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If you think parents today are spending more than their parents did, you're right.
Many parents today are worried about how they’re going to send their kids to college given the high cost of higher education. But maybe they should be more concerned about the 17 years before the little darlings hit the road.
Food, clothing, and health care are just a few items that can add up into tons of expenses before adulthood. How much? $234,900 for a child born in 2011 to a middle-income family.
That's according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual report, “Expenditures on Children by Families,” released Thursday, which came up with the total by calculating the cost of a host of necessities parents pay for in the 17 years before adulthood.
If you think parents today are spending more than their parents did, you’re right. In 1960, the first year the report was produced, a middle-income family would have expected to spend about $25,000 over the course of 17 years, or $191,720 adjusted for today’s dollars.
The cost of raising a child differs sharply depending on the resources available to the parents. According to the USDA's calculations:
- For households with annual income less than $59,410, annual expenses per child range from $8,760 to $9,970 on average, depending on age of the child.
- For households with income of up to $102,870, the annual cost is about $12,290 to $14,320.
- For households with income over $102,870, the cost per child averages out at $20,420 to $24,510.
Housing was the biggest expense, followed by child care and education, food, and transportation.
Since 1960, food expenditures have actually declined to 16 percent of income from 24 percent, while the cost of child care and education has soared to 18 percent of income from 2 percent.
And despite the high cost of fancy sneakers today, moms and dads are shelling out less to dress up the little tikes, at 6 percent of income, down from 11 percent in 1960.
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Oops got cut off...that is exactly what I said. I resent having to forfeit the things I want to take care of a dependent, I think this is a pretty common feeling and it doesn't make me a bad person. What would make me bad is to let that feeling dictate my life and blow the dog off instead of stepping up to my responsibilities. I made a promise to him and I will honor it, but I still have a right to feel how I feel.
Xtina, my statement did not belittle anyone, as the very first two words I typed were TO ME. I described MY reality.
I cant help but wonder the cost to the taxpayer to raise a child...if it's $234K in the normal world, it's probably closer to a $half mil to uncle sucker!
Here is the bottom line... IF YOU CAN'T FEED, DON'T BREED THEM. Unfortunately, there are TOOOOO many idiots breeding like rabbits. It's disgusting.
I see the shift because of society. Child care & education due to two working parents. Health care due to increased allergies, lack of physical fitness, and fast food. It is simply how American life has changed in the last few decades.
Most folks I know are not spending over 234k to raise each child, but the government IS paying the medical/hospital expenses, the food stamps, monthly welfare payments, HUD housing and child care costs. If there is any earned income, they also get large federal tax refunds to get tatoos, breast implant surgery or make down payments on cars their parents co-sign for. Dear old gramma or grampa are helping with all the extra expenses such as toys and clothing, mom and dad's cell phone bills and sometimes are the primary caregivers of the children while mom and dad pursue other interests or relationships. Same goes for the more stable but unmarried couple when the father of the baby earns a nice family wage but the mother stays at home and collects benefits as an unemployed single mother.
Alex - I absolutely agree with you. And, bless you for being honest. I don't know why people seem to think there's something wrong with you if you don't have kids. The pressure is ridiculous.
This is total crap and a waste of an article. They leave out so many factors it's ridiculous. What's funny is I know people below the poverty level buying their kids top of the line clothing, bedding, furniture, etc and they can do that cause of the way the government is set up and they are living on welfare. Now us in the middle class have a little bit more sense about the costs of things and realize that budgeting, planning, shopping sales, and using second hand items is perfectly fine. And if I had a choice between having my sweet little girl or having more money for the "finer" things in life, I would choose my girl any day of the week. Shame on all of you wishing you didn't have your children. Many people can't have kids and it is not a blessing, but a terrible heartache and while yes you need to make sure you can support your children before having them, you shouldn't stress about how much happier life would be with the money and not the child. No possessions can come close to the love you have for your kids.
Your money cannot hug you and say "I love you, mommy."
But some people don't care about that, and that is their right.
While that may be true, it's a sure bet that your kids will want as much of your money as you have.
I want to see exactly where they get these figures. Food cost, Clothing,medical,education and entertainment cost all fluxuate depending on your budget circumstance and or mind set. Those parents that are extravagant could spend this much but the average parent does not so I challange these figures. Our Government might spend this much on child care contracting foster care and psyco babble Drs, as they often have more than one per child and they only spend less than an hour a month per child and double charge the system. It is not the money you invest it is the love and time that counts. I challenge the system that puts out these figures to break it down exactly day by day.
Almost all high school students turn 18 their senior year or the summer beyond. Who came up with 17 years "before they leave home"? And I echo others complaints about housing. My neighborhood's similar homes house zero kids in some cases and 5 kids in others. The parents maybe bought new beds and dressers, but housing isn't something they spent much on.
I challange those figures, I want to see there daily budget costs. Every family budget is diffrent not to mention mind set on expeditures. The Government spend this kind of money on contracted foster care and Psycologist and psycharist and they charge far more to the system than they would for individuals. Each Government Psy sees a child in their care less than an hour and less than once a month and they really charge the state or county for ir. They hand out abbreviation on these children that labels them in school and perscribe meds anything to keep a child still and silent.
Our child raring system is so messed up. Every child isn't a winner. Every child needs to be taught that it is their effort that makes them a winner! This how it is in the adult world and we should be preparing them to actually live in our world not in a pretend world. In the real world there is poverty and pain. Without these lesson and the effort it takes to teach a child to over come we have no winners in our current educational system. It is in loosing and overcoming with diginity and learning to strive harder that we truly teach our children. American children have been duped to believe what is the difference if I try or don't try I will get a medal anyway. I read all this crap they put out to the public and there are those that believe every word. It is a shame they don't tell the truth and our current news media do not put forth the effort to find the real stories and report themlike it is. Yeah they may have to go to the library or to the source and double check every fact to get out and get off their behinds to find out the truth. They may have to actually read those health reports that the Government puts out. It would be nice if they followed through with stories and really checked them out!
Who does this stupid research? I have two kids, and trust me, it didn't cost me nearly this much. What are they calculating, the cost of housing for your kid? Your children don't pay rent or part of the mortgage. I have a 3 bedroom house before my kids and it cost me $1,500. My wife and I sleeps in one bedroom and the other two bedrooms were open. When we had kids, my mortgage didn't go up by another $1,000 per month just because I had a kid or two. My mortgage stayed the same. Food? Well, you buy a little more to feed one or two extra mouths, but the meals stretches and feeds more than two people. Oatmeal, beans, salad, fruit...etc., you get the picture. It costs a little bit more, but not an extra $13,764 per year per kid more like the article is saying. And what about those families that earn less and have three kids? Their kids are showing up dead, having died from starvation. Who in the heck are these people talking about? Not me, FOR SURE!
P.S. Year one of a new born is usually more expensive, but I think maybe by $5K. The second kid gets to use the same bed, crib, swing set (if it survived...hehe), but the cost of diminished returns is at work here. Think about it people.
OK wayne, so just because you didn't go out and buy a house when you had kids doesn't necessarily invalidate the study. I think if you actually sat down and tallied all the extra $$ paid out - clothing, medical bills, toys, food, other recreation, education, etc. you'd be amazed at the expense. Oh, and for some, it doesn't end when they grow up and become adults - some want $$ for higher education, including masters programs; some want you to co-sign loans... Oh, and more than a few are waiting around, like vultures, waiting for you to kick off so thy can inherit what money you have left...
What is the point of articles such as these?
To get the anti-kids people and parents sniping at each other?
If you want kids it doesn't mean jack how much they cost. They are priceless.
And if you don't, it doesn't concern you at all.
Oh for God's sake.
Those who don't want kids should stop slamming people who do and those who want kids should stop slamming people who don't.
Yeah, childless people, we know that kids are loud and messy and disruptive, and we don't care.
Yeah, parents, we know that it is all worth it, and we don't care.
This isn't a pissing contest.
Okay...it makes no sense to say people who don't want kids and choose not to have them are selfish. There are no kids in the picture at all so how can that be selfish? If you HAVE kids and don't take care of them, THAT is selfish. For people who choose not to have kids, they just don't have that drive/want/need to have them. They are doing other things with their lives, their life purpose does NOT involve having or raising kids. Nothing wrong with that at all!
Me though...I have two kids who I adore and they are my world. I stay at home with them, homeschool, and it is better than having time to myself. It is better than traveling, it is better than going out to fancy restaurants...it is better than having a glamorous job...but that is what my purpose is in life and what I enjoy. Some people would go bat @!$%# crazy if they woke up one day and had to live my life. I'd go bat @!$%# crazy if I woke up and was a rich entrepreneur who was childless and had to travel a lot. Everyone should live the life they want and do what they enjoy whether that includes kids or not.
See my post below which was missapplied.
people have kids not because they may or may not want to but because it feels too good when you finish where nature intended you to finish. the kids is just an afterthought thingy.
I'll be the first to say I don't like kids, and would never have one; and while it is expensive, these estimates are insanely inaccurate. By these calculations, my parents are/were millionaires with three children. Take away the things like a home, car, or anything that you would have anyway, and you're left with food, diapers, clothing, healthcare, and school. The only reason a kid will cost you a quarter of a million dollars is if you're buying them a stupid iPad at the age of 5; at which you obviously suck at being a parent, and at life in general. Why did I just waste my life writing this stupid comment over this stupid article?
If you knew anything about the Latino culture, which obviously it's a no-brainer that you in fact do not, you would know that they are some of the hardest working individuals, doing labor that white folks refuse to do. They also have stronger family values that then white folks (statistically, not in all cases). Many of these families live with several members in one household, spanning three generations at one time. They do not go by the "go off to college and get out of my house" attitude that whites partake in. Also, just because someone has a tattoo, you think that you paid for it because they're a minority and there's no way they could afford luxuries like that as a minority? There's a system designed to keep minorities in place, meaning poor, and it's crap like that. Instead of a 401K, mutual funds, college tuition, savings accounts, stocks, bonds, or anything of the like, they get tattoos, buy nice shoes, or spend their money on a handful of other things you would assume you paid for in the deducted taxes of your unemployment check.... I mean your paycheck.
Presumptions are everything. If you presume that the child is not going to work until age 30, yes then this might be correct. In older days when the populace was much more agriculturally oriented, children represented another hand on the farm, starting work at under age 10. In fact, you could not get too much work done being a single person. It's truly sad that we have lost that orientation, and that so many people believe that the next generation is a burden rather than an asset. More sad is that children will grow up without learning the value of work.
Children are, after all, the only ones that will be able to pay for your social security or retirement. But that's the modern way: get someone else's kids to pay for your social security, medicare, etc. What a selfish generation. It's an attitude that is unsustainable along with everything else. We deserve economic collapse; and that right soon.
Yes, it is selfish. Selfish because you expect someone else's kid to pay for your retirement. Selfish because you want to have sex without the natural consequence. Selfish because you want to treat that little rat dog in your lap that will never cost you a thing like a child of God rather than an actual child of God.
In any case, this is much more than about money. Its about having consequence-free sex until the genitals hurt in more ways than one.
Girl you just keep on contracepting.
I have 7 wonderful children! I haven't regretted one of them....EVER! We moved to Germany 3 years ago, we are still American citizens and we still pay US taxes. We receive NO money from the United States Government or Germany's Government. God supplies each and every need we have and we do not rely on any Government programs. We live with between low to middle income and have no problem with paying rent, buying food for 9 people, clothing for the kids, etc. (and trust me, the cost of living in Germany is much higher than the United States!) We even home school and pay all curriculum costs out of pocket. Having kids does not make a person broke! Trying to live with a standard higher than you can afford makes a person broke! People are trying to live outside of their means, pay for more than one vehicle, pay for cable, internet, cell phones and other entertainment, going out for meals several times a week and then after spending more than they can afford, they blame their financial problems on having kids! Ridiculous! Live within your means, be smart with your money, put God FIRST in your life (that is the secret to our success) and having children will honestly be a joy!
Tack on $300,000 in Obama created debt to the federal government and the kid is born into slavery as sure as a serf in 13th century France.
NOt if you are an 8th general wh o r e predominantly 2/3's USA pop increase from Mexico alone...dropping off your future sperm donor as per LaRaza=666=The Race's Plan...founded by COmmunist in MExico and a non profit aider and abettwhore for sedition against the USA...
Add 4 years of college and that number increases to $300k or more...start saving now.
Oh, and it doesn't end there. Weddings, gifts (not to mention expectations of free babysitting) for babies, and the final straw: expectations of leaving a legacy behind.