So now I'm going to be skint?

Question

for the next 16 years at least! Do you think these figures are correct.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/pressass/20071207/tuk-raising-a-child-now-costs-186000-6323e80_2.html

Your opinions please.

Answer 1

well i cant say I'm surprised

My boy costs me a fortune and hes only 18 months old, and the bloody nursery fees are unbelievable
as for clothes, well he seems to grow out of his new ones the week after i buy them
shoes, toys, etc

yes im skint

Answer 2

I even have in many circumstances been skint, at the instant i'm skint. The humorous element is the day previous i replaced into scrounging around the domicile for some money - decrease than the settee and so on and located some yet no longer extremely adequate after which the final place i concept to look replaced into my wallet, under no circumstances any in there, and so I opened it just to be certain and yay!!! plenty to my satisfaction I had only adequate then to get a bottle of milk!!! - heavily i concept I had gained the lotto i replaced into that extremely joyful!! i'd desire to have a bowl of cereal AND a coffee - now thats residing a good existence :) i gets a commission on Wednesday - I cant wait!!

Answer 3

Move to the Shetland Islands!

My parents never paid a penny, ever, for a babysitter, nursery or childcare for any of their four children. If our parents went away for a day, a night or on and off for several months when my younger brother was in hospital, all ouf our neighbours pitched in and cared for us.

We went once a week to the youth club in the evening at a pound a time. After school we didn't bother with clubs - we all went to the beach or to our friends' houses to play games.

When I went to high school, I was in a free boarding facility provided by the council for all outer islands children, so most of my expenses were paid. My parents gave me £20 a week through the school year which I used to buy my own food (lunch only, we had 3 free meals a day provided) toiletries and a lot of my own clothes.

They may also have given me around a thousand pounds a year extra over these five years for my hobbies etc.

However, that £20 a week covered all of my food from Sunday night when I went to school to Friday night when I got home again, so a big saving there.

I am now at university and my parents contribute £4000 a year. I take £2500 in student loan. This gives me £6500 in living expenses and as a Scottish student, all of my fees are covered by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland.

So certainly in my case, I do not believe that the figures were accurate.

Childcare: £60,538 (quoted) vs £0 (actual)
4yr Degree: £47,310 (quoted) vs £16,000 (actual)

I accept the figures of £16,386 on food, £13,359 on holidays, and £12,650 on clothes. (Despite my parents having paid very little for my food while I was in high school and nothing at all after I went to university at 17.)

Hobbies and Leisure activities - £17,000 (quoted) vs £10,000 (actual). This cost my parents a negligible amount while I was in primary school, and probably around £1000 a year during my 5yrs at high school. This is a very safe figure.

I accept the figures for pocket money, furnishings and miscellaneous expenses.

But, overall, the quoted expenses are £186,669. I believe my parents paid a maximum of £87,521.

So, in my opinion, the figures quoted are £99,148 too high for a child raised in Scotland in a supportive community.

Furthermore, I believe children benefit from being taught budgeting, and therefore children should not in normal circumstances cost more than their parents can afford.

Many of these expenses are optional, including leisure activities, holidays, pocket money, and I suspect much of the miscellaneous expense. Education can also cost very little if the children are prepared to work part-time through term, full-time during holidays and take the full expenses loan available to them.

Children will not learn or benefit by living with parents who continually spend more than they earn on luxuries, so don't make yourself skint trying to afford this stuff just because Yahoo thinks you should have it.

Answer 4

Bless you lol ! Wanna know a secret ? My kids are now 31 and 29. Son (29) has got me to give him £200 to go towards a new car ! You never stop paying for them hun believe me lol. I always said that when my son turned 18 I was going to have his bags packed and on the doorstep along with a cooker and washing machine lol. I never did but he did leave home but returned for another few years. Gotta love em !!

PS was not really a new car ! Time and time again I told him to get a run around. His last car (the one knackered now) has had 4 gear boxes this year ffs ! Now he listens to his Mum lol !

Answer 5

Only 16 yrs you'll be lucky more like 26 yrs. Then just when you think they are self supporting along come the grand children!!!

Answer 6

Whatever kids cost, it will be the best money you ever spend. The years of fun, laughter, tears and joy are years I wouldn't have missed for all the tea in China.

Answer 7

Been there, done that.Probably underestimates the cost to be honest.We put two kids through University and Dublin rent is insane.Helped out another till he completed his apprenticeship.It seems never ending.
But don't let me put you off!!!!! : )

Answer 8

Hmm, guess I'll be forced to fly the nest anytime now lol.

Answer 9

Probably close,but the way things are going it could be less attractive to want to live here,and at least i have a choice.

Answer 10

Secnd incomes always comes in handy.

Answer 11

I was wondering where my money went, time to send my little buggers down the mines.