$204,060: hello, baby!
$204,060
That’s how much the USDA is projecting that middle-income families will spend to raise children born in 2007. What boggles my mind is the fact that folks are SURPRISED that the cost of raising a child is on the rise. I’m now old enough that I can say stuff like, “I remember when a can of Coke cost fifteen cents!”
I really do. A dime was a precious thing in my childhood: it could buy me one of those big superballs kids are shelling out a buck fifty for at the grocery store gum machines these days. The penny candy at the 7-11 cost two cents a piece. I know there’s inflation. I know things are more expensive now than they were 35 years ago. Am I the only one who knows this?
$204,060. That number DOESN’T include college. I repeat: does not. All you single moms out there might want to recalculate your child-support payments. I can tell you right now, what my ex (isn’t) paying isn’t even close to half of that sum.
Tags: 2007, cost raise child, study, USDARelated Stories
POSTED IN: child support, finances
6 opinions for $204,060: hello, baby!
Leslie
Mar 28, 2008 at 10:37 am
Since that’s nearly all of my disposable income for his 18 years, it does explain why I’m lucky to by one pair of jeans a year.
You’re right though - support doesn’t even come close to half of that.
robiewankenobie
Mar 31, 2008 at 7:23 am
yeah, uh, i don’t think that covers us scrappy freecycle goodwilling peeps. just sayin’.
christina
Mar 31, 2008 at 7:41 am
LOL Robie. It certainly doesn’t. Of course, with this economy, us scrappy Goodwill peeps don’t have much more they can cut back on.
Back when gas was a dollar… « From The Gray Fortress
Apr 1, 2008 at 1:32 pm
[…] Solo Mother kindly reminded us this week of the astronomical cost of raising children til they’re fully cooked, for a reason other than just torture of course. Luckily, ha, falling at the lower income end it’ll probably be more like $148,320 than the 200k+. Life still feels like it’s inflating at record speed it makes my head spin. […]
Kelly
Apr 2, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Wow, that’s $210 a week! My child support is barely 1/4th of that.
Thrifty Karen
Apr 2, 2008 at 11:33 pm
I’m with Robie. We freecycle, go to thrift stores and yard sales, and gladly accept hammy downs. We cut corners where we can. I have been staying home part-time for almost 5 years, so that has really cut into our income. Hmmm, I wonder if that is included in the cost of raising a child. Probably not, I guess. Yes, it is very expensive to raise a child.
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