The cost of having kids

[TBH]

Re: The cost of having kids

[QUOTE=robex]Dd9 asked me last week if I would trade her for a million dollars...QUOTE]

Did you really say DD9?

Do you mean she's nine, or that she's the ninth daughter?

[jodi]

Re: The cost of having kids

I have to laugh when I see those predictions that parents will spend several hundred thousand dollars on a kid before they turn 18. Only if you HAVE to get them the newest toys, the trendiest clothes, etc.etc. My boys are 2 and 10 months and I have spent a very minimal amount of money on them.
2 cribs - both gifts, both bought used by relatives (about $50 each) and redone for me
3 car seats - 2 were shower gifts and 1 was bought at Wal-Mart for $40 - I haven't found the cheaper ones to be any worse
clothes - almost all were purchased at the thrift store or garage sales for $.50 or less per item (excluding gifts). I think in two years I have bought less than 5 new outfits for my kids
food - both boys were breastfed - biggest expense was formula for the remainder of the first year. Otherwise, they eat exactly what we eat, so the cost is minimal. I rarely buy special "toddler" foods and tried to make my own baby food as much as possible.
toys - hand-me-downs or thrift store purchases, except for birthday and Christmas splurges
books - nearly all from thrift stores and garage sales (4 for $1 usually) or gifts

We did think about finances before having kids - actually, I did, but DH didn't. He wanted to have them ASAP, but I wanted to wait until I was in a better position to stay home. I went back to school and got my real estate license so that I could work from home after having kids. It has brought in a small, but not insignificant, extra income that can pad our emergency fund. So I think we timed things pretty well for us. Now that DH is back in grad school though, we'll be holding off on more kids until he's out.

[robex]

Re: The cost of having kids

Claire,
Dd9 is my daughter who is nine years old. I'd reconsider the answer to her question if she was my ninth daughter (especially since I have ds11!)...LOL!
Joanne

[Bluezy]

Re: The cost of having kids

I never considered the cost. Money problems occur with or without children. Cost of living is expensive with or without children. To me, it's the child that matters not the cost.

CJ was a gift...the most gorgeous gift anyone could be blessed with. Therefore, he is worth every penny!!!!!!

[suedavids]

Re: The cost of having kids

I hope this is not a rude questions since I don't have kids, but for those of you that do, did you consider the financial aspect of having them? What is the most expensive part of having kids that you didn't prepare for or wish you had prepared better for?

The cost of kids escalates as they get older. So... be very frugel. Garage sales are great for clothes and toys and have a disciplined approach to saving. Don't lavish expensive items on your kids. Education, moral upbringing in the CHurch and family relationships, starting with your husband all the way down to all the little ones, is where you should store up your treasures. The Lord always provides. Just make sure you are in a strong committed relationship with your husband and you have the support from a Church community as you begin your family.

Lastly, children are a blessing from God. We live in a culture that convinces families not to have children or few of them. These are the population control croud. They will be lonely when they get old and have no children to over see them in their old age. How sad.