Cost of children, say it's not true!

Bride2012

This is the latest survey of the average cost of raising a child in the UK(and they've the NHS, no GP fees etc.), is this true? I don't know how I could afford this!


The cost of raising a child until their 21st birthday has rocketed to £210,000 - that's 50% more than parents spent in 2003.
It now costs £10,040 a year or £836 a month to bring up a child, according to a report by insurer Liverpool Victoria (LV).
What's more, those costs are rising by 4.5% a year — so more quickly than the official rate of inflation for 2010, which was 3.7%.
Childcare is the biggest expenditure parents face followed by education, food and clothing.
How much parents spend
Here's a table showing how much the average parent now spends to raise a child and how that money is spent:
Expenditure Total cost in 2010 Total cost in 2009 Total cost in 2003 (1st year of the report)
Childcare & Babysitting £67,430 £65,699 £39,613
Education £55,660 £52,881 £32,593
Food £18,518 £17,490 £14,918
Clothing £15,683 £14,035 £11,360
Holidays £14,052 £13,207 £11,458
Hobbies & Toys £10,565 £10,780 £8,861
Leisure and Recreation £8,147 £7,772 £6,366
Pocket Money £4,543 £4,338 £3,386
Furniture £2,798 £2,770 £2,074
Personal care £1,164 £1,107 £925
Other (includes driving lessons, first car, birthday and Christmas presents) £12,287 £11,731 £8,845
TOTAL £210,848 £201,809 £140,398
The report also shows that children cost more the older they get, especially if they go to university, which costs parents £14,365 a year on average. The breakdown of parental spending by different years of a child's life is as follows:

• 1st year - £9,491
• Years 1 to 4 - £53,586 (£13,397 a year for these years)
• Years 5 to 10 - £56,856 (£9,476 a year)
• Years 11 to 17 - £47,820 (£6,831 a year)
• Years 18 to 21 - £43,094 (£14,365 a year)

Ayla

I guarantee you that it doesn't have to be that expensive. But it could be even more, it just depends on what you prioritise.

For instance, everyone gives out about the cost of kitting out & preparing for a baby, but I know for a fact that we didn't pay much. We kept everything basic (i.e.: we didn't have any baby furniture other than a cot, we used an existing side table as our nappy changing station, we got a plastic storage tower instead of a wardrobe, etc). We also used a sling & wrap instead of a buggy, which easily saved us hundreds.

We've made professional sacrifices so that one of us is always home with the kids (what we wanted all along anyway) so we don't have any childcare costs.

We are lucky in that we haven't had to buy much clothing b/c we've accepted hami-downs from the family. But we don't spend much (if anything) on clothing for ourselves so even if we had to buy clothes for the kids it would be basic.

And on and on. It really just depends on your priorities and how much you want to spend.

Some education costs are mandatory, but it's up to you how you deal with the situations you'll face.

CrazyRabbit

"£836 a month to bring up a child"

Seems like a very high figure. What are these children being fed?...Caviar?

HeisenbergBB

You can buy a box of durex for under 10 euro in Dunnes. Problem Solved!

Moonbeam

creche fees are 1100 other then that,the bigger house,the bigger car after those crazy costs then kids are only really as expensive as you make them.

Moonbeam

HeisenbergBB wrote: »

You can buy a box of durex for under 10 euro in Dunnes. Problem Solved!

*mod warning*

Please do not post unhelpful off topic posts on these boards.

bad2dabone

Moonbeam wrote: »

creche fees are 1100 other then that,the bigger house,the bigger car after those crazy costs then kids are only really as expensive as you make them.

Very true, crèche fees are mental but the rest isn't so bad

BostonB

That doesn't seem to include trips to the doc or A&E or when you catch all the kids bugs.

LegacyUser

Bride2012 wrote: »

the UK(and they've the NHS, no GP fees etc.)

[/LIST]

This is why there's no med fees

January

fdbyubrgu wrote: »

This is why there's no med fees

Yeah she said that there's no med fee's because they have a health system that's free for everybody.

nessy382

HeisenbergBB wrote: »

You can buy a box of durex for under 10 euro in Dunnes. Problem Solved!

haha good 1

January

Moonbeam wrote: »

*mod warning*

Please do not post unhelpful off topic posts on these boards.

nessy382 wrote: »

haha good 1

Please make sure you read all of a thread before you reply to it. Thank you

LegacyUser

From Bank of Ireland for education
Expenditure

[mod edit]table didn't translate well so here's the link:

http://www.bankofirelandlife.ie/Latest-News/Average-cost-of-educating-your-child-can-add-up-to.aspx

cynder

Quote from bank of ireland


Expenditure Annual € Primary Annual
Study Books & Materials 123.44
Uniform, Sports gear & Shoes 125.50
Lunch 610.50
Fees & Voluntary Contribution 132.00
Transport 240.50
Total Annually 1,231.94
Years in Education 8
Grand Total 9,855.52

First my lady is in primary and thats a heap of ****
125 for a Uniform, Sports gear & Shoes * BULL*

My eldest in 5th class is as follows (given that some items can be reused for 2 years others only last a year)

35 school jumper with crest x2
10 school polo shirt with crest x2
10 school skirt/trousers generic (dunnes stores) x2
45 school pe kit (has to have school crest)
45 school shoes (clarks)
45+ school runners
45+ soccer boots
20+ o neils shorts for soccer
20+ o neils top for soccer
15 schools shirts
8 school tie
15 school socks
15 sports socks
45+ hurling helmet
8+ hurley


Gota a feeling thats way more than 125, infact its €368+

school books + bags and lunch boxes cost approx €200

school fees €80 + extra for swimming and other thing comes in at around 150 a year

transport petrol is at least €50.00 a week ( i do have 3 kids at 2 different primary schools) approx €1, 500

Lunch 610

total cost for 1 year €2,828 not €1,231. If unifroms were generic it would cut costs big time, depends on your child feet if you can buy cheeper shoes, my lady is diabetic and has to have good shoes.

CrazyRabbit

Why do schools insist on uniforms anyway? They are a bit pointless and just add to the cost.

Morag

Less wear and tear on clothes, one set does the year day in day out, less cost, less washing.
Cuts down on competition, distraction and bulling due to fashion.
Cuts down of children who do not have branded clothes feeling less confident.
Helps the class bond as a group, they all look the same they all have to conform to the same rules, they are all equal.
Code of conduct for the school stipulates certain types of good behaviour while in uniform be it in school, travelling to/from school and on school tours.

Bride2012

Well this has been eye opening. I wouldn't agree that uniforms are pointless crazyrabbit. Studies have shown that the promote discipline and obedience in a class, pretty important with one teacher and 30 little ones. I think that not having them would had more expense to be honest, maybe not when they're very young but 8+ and it's all brands and who's wearing what, that's part of the reason for the recent enough introduction of school tracksuits too. I know myself that as a former secondary school student the stakes were high during wear what you want days and there were only about 5 a year. Everyday like that would be a nightmare.

PinkFly

the cost of their first car is in there too....

is it just me that will not be buying my son his first car when he gets to that age??

Ayla

Uniforms themselves are not the problem - the problem lies with all the unique uniforms that are created (and thus charged premium prices for). There really isn't a reason why standard uniforms can't be mass produced & then each school personalize theirs with a sewable patch/tie.

I personally think it's disgraceful how far uniforms have gone - the costs easily go into the hundreds per child per year. Parents don't need the expense! But there's too much money in it for the local stores so I don't see any overhaul happening anytime soon.

BostonB

Ayla wrote: »

...There really isn't a reason why standard uniforms can't be mass produced & then each school personalize theirs with a sewable patch/tie.....

+1

Eveny a stand set of 3 or 4 colours that can be mix and match.

Our primary is moving back to more standard colours as the uniform is cheaper. That said when I was at school none of the primaries near me had uniforms. Now most of them do.

cynder

PinkFly wrote: »

the cost of their first car is in there too....

is it just me that will not be buying my son his first car when he gets to that age??

Plan on getting my lady a moped/scooter at 16.

Bride2012

Bank of Ireland; €38,614 for the third level years.
There isn't any chance that I cost my parents anywhere near that for college. I saved and took out loans and had 2 part time jobs and paid my own rent and costs. They gave me a grand when I changed course and had to pay full fees in first year and gave me the odd few bob if I was stuck but not €38,614!

Parents can wrap their kids in cotton wool a bit too much. I've friends who had all of their costs paid in college and always had money but they're awful with money now and can't seem to budget.

stovelid

These stats are always a bit stupid and meaningless.

You can calculate an arbitrarily high amount for any long-term activity: like those dumb nuggets of information about how much of your life you spend on the toilet or how much money you spend on chocolate or something.

PinkFly

grindelwald wrote: »

Plan on getting my lady a moped/scooter at 16.

really??

ive seen this happpening (i have gone back to college and all of the students have just left skool)

i worked my ass off and paid for my own car....tax....insurance etc...

these girls got cars for their 18ths and reallly dont seem to apprieciate it...

one of them is changin her car 5months after she got it

a step too far i think...

b743k

The first year is the cheapest in a baby's life? I assume that this is due to no childcare during maternity leave but to stock up and prepare for a new baby is bound to outweigh other early years. I agree with the total for an average couple with relatively good incomes but a lot of the break down seems off.

A lot is down to choice too, the local second hand shop won't take baby equipment anymore simply coz nobody ever buys it. I know that car seats need to be new and mattresses but surely people could get good use out of a lot of the other expensive things. Seems crazy to me that everyone is forking out for new stuff.

CrazyRabbit

Bride2012 wrote: »

Well this has been eye opening. I wouldn't agree that uniforms are pointless crazyrabbit. Studies have shown that the promote discipline and obedience in a class, pretty important with one teacher and 30 little ones. I think that not having them would had more expense to be honest, maybe not when they're very young but 8+ and it's all brands and who's wearing what, that's part of the reason for the recent enough introduction of school tracksuits too. I know myself that as a former secondary school student the stakes were high during wear what you want days and there were only about 5 a year. Everyday like that would be a nightmare.

Unless the kids are wearing the uniforms outside school hours, I'd guess that they still 'need' these branded clothes etc. So the uniform would still be an extra cost.

As for the fashion aspect, well it's not that expensive to dress quite well. Designer brands are not needed. And besides, kids need to learn how to deal with the fact that different people having differing economic backgrounds.

I'll admit it's been quite some time since I was in school myself, but I don't recall there ever being much hassle about what was being worn. Some had nicer clothes than others, but it's not like any of the kids were walking around in torn clothes.

Perhaps I'm just old

KittyeeTrix

PinkFly wrote: »

the cost of their first car is in there too....

is it just me that will not be buying my son his first car when he gets to that age??

No, my eldest will be 17 in May and I certainly won't be buying him a car.
I didn't grow up in the MTV generation watching My Super Sweet 16 hence was not bought a car by my parents so I certainly won't be buying my lad one..............:)

PinkFly

fluffyorganic1 wrote: »

No, my eldest will be 17 in May and I certainly won't be buying him a car.
I didn't grow up in the MTV generation watching My Super Sweet 16 hence was not bought a car by my parents so I certainly won't be buying my lad one..............:)

thank god....thought i was gettin left behind...

my sons only 6....but i defo wont be givin into that nonsence....

its not america tho....everything is so close here??

defo did me no harm.... :P

cynder

PinkFly wrote: »

really??


i worked my ass off and paid for my own car....tax....insurance etc...


a step too far i think...

http://www.scooter.co.uk/50cc-scooters-for-sale.html

trek bikes can cost more^^^.

The scooter will be around €1000 the insurance will be the same and then there is tax (only 50 euro) and lessons, and when she is 17 will stick her on my car insurance, she is diabetic her insurance premiums are going to be hugh, the sooner she gets insurance and builds up a no claims bonus the better. I will also encourage her to get a part time job. She will have her independence and can drive herself to/from school/work/town and so on.

I got my first car at 28, i was driving my husbands at 26 (we bought our own house at 25) no hand outs from either of our family's, if we are in a position to help our kids we will, even if is only buying them a 10 year old Toyota yaris. I do however expect them to get a part time job to pay for their own petrol costs.

Morag

tbh I can seen the need if you live down the country a good distance from any of the towns.

ash23

My little woman is 8. For the first 4 years creche fees were €800 per month. Then €525 per month for a year. Now it's averaging €400 for afterschool and holidays. Birthdays cost about €100 per year plus €50 gift and I'm not in any way excessive (they seem to get dearer as they get older), christmas is about €150 - 200. Then there's the gifts for their friends parties, fundraisers at school, swimming lessons, occsaional days out to the cinema .... She costs me more now than she ever did as a baby. No more tops in cheap shops for €1 or €2!

School costs, it probably costs me about 500e to get her back to school in September with uniform, books and shoes and ineveitably I have to buy another pair of shoes and runners before the school year ends (children, oh how they grow!). On top of this there's normal day to day costs like food, heat, rent (can't houseshare when you've a kiddo!), clothes..........

And the one off costs like the bigger bike, the car seat, and the baby costs.

I'd say I've already spent about nearly 60k on creche, birthdays, christmas and school costs. Bear in mind, she's 8. So I'm looking at an extra 24k creche costs before she can come home alone, another 5k back to school costs and no doubt the cost will increase in terms of the additional costs of school.
Throw in feeding them, clothing them, entertaining them etc and it's probably a bit less than 230k.

Having said that, I've just the one so there are no hand me downs in our house. I'd imagine subsequent children would be slightly cheaper to raise.

BostonB

ash23 wrote: »

...

Having said that, I've just the one so there are no hand me downs in our house. I'd imagine subsequent children would be slightly cheaper to raise.

That would depend if the clothes survive, are the siblings the same sex, or are the same size at that time of year. For example you might need summer clothes when its the winters that fit.

ash23

BostonB wrote: »

That would depend if the clothes survive, are the siblings the same sex, or are the same size at that time of year. For example you might need summer clothes when its the winters that fit.

Agree, I was more talking about school uniforms, equiptment (bikes etc) and often you'd get a creche discount for the second one. Plus discounts for some school costs (going on my own school) and extra curricular activities (again, going on my own experiences).
You can also buy one thing for both , for example a games console/new game. And some of the fixed costs will be the same in terms of household costs.

It's not a lot cheaper but some costs can be lessened for the second and subsequent children. i'm the youngest in our large family so I know all the tricks for hand me downs

BostonB

Food costs increase though. I bring home a 6 pack of apples and get laughed at.

ash23

BostonB wrote: »

Food costs increase though. I bring home a 6 pack of apples and get laughed at.

Oh of course.
I just meant that if it costs 200k to raise the first one, it might only cost 185k to raise the second one

cynder

ash23 wrote: »

Oh of course.
I just meant that if it costs 200k to raise the first one, it might only cost 185k to raise the second one

My boys have only 17 months between them, i normally have to buy 2 of everything, holidays get dearer when you add a 3 child, you have a lot more gp bills if one gets something the whole house gets it and all at differnt times so no doubling up on the doctor. Also depends if the second + children are healthy or have dissabilities.

Bottom line is kids are as expensive as you make them, buy them stuff from pennys or buy them brand name clothes!

dan_d

I wasn't aware people put a price on kids or the having of them.

Bottom line for me is that any future kids will be expensive. Dunnes all the way, hand on as many clothes as possible (coz that's how I and my sisters and cousins were brought up, and it went on til the late 90's or more), one dinner for all every evening (eat it or starve!!!), ditto breakfast and lunch, and as many extra activities as we can afford.

What there won't be is designer clothing, a car at the age of 17 (Unless they can afford it themselves), copious amounts of pocket money and over-expensive, multiple holidays

School uniforms will just have to be paid for out a fund started in sept each year with a bit added to it every week. They're a necessary evil, end of. If it saves on extra washing and cleaning of clothes every day, then it's probably worth it in the long run.

I'm sure this is all pie in the sky, me not being a parent, but hey. One thing we won't do is have a kid until we're in secure enough jobs to support one.

LegacyUser

Secure enough jobs, what are those these days?

I know what you mean, I would never plow along regardless of whether I could afford it and hope for the best, it's too important.

I agree with the saving a little bit every week. My parents did this before free college fees came in so we all had a few grand behind us when we left school and security for loans.

f9710145

My boys are 5 and 3 and haven't cost that much so far.
Year 1 was pretty cheap - babygros and vesys in dunnes/penneys. Nappies in Lidl. Formula. Got a cheap enough cot, got a 'last year's model' buggy with car seat in the sale (about €70 5 years ago, used it for no 2, kept it for possible no 3). No changing table, no nappy bin, no baby bath for first one, did invest the whole €6 for no 2. Didn't use baby monitors. Had a room with built in wardrobe.
Then €900 a month for childcare between 9mth and 2yrs when we had no 2. Went back to a 4 day week and grannies did a bit of minding so paid €1000 for childcare between them until I was made redundant, about 2yrs. Since no 2 was also a boy and born at the same time of year we had to buy almost no new clothing and all the equipment was reused.
Since no2 turned 2 we haven't been on a sun hol, we ferry to britain and either stay with cousins or bring a tent. They're a bit wild so this suits us all better than a boring sun hol.
Christmas and birthdays are not extravagant events. Nice clothing is bought a year or 2 in advance in the sales in debenhams, Next, M&S, etc. and the rest in dunnes/penneys. Now my 5yo only wants to live in €4 track bottoms and tshirts so that's grand. For school he got 1 crested jumper (€25), bought a spare in M&S, uncrested, for £2stg (sickening) but they have to have the crest for next year. Bought 2 shirts, 2 trousers for about €15 in dunnes. School tie was €3 and school tracksuit (wears it in 2 days a week) was €30. Jumper will do next year too and if it's ok then no 2 will wear it after, only one pair of trousers has been worn and one shirt so less expense for no 2. Shoes were in tk maxx for €24. Think one month children's allowance covers school gear, inc the €50 for books. Bag and lunchbox were €10.
We are in the process of trying to move to a bigger house (in 3 bed) but are downgrading the area very slightly (1.5 miles) for a 4 bed with 2 extra reception rooms and garden 3 times as big, for a whole €10k more than our current one. And will be walking distance to school so no transport costs from primary.

So while they certainly aren't cheap, so far we've spent only a bare fraction of the estimate for those first 5 years.

...and they can sing for a car...

Moonbeam

There are 2 years between my 2 girls and the eldest is 2 so no experience of school yet.
They cost us in 2 ways..All the stuff for the baby cost less then 1k,fancy buggy/pram,2nd buggy for creche,car seat,isofix base,cot,bouncer,playmat,bottles,sterilisers,sling so on that front I don't think children are too expensive.
I needed/choose to buy a double buggy for the 2nd and a different fancy sling,she needed nothing else.

What does "cost" us a fortune is 800pm part time creche,me changing from a 5 day to a 3 day week in work,the mortgage for a 2nd house.

I bulk buy nappies on sale,her formula is on precription so does cost us at least 100 euro pm.

I have to say I don't really notice the lost money because I am too busy with my girls and the money that would have been saved jsut gets spent now!

It will get fun when I go back to work though,creche for 2...

cynder

My first cost 2k before she was even born, my second guy cost aroundt eh same and the 3rd guy in fact cost more because we had to get a double buggy and it was winter it was 1k for the Jane twin two travel system/foot-muffs alone. Kids are as expensive as you make them. Could have easily got a graco twin buggy for 150€ but its wasnt as nice or as comfy as the Jane. The Jane was that nice it got stolen 2 weeks after the baby was born (thankfully we had insurance and went and got another one)

angelfire9

I have no idea how much our eldest has cost us its not something I think about to be honest
If she needs clothes or shoes or whatever she'll get them
She is the eldest of all her cousins so we had to get everything from scratch
Having said that I was given her cot and her graco travel system as presents when I was pregnant and 10 years (and 4 cousins later) they are back in my house for Aisling

As the first grandchild we got LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of clothes & presents for her and babies grow out of stuff so fast some of the stuff we got for her was passed on to my first niece with the tags still on!

With Aisling we got at least 6 big black bags of clothes from 0-12 months from friends & family who were finished with their stuff and I have a friend who is due her first in September and she will be getting alot of Aisling's stuff passed on to her (baby car seat, swing chair, clothes (if she has a girl) etc etc)

Babies and kids can be expensive but there are always options and ways to save money
For our eldest her school tracksuit is always bought a size too big and because its baggy anyway no one takes any notice and it does her 2 years provided she doesn't act the maggot
She only wears it one day a week to school and wears the ordinary uniform the rest of the time (which is bought in Dunnes and therefore much cheaper to replace)
School books can be bought second hand so footwear is the only major expense

To be honest money is only a small factor for us when having kids
Sleep deprivation and teething are far bigger issues

Mr. Presentable

To be honest, those reports are cobblers.

They are written to be sensational, priced as expensively as possible.

How can someone spend 60k in less than eight years on creche and school? Is it a gold - plated creche, an ivory school? The child is surely not in creche once it starts school.

A grand for a buggy? Are ye mad?

I take particular issue with the figure in the OP for childcare. Mind your own children! c€75,000 :eek: Does you 16 year old need baby sitting?

And yes, I have a child of my own so I know the figures are nonsense. We do not buy special food for her so she eats from our family spend - of course it costs a little more than if it were just ourselves, but not much.

So, OP, as someone else said, you can spend as much as you can, or spend as much as you need.

cynder

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

A grand for a buggy? Are ye mad?

.

No, it was a good buggy! we would rather spend the money we have on the kids, then in the pub! you could count the amount of times we out out to the pub in a year on our hands... less than 10 times a year.

In 2 more years will we never need a babysitter again our eldest wiill be old enough to look after the younger ones.... Might be able to go to the cinema more than once a year then:D

ash23

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

How can someone spend 60k in less than eight years on creche and school? Is it a gold - plated creche, an ivory school? The child is surely not in creche once it starts school.

I take particular issue with the figure in the OP for childcare. Mind your own children! c€75,000 :eek: Does you 16 year old need baby sitting?

Year 0 to 3 @ 850 per month = €30600
Year 4 to 5.5 @ 650 per month = €11700
Years 5.5 to 12 @ 325 for 9 months (school) and 650 for 3 months (holidays) = 31687

Total childcare from birth to 12 years is just under 74k.

As for "mind your own children"....eh, i work. Full time therefore even though mychild is in school, she requires care after school, holidays, mid terms, half days etc etc etc..........

Oh and thats not even factoring in the costs associated with school.

And no, no ivy league anything here. just a normal creche. Normal creche fees.

Ayla

ash23 wrote: »

Total childcare from birth to 12 years is just under 74k.

As for "mind your own children"....eh, i work. Full time therefore even though mychild is in school, she requires care after school, holidays, mid terms, half days etc etc etc..........

That has single-handedly confirmed to me that my husband & I are doing the right thing in sacrificing professional aspirations in order to care for our children. Although we've known it all along - we've always placed higher priority to our parental responsibilities than the need to have a career path - there is no way we'd be able to afford €74000 for childcare.

This is why I work part-time during the day & my husband works for minimum wage working evenings/nights in a convenience shop. Neither job is "going anywhere" but it means that one of us is always home with the kids (and means that we don't fork out a second mortgage for creche costs).

Having kids is very personal, and how the challenges of doing so are dealt with is very personal, but there *are* ways of cutting costs.

cynder

ash23 wrote: »

Total childcare from birth to 12 years is just under 74k.

.

Thats just for 1 child!

Moonbeam

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

To be honest, those reports are cobblers.

They are written to be sensational, priced as expensively as possible.

How can someone spend 60k in less than eight years on creche and school? Is it a gold - plated creche, an ivory school? The child is surely not in creche once it starts school.

A grand for a buggy? Are ye mad?

I take particular issue with the figure in the OP for childcare. Mind your own children! c€75,000 :eek: Does you 16 year old need baby sitting?

And yes, I have a child of my own so I know the figures are nonsense. We do not buy special food for her so she eats from our family spend - of course it costs a little more than if it were just ourselves, but not much.

So, OP, as someone else said, you can spend as much as you can, or spend as much as you need.

1100pm for creche fees adds up fast.
A grand for a buggy seems pretty normal,in Ireland buggies and stuff can be very expensive.A full quinny travel system here would add up to nearly that and nearly everyone seems to have quinnys.
Ours also would have been just over a grand here but I bought it in the uk.
If children have special food needs it adds up too.

Ayla

I was in Mothercare awhile back & was gob-smacked at the price of buggies. We've never bought one & I can't imagine paying that much on one thing!

Our eldest is now 4.6 yrs and the youngest is 19 months and we've never used a buggy (other than a little umbrella-type one that cost about €30). It's been slings until they can walk, then they walk.

Mr. Presentable

Ayla wrote: »

I was in Mothercare awhile back & was gob-smacked at the price of buggies. We've never bought one & I can't imagine paying that much on one thing!

Our eldest is now 4.6 yrs and the youngest is 19 months and we've never used a buggy (other than a little umbrella-type one that cost about €30). It's been slings until they can walk, then they walk.

This is it. Our buggy was a c€50 foldy. People are mental to be paying what Mothercare are guilting them into thinking they should.

ash23

Ayla wrote: »

That has single-handedly confirmed to me that my husband & I are doing the right thing in sacrificing professional aspirations in order to care for our children. Although we've known it all along - we've always placed higher priority to our parental responsibilities than the need to have a career path - there is no way we'd be able to afford €74000 for childcare.

This is why I work part-time during the day & my husband works for minimum wage working evenings/nights in a convenience shop. Neither job is "going anywhere" but it means that one of us is always home with the kids (and means that we don't fork out a second mortgage for creche costs).

Having kids is very personal, and how the challenges of doing so are dealt with is very personal, but there *are* ways of cutting costs.

It's not always about career aspirations. I place no importance on my career. I am a single parent and my choices are work and use childcare or live off state benefits. it must be great to be able to avoid childcare but it's not always an option. As for not being able to afford to pay 74k in childcare, it's 6k per year on average so most wages will cover the cost of childcare with surplus for bills etc.
It adds up but it's do-able.