Kids are really expensive

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most women won't earn more than men anyway so it truly makes more sense for them to stay home. [/]

It’s becoming increasingly more common for women to make the same or more than their husbands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Young children require stability of care, basic competence, and love — to grow up healthy.

Which daycare provides all of that?

Ours did. DC now in college - dual STEM degree, straight As, had s/o relationships, really great kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then wife stays home

Wife? You mean parent.

This is why we hired a nanny.

[Anonymous]

I went back to work when my kid was 6 months old. I worked 4 nights a week after my partner got home from his day job.
We did coop at age 3 for symbolic fee and then local public school.
DC was never sick, no expensive camps, aftercare, or classes.
My partner filed as HH and I filed single making way below $20k. I didn't really have tax expense after EI credit and saver's credit and I still don't. I was able to take lifetime learner's credit for years.
I was never going to have a career (long story). I invested 20-50% of my earnings into stock market and retired when the child finished elementary school. I received a finance degree when the child was few months old.
The biggest expense for the kid has been food, school PTA, few soccer camps, some travel in US and EU, and $200 a month for health insurance.
I think my kid is very cheap.

[Anonymous]

Children at the ultimate wealth signifier. This is why DH and I have 5.

[Anonymous]

Children at the ultimate wealth signifier. This is why DH and I have 5.

I hope you had a better reason to have them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Feeding, clothing, a bed to sleep in do not cost much.

Daycare (or earnings hit), bigger house, activities, college, and setting them up is what costs $$$. A lot of that is keeping up with the Joneses. We take it for granted that it’s all “necessary”. Myself included.

Daycare the first 12-18 months can run 2-2.5k per month. Add in another $400-500 for medical insurance/all the trips to doctor/meds and you easily have $36k right there. Now purchase car seats, clothing, and other basics and it's not difficult to see how you get to $42k

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Young children require stability of care, basic competence, and love — to grow up healthy.

Which daycare provides all of that?

Ours did but then it was $25-$30k per year per kid. We have three and spent $500k in after tax money on childcare. I don’t know others do it.

Wow. If there are parents willing to spend this kind of money on childcare I need to go into the childcare business. Hate to say this but you got robbed.

Childcare is needed for first 5 years (as in full time care). That's $25k per year or $2k per month. Thats not even "high end l in dc area. Now add in the $1k per month for before/aftercare in Es and summer camps for 10 weeks so you can work your job until kids are 11/12. Kids are expensive

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Young children require stability of care, basic competence, and love — to grow up healthy.

Which daycare provides all of that?

Ours did but then it was $25-$30k per year per kid. We have three and spent $500k in after tax money on childcare. I don’t know others do it.

Wow. If there are parents willing to spend this kind of money on childcare I need to go into the childcare business. Hate to say this but you got robbed.

You don't live in the DMV.

[Anonymous]

Yeah they really are

I just keep reminding myself that money is a renewable resource. This is a long, elaborate experience of training my replacements. And you can’t take it with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then wife stays home

That is long term hurting you, because their career and salary could grow over those 5-9 years, and then if they try to return to work after a decade at home options may be limited.

My wife was in education before becoming a sahm, her salary was always limited

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Feeding, clothing, a bed to sleep in do not cost much.

Daycare (or earnings hit), bigger house, activities, college, and setting them up is what costs $$$. A lot of that is keeping up with the Joneses. We take it for granted that it’s all “necessary”. Myself included.

Childcare is necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of wise women get a license and earn amazing money providing high quality care for other children.

As a self-supporting single mother, I did this. It enabled my child private schools and annual summer camp in New England.

My rates were higher than the most competitive local preschools.

No screens, of course. You can do a morning program to start. Some families want that. I received payments one month in advance, just like schools do. You need written contracts.

Tell us more about this? I've always thought this would be a good way to earn money as a SAHM once your kids are in school full-time but I've never seen it done. How many children did you watch at once?

[Anonymous]

Two years ago, our oldest graduated from college and entered the workforce. He still lived at home with us but he started paying his own expenses - car insurance, cell phone, clothes, haircuts, etc. He paid us a small amount of money to cover the food he was eating at home. It was like getting an extra small paycheck since we were no longer paying for those items. Then he moved out completely on his own a year ago and our food expenses plummeted - another windfall of money. It was eye opening how much money we had been spending on just one of our kids for just the basic necessities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then wife stays home

Wife? You mean parent.

No, I meant wife.

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