$332,442

[justginger]

This is the amount yesterday's Sunday paper calculated as the average cost of raising a child to 18 in Perth. Most children stay at home through uni, so it's not all that accurate - they should calculate to 21 instead.

It doesn't take into consideration any loss of wages for mothers who choose to stay home full or part time. It also doesn't account for any private school fees. Add in those two elements and you can easily get to 1.5 million dollars.

Holy smokes!

Surely these figures can't be accurate. I know the cost of living is high down here, but those numbers are staggering.

Do any of the parents here know how much their children have cost them? I'm sure it's not something you actively keep track of, but it's interesting to think about.

 

[MissGotRocks]

I would have to think that figure is very inflated - anywhere! That's about 18.5k per year for 18 years!

 

[kenny]

DANG!
I didn't know you had to feed your kids lobster for every meal.

$332,442 could buy a lot of fancy colored diamonds ... or just one one that I wouldn't need a macro lens for.
Plus you don't have to sedate FCDs on long flights.

 

[Dancing Fire]

This is the amount yesterday's Sunday paper calculated as the average cost of raising a child to 18 in Perth. Most children stay at home through uni, so it's not all that accurate - they should calculate to 21 instead.

It doesn't take into consideration any loss of wages for mothers who choose to stay home full or part time. It also doesn't account for any private school fees. Add in those two elements and you can easily get to 1.5 million dollars.

Holy smokes!

Surely these figures can't be accurate. I know the cost of living is high down here, but those numbers are staggering.

Do any of the parents here know how much their children have cost them? I'm sure it's not something you actively keep track of, but it's interesting to think about.

..A lot!!... Seriously,I don't know and I don't wanna know..

 

[Dreamer_D]

Well, at present my kids cost me about $3000 per month for daycare and food. Clothing is mostly hand-me-downs thank goodness.

Daycare costs will drop to about $800 per month when they are in school. But food and clothing will be more. Plus activities. PLus the added costs of travel or other family outings. So I would guess at least $2250 per month when they are grammar school age. I suppose childcare will disappear when they are old enough to be home alone. Then maybe only $1400 per month.

$34k for when our oldest was 1-3
100k for when our oldest is 3-5 (yougest 1-3)
60k for when our oldest is 5-7 (youngest 3-5)
135k for when our oldest is 7-12 (yougest 5 - 10)
And 100k for when the oldest is 12-18 (yougest 10 - 16).
Another $35k for when our yougest is home solo.

Total $465k for two, so about $230k per kid. I think my numbers are really underestimates, though, because I think the food bill will be muh much higher in the teen years.

Think about how much YOU will cost in an 18 year period Kids are not much less.

ETA: I added some numbers

 

[chel180]

$332,442 = wow

Perth's expensive all right.

 

[TooPatient]

I'd believe it. We've only had "A" with us since August, but been paying expenses since she was 6 (plus FI paying for expenses since birth and before).

We've done (plus a couple of concrete expenses that are certain):
$95,000 in private school tuition
$150,000+ in child care and other child support (very roughly -- there was about another $90,000 that was in addition to this that was for a private nanny or something)
$250/month tutoring since August (anticipate ongoing expense) = $3,000/year x 5 years = $15,000
$3,000 summer camp (will jump to $6,500+ in 10th grade) = $20,000 +/-
$200 teen weekend x2 (planning on 3 next year, 3rd is $300) = $700 + spending money = $3,900 + spending money
$500 misc public school expenses x 6 years = $3,000
$300 shoes (you wouldn't believe how fast she wears through them!) = ?? (tough to guess how many of what type each year)
$100 haircuts (1st one required special conditioning treatment it was such a mess)
$500 misc teen activities (laser tag, zombie hunting, pizza, movies, limo scavengers, coffee, etc...)

one time with smaller ongoing:
set up of wardrobe from scratch = $4,000 (anticipate about $1,000/year ongoing)
bedding + pillows = $500 (don't know what to anticipate ongoing -- will figure that out as it goes)
paint, lamps, storage, etc = $500
Sonicare, hairbrushes, nail care, etc, etc = $300
books, puzzles, etc = $500 (anticipate $200 or so going forward)

still to do:
orthodontia = ?? (probably about $4,000+/-)
bat mitzvah tutoring will be an additional $3,000+ (we're still hoping to have her do this before summer 2015)
teen group classes -- $600/quarter x 4 years = $9,600
teen week -- $1,000 (once yearly times 5 years) = $5,000

If you add in the $10,000 or so in setting up a room for her at age 7 (including all needed furniture, complete wardrobe, paint, decorations, books, bedding, etc), the "orthodontia" expenses we already paid that never went to that, the $$$$ FI put into college savings for her (that her mom took out and spent), the full time day care up to age 6, the part time day care for another couple of years, plus the other stuff I've forgotten to add it gets pretty expensive.

Plus the added expense of additional water, electric, food, event tickets, etc, etc.....


Oh.... and she's already asking about driving
She's hoping for a cute little sporty car. Maybe convertible?!

 

[Dancing Fire]

DD, you and TP forgot about the most expensive years (17-22) cars,auto insurances,college tuitions,etc,etc...

 

[Dancing Fire]

Oh.... and she's already asking about driving
She's hoping for a cute little sporty car. Maybe convertible?!

A new BMW convertible is a must have..

 

[TooPatient]

DD, you and TP forgot about the most expensive years (17-22) cars,auto insurances,college tuitions,etc,etc...

I haven't forgotten -- I'm just trying to block it from mind

FI and I are both in agreement that she has to take driver training at a good school that will teach her how to safely drive and avoid those who don't. That won't be cheap, but it will help keep her safe and reduce the $$$$ for insurance.

College is something she's getting to see me do right now. Thankfully, she really likes my smaller school (formerly a community college) and wants to do her first couple of years there. We're also extremely lucky to have the University of Washington near enough that she can live at home while attending (and paying in state tuition ).

 

[TooPatient]

Oh.... and she's already asking about driving
She's hoping for a cute little sporty car. Maybe convertible?!

A new BMW convertible is a must have..

Don't be silly! It was a Lexus she wanted
Of course she'd be willing to settle for "one of those" (said pointing at a Mercedes )

 

[Dancing Fire]

Oh.... and she's already asking about driving
She's hoping for a cute little sporty car. Maybe convertible?!

A new BMW convertible is a must have..

Don't be silly! It was a Lexus she wanted
Of course she'd be willing to settle for "one of those" (said pointing at a Mercedes )

when is her birthday?
http://www.google.com/search?q=lexus+isc&hl=en&rlz=1T4GGHP_enUS445US445&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=dFFiUcetE-jXiAKZsID4CQ&ved=0CFsQsAQ&biw=1097&bih=532#imgrc=ll3blMfoIjKpEM%3A%3BsaGWRzzGB_wd3M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.blogcdn.com%252Fwww.autoblog.com%252Fmedia%252F2009%252F05%252Fisc_fd_ab002_opt.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.autoblog.com%252F2009%252F05%252F18%252Ffirst-drive-2010-lexus-is250-c-and-is350-c%252F%3B580%3B385

 

[monarch64]

Hmm. I guess we can't afford to have a kid. We'll have to look into giving her back.

My husband the data lover probably has a spreadsheet with every cent accounted for so far, and one with projections of yearly costs for raising our first child, and others for each potential child, as well as more for potential grandchildren if we live long enough to have to spend any of our income on those, too. Some find safety and security in numbers, and I totally respect that. I find it absolutely fascinating that a human life can be translated into a numerical figure! This makes me wonder if my mom and dad kept track of what it cost to raise me and my brother. My father might have. I doubt if my mother kept track of any number besides the one on the scale after she had both of us. She remains weight-obsessed to this day, even at 70 years old. (Another issue for another thread.)

While I do think about the cost of raising a child year to year, I do not think about a lump monetary sum over the course of 18 years. Too many variables. No perfect formula to deduce exactly what number would be right. And what is the point of trying to figure that number, anyway? So a couple can ask, for wedding gifts, for cash to put towards raising their offspring?

Enough of my philosophy 101...I look forward to reading more responses to this thread. Very interesting topic, if it actually stays on topic.

JustGinger, I am sincerely curious as to why you posted this thread. (In a kind way, I promise.) Are you on the fence about having children, or are you firmly decided to have or not to have? If your intentions aren't up for discussion, I completely understand.

 

[justginger]

I suppose a child costs as much as you choose for him/her to cost.

Cheaper kids get hand-me-downs, buy their own car, public schools, free community activities, basic health care, handmade gifts, etc.
Expensive kids get brand names, private schools, big birthday parties with lots of presents, a host of lessons (music, art, sports, whatever), summer camps, pricey vacations, etc.

To be an obvious non-parent and compare children to pets -- my household fosters and resident pets could cost me literally 20% of what I choose to spend. But I have them on premium food, they use premium litter, they have expensive medications to make them comfortable, etc. I choose to have expensive pets, just as people choose to have expensive kids.

I think that people have children that cost them well into the millions, by choice. There are also people who have kids that probably cost a third of that average figure. But having considered the cost of living here today, I do think that average calculated amount is pretty accurate.

I'm always amazed by how many people usually jump in and state that the cost should never be a concern, they're always worth it. That may be true, for one or two or three...but at what point is it an overwhelming concern? At $300k each (though of course subsequent children would cost less), how many can a normal family afford to have? And of course, there's always the matter of choosing to have children while knowing full well that you can't afford them -- then the taxpayers get to raise your baby for you, which surely isn't fair.

 

[kenny]

Average, wow that sounds really high.
Clearly it costs less to raise a kid in home with $35,000 annual income than it does to raise a kid in a home with $350,000 annual income.

Also, the poorest people I know have the most kids.
The richest people I know have the fewest kids.
Weird.

 

[justginger]

I'll bet it costs less to raise a kid in home with $35,000 annual income than it does to raise a kid in a home with $350,000 annual income.

Also, the poorest people I know have the most kids.
The richest people I know have the fewest kids.

I agree. And just out of pure curiosity, I'd love to know what the difference would be. Would the cost in a $35k household be 1/10th that of a $350k household, or would the less affluent family spend a great proportion of their income on their child? Surely that would be the case, as many costs exist at a bare minimum level. For example, you can feed a child on $10 meals forever, but to feed them on only $1 or less meals forever would be nearly impossible. Some costs just can't be pushed down below a certain level without being really, super organized (like growing all of your own food).

 

[hawaiianorangetree]

Don't forget about earn more = pay more for the same services for your children.

Daycare
Doctors
Private Health Insurance
Private School Fees
Prescription Medications

Just because you earn more doesn't mean you choose to spend more on your children's upbringing, sometimes you have to!

 

[justginger]

Don't forget about earn more = pay more for the same services for your children.

Daycare
Doctors
Private Health Insurance
Private School Fees
Prescription Medications

Just because you earn more doesn't mean you choose to spend more on your children's upbringing, sometimes you have to!

I don't really know what you mean, HOT. Is that what happens when you raise children in a fairly government-assisted place, like Australia? I am thinking back to my own childhood -- the lawyer's kids went to the same (public) school as me, paid the same amount for the same daycare, visited the same doctor with the same office charges, fell under a very similar health insurance plan as I did, and definitely paid the same amount for prescriptions. There genuinely wouldn't have been many non-elective cost differences of raising a child in my hometown in regards to income earned (minus the factor of a higher tax bracket siphoning money out of the higher income household).

It is different here though, isn't it? Because the Australian government provides so many family assistance payouts, you qualify for less assistance when you earn more. Is that what you mean?

 

[GliderPoss]

Wow since when did parents pay for cars & uni fees??? Living at home until 21??

My parents certainly didn't - out of home & paying my own way at 18 (although to be fair I'm sure my private school fees were eye watering...)

I think it's true that when you EARN more you SPEND more - kids included. It's certainly one of the main reasons we have not had kids yet.

 

[hawaiianorangetree]

Don't forget about earn more = pay more for the same services for your children.

Daycare
Doctors
Private Health Insurance
Private School Fees
Prescription Medications

Just because you earn more doesn't mean you choose to spend more on your children's upbringing, sometimes you have to!

I don't really know what you mean, HOT. Is that what happens when you raise children in a fairly government-assisted place, like Australia? I am thinking back to my own childhood -- the lawyer's kids went to the same (public) school as me, paid the same amount for the same daycare, visited the same doctor with the same office charges, fell under a very similar health insurance plan as I did, and definitely paid the same amount for prescriptions. There genuinely wouldn't have been many non-elective cost differences of raising a child in my hometown in regards to income earned (minus the factor of a higher tax bracket siphoning money out of the higher income household).

It is different here though, isn't it? Because the Australian government provides so many family assistance payouts, you qualify for less assistance when you earn more. Is that what you mean?

Yeah pretty much.

For example, there are two families, X and Y. (Figures are made up! It's just to illustate. )

Both have a child at the same daycare.
X earn less, so they only pay $10 a week (subsidised by the government). Y earn more, so they have to pay $750 for the same service.

Kids get sick and they have to visit the doctor.
X pay nothing, it is bulk billed to medicare because they have a health care card. Y earn more so they have to pay $60 for the same Dr consultation (some will be refunded through medicare).

The kids both need medication.
X pay $2.50 for the same prescription that Y will have to pay $45 for, because they don't have a health care card.

Private health insurance.
X will pay $700 a year (the rest will be subsidized by the government) and the Y family will pay well into the thousands, because they no longer qualify for the goverment rebate because they earn so much. That's if X bother with private health, if they don't everything will be free as it is covered under the public health system (Something that Y is also entitled to).

Private school fees
Y pay $2500 for a terms tuition, X pay 25% less as they are elligible for reduced fees as they have a health care card. That doesn't take into account the yearly payouts the government sends them to help with the costs of educating their children, (books / uniforms) something that Y family are not elligible for because they don't recieve Family Tax A or B (a subsidy that is paid out fortnightly to low income families).

Now, it is wonderful that low income families get so much help from our government when it comes to helping raise children, but, I can't help feel a little shitty ( ) when the money I earn and work hard for doesn't exactly go very far when I have to pay so much more for the same services as others. Others that don't exactly have to 'work' for them. KWIM?

So yeah, earning more probably means that you are spending more on your kids, but it's not all on designer clothes and x box consoles!

 

[gregchang35]

Don't forget about earn more = pay more for the same services for your children.



Now, it is wonderful that low income families get so much help from our government when it comes to helping raise children, but, I can't help feel a little shitty ( ) when the money I earn and work hard for doesn't exactly go very far when I have to pay so much more for the same services as others. Others that don't exactly have to 'work' for them. KWIM?

So yeah, earning more probably means that you are spending more on your kids, but it's not all on designer clothes and x box consoles!

This is a really great topic as we are 'new' parents and we had seen a similar article a few (5?) years ago stating that it was in the order of $250.000.

HOT= Totally agree on both highlighted points. However, I look at it this way..in AUS, this is how it always I have know it to be and it is how it is going to be for some time yet. 'Cos you know how hard it is to take the bone away from the 'hungry' dog. In light of that, what I tend to do is think this way: I know that if I do not get the govt payments, I know that I am lucky enough to be in a position that I do not need to rely on the payments. I also know that I am fortunate enough to able to provide for my family in modest surroundings and i am very lucky to be able to continue to do so.

I am not saying that everything is easy....raising child/ren is never easy- financially, emotionally, physically (in no particular order). i hear lots of stories from friends and they get by. some with lower/ single income managing to put their kids through independent schools. Having children/ family changes perspective/ priorities. If you can indulge at the same time, great. If not, sacrifices need to be made.

I am really grateful for extended family,without whom, we would not be able to continue working to provide for the family. Yes, I can hear others that would spout that why have child/ren if you are not going to raise them yourself. I understand that. For us ( as ppl vary), we have decided that this is the way that we want to work with our family. Our daughter knows that we are her parents and we provide for her in any way, shape or form. She is also taught that she can't have everything that she wants. She is only 2 and the peer pressure has not hit us, yet. We will teach her the value of what she has. I think that is one of the most important lessons she will learn from us.

I see it that if the child/ren are taught the value of money, they will appreciate things and not take it for granted. I can remember learning those lessons, as we came from humble beginnings. We were not inundated with luxurious things. Those things, we had to earn our own money for. We learned to save early on. My partner has been given the world as the only child and he loves the finer things in life and had to work for it. Together we have made the commitment that our daughter will learn these very lessons.

We knew when we were planning to have our family, that it was going to be 'costly'. As others mentioned the romantic idea of 'why put a figure on raising a child'- it is something that you do. I think it is nice to know the dollar value for interests sake, but we as parents = will do just about anything for our child/ren, at whatever costs.

I am sure that there are many other lessons that we have to learn as our journey in parenthood is only but 2yrs on. Bring it on and the many bills that we will encounter.

The bling projects will come and go at whatever the budget will allow.

 

[hawaiianorangetree]

Don't forget about earn more = pay more for the same services for your children.



Now, it is wonderful that low income families get so much help from our government when it comes to helping raise children, but, I can't help feel a little shitty ( ) when the money I earn and work hard for doesn't exactly go very far when I have to pay so much more for the same services as others. Others that don't exactly have to 'work' for them. KWIM?

So yeah, earning more probably means that you are spending more on your kids, but it's not all on designer clothes and x box consoles!

This is a really great topic as we are 'new' parents and we had seen a similar article a few (5?) years ago stating that it was in the order of $250.000.

HOT= Totally agree on both highlighted points. However, I look at it this way..in AUS, this is how it always I have know it to be and it is how it is going to be for some time yet. 'Cos you know how hard it is to take the bone away from the 'hungry' dog. In light of that, what I tend to do is think this way: I know that if I do not get the govt payments, I know that I am lucky enough to be in a position that I do not need to rely on the payments. I also know that I am fortunate enough to able to provide for my family in modest surroundings and i am very lucky to be able to continue to do so.

I am not saying that everything is easy....raising child/ren is never easy- financially, emotionally, physically (in no particular order). i hear lots of stories from friends and they get by. some with lower/ single income managing to put their kids through independent schools. Having children/ family changes perspective/ priorities. If you can indulge at the same time, great. If not, sacrifices need to be made.

I am really grateful for extended family,without whom, we would not be able to continue working to provide for the family. Yes, I can hear others that would spout that why have child/ren if you are not going to raise them yourself. I understand that. For us ( as ppl vary), we have decided that this is the way that we want to work with our family. Our daughter knows that we are her parents and we provide for her in any way, shape or form. She is also taught that she can't have everything that she wants. She is only 2 and the peer pressure has not hit us, yet. We will teach her the value of what she has. I think that is one of the most important lessons she will learn from us.

I see it that if the child/ren are taught the value of money, they will appreciate things and not take it for granted. I can remember learning those lessons, as we came from humble beginnings. We were not inundated with luxurious things. Those things, we had to earn our own money for. We learned to save early on. My partner has been given the world as the only child and he loves the finer things in life and had to work for it. Together we have made the commitment that our daughter will learn these very lessons.

We knew when we were planning to have our family, that it was going to be 'costly'. As others mentioned the romantic idea of 'why put a figure on raising a child'- it is something that you do. I think it is nice to know the dollar value for interests sake, but we as parents = will do just about anything for our child/ren, at whatever costs.

I am sure that there are many other lessons that we have to learn as our journey in parenthood is only but 2yrs on. Bring it on and the many bills that we will encounter.

The bling projects will come and go at whatever the budget will allow.

Greg, I do agree with you and I know it's not going anywhere! I guess the other part I forgot to mention in my previous post is that the cost of living and raising children are rising for all of us, yet the salaries aren't going up at the same rate. Those on lower incomes get support from the government to help with this and the rest of us don't. I guess what I am trying to say is that the 'good' money I earn now just doesn't go as far as it used to and with the high tax bracket that we pay coupled with the support that others get it does make me wonder how much better off are we really?


I completely agree with you on the point of being lucky to have family help you out with child care. I am lucky that my daughter is old enough that we don't need child care anymore. I don't think it would be worth me working if we had to pay for a full time spot in daycare with no assistance from the government.

I recently saw a news piece on the spiraling out of control costs of child care in this country and how many people are basically working to put their kids in child care. it is ridiculous! The government paid for everyone, in all income brackets, to have babies because our birth rate was dropping (the baby bonus) and I believe that EVERYONE should be entitled to receive quality subsidized child care, not just low income earners.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Can you spend that much? Certainly. Is that the norm? I seriously doubt it. Our kids went to public or charter schools and were given and inexpensive car that only needed liability insurance at 16 (last one got a 10 year old Toyota Corolla that had relatively low miles and it is a great car). If you say her food costs $5 a day, then that is $150 a month. Hard to calculate things like extra electricity usage and that kind of thing, but I'll add $50 a month. She gets $100 a month for gas and a little spending money. So we are up to $3600 a year for the monthly things. Maybe add $1000 a year for clothing, shoes, sports clothes for school, etc. When she was a younger child, gifts were probably a total of $400 a year but now that she is older and toys are more expensive, I would say maybe $700. Camp is about $500. Car insurance and maintenance is maybe $1200 a year. So we are up to $7000 a year as a teenager.
Before she was a teen, the amount could be cut in half, basically. So if you multiply $3500 a year times 15 and $7000 times 3 to reach age 18, the total is $73,500. I never buy into those numbers when I see them. They have to be including private schools, expensive cars, etc. And those things are fortunately not required to raise a happy, healthy child. (Had we lived close enough to access the private school we would have chosen, that would have added $90k to the total, which would still total half of the number at the top of the thread.) Of course, we don't live in Australia, and we do live in a part of the US with a decent cost of living.

Just for comparison to Dreamer's post, full-time day care here is about $1000 a month at a good place. Some home providers charge less than that.

 

[gregchang35]

Greg, I do agree with you and I know it's not going anywhere! I guess the other part I forgot to mention in my previous post is that the cost of living and raising children are rising for all of us, yet the salaries aren't going up at the same rate. Those on lower incomes get support from the government to help with this and the rest of us don't. I guess what I am trying to say is that the 'good' money I earn now just doesn't go as far as it used to and with the high tax bracket that we pay coupled with the support that others get it does make me wonder how much better off are we really?


I completely agree with you on the point of being lucky to have family help you out with child care. I am lucky that my daughter is old enough that we don't need child care anymore. I don't think it would be worth me working if we had to pay for a full time spot in daycare with no assistance from the government.

I recently saw a news piece on the spiraling out of control costs of child care in this country and how many people are basically working to put their kids in child care. it is ridiculous! The government paid for everyone, in all income brackets, to have babies because our birth rate was dropping (the baby bonus) and I believe that EVERYONE should be entitled to receive quality subsidized child care, not just low income earners.

Alas, it is all about budgetting on the federal and state level. Unfortunately, I dont know the answer to that. HOWever, knowing that i can afford to PAY for what we need when we need it is a good source of comfort. I will add another story here... another couple i know, the husband works to pay the mortgage and general living expenses. The wife goes to work p/t just to fund for private schooling in one of the most affluent suburbs in town. Crazy, i know. It just doesnt make sense. I guess it is something that will provide solace to the parents that they have done everything they can to provide what they can for their 2 children. and another situation where my friends parents sit back and wait till the govt payments come through.

I have as yet to do my own numbers and i dont really want to for the fear that it will be quite surprising. But, i know that we watch everthing that comes in and goes out... we dont go crazy on extravagant things... i dont include bling as 'extravagant'... it has now become a necessity!!!! Seriously though, i know it is unfair while some ppl work hard while others just sit back and take what comes to them.

 

[justginger]

Wow since when did parents pay for cars & uni fees??? Living at home until 21??

My parents certainly didn't - out of home & paying my own way at 18 (although to be fair I'm sure my private school fees were eye watering...)

I think it's true that when you EARN more you SPEND more - kids included. It's certainly one of the main reasons we have not had kids yet.

I thought the same thing when I moved down here, but EVERYONE stays at home through uni. You CAN'T live on campus, there are no dorms. University is like a job here - you go in the morning, stay for the day, and then go home. The only student accommodation is reserved for out of state/international students - and it is expensive (I think when I spoke at St. Catherine's last year, one of the girls told me that her room is $410/week).

The average rent in Perth is now $460/week. I'd love to see an 18 year old uni student afford $1800/month in rent, even split among multiple people.

So yes, children remain children in Australia for a few years longer than they do in the States.

 

[monarch64]

Here's a fun little tool:

http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/calculatorintro.htm

Our total would be around $270,000 to raise her until she's 18. Suddenly I feel like we got a great deal!

 

[SB621]

I think 400K is grossly underestimated per child. We expect much closer to 900k for everything (food, medical, dental, summer camp, cars, clothes, education, sports....the list goes on.).

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Can you spend that much? Certainly. Is that the norm? I seriously doubt it. Our kids went to public or charter schools and were given and inexpensive car that only needed liability insurance at 16 (last one got a 10 year old Toyota Corolla that had relatively low miles and it is a great car). If you say her food costs $5 a day, then that is $150 a month. Hard to calculate things like extra electricity usage and that kind of thing, but I'll add $50 a month. She gets $100 a month for gas and a little spending money. So we are up to $3600 a year for the monthly things. Maybe add $1000 a year for clothing, shoes, sports clothes for school, etc. When she was a younger child, gifts were probably a total of $400 a year but now that she is older and toys are more expensive, I would say maybe $700. Camp is about $500. Car insurance and maintenance is maybe $1200 a year. So we are up to $7000 a year as a teenager.
Before she was a teen, the amount could be cut in half, basically. So if you multiply $3500 a year times 15 and $7000 times 3 to reach age 18, the total is $73,500. I never buy into those numbers when I see them. They have to be including private schools, expensive cars, etc. And those things are fortunately not required to raise a happy, healthy child. (Had we lived close enough to access the private school we would have chosen, that would have added $90k to the total, which would still total half of the number at the top of the thread.) Of course, we don't live in Australia, and we do live in a part of the US with a decent cost of living.

Just for comparison to Dreamer's post, full-time day care here is about $1000 a month at a good place. Some home providers charge less than that.

What about housing? If you didn't have a child, then you could live in a smaller house. And maybe you would live somewhere without a decent school district, live closer to your job, etc. Did you put together a nursery? What about furniture for her room? Wear and tear on common use items? Do you ever go on family outings, restaurants, movie cinema, vacations - that extra person will raise the cost too. Do you have an extra TV, computer, sound system, cell phone or all electronics shared? Was she never ill and needed a doctor (or preventive care), a dentist or other health professional?

 

[Lulie]

Absolute YES to several posters!
Braces: $6k, car insurance for a teen: $1,400. Education is the biggest one.
This calculator: http://www.babycenter.com/cost-of-raising-child-calculator was very close to my numbers.
Uni fees are UP. Public university of choice is $51k per year vs. Private School $54k Public will take an extra year due to wait lists for everything. As you can imagine, my stepson’s $100k merit scholarship doesn’t go too far. Do I want the kid to have a loan? NO. Working @ Starbucks doesn't pay for much, so yes parents around me are paying for nearly 50% for their undergrads.
Living expenses in campus: $16k so yes, more and more kids are living @ home for that reason. Sounds bad but they're actually never home, they are in work/study programs
Hawaiiantree nailed: Money doesn't go as far as it used to, you pay for others. Public education is broken in my area. Charter schools are wonderful but you have to camp outside for a few days to get a lottery number. Middle school: If you make less than $80k combined/single you get a break and pay $1k per year, if you make more than that, you pay $6,400 yearly.
HS: If you have a single parent, or make less than $90k per year [combined], you pay $4,500 [FAIR program] per year, we pay $14,990. Uniforms, food, books or sports gear are never included
I do not buy designer stuff for kids, we go on vacation once a year, we eat what is on season, and we like nice things but never pay full price for them. Have taken advantage of community offerings: golfing, tennis, dancing, theatre, you name it. Early on, I refused to pay for child care, so I retired early to watch my kids grow while doing a few consultations from home. Still numbers are UP.

 

[SB621]

Lulie,

According to your link I was off by 10k to my estimation that I have talked about with my husband. Neat link! It was nice to "confirm" the figures we had been talking about.