I agree that there isn’t a cheaper way - I’m in the UK and have similar problems. There is the home day care but they charge 80% of the fee and not always great. For example we saw one where the lady asked us to prepare meals and also give our car seats. Also she said she will be taking our kid along in the car when they have to pick some other kids up from school. Although it’s hard to find cheaper options, we have to accept that cheaper options comes with hell of a risk. I can’t keep worrying about what happens to my kid when he makes 3-4 trips in a car after we drop the kid off at someone’s home.