https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 22:01:50 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/besides-daycare-is-having-a-kid-expensive#post-32398 Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:16:06 +0000 yoursilverlining 32398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cyndistar3: My husband's does as well, thankfully. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/besides-daycare-is-having-a-kid-expensive#post-32396 Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:14:21 +0000 cyndistar3 32396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: We are lucky, my husbands insurance adds children for very little. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/besides-daycare-is-having-a-kid-expensive#post-32395 Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:13:41 +0000 mediagirl 32395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells hit it on the head - health insurance costs cannot be forgotten about. They come out of your paycheck before you get your money but they can be wicked expensive and are always going up, unfortunately. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/besides-daycare-is-having-a-kid-expensive#post-32389 Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:11:57 +0000 yoursilverlining 32389@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Don’t forget about health care. For my employer-paid health plan, I pay $70/pay period (so, $140/mo) for just my single coverage. To add a child, my portion would increase to $171/pay period (or, about $340/month). That doesn’t include vision or dental. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/besides-daycare-is-having-a-kid-expensive#post-32387 Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:11:30 +0000 cyndistar3 32387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So far for me it was when she was really little when she was expensive with all the diapers and having to buy clothes more often. Now that she is potty trained and all that fun stuff we only have to buy her clothes every now and then and even that isn't that bad since you can buy second hand if you choose. And it isn't like she eats a whole lot so it doesn't add too much to our grocery bill. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/besides-daycare-is-having-a-kid-expensive#post-32382 Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:06:25 +0000 looch 32382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just saw this thread while browsing..it's a good question and I really think that sometimes we have tunnel vision, in that we're just thinking about the cost of the baby, but we should think of the cost of the child through 18. Yes, they become expensive. They always need new shoes, clothes, school supplies, activities, etc. It's not just a one time expense for a stroller, YKWIM? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/besides-daycare-is-having-a-kid-expensive#post-24837 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:20:56 +0000 BSB 24837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: "but the reality is... we do have to pay for childcare! " Haha, good point! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/besides-daycare-is-having-a-kid-expensive#post-24806 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:00:50 +0000 Mrs. Bee 24806@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>calculating our expenses for charlie for the past year, we spent about $300/month on him excluding childcare. Including food it was probably closer to $400-$500/month. yes there is a lot of gear to buy the first year, but if you buy used it doesn't have to cost that much.</p> <p>if we didn't have to pay for daycare, i wouldn't think kids are that expensive because we spent more on that going out to dinners, having drinks, etc. but the reality is... we do have to pay for childcare! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/besides-daycare-is-having-a-kid-expensive#post-24805 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:00:14 +0000 SAHM0811 24805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In addition to what the others have already said, there's also when they are toddlers... Classes to keep them active and entertained such as gymboree, ballet, soccer, etc can really add up. The baby stage only lasts for so long... Before you know it, they are ready for these classes, daycare, or preschool. In my area (NYC) it's pretty expensive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/besides-daycare-is-having-a-kid-expensive#post-24790 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:30:25 +0000 heffalump 24790@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a sahm, s we don't pay for day care. But it really just depends.</p> <p>-Breastfeeding is free, but unfortunately didn't work for us so we have to buy formula.<br /> -We cloth diaper and that was a big investment in the beginning, but now we only buy diapers if we go away for a weekend and that's rare. </p> <p>-Babies grow quick so we always need more of something, whether it's pjs, socks, or clothes for the new season. We shop sales and consignment, but it all adds up.<br /> -of course you need everything to start out. Like furniture, sheets, diaper bag stuff, bath tub, again everything adds up.<br /> -then there are the things we're constantly buying, like wipes (I'm starting to go cloth ), bottle liners (we get drop ins because they're easier to clean ), diaper liners, meds(she has reflux ), etc.</p> <p>So yes. Babies are expensive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/besides-daycare-is-having-a-kid-expensive#post-24789 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:29:16 +0000 banana 24789@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I guess it also depends on how you define what "expensive" is and what your expectations are. I thought spending $300-$400/month, excluding nanny,was totally reasonable (to raise a baby) and that's about what we spend a month. This includes diapers, wipes, food (we make our own baby food), the occassional toys/books/clothes/shoes. We have a great health insurance so our co-pays aren't that high (maybe around $20 an office visit every 3-6 months). Our nanny costs us $2000/month. So yeah, without our nanny costs, we would be saving so much more. Car seats/strollers/baby gear...you can do without the fancy ones. I think we spent around $500 for these things (the rest we received as gifts). But this was a one-time expense. It's the monthly costs that add up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/besides-daycare-is-having-a-kid-expensive#post-24786 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:26:58 +0000 Andrea 24786@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I look at it like this. Do I have as much money as I did pre-kid? No. Why? Because in order spend more time at home, I needed to take a pay cut so I could work less hours and be home. </p> <p>And we wanted raise a family in the burbs, so we bought a house which is a money pit because something just always comes up with a house. </p> <p>So if neither of the above applies to you, then that will help! :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/besides-daycare-is-having-a-kid-expensive#post-24782 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:19:49 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 24782@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know from experience, but my closest friend who is a SAHM has two babies plus two step sons. She says that having kids costs less than what people make it out to be. She is pretty financially savvy, and even with paying child support her family doesn't struggle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/besides-daycare-is-having-a-kid-expensive#post-24780 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:18:47 +0000 BSB 24780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: Haha. That's true! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/besides-daycare-is-having-a-kid-expensive#post-24779 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:18:15 +0000 Mrsbells 24779@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Even aside from daycare, a child is expensive because of health insurance costs, the hospital bill for having the baby, diapers {cloth or disposable}, and baby gear like car seats, strollers etc. For those that formula feed, the formula is expensive, and breast pumps are expensive for those that pump. Babies are expensive no matter which way you look at it </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/besides-daycare-is-having-a-kid-expensive#post-24778 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:18:04 +0000 mrbee 24778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you went out a lot before having a LO, then having a kid will probably save you money overall! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/besides-daycare-is-having-a-kid-expensive#post-24775 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:15:35 +0000 banana 24775@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For us, daycare (or nanny in our case) is by far the most expensive part. Diapers/clothes/food aren't THAT expensive in my opinion. You can cut costs, buy used, etc. But daycare/nanny is kind of one of those fixed costs unless you're a SAHM. If we didn't have the nanny costs, we would be MUCH better off financially. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/besides-daycare-is-having-a-kid-expensive#post-24772 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:13:47 +0000 BSB 24772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We all know daycare is expensive. If you forget about day care cost, is having a kid expensive?</p> <p>I mean, I have a dog that has issues. She used to go to the vet every 3 months. She has health problem so she is on prescription dog food. She used to go to doggie daycare and when we go out of town, she gets boarded. I spend money on cute outfits. I'm not saying having a pet is any where close to having a kid because I know it's different. Also, I know there are people who are obsessed with buying shoes or designer clothes. </p> <p>Maybe I just rambling and this all doesn't make sense. In that case, you can ignore me. ;) haha </p>