Lorea Ytterberg, 41 saving $600 a month

Ytterberg is a single mom and a full-time social-work student at a college in Burnaby. On top of caring for her son, Charlie, 2, she works 16 hours a week as an outreach worker for people with learning disabilities.

Before her son’s East Vancouver daycare was chosen to be part of the $10-a-day project, Ytterberg received government subsidies to help pay for child care but still paid $600 a month from her own pocket. When the pilot program kicked in, she paid $200 a month for the first three months. And after having her subsidy reassessed with the government, Charlie gets free daycare.

Now that Ytterberg pays nothing for child care, she has been able to enrol Charlie in extracurricular activities that she once had to forgo. “It was very exciting to enrol him in soccer, which is expensive,” she said.

Ytterberg has also made changes in her grocery shopping, to make sure her son is eating well and “getting the right nutrients.”

“I know that definitely I’ve been able to spend more on healthier meats and fruits and vegetables,” Ytterberg said, explaining that she’s buying less processed food.

But the biggest change is less tangible. The pilot program means Ytterberg is under less financial strain, and she feels it’s having a positive impact on her parenting.

“It is relieving stress, both mentally (and) financially, it adds more security on a monthly basis for both of us. There’s a little bit of cushion there in case of an emergency.”