This discussion on how much we spend on babies has started me thinking about the different times in children's lives and how both the expenses and what they are for change so rapidly as a child grows.
Babies are cheap to look after. They don't demand expensive presents and aren't always needing to be run around.
Toddlers and young children are cheap though school expenses seem to come up quickly.
From about 12 on the expenses seem to go on an upward spiral...
The right clothes
The right toys
The clubs
The entertainment
Then the mid to late teens hit and the expenses explode.
Then they leave home and the expenses become irregular but big.
Then they start looking after you. Last week our daughter offered to pay for a holiday for us! What a turn around.
What are other people's experiences of the cost of kids?
Enjoy Your Money
The Budget Man
www.personalitybudgeting.com
So you can get through the expensive times.