No Wonder We Aren't Rich!

Ever considered the cost of raising children? Makes your jaw drop if you think about it too long.
It's really a very scary thought, and would certainly put you off considering conception should you think about it too hard prior to planning a child.

Obviously you need to think about it at that point, but only in so far as can you afford to bring a child into your life at this point. Children are beautiful and rewarding so who would say "No"? According to statistics, as parents, most of us will support our children on average until they are 21.
This means diapers, buggies, toys, bikes, cots, beds, clothing, formula, foods, shoes, schooling, college, soccer etc etc. That is a lot of stuff to by. On average, these studies show that parents spend £200,000 ($311,000) raising EACH of their children from birth to the age of 21.
This equates to £800 ($1250) PER CHILD for each month of their life.

No wonder as parents we will never be rich! These statistics are UK statistics, and the report was stating that the UK is an unfriendly place for families.
Thing is, I figured, that it can not be much better anywhere else.
The standard of living in the UK is not particularly high - it's not the best, but it sure isn't the worst either.
Having discussed this with my wife at length and worked on some figures, I would suggest that the majority of that money goes on your child between the ages of 0 and 8 to 10, when they are least independent and more reliant on us to provide.
As they become teenagers, then they can get a small job and provide towards their needs.

Whilst at college, they can get a job to assist with college fees or their upkeep. Most of the money that we spend when our child is between the age of 0 and around 3 goes on diapers, wipes and formula - none of these things are inexpensive.
Scrimp on any of these things and you will have thin useless diapers that do not hold their content, wipes your fingers go through and formula that does not give your child what it needs! Clothes and shoes get more expensive as your child passes 8, because they want designer clothing.
Toys get more expensive around this time also because they get more complicated and intricate.

Education is also expensive, the better the school or college the more it costs to educate your child. So in view of these facts it could cost less or it could cost more - one thing is for sure though, whatever you earn it will get swallowed up by your child until they are 21.

Given that we have 3 children, we are looking at £2400 per month in order to bring them up well - I know we have the children and therefore have no place to complain but surely something could be done to reduce the cost of having children, or how will the human race survive?