(The Epoch Times)—Millions of Americans pay more for child care than rent every month, according to a new analysis by online lending marketplace LendingTree.
Researchers found that child care costs exceeded the cost of a two-bedroom home or apartment for families with two children in 85 of the 100 largest metropolitan areas examined.
The biggest imbalance for families with two children occurred in Omaha, Nebraska (111.3 percent), Milwaukee, Wisconsin (110.9 percent), and Buffalo, New York (105.6 percent).
“Spending almost $1,300 a month on child care is a massive burden for parents, but most families don’t have another choice,” LendingTree chief consumer finance analyst Matt Schulz said.
“They can’t stay home. They don’t have family or friends they can rely on for child care. They have no other option but to spend a significant amount of money each month on child care. It makes an already difficult financial situation that much more challenging.”
Infant care was found to be more expensive than rent in 11 major metropolitan areas.
Infant care costs exceeded rent the most in Springfield, Massachusetts, where the average cost of infant care is $1,996, while the median rent for a two-bedroom home or apartment is $1,734.
Milwaukee had the second-highest variation, with infant care costing $1,536, while rent averaged $1,338.
Wichita, Kansas came in third, with the average cost of infant care at $1,256 and rent at $1,099.
Cities like Omaha, Baltimore, Buffalo, Syracuse, Spokane, Minneapolis, and Toledo rounded out the top 10 metropolitan areas where infant care costs were nearly equal to rent prices.
California and Florida had the top 10 cities in the United States where child care for an infant and a 4-year-old cost the least relative to rent.
LendingTree researchers arrived at their findings after examining data from Child Care Aware of America and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“For those struggling the most with child care, help is available,” Schulz said.
“Seek local, state, and federal government agencies geared toward helping financially strapped parents, but also consider religious organizations and other nonprofits. It can be tough to swallow your pride to reach out for help, but you can do it if it’s important enough to your family.”
American families spend between 8.9 percent and 16 percent of their income on full-day care for just one child, according to data published by the Department of Labor in November 2024.
The rising cost of child care has even caused more parents—particularly in lower-income households—to leave their jobs and stay home with the kids, according to a report by the Bank of America Institute published on Oct. 28.
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.