[null, null, {"document_url": "https://www.whattoexpect.com/wom/family-life/0819/raising-a-child-costs-as-much-as-buying-a-house", "unformatted_src": "//images.agoramedia.com/wte3.0/gcms/melissa-willets.jpg", "src": "http://images.agoramedia.com/wte3.0/gcms/melissa-willets.jpg", "formatted_filename": "melissa willets", "alt_text": "author"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.whattoexpect.com/wom/family-life/0819/raising-a-child-costs-as-much-as-buying-a-house", "unformatted_src": "//images.agoramedia.com/wte3.0/gcms/melissa-willets.jpg", "src": "http://images.agoramedia.com/wte3.0/gcms/melissa-willets.jpg", "formatted_filename": "melissa willets", "alt_text": "author Melissa Willets"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.whattoexpect.com/wom/family-life/0819/raising-a-child-costs-as-much-as-buying-a-house", "unformatted_src": "//images.agoramedia.com/wte3.0/gcms/RaisingaChild.jpg", "src": "http://images.agoramedia.com/wte3.0/gcms/RaisingaChild.jpg", "formatted_filename": "RaisingaChild", "alt_text": "house"}, null]
10/24/2017 2:16:06 AM
Home >Family >Raising a Child Costs as Much as Buying a House

Raising a Child Costs as Much as Buying a House by Melissa Willets on January 29, 2015 Accordingto a report on NBC Nightly News,raising a child costs as much as buying a home! Unbelievably, if you are amiddle class American parent, you will spend over $241,080 on your tot duringthe course of his or her life. Time to move back in with your folks.

Asyou pack up your family and head to the grandparents’, consider that includedin the mind blowing price tag to raise a child is housing, playthings, andfood. Hmm...what is missing? That's right: college. Yep, the price to put yourprodigy through a four year post high school program is additional! I think Ineed to sit down, especially since I have not one, but three daughters.

HadI known that having three kids essentially meant taking on three mortgages,would that have changed my family planning perspective? Probably not. The truthis that when my husband and I decide we are ready to have another baby, budgetis typically the last thing on our minds.

Instead,we focus on the joy a baby brings. Even my hubby, who is far more practicalthan I am, says about the expense of having a child, "We will figure itout." And we will...mainly because we have no choice!

Still,the fact that raising a child costs so much is scary. I may have to rethinkallowing my daughters to pick out a small toy every time we go to the grocerystore just to get them to cooperate while I load the cart. After all, thoselittle stinkers are costing me $750,000! At least one of them better get acollege scholarship.

What is your reaction tofinding out raising a kiddo costs as much as buying a home?

