re: When are kids most expensive?

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Yeah babies are super cheap until you take into account the opportunity costs of mama not working.

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unless she wouldn't work without kids either

Man I hope it's 5 and under. I get an $18,000/yr. raise when my 2 kids finish daycare. I think the real test is whether your kids can get a free ride in college or not. I shutter to think what the cost of a 4 year education is going to be in 10-15 years.

Teenagers are expensive! My son is 14 years old and is about to be a freshmen in HS. He plays travel baseball, metro baseball, and will be trying out for HS baseball. All of that cost money. He's about to get his braces off and that is about $5,000. He will be driving in a couple years so that's another expense. Not to mention clothes, money to go to dances, and other activities. I don't think that I can honestly put a dollar figure on everything we spend on him. But I don't regret one penny. We will do the same for my daughter. It's all part of having kids.

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can't imagine how a teenager going to public school could cost more.

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My youngest are 21 - Mrs. Midnight did the math a few years back - the "free" public education cost us, give or take, and average of about $1,000, per year, per child - that was money that went to the school for various reasons, lunch money, etc, plus school supplies and uniforms. This also covers their graduation/prom expenses.

That was NOT scouting money, non-school sports team money, band instruments, dance class, and other hard charges for their activities during that time - nor does that cover their utility expenses, food they ate at home.

My best estimate is that - for school-aged children, from birth to high school graduation - is, give or take $4,500 to $5,000 per child, per year(assuming public school) - although that is probably lower per child as the number of children goes up (ecomony of scale, better utilization of hand me downs, etc.)

Your mileage may vary.

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I love how people say this. Yeah, except for that mortgage-esque daycare payment and consistent costs of diapers, formula, and constant trips to the doctor, babies/toddlers are cheap.

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My wife raises our kids so I don't pay daycare

a month's worth of diapers is what $60?

breast feed

$15 copay

yes....cheap

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Anyone that has a >30k (or really >20k) is insane.

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$10k is more than enough to do a reasonable wedding - I budgeted $5k for each because that is what I could commit to without borrowing money, so, I'm doing 2 weddings for $10k (1 in 2011 and 1 later this year), but I do not buy alcohol.