How much does a child cost?

[XmisterIS]

How much, for each year of life, do you suppose it costs to own raise a child?

I would like children, but it's the cost that I'm most scared of!

I am guessing that for the first few years of life they're pretty cheap to run - you can amuse them with simple things and they don't care what they wear, so you can sew them into a huge romper suit and tie them to a piece of string when they're a baby and they'll eventually grow into it.

Then when they start school I can see the price increasing, and then dipping again when they are old enough to get a part-time job.

Mind you, when they're old enough to carry things and understand simple commands, I suppose you can use them as personal slaves!

 

[cookiemonster]

Try E bay.

You might get one cheaper there.

 

[gavroche]

If you start worrying about costs, you will never do it. If you really want to be a dad, go ahead and do it. Once the child is born, the joy of being a father will outweigh the cost ( at least until he/she becomes a teenager).

 

[Arch]

Well, they can cost as little or as much as you have.

Most essentials (clothes, pram, toys) can be bought second hand, from charity shops etc, or handed down from other family and friends. Instill the right attitudes in them, and there'll be less of the consumer cravings when they are old enough. Teach them to make their own fun, to appreciate the free and the cheap.

It's not the cost you should be thinking of, but the work. Doing it right, bringing up a child is the hardest job there is. I'm just back from a week with my sister and two nephews, and I'm astounded by how she does it all, and does it well. Plus there are the years when you can't just pick them up and take them wherever they need to be, because they are too big and too old, but they are still too small and young to listen to reason/threats/cajoling. Exhausting!

(and of course, the second one, especially if it's the same flavour, comes cheaper, because you already have clothes, toys, pram etc)

 

[funnymummy]

Well, they can cost as little or as much as you have.

(Unless of course they decide they want to be a cyclist, then they'll cost you the earth!)

 

[ufkacbln]

Send them out to work as soon as possible..... even though the Elf and Safety no longer allow them to work as chimney sweeps etc, there are always options such as envelope stuffing that children can manage from an early age.

 

[Silver Fox]

If you start worrying about costs, you will never do it. If you really want to be a dad, go ahead and do it. Once the child is born, the joy of being a father will outweigh the cost ( at least until he/she becomes a teenager).

+1

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Send them out to work as soon as possible..... even though the Elf and Safety no longer allow them to work as chimney sweeps etc, there are always options such as envelope stuffing that children can manage from an early age.

Once they crawl they can be used as data cable pullers as well

 

[summerdays]

I think they only get more expensive as they get older and I don't want to know the exact figure else I might have to reduce the number I have I think the middle years are the cheapest - mine are now little consumers (who we try to rein in).

However they do bring us great joy and I would do the same again (ask me again in another 15 years when hopefully they are all fully fledged adults).

 

[growingvegetables]

If you start worrying about costs, you will never do it. If you really want to be a dad, go ahead and do it. Once the child is born, the joy of being a father will outweigh the cost ( at least until he/she becomes a teenager).

+1 (Hmmm - does each of the kids count? +4 then )

.................................................. "outweigh the cost"? OK, I'm getting old, but even so that's a weird calculation to make.


"until he/she becomes a teenager" - optimist! On current reckoning, the first 25 years are the worst - but as my eldest grows year-by-year, I reserve the right to reserve the figure upwards!

 

[Beebo]

Google says between £180 - £200k for the first 21 years. not sure how that is calculated.

I have 2 so i will be poor for a good while yet.

 

[biggs682]

cost is nothing compared to the fun , nightmares,grief,heartache,hours of pratice but most of all the love they bring you

 

[skudupnorth]

Kids are great,if you feel it's the right time to start a family then bugger the cost and go for it ! One word of advice though,don't buy a new car and expect it to stay nice.....and that goes for the walls in your house.....great place to test all types of writing instruments !

 

[david1701]

one of the few things you can put a real figure on is that private school is bare minimum a hundred grand, think of what you could do with a hundred grand......... then cross your legs

 

[Andy_R]

(Unless of course they decide they want to be a cyclist, then they'll cost you the earth!)

could be worse....could decide they want to take up diving...."how f**king much!!!"