What does it cost to raise a child?

[Dingfod]

Over here (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?p=61709#post61709), godfry n. glad stated that it takes 3/4 of a million dollars to raise a child to age 18. I've heard that figure before, but I cannot remember where.

This site (http://missourifamilies.org/features/financearticles/raisechild.htm) says in 2000 it cost about $165,600. That works out to about $9200 a year, pretty believable given the average household income in 2000 was in the neighborhood of $40,000.

This site (http://www.menstuff.org/issues/byissue/costtoraiseachild.html), citing a USDA report, says it's closer to $190,000 and breaks it down into cost per year by age groups. I don't completely agree with it's analysis because I think it costs more for teenagers, what do you think?

[Legs]

warrenly, can you define 'raise'?

What is this figure to include, just the basics food/clothing/shelter? or a little broader like dental, haircuts, toys & entertainment, travelling?

[Dingfod]

I think it's pretty well all-inclusive, including things such as a larger home and a larger car than would be needed and all that other stuff from diapers to mp3 players.

[Legs]

heh, I think I am already into 6 figures just on Barbies alone

[Beth]

This site, citing a USDA report, says it's closer to $190,000 and breaks it down into cost per year by age groups. I don't completely agree with it's analysis because I think it costs more for teenagers, what do you think?
Well, on gift giving alone, I spend about five hundred per child, at least. Because I stayed home, my children were less costly than they now are. I must buy all sorts of things like clothes, shoes, school supplies, cd's, games, and so on. They normally earn the extras. And we also pay them for good report cards and dernit, their grades are breaking us. Maybe if they have a summer job or a weekend job when they are teens they will be less costly, but I am hoping we can afford all the stuff like cars and clothes, and sports, so they can avoid working through school years and concentrate on school and sports.

Anyway, I would think that it is closer to eight or nine grand per year, per child, one year I saved receipts from everything for taxes. I was bored one day or three and itemized everything I had spent on the kids. Between clothes, gifts, food, toys, supplies, movies, sports, vacations, etc, we had spent twenty-four grand on them, easily. We don't spoil the kids anymore, and we spend less and I shop much more frugally and they eat more grown up things now, so they don't require special foods. Perhaps children who are more privilaged do end up costing the estimated three quarters of a mil to raise. My poor, impoverished kids.

[TomJoe]

This site (http://www.menstuff.org/issues/byissue/costtoraiseachild.html), citing a USDA report, says it's closer to $190,000 and breaks it down into cost per year by age groups. I don't completely agree with it's analysis because I think it costs more for teenagers, what do you think?

I did a search yesterday and came across several British estimates. They were estimating around 100,000 pounds per child until they're 18, which amounts to around $200,000 I believe. The British study said that most of the costs came in the teenage years, especially when you started to account for education costs.

[inland wave]

I will say this, that it cost plenty, whether they are at home or living on their own. We still help out our 24 year old. She can't afford a place of her own, plus having a child ....and a minimum wage job. She isn't making it. She is living with her grandparents, trying to start a new life, it is HARD.....I wish she could just meet a nice young man, responsible, working, love Dylan, etc...he could just sweep her of her feet and tell her everything is okay. The guys between the ages of 24-30 around here anyway are just a bunch of lazy loosers. I have never seen the likes. What is happening to these young people anyway. All they want is a good fuck and off they go.
Our teenage daughter, between band, color guard, horses, has decided that she now wants a "teenager life", I call it the social butterfly syndrome. I have to admit it has taken her awhile to get to this point, but now she will get a job, to have those designer this and that...help raise funds for those special trips that the band and winter color guard take. It seems to be never ending. Then the next step is college.