It costs $233,610 to raise a child

If you're thinking of starting a family, you might be in for some sticker shock: Raising a child could cost you nearly a quarter of a million dollars.

A middle-income, married couple with two children is estimated to spend $233,610 to raise a child born in 2015, according to a report released by the Department of Agriculture Monday. And that number only covers costs from birth through age 17 -- so it doesn't include college expenses.

Families can expect to spend between $12,350 and nearly $14,000 a year, on average, to raise a child.

Housing was the biggest expense for middle-income families, taking up an average of 29% of the total cost of raising a child, driven mostly by the cost of an extra bedroom.

Food is the second biggest budget eater.

Another big expense is child care, which costs parents an average of $37,378 per child, according to the government.

Despite the endless cycle of diapers, children tend to be less expensive in their younger years. While child care and education expenses are higher for children under six, those expenses often dissipate as kids get older and enter school full time. Transportation, food, health care and clothing costs all rise as children age.
For example, parents with teenagers can expect to fork over the most money on food. The annual average cost to feed a 15-17-year-old came in at $2,790 in 2015, 22% more than the cost to feed a child between the ages of 6 and 8.

Transportation costs can also weigh heavily on a family's budget, but they dropped 7% from 2014 to 2015 thanks to lower gas prices.

Costs vary by family income level and location. Lower-income families are estimated to spend an average of $174,690, while high-income households will pay around $372,210 over the years.

By region, families in the urban Northeast face the highest child-rearing tab with an average of $253,770, followed by the urban West at $235,140. Those living in rural areas throughout the country pay the least, at an average of $193,020, according to the government.

Parents in the urban Northeast also spend the most on housing and child care and education.

Siblings can reduce some budgetary pressure. Married-couple households that had three or more children spent 24% less on average per child compared to those with two kids.

"There are significant economies of scale, with regards to children, sometimes referred to as the 'cheaper by the dozen effect,'" said Mark Lino, author of the report and economist at the Department of Agriculture, in a press release. "As families increase in size, children may share a bedroom, clothing and toys can be reused, and food can be purchased in larger, more economical packages."

The good news is that growth in child-rearing costs slowed a bit. Costs rose 3% -- or $380 -- in 2015 from the year before, short of the 4.3% average since 1960.

http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/09/pf/cost-of-raising-a-child-2015/index.html?iid=hp-stack-dom

Children really aren't that expensive, the only thing you really buy more of is medicine, food and diapers. Clothes are actually really cheap for kids.

Housing was the biggest expense for middle-income families, taking up an average of 29% of the total cost of raising a child, driven mostly by the cost of an extra bedroom.

Food is the second biggest budget eater.

Another big expense is child care, which costs parents an average of $37,378 per child, according to the government.

Despite the endless cycle of diapers, children tend to be less expensive in their younger years. While child care and education expenses are higher for children under six, those expenses often dissipate as kids get older and enter school full time. Transportation, food, health care and clothing costs all rise as children age.
For example, parents with teenagers can expect to fork over the most money on food. The annual average cost to feed a 15-17-year-old came in at $2,790 in 2015, 22% more than the cost to feed a child between the ages of 6 and 8.

Transportation costs can also weigh heavily on a family's budget, but they dropped 7% from 2014 to 2015 thanks to lower gas prices.

How silly!

All those costs can be completely eliminated or vastly reduced by a single thing: having a stay at home Wife and Mother, as it is supposed to be. No nannies or daycare! If she homeschools, even better, no transportation costs. Children do not really need to keep busy in extracurricular classes all the time, being driven around. To save in food, have the woman learn how to cook well, from scratch, and buy everything in bulk. Having a great cook at home who prepares delicious and healthy meals is indeed a wonderful thing! Simple ingredients and dedication are all is needed.

Also, children do not need a single bedroom each. They can share bedrooms and Papas can build triple bunk beds....

It seems to me that a 16 year old youth is ready to start some kind of work and earn some money to contribute to the family, and this is particularly important, especially for sons, who will be breadwinners. Girls can also be taught money management and some helpful skills they could use to earn some income by starting a home - based business.  

Clothes are actually really cheap for kids.

Unfortunately, no, no they're not.  Problem is that the kids are growing so they outgrow stuff every year.  And stuff isn't made well anymore either, so handing stuff down isn't always an option either (first kid often wears the stuff out).  Shoes fall apart anymore (and are still rather expensive).

With six kids, we do TONS of laundry.  So our average washer and dryer last about 4 years before we have to get a new set.  They're just cheap Chinese garbage.  My parents, who raised 5 of us, had the same washer-dryer for over 30 years.  My wife and I have gone through 4 sets in 16 years of marriage.  And they haven't been reparable either.  Either replacement parts were no longer made, or the replacement parts cost more than a new one.  Same thing with ovens and other appliances.

So cheap Chinese garbage on the market has also been a hidden cost that our parents didn't have to deal with.

With six kids, we do TONS of laundry.  So our average washer and dryer last about 4 years before we have to get a new set.  They're just cheap Chinese garbage.  My parents, who raised 5 of us, had the same washer-dryer for over 30 years.  My wife and I have gone through 4 sets in 16 years of marriage.  And they haven't been reparable either.  Either replacement parts were no longer made, or the replacement parts cost more than a new one.  Same thing with ovens and other appliances.

So cheap Chinese garbage on the market has also been a hidden cost that our parents didn't have to deal with.

Have you thought about buying a more expensive one, not made in china?...It will hurt in the short term but long term it might work out better.

As for clothes, you know there is such a thing as goodwill or salvation army, and if you look hard enough you can find higher end brands (not made in chinka), and when kids grow out of clothes they will go to the next one up.  

The only general advice I would give is: be clever. Learn what advantages you have that you can take advantage of. Do you live by a bunch of middle class Americans? Go to their garage sales. They have like-new baby and kids clothes that they are ready to THROW AWAY much less sell you a bagful for $5.

Some areas have a good Craigslist -- others don't. It depends on A) how many rich people are getting rid of stuff and B) how many poor people you're competing with.

Don't shop at garage sales in poor areas. Mexicans, Jєωs, and Germans will charge you $5 for a non-functional, rusty wrench. But more likely, they won't be selling anything practical. "Old world" cultures (like I listed above) are very practical, and so they don't sell practical items. And they also charge top dollar for everything they're willing to part with.

White middle class Anglo-Saxon Protestants, on the other hand, are anxious to make more space in their cookie-cutter suburban homes. They get rid of great toys, clothes, even practical stuff like tools, all the time. Those are the only garage sales I take time out to shop.

Even better, these suburbs or "neighborhoods" often have garage sales allowed only 2 days a year. But when they have one, EVERYONE in the neighborhood is invited to participate. So even a family with 10 items to sell will throw a tarp in the driveway and sit out there for some fresh air, while trying to sell some stuff. But you can drive around and hit several garage sales very efficiently. You're bound to find some good stuff.

A few years ago, we got TWO of these bikes, brand-new unassembled and in the box, for $27.50 each.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XSJVMUC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00XSJVMUC&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwchanco-20