Can You Afford Parenthood?

How-To: Determine If You Can Afford a Baby

May 11, 2012

Dollars and Cents

Can You Afford Parenthood?

Source: Getty

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by POPSUGAR Smart Living 13

Dollars and Cents

According to the US Department of Agriculture, parents spend from $8,570 to $19,410 during the first year of a child's life. This doesn't include the costs incurred during pregnancy or birth. Across all income tiers, it costs between $148,000 and $299,000 to raise a child through the first 17 years of his or her life.

2 / 11

by POPSUGAR Smart Living 13

Dollars and Cents

According to the US Department of Agriculture, parents spend from $8,570 to $19,410 during the first year of a child's life. This doesn't include the costs incurred during pregnancy or birth. Across all income tiers, it costs between $148,000 and $299,000 to raise a child through the first 17 years of his or her life.

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13 Comments

racheltom 1 year 50 weeks

thanx

camillerasmussen

camillerasmussen 1 year 50 weeks

Having a child is expensive, and they demand a lot from you, so when you think of having sex with your partner you have to make sure you have protection. You will get in there in time there's no point in rushing becoming a parent. You also have to find the right guy to settle with and there are also lots of other things to consider such as proper education for you and your partner so you can provide for the little child you will be having. Planning is part of life and you have to be determined to be a parent not just because you reached the age or point where you are the only one in your circle of friends that doesn't have a child. Having a baby is a big deal it is not just having 2 dogs, babies have lots of demands.

3 years 2 weeks

I agree with 'Anonymous' above...my sister has three beautiful children--all girls: 10y,7yr, 2y! However, they are thinking about having a FOURTH!!! Every year, my husband and I help them by donating money for guitar lessons, dance/theatre/ballet lessons camp, and school curriculum, clothes/shoes...all the while my hubby and I struggle to save for a down payment for our first house---and we are college educated 39 year olds who live modestly just to save!!!! I can't even imagine having a baby...we would struggle just to afford it...people look at us crazy when we say this as if we are terrible individuals!!!??!!! What is the matter with planning a little? Hey, we planned for our two dogs. Isn't that called "responsibility"?!

4 years 3 days

food for thought..others do notice........At our church we have a family who has 3 children and one on the way...here's the thing...all the mom ever talks about is how they have no money and her sister has to help them pay for everything---so then why did she allow herself to get pregnant again???!!!! UGH!!! so frustrating...and to find out that others in the church have also helped them monetarily and they never paid them back either!! All the while going on vacations, new cars, extras classes, sports, that all costs money....They also expect the school to cover the lunch cost for their 2 children in school and field trip fees!it is very frustrating to think that they are parents who should be smart enough to know better and show a better example for their children. Why is this ok? We cannot work our butts off working 2/3 jobs to support our own smaller families while others EXPECT everyone to just "help" them and take take take....now the school is offering tuition assistance to come from the church collections!!! I for one WILL NOT be contributing to the church basket anymore so that these type of families can abuse the system and our hard earned money!

bluepuppybites 4 years 2 weeks

I know that number seems so very high. Hand-me downs! If you can't breastfeed sign up for those wonderful coupons, they save a ton on diapers and saved a bunch for my sister on formula.

Chouette4u 4 years 2 weeks

$11,000 in the first year??? You can do it for A LOT cheaper than that if you need to. My personal advice is to breastfeed! Saves at least $1000/year :)

bluepuppybites 4 years 2 weeks

We had our daughter and she was an accident, we were not in a situation to have a baby, but we have made it work and she helped us become an even better couple. We have a better focus on our goals and future, because we are still scraping by, we have in the past year clear all of our debt and are now saving for a house. I have become determined to finish school to increase our income. Now with another on the way, we'll be struggling again but we manage to make it work and we know that our hard work will be rewarded. Every situation is different.

kurniakasih 4 years 2 weeks

I think this is an awesome article, Savvy. People who are considering to have children should read this article. These are only 8 of the things that future parents need to know, there are many more too! In no way, this was discouraging at all, I think that we need to look at things sensibly too beside the wonderful, delightful aspects of being parents. Like blblio says, knowledge is power :)

bibliophile 4 years 2 weeks

I think this information is crucial and a great resource for anyone contemplating having children. I feel too often people rush into having babies without really thinking about the overall cost. Knowledge is power. Thanks, Savvy!

Modus Vivendi 4 years 2 weeks

I wonder how many of us would be here if our parents had considered all of these things. ;)

MrsRachel 4 years 2 weeks

I'm looking forward to solving our financial situation...because I can't wait to have kids!

GlowingMoon 4 years 2 weeks

We can comfortably afford raising children, but we're child-free by choice. Raising children is not something we want to accomplish.

POPSUGAR Smart Living 4 years 2 weeks

dienliv- The intention is not to discourage, but to set up expectations and encourage couples to understand the financial implications before starting a family. The article points out the various ways that finances must be reallocated, but in no way does that imply a child would be burdensome.