Why do children get MORE expensive as they get older?

[Anonymous]

I keep reading this on this forum and am a bit perplexed. I mean how can it be more than daycare? Are the kids just in a ton of activities? We pay 1200 per month and I just can't imagine how something else will eat up that amount per month like daycare! What am I missing? Clothing we spend about $50-75 every 4 to 5 months buying a mix of new and used at consigments.

[Anonymous]

I've never read that. What threads say that kids are more expensive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I keep reading this on this forum and am a bit perplexed. I mean how can it be more than daycare? Are the kids just in a ton of activities? We pay 1200 per month and I just can't imagine how something else will eat up that amount per month like daycare! What am I missing? Clothing we spend about $50-75 every 4 to 5 months buying a mix of new and used at consigments.

How many hours a week of daycare do you get?

[Anonymous]

I think they're talking about aftercare and summer camps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never read that. What threads say that kids are more expensive?

Not op, but I see it on here all the time. I think the posters who say it are exaggerating though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think they're talking about aftercare and summer camps.

And sports and music lessons and academic tutoring...

[Anonymous]

My elementary boys go through sneakers in about 5 weeks. Grocery bill over $300/week. Spring sports enrollment cost over a thousand dollars (plus cost of equipment). New golf clubs last week for one kid, orthodontia coming up for two kids, one week of full day camp for the summer for all three was over a thousand dollars. We aren't even into cell phones yet. Plane rides to visit grandparents, every time we vacation it's 5 flights and a suite or two hotel rooms. 5 lift tickets. I mean- you really can't imagine how expensive life with kids is if you continue to be active.

[Anonymous]

Activities, before and after school care if you need it, and camps in the summer. It may not get more expensive depending on individual choices in care/camps, but for many families it doesn't get a lot cheaper, either.

[Anonymous]

I do think it's one of those things people exaggerate -- the same way they'll claim "the newborn phase is SO MUCH easier than having a 5 year old" My foot! I can't imagine a more expensive phase of life than when I had a baby and I was paying $2200 for nanny share, medical costs, baby stuff, diapers, hypoallergenic formula PLUS tons of money on breastfeeding/pumping supplies, White House Nannies to cover sick days when I just couldn't take off work, etc etc.

Now that we are just about to shake off daycare costs as we enter into kindergarten, we are planning to put a big chunk of that savings into the 529 for college. So our budget won't necessarily change all that much, but it's much different to be voluntarily saving than having those incredible expenses of the first year or two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do think it's one of those things people exaggerate -- the same way they'll claim "the newborn phase is SO MUCH easier than having a 5 year old" My foot! I can't imagine a more expensive phase of life than when I had a baby and I was paying $2200 for nanny share, medical costs, baby stuff, diapers, hypoallergenic formula PLUS tons of money on breastfeeding/pumping supplies, White House Nannies to cover sick days when I just couldn't take off work, etc etc.

Now that we are just about to shake off daycare costs as we enter into kindergarten, we are planning to put a big chunk of that savings into the 529 for college. So our budget won't necessarily change all that much, but it's much different to be voluntarily saving than having those incredible expenses of the first year or two.

Oh, also forgot to mention the 4 months of unpaid maternity leave that I paid for out of my Roth IRA contributions.

[Anonymous]

Camps in the summer. They can run $400 a week. School day off care $75 a day. Before/after care during elementary years - $500 a month. Lessons and activities. Clothing and food - consignment/thrift doesn't really work after a point, and they eat a lot more. They're not free or reduced price into activities after a while.

I'm not sure it costs "more" but I haven't really seen any new money back - my kid is nine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My elementary boys go through sneakers in about 5 weeks. Grocery bill over $300/week. Spring sports enrollment cost over a thousand dollars (plus cost of equipment). New golf clubs last week for one kid, orthodontia coming up for two kids, one week of full day camp for the summer for all three was over a thousand dollars. We aren't even into cell phones yet. Plane rides to visit grandparents, every time we vacation it's 5 flights and a suite or two hotel rooms. 5 lift tickets. I mean- you really can't imagine how expensive life with kids is if you continue to be active.

Sorry, but that amuses me.

[Anonymous]

Travel sport $100/month
Piano - $100/month
Aftercare -$400/month
Tutoring -$100/month
Swim lessons $100/month

Summer camps can be $500/week for a good quality camp (not just babysitting) -- average over year that's $400/month, but you don't pay aftercare those months.

The things like travel needing two hotel rooms, bigger cars, etc.

[Anonymous]

I see this all the time too. I get it - they eat more, clothing is more expensive, and activities plus before care/aftercare - however, I still have a hard time believing I'll be paying as much as daycare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My elementary boys go through sneakers in about 5 weeks. Grocery bill over $300/week. Spring sports enrollment cost over a thousand dollars (plus cost of equipment). New golf clubs last week for one kid, orthodontia coming up for two kids, one week of full day camp for the summer for all three was over a thousand dollars. We aren't even into cell phones yet. Plane rides to visit grandparents, every time we vacation it's 5 flights and a suite or two hotel rooms. 5 lift tickets. I mean- you really can't imagine how expensive life with kids is if you continue to be active.

Yeah well if you are unlimited in how you spend money, I suppose life doesn't get any cheaper. For those of us who don't vacation frequently, ski, or buy our kids golf clubs, life is a little more financially manageable. We're talking about the inelastic expenses (like childcare, diapers, formula), not golf clubs for your 10 year old.