Do kids get more presents these days? I'm always jokingly telling off my family for spoiling our niece but whenever I go to people's houses these days, if they have kids - their house is full of plastic toys. 90% of which they'll never use again. Books, teddy bears and a few toys was all we needed in my days I think.
The cost of raising kids
- Thread starter NotAGolf
- Start date
Caporegime
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- 22 Oct 2002
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- Boston, Lincolnshire
Things are a lot cheaper. I would get maybe 3-4 N64 games a year if I was lucky. Couple for Christmas, Birthdays, Special rewards etc. Now my daughter has Gamepass and 100's of games to choose from. Back when I was a child one N64 game would cost £50+ in 1990's money. A year Gamepass costs the same in 2022 currency.
Caporegime
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Our friends circle is pretty much the same. Everyone has kids so the sharing of clothes has been paramount. We have just unloaded bag loads of toddler clothes to a friend that were 3rd or 4th hand already. All good stuff as well. Friends giving us clothes for 3-4 years etc. Seems such a waste at that age as kids just grow through them so quickly before they are even worn!
Man of Honour
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Take into consideration 30 free hours a month if you earn under 100k childcare at that age (over 3) becomes very affordable. And when they go to school other than school uniform and after school clubs pay is minimal.
Car seats are a one off cost initially (albeit you tend to buy a couple as they grow).
Holidays cost more but they're free (on the plane at least) when they're under 2.
When they're young you can repurpose clothes and equipment. We got so many hand-me-downs. Furthermore the grandparents spoil them a little in their first few years.
Food bills don't increase that much if anything you get more value for money when you batch cook.
I think where it does get expensive is when they're a bit older and you have to buy them more clothes, sports equipment, pay for after school clubs, and feed them like adults (in terms of portion sizes). I think it peaks in the teens until they're 18 at which point the research stops. I'd hazard a guess that post 18 will continue to cost, if they don't have a part time job etc...
I'm making suppositions as my kids are under 10.
Car seats are a one off cost initially (albeit you tend to buy a couple as they grow).
Holidays cost more but they're free (on the plane at least) when they're under 2.
When they're young you can repurpose clothes and equipment. We got so many hand-me-downs. Furthermore the grandparents spoil them a little in their first few years.
Food bills don't increase that much if anything you get more value for money when you batch cook.
I think where it does get expensive is when they're a bit older and you have to buy them more clothes, sports equipment, pay for after school clubs, and feed them like adults (in terms of portion sizes). I think it peaks in the teens until they're 18 at which point the research stops. I'd hazard a guess that post 18 will continue to cost, if they don't have a part time job etc...
I'm making suppositions as my kids are under 10.
Help, my lad is getting in to horses.
Better start reigning in the spending after being saddled with that.
Soldato
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Soldato
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- 27 Mar 2013
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Try not to get a long face when you neigh (pay) up.Help, my lad is getting in to horses
In the next 18-24 months I expect to have had our first child, all being well. I'll be 35 with my O/H 31. Financially both very secure and stable. My O/H will return to work full-time but on slightly reduced hours spread over 4 days instead of 5 ideally, if its mutually agreeable with her employer (highly likely).
We're quite frugal and will provide well in the early years and hope to rely on family to reduce the need to pay for childcare, two sets of grand parents and siblings but to also not squander money on new necessities when they can be had for much less used or for free.
Holiday costs will inevitably sting but I'm lulling myself in to a false sense of comfort that overall, all in, it won't cost that much
