Search Results for: money parenting and money the cost of raising a child

Budget Busting Babies

Have you ever sat down and calculated how much money you’ve spent raising your child? Think about it; if you crunched the numbers from the moment you first discovered you were pregnant until today, the amount of cash you’ve likely dropped on your precious bundle of joy probably exceeds five figures. It’s no surprise that the cost associated with raising kids is a hot topic among parents. So much so that you can visit just about any baby-centric website these days and calculate how much a child will set you back financially. For example, Babycenter.com features a handy dandy calculator … Continue reading →

The Cost of Raising Baby

I read a report from the Agriculture Department’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion that estimates it cost $235,000 for a middle income family to raise a child. Wow, that’s a lot of money. As a single mother if you look at the total it can be completely overwhelming. The largest portion of this is housing taking up 30% of the total. Daycare also takes a big bite as more women work outside the home, and if you are a single mother chances are you don’t have any choice but to work outside the home. Kids are expensive there’s no … Continue reading →

Can You Afford a Large Family?

Octomom can’t. The Duggars can. Go figure. Nadia “Octomom” Suleman, the infamous mother of 14 recently got nearly naked for the U.K.-based magazine Closer. Unfortunately, showing her skin only helped pay the bills temporarily and now the frazzled mom is relying on government assistance to feed her brood. Juxtapose Octomom and the Duggars and you might as well be comparing night and day. For years I’ve wondered how much Jim Bob, Michelle and their 19 kids raked in for allowing cameras to document their every move and broadcast it on TLC. Thanks to digging by E! Online’s staff, it’s estimated … Continue reading →

Location, Location, Location

Does where you live affect how you parent? NBC News recently ran a story about moms and dads dubbed “super commuters.” According to the peacock network, the title is bestowed upon a growing number of Americans who live in one city and are forced to travel extreme distances to work in another. In the Nightly News piece, one dad shared his story of spending nearly four hours behind the wheel a day, putting 1,000 miles a week on his car, and forking over $450 for gas per month. All so that his four children can remain in the same home … Continue reading →

More Family Friendly Ways To Save

Yesterday I shared a few ideas for saving money on things that the youngest members of your family need. Today, I have more suggestions for things that parents can do to help lower some of the costs associated with raising children. Since parenting styles vary so greatly, not all of these tips will appeal to all families. Hopefully within this collection of tips there is something for everyone. One of my favorite things to do is to look for things that I can do during the day with my son that do not cost anything. I am a stay at … Continue reading →

Baby Sticker Shock

Forget about the pain of labor, the chronic fatigue and saggy body parts. There is something far more frightening to consider when it comes to adding a bundle of joy to your family: bankruptcy. You don’t have to be a CPA to know that adding a baby to the mix can subtract some serious cash from your bank account, but did you know the cost of raising a child from birth to age 18 —-not including college -— can drive you to the poorhouse? The government just released some scary financial facts about raising a child in the 21st century. … Continue reading →

The Cost of Children

A few days ago my mother sent me an article about the cost of raising a child from birth to the age of 18. The numbers vary depending on which study you are looking at, but this article suggested that you will spend $222,360 by the time your child graduates high school. They claim that children cost between $11,000 and $13,000 a year depending on their age. That first year is expensive. Newborns go through clothes, diapers, and formula in the blink of an eye. After the first year or so it starts to taper off and then goes right … Continue reading →

Why You Shouldn’t Let Your Kids Sleep with Fido

My daughter didn’t get a dog for Christmas. Oh no she di-int! And it wasn’t because of the exorbitant cost of raising a pup. Okay, maybe money was a factor. A huge factor. But now I have another reason why I am glad my oldest isn’t cuddling with a pooch. According to a new report, sleeping with Fido or Fifi may increase your risk of contracting dangerous infections. In addition to an exposure to fleas, worms, ticks, and other parasites, the CDC just released a new study that found pet owners, who share their beds with their dogs or cats, … Continue reading →

Put the Fun in Fundraising for Kids

Each year, our school-aged children typically fundraise for something for themselves, such as a class trip or individual prizes. This year, consider teaching your children how fundraising can be about helping someone else. There are plenty of charities that would love your help and the benefits for your child are endless. Ways to Raise Money You can help enrich the life of a child with a terminal or life-altering condition by having your child’s school collect change. Each class can compete to see who raises the most money and the winning class can receive a pizza party as a thank … Continue reading →

Kids’ Birthday Parties—How Much Is Too Much?

Recession? What recession? The economic crisis, which has battered and bruised many Americans, is apparently a non-issue if your name is Diddy. The rapper with 1,000 names–he was born Sean Combs, but later morphed into “Puff Daddy,” then “P. Diddy,” then the artist known as “Diddy,” then “Straight up P,” and now just “Diddy”—-is showing the world that money really can buy love. And that goes double if you are a parent. Daddy Diddy recently made headlines when he threw his son an insanely expensive Sweet 16 party. The ultimate birthday bash took place at one of New York City’s … Continue reading →