ATLANTA — President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump both attempted to portray their time in office as economically more favorable for voters in Thursday night's debate. Many of the questions asked focused on the economy, pressing each nominee for what they could offer voters.
Historically, for many voters, decisions ultimately come down to how they impact their bottom line.
“A basket of groceries that cost $100 then now costs $120 and typical home prices have jumped more then 30%," said CNN moderator, Jake Tapper as he asked President Biden how he would battle inflation.
According to a study by Help Advisor, the average cost of groceries per family per month in Georgia is $278, listing Georgia as the 12th highest in the country.
The price of childcare also took center stage as Tapper asked both Biden and Trump how they could tackle the rising costs.
Atlanta mom of two, Frances Mitchell shared that the cost of childcare has gotten so high, that it cancels out whatever she would make working a full-time job.
“It’s pretty tough on new families that are still having babies...daycare is as expensive as putting them in a tuition-based school," said Mitchell.
Ellyn Cochran, the President and CEO of Quality Care for Children, shared that the average cost to send an infant in Georgia ranges between $7,000 and $11,000.
"The Department of Health and Human Services has said that families should not pay more than 7% of their income for childcare. So when you think about what 11,000 is as 7% of your income, that is almost not obtainable for all families in Georgia," explained Cochran.
Many Georgia daycares have had to close over the last several years due to a lack of funding. Cochran said providers and families continue to face challenges because of inflation couple with funding being cut.
“We have to continue to think about ways that governments can continue to lesson that burden on families," said Cochran.
As voters continue to digest Thursday's debate, many are still trying to answer whether they are better off then they were four years ago.