How expensive is it to have a child?

jennifermerkle

I do not agree that you need to spend anywhere close to 11k @Itsjustsammy19...Especially, in the UK...
1. NHS is amazing and child birth is absolutely free..
2. Other expenses in the first year are:
a. Food- Mothers milk is free again
b. Nappies- You can buy disposable nappies, or if you wanna cheaper and eco option- you can buy cloth diapers. 
c. Clothes- Primark, and H&M have such cheap clothes
d. Car seat and Pram- are the only one time expensive purchases...Rest all is a decision in your hands...

Bluegreen143

We have a 4.5 and 1.5yo. Biggest cost is loss of earnings as I’m a SAHM. Obviously if you want to stay in work then childcare is a big cost, but it does decrease once they are at school, and you can save money if you have family who will watch the child or can work shifts around each other as a couple. Spacing your kids (if you want two) so that the big one is in school when the littler one is can make a difference in not having two sets of nursery fees if you both work!

I earned about £21.5k (pre tax) when I worked full time before having my first so a big jump to having no income. That said my husband has since retrained and moved from earning about £23k to £32k (in a job he enjoys much more as well) which is what’s allowed me to leave work.

Honestly I don’t notice the drop in income much as pre-kids we used to go out for drinks and to eat, have gym memberships, go on holidays etc. We didn’t have debt but spent most of what we earned. Now we are basically in the same boat, in fact I’m currently saving more per month than I think I ever have. We just “cut our cloth to our means” and tbh have no desire to go on wild nights out or for expensive meals etc anymore, and no time to go to the gym! Our children and home life bring us so much joy and fulfilment and we still keep up with friends with things like drinks at home (pre Covid) and going for walks or zoom drinks (post Covid). 

As I’m a SAHM and husband doesn’t work long hours (he is home between 4-5pm most days though he’s been off on furlough most of the last 6 months anyway) we have time for the kind of lifestyle that saves money - mealplanning, baking our own bread and cakes, home cooking from scratch, growing feed and keeping chickens, knitting hats and gloves for the kids, doing all our own DIY to the house and garden and as many home repairs as we can etc (my husband is very handy with woodwork, electrics and just general labouring). This lifestyle isn’t for everyone and for some it’s worth staying in work even if it means earning nothing after childcare, because it keeps up your investment in your career. But it suits us and we are both happier than we have ever been even earning much less than before. So I haven’t found that we are spending £11k more per child each year as we simply haven’t got it to spend!

To keep costs down with a new baby, you can buy virtually everything except the car seat and cot mattress second hand. And often sell the things on when you are done. Also with your first family and friends usually want to buy gifts which helps. Breastfeeding and cloth nappying saved us money too, and when the kids came to eat solids we just gave them what we were eating rather than bought baby food - generally served as a finger food or if we wanted to mush it a bit for DD (she wasn’t as fond of baby led weaning as DS had been) we just roughly mashed the same food. You can keep it simple with clothes and only dress them in sleepsuits night and day for the first 6 months or so unless you are dressing them for a special occasion, after that predominantly sticking to soft joggers/leggings and tshirts is cheap, simple and comfortable for the baby to move in. For carrying them round, prams don’t need to be expensive and can be second hand, and a simple stretchy wrap can be had cheaply for carrying them snuggled close to you. And babies don’t actually need toys or entertainment to start with (though you will find they’ll be bought those as gifts anyway) - a blanket on the floor, some household objects, library books, your face/voice and a daily walk/outing all provide exactly what your baby needs to learn and develop. 

AmberPick

Hello. It's a good question. Everyone was laughing at me when I asked it, just because it seems funny that I want to know what to expect. I have found a few articles, and I was ready for all the bills. I knew if I have enough money for every month, including extra spending. 

ladyholly

I found the most expensive thing was school. Yes in the UK education is free but schools do tend to see parents as money trees and dont get me started on uniform. However this is all 11 years into the future and you will adapt. When my daughter was born i did have a new cot and pram as they were bought by parents and in laws but I would have been just as happy with second hand. Clothes I had 3 babygrows, 3 vests, a dress, a coat (only bought because it was cute), 3 nightdresses and 2 dozen terry nappies. Oh yes and 3 cardigans knitted by MiL. From this you can tell it was all a long while ago but my point is babies  and young children cost as much as you are prepared to spend on them. If you are short of money clothes at car boot sales, face book groups etc are very reasonable as are toys and equipment. If this is what you want go for it. You may never be rich financially but very rich in other ways. (Just so you know my daughter is over 40 and I have 2 lovely grandaughters)

TomokoAdhami

It depends on how you want to raise your baby. If you want branded clothes, infant powder, diapers, wipes and other trendy items to take care of your baby then for sure it would cost you. But if you want to try some old-fashioned tactics to take care of him then I don't think much expense is associated here. 

Retireby40

Itsjustsammy19 said:

I've read that the first year a child is born it costs over £11,000 and the costs keep going up each year. Is this true? If that is the case there is absolutely no way we can afford to have them as that will be all of our money gone. :-( Are there any ways of making children less expensive and actually affordable so we can look after them and afford a nice life?

2 parents want to make a child and your saying that if it costs £11,000 a year that will be all your money gone?

If 2 parents are bringing home £11,000 a year that is your problem. Why so little?

I haven't got children but as many who have explained they don't have to be so expensive. Expensive yes. But there's always a cheaper option in regards to meals, clothes etc.

One thing I would say is before having children you should have a good foundation to build on. Someone needs to be earning money. Have a secure roof over your head for example long term rental or a mortgage. Have some savings etc. Have a plan is one parent going to work and one look after the baby. Are both parents going to work? Are no parents going to work and the government are going to pay for your child?