tips to stretch their limited supply dollars as far as possible.

For many providers, it's a balancing act between whether to charge a supply fee, build it into the weekly or monthly charge, or to charge on a "per-activity" basis. But regardless of the choice a provider makes, finding ways to save and extend the supply budget as far as it will go may take some creativity and smart shopping.

Start forming a recession-proof saving habit. CareHomesUSA online store is a good place to start, but we also offer childcare owners, child care providers, and parents many more resources, comparisons and reviews on online shopping in this section.