Catholic Info
Traditional Catholic Faith => Catholic Living in the Modern World => Topic started by: Matthew on June 14, 2012, 05:19:10 PM
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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.
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Is that it?
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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.
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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.
I think its safe to say that the cost of each child is successfully diminished the more you have if you are not being "wasteful" as you say.
Certainly my 1st child will be far more expensive than my 4th, God willing. That's because there are so many 1st time purchases I need to make for the first baby. But by number four, if I'm saving as many things that are reusable as possible,clothing, toys, bedding, etc., I am doing it right. Its, of course the only way to do it. Sharing clothes with family and friends is good too; my wife shared some clothing of my first daughter with a friend, who returned it to us (along with some of her own extras) and we used it with our twins. And it teaches children they don't need the latest and greatest 'everything'. It isn't necessarily 'easy'; it takes planning and prudence. But it is rewarding on so many levels, not least of which is the trust one learns to place in God.
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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.
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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 am astounded that even the inhabitants of CNN-land could argue with such an obviously true statement.
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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.
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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.
It is propaganda.
I hope these outlets do start charging people. It will cut their readership down to nothing.
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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
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"How I raised my baby for the cost of a cup of coffee a day" (http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/how-much-does-a-baby-really-cost-how-i-raised-my-baby-for-the-cost-of-a-cup)