Can you afford to have a child?

Question

I just read an article on the internet at http://www.parents.org.uk/index.html?news_child-cost.htm&2 and I have to ask.
With the cost of having a child now being More Than The Price Of The Average UK House in the North that is £153,000 from birth to age 21, with the cost rising depending on what region you live in, can you really afford to have a child?

Answer 1

Sure can, especially since there is government assistance. Its nice using my own tax money on my kids instead of just throwing it away.

Answer 2

Its not the children its the cost of living in general. Ok, food, clothes etc, but everything in this country is soo expensive. I have 2 kids and intended to go back to work full time, but to be honest, with cost of childcare it's pointless, after paying out petrol I probably wont break even. My tax credit is £45 p.m. My childcare for 1 child was £4.50 an hour for 9 hours a day, so it'd be £9ph for 2!. My job was just an office job so the salary wasnt all that either. So looking at it, no can't really afford these little treasures, but then if I waited until I could, I'd end up childless.

Answer 3

My wife and I had two children, both now grown up and making their own way in the world and while financial considerations were taken into account in planning our family they were not an overriding factor in deciding how many children we should have and when we would have them. To put it bluntly if you wait till you can really afford to have a child, then you will never have one.
I have never been in a position where I was earning mega amounts of money but this was offset somewhat by living in Yorkshire where the cost of living is more reasonable than some other parts and my wife has worked part time since the kids were young so money although quite tight was never a problem. Neither us nor the kids have ever had to do without.
I love my kids unconditionally and any costs I have incurred over the last 25 years as a result of bringing them up are more than offset by the love I get from them, the fun we've had together and the sense of achievement in raising two happy, well balanced young people.
Don't ever expect gratitude from your children, although you will get it from time to time, you choose to have them, when and where to have them, and how they will be brought up. When they do show appreciation of your efforts it makes it all the better.

Answer 4

Yes, we can always afford children, it all depends on how you do it. We have 6.......18yr, 2-16yr, 13, 11, and 9 months(adopted). I am a stay at home mom, always have been. I homeschool them all, and my husband has always been in construction, so no "HUGE" paying job. He is Iraq now, and we all know that that is not paying a fortune, but it gets us by. We have never been on foodstamp, or assistance....other than our 11 yr old who is on S.S. due to illness. We do not do hand-me-downs, unless the girls just "have to have" the older sisters clothes. They are pretty much the same size now, so they share a lot on their own. The boys could not share at all, 2 different sizes all together. And the youngest....well...I got rid of those clothes years ago....haha, so everything is new. We are not rich, but we are definetly not poor people either. The kids all have MP3's, TVs, DVD (portables), and 3 computers in the house, Playstations....and more games and DVD's and CDs than anyone could possibly count. Every child has cell phones,electronic organizers, skates, skooters, bikes, you name it. Now....how do we do this? Hmmmmm.....SMART....that's how. I shop online, and buy refurbished equipment(computers, MP3s, ect) The cell phone services are thru Crickett (unlimited minutes, long distance, text for $45 a month- so do not worry about overrages, or the 250 text messages they do all day) I pay for cable modem on one computer....and use wireless router to signal the rest ( i bought the router online-refurbished for $10) So see, all in how you do things. Slow down, look around, and bargain it, and you can have whatever you want, no matter how many kids. And who in here can tell me that I do not get something in return......I have 6 beautiful, smart children, who love us unconditionally, and a husband, that even with 6 kids, is risking his life so that everyone else can share the joys of raising their children in a safe world. I have everything.....I am the richest woman in the world!!!!

Answer 5

Not sure who the question is for, or if you wanting a answer.

If you drink or smoke or just have a hobby could you really afford it if you just didnt start it? Thats like having a child the thought of the cost is the thought to scare you, but we as humans find the way to support them and adjust our lives accordingly to most things that we do, dont you think? In Africa where some people only some get about 4 pounds a week, guess what they have about 3 kids and manage not sure how but they do, i understand well that your question doesnt come out of Africa but rather from Europe we do provide for them some how...

Answer 6

Ive always heard "dont wait until you can afford to have a baby because that day will never come" just adjust when you have one. Me and my husband struggle paycheck to paycheck but slowly are getting ahead. We live in texas and are a military family so we qualify for WIC (women infant children) which help pay for things like formula or cereal and juice and the such. It takes an edge off but it still is hard. We constantly have to make cutbacks on things we used to get like eating out alot or getting my nails done. Its amazing the kind of money you can put back in your pocket when you stop and think " do I need this?" You definatly just find ways to make it work, especially if you put a kid first and let your wants slide. I love every minute of it, even if we are finacially not so well off.

Answer 7

I always thought we could never afford to have a child as we spent most of what we earnt. Then along came no.1 child. That was 8 years ago. Since then we have managed to move to much bigger house, had a 2nd child and i only work part time.

Children to bring a lot of expense with them, I pay a fortune in after school club but really if its what you want you can work it out and you will be suprised how you manage quite comfortably. None of us go without we just manage to budget a bit better.

Answer 8

Most people cant actually afford to have a child, when you look at what they "estimate" a child costs. But people adapt to having children, and you learn to afford what you need. Its a case of having to get by. You just do it.

I suggest that maybe the government help out with child-raising costs to families that cant get by without a little help. Oh no, hang on a minute, the government is too busy helping all the asylum seekers to raise their 7 kids is council houses.

what was I thinking of?

Answer 9

I have 3 children & yes we can afford it. I have a 2 yr old & 10 month old twins, I always have food in the cupboards, clothes on the children & yes I will go without sometimes but only because no matter who you are or how much you earn your children always come first. Children are worth every penny & so much more, when you do have kids you will realise it's not about the money!

Answer 10

My husband is interior the army and we've a 13 month previous. I would desire to declare we've been adverse like tremendously undesirable off. We now stay very certainly, no longer in all probability on the cheap. needless to say it relies upon on rank too yet we actually dont have a issue with money. I hear alot of folk whinge with regards to the pay yet I additionally think of we fee a dollar extra suitable than some considering we didnt have one to our call before. i certainly love Tricare too reason it covers our sons $3 hundred RX and all we pay is the copay. as long as I dont bypass loopy paying for, use coupons when I can etc it variety of feels to paintings for us. i'm hoping issues paintings out for you babies are wonderful (lots of the time) lol

Answer 11

£180,000 in 21 years is money well spent! It does seem a lot but I doubt everyone spends that much on a child growing up. Imagine having 2 kids = £360,000 on 2 kids for 21 years, crazy!