Can the Pettys cut child-care costs without hurting quality of care?

— -- Packing a lunch to save a few bucks is not likely to wear on your morals. Turning the lights off or washing clothes in cold water probably won't result in sleepless nights, either. But pulling back on child care spending ... well, even the thought might leave you restless.

It needn't.

For several months, USA TODAY and ABC's Good Morning America Weekend have teamed up for the Frugal Family Challenge, helping families slash food bills, manage energy expenses and start saving for retirement. This month, the Petty family from Sunrise, Fla., aims to trim child care expenses — without a cost to their conscience.

According to the National Center for Children in Poverty, a non-partisan think tank, a family with two young children will spend $7,000 to $20,000 annually on child care.

Paying for child care is often one of the largest household expenses, but it is also an unpopular place to scrimp.

Sheila Lirio Marcelo, founder and CEO of Care.com, is sensitive to a family's reluctance to cut back on child care but says, "It can be a great place to save money, as long as they're not compromising on the quality of care for their children.

"If you're looking to cut back on your child care expenses, there are some things you can do," Marcelo says.

The Pettys are hoping to learn some ideas.

The financially stable family typically spends about $12,000 annually on child care, or 10% of their total budget.

"We're just looking for extra ways to save. I imagine we're like everyone else right now," Cliff Petty says.

Cliff, a fireman, and Kara, an interim director for Miami's parks and recreation department, both work full time, forcing them to rely on child care for their two sons.

In addition to the day care for Landon, 2, and after-school care for Aiden, 6, the Pettys must hire a babysitter four to six times a month. Because Cliff and Kara have changing work schedules, they have trouble scheduling their sitter in advance and sometimes run into trouble when trying to find a replacement.