FitChick Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 If you're thinking about having kids, you might want to read this article about the cost of raising kids until the age of 17, leaving out the cost of a college education. Here is a calculator. Personally, I'd rather have the money!
threebyfate Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 I’m not entirely sure why it’s the USDA that’s looking into the cost of raising kids. Kids aren’t veal, and as far as I know most parents aren’t planning to eat their children once they hit the age of 18. But the USDA has been issuing these reports since 1960, and they are used to develop guidelines for child support and foster care payments. This interests me more than the rest of the article! Why? 1
xxoo Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 I'm currently raising children, and find these estimates high. But I'm pretty frugal. I'll agree with the food estimates. We don't skimp on quality food. But then, you can easily spend $1200/year feeding a large dog high quality food. All in all, worth EVERY penny
standtall Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 Personally, I'd rather have the money! Please tell me people are not reducing children's value to how of an annual cost they are. My 3 kids are worth every penny. 1
KathyM Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 I love my kids, and wouldn't trade them for all the money in the world. I broke my foot recently, so my youngest baked me seven layer bars and brought them to my bed. My oldest invites us over to his apartment and barbeques for us. There's nothing like close family who cares about you and loves you. That is something money can never buy. Sure, it's expensive to raise them. I have two kids in college right now and had to buy all three of them their own car to get to work and school. But it was worth every penny. That investment keeps on giving for a lifetime. It's a joy to see your kids grow up and become wonderful, successful adults. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. 3
Pyro Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 Money is the main reason why I was never in a rush to start a family but I still want to have kids before I am too old to enjoy them.
Radu Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 I love my kids, and wouldn't trade them for all the money in the world. I broke my foot recently, so my youngest baked me seven layer bars and brought them to my bed. My oldest invites us over to his apartment and barbeques for us. There's nothing like close family who cares about you and loves you. That is something money can never buy. Sure, it's expensive to raise them. I have two kids in college right now and had to buy all three of them their own car to get to work and school. But it was worth every penny. That investment keeps on giving for a lifetime. It's a joy to see your kids grow up and become wonderful, successful adults. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. So this is why you are so active on LS lately. The USDA comment is pure gold. Isn't community college cheaper over there in the US ? Can't you send the kids over to Hawaii ?; i heard college is heavily subsidised there.
january2011 Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 This interests me more than the rest of the article! Why? At a guess, it's so that they know the size and value of the market, identifying trends to predict future numbers as well as each potential customer lifetime value. This enables them to advise on providing for a sustainable future to ensure that the US government can feed (and support) current and future generations. But perhaps you knew that already, and were just joking... 1
KathyM Posted June 17, 2012 Posted June 17, 2012 So this is why you are so active on LS lately. The USDA comment is pure gold. Isn't community college cheaper over there in the US ? Can't you send the kids over to Hawaii ?; i heard college is heavily subsidised there. Yup, housebound for the next five weeks. Only hobbling out on crutches if I absolutely have to. Community college is cheaper, but the education is not as good, and there are very limited degree programs you can seek there. Some people use community college as a stepping stone to other colleges and they get their preliminary courses out of the way there, since that is cheaper. My kids were fortunate in that they were smart kids, so they got academic scholarships. My oldest went to a private college with almost a full scholarship, but we still had to subsidize him to some extent, and pay for his car. My second child goes to a state college, and my third goes to a state university and got a partial academic scholarship.
HHC Posted June 17, 2012 Posted June 17, 2012 We have a few children and they cost a lot. From food to child care, to clothing, to extra activities. They're worth every single cent though
Cee Posted June 17, 2012 Posted June 17, 2012 A lot of my friends and I are in partnerships, but aren't having children. I don't think any of us chose to be childless for economic reasons, but it certainly makes financial sense. I never had a desire to be a mom. I barely can take care of myself. I'd never inflict myself on a helpless child. Thank god, nobody nags me about having kids anymore. Now that I'm 42, I think people finally believe my decision is real. I worry for my two sisters and their financial futures. One is an artist and the other has a child with special needs. I plan on stashing away my extra money for them.
denise_xo Posted June 17, 2012 Posted June 17, 2012 A lot of my friends and I are in partnerships, but aren't having children. I don't think any of us chose to be childless for economic reasons, but it certainly makes financial sense. I never had a desire to be a mom. I barely can take care of myself. I'd never inflict myself on a helpless child. Thank god, nobody nags me about having kids anymore. Now that I'm 42, I think people finally believe my decision is real. Ditto. I've never wanted children, but finances has never been a factor in that decision.
Silly_Girl Posted June 17, 2012 Posted June 17, 2012 I have a teenager. Now that I'm considering the prospect of more kids money is a huge factor. I had not a penny when I had my son, but I've worked hard, put myself through night school and have expectations now, for me and for my son. I have worked mostly full-time for 20 years (I'm almost 36) and if I had more children I would need to be able to work part-time, and I'm the main earner so it would definitely need a good deal of thought.
OliveOyl Posted June 17, 2012 Posted June 17, 2012 It's not a financial decision. It's like saying travelling is too expensive and you'd rather save the money. It's just not an issue for people who want -- who NEED -- to travel. They find a way. It's all about having the desire for the unique experience which cannot be traded for anything else. You can't trade the experience of having kids and a family unit with a similar "lower-cost" option. (And pets are not the same thing.)
GLDheart Posted June 18, 2012 Posted June 18, 2012 I have no disrespect for someone who openly says that they would rather keep the money than have the kids... atleast they know what they are doing. I appreciate the honesty. For myself however, the money is irrelevant. The love I feel for my two daughters is amazing. From the moment they were each born, I looked into thier eyes and loved them with every essence of my being. I now am grateful for my life in a richer more fulfilling way.
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