http://money.cnn.com/2012/06/14/news/economy/cost-raising-child/index.htm?iid=HP_LN

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Raising a child just got $8,000 more expensive.
Middle-income families with a child born in 2011 can expect to spend $235,000 over 17 years, according to a new report by the United States Department of Agriculture. That cost factors in food, shelter and other necessities to raise a child, and does not account for inflation.
It also marks a whopping $8,000 increase, or 3.5% rise, in just one year.
So why do babies born in 2011 cost so much more?
In that one year alone, expenses for transportation, child care, education and food surged for middle-income families. Health care, clothing and housing costs also increased, but at a more gradual pace.
In the study, the government defined middle-income families as those with $59,000 to $103,000 in annual income before taxes.

Lower income families can expect to spend less -- to the tune of about $169,000 over 17 years and higher income families can expect to spend more -- roughly $390,000.
The USDA has been estimating the cost of raising a child since 1960. The first year the report was issued, the agency estimated it cost an average of $25,000 (or roughly $192,000 adjusted for inflation) to raise a child to age 17.

I got a nice argument started in the comments section.

Basically told them they're crazy if they think kids are that expensive -- they're only expensive if you want to be a modern wasteful American.

EDIT: It looks like they deleted my original comment. Can't have people waking up the sheeple to the foolishness of the modern world, now can we? I bet my other comments will be deleted eventually too. They ring true when you read them. I might just sway a few people -- they can't have that.

I always laugh when I read this stuff, because it is so ridiculous.  

Our biggest expenses are the gas for our big van and our groceries.  And I can stretch a chicken for three meals.  LOL.

The things these people buy for their babies and children is really hard for me to believe.  

And most of it is totally unnecessary.  A diaper wipe warmer.  Really?  

I think they really have no idea or they only poll people from Manhattan who have 1 child.


Insane.

I always laugh when I read this stuff, because it is so ridiculous.  

Our biggest expenses are the gas for our big van and our groceries.  And I can stretch a chicken for three meals.  LOL.

The things these people buy for their babies and children is really hard for me to believe.  

And most of it is totally unnecessary.  A diaper wipe warmer.  Really?  

I think they really have no idea or they only poll people from Manhattan who have 1 child.


Insane.

8 year olds with cell phones.

my divorcee cousin's two kids probably cost that much

they are 8-11 years old

they share xbox and wii

they each have laptops, nintendo ds, fancy bikes

all kinds of toys and games

52" plasma hdtv whatever

11yo son even got a gas-powered dirtbike to fool around with

he goes to special behavior clinic for anger issues

cousin and kids lives with her parents

her parents spend $200+ week groceries just for five of them and dog

she gets social security because kids' father died

but she pays nothing for rent or groceries

another reason why I wait til marriage