Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Gunn
My sources tell me that it now costs over $286,000 to raise a child in the USA- and that is just before college. Over a quarter of a mil!
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I don't want to get into a debate on the math other than to say when your "sources" give you a number like that make sure you know what is in there. Often those are "total cost" of a child and not "incremental costs bourne by the parent"
One example: family of 4 lives in a house/apt. with a monthly housing nut of $3000 (mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities) so the study assigns 1/4 of that to the child or $750/month. Now in many/most cases the family doesn't move to accomodate each (or any) of the children.
Studies often also assign costs of the other two biggies, health care and education, that are either not out-of-pocket and/or incremental.
Food on the other had is certainly out-of-pocket!
That said I'll cede whatever the number, kids are expensive.