So apparently raising children (and being pregnant) is expensive...
Here are what some people have calculated.
Apparently to raise a child from 0-18 years will cost about $300,000. Each child. That doesn't include the cost of college- which apparently 20 years down the road is going to be like $200,000 for a PUBLIC college. (Of course I can't complain after my parents forked out the money for my Stanford tuition... yikes.) If our brainy baby were to choose a private college, estimated costs are over $350 to $400,000. Ouch. Looks like we will need some savings plans in place! Of course that doesn't mean we need to SAVE that much money, because those are with inflation costs, so obviously the amount we earn is going to increase, plus if we can compound interest and start saving early, our money will grow and grow and grow (in an ideal situation, of course). But I'm just saying, it's not quite as bad as it sounds.
As for having a baby for the first time, it's unbelievable all the things you need to buy, and how much they cost! Lucky for us, I am a bargain shopper (or at least I like to think so), and we have done pretty well for ourselves! In the nursery, there are clearly some big ticket items... crib, changing table, rocking chair... we got all those for $100! The crib and the changing table were free from the Montulli family, and we bought the rocker used for $100 (normally it is $400). I have been buying used books and toys, and so far I have spent about $50 or $60 and we have plenty of stuff! As for clothes, well, we don't know if it's a boy or girl, BUT I can't resist a bargain, and I found someone selling gently used baby clothes for $5. FIVE dollars! And there are lots and lots of clothes... now, mostly boy clothes, so we'll see how that one works out for us! But seriously, here (in NZ) you can't even buy a single onesie or outfit for $5, and we must have gotten 100! I told you, I can't resist a bargain. That's probably hundreds and hundreds of dollars of baby clothes that I got for $5. I could probably sell the ones I don't like and make a profit here (except for the fact that I like all of them). I got some other baby accessories used as well, like a boppy pillow (we'll buy a new cover) and moses basket and a few other things. We did splurge a buy a really nice jogging stroller (which was $150 off, I must add), but I think that is well worth it. We also bought the nursery decor for full price... it was just so cute, and I liked it for either a boy or girl, so I got sucked in a paid full price for it. Oh well.
Anyway, there's plenty left to buy, but I'm refusing to let myself buy ANYTHING else (except for these little shoes I bought today which were just SO cute... 3 pairs for $5...and I think I made a great connection for really nice/inexpensive maternity and newborn photos out of the deal). Anyway, not buying anything else until at least February 12, when we find out it it's a boy or girl. Until then, I'll just do some virtual shopping and add it all to our online baby registries! But check out these little boots!
Here are what some people have calculated.
Apparently to raise a child from 0-18 years will cost about $300,000. Each child. That doesn't include the cost of college- which apparently 20 years down the road is going to be like $200,000 for a PUBLIC college. (Of course I can't complain after my parents forked out the money for my Stanford tuition... yikes.) If our brainy baby were to choose a private college, estimated costs are over $350 to $400,000. Ouch. Looks like we will need some savings plans in place! Of course that doesn't mean we need to SAVE that much money, because those are with inflation costs, so obviously the amount we earn is going to increase, plus if we can compound interest and start saving early, our money will grow and grow and grow (in an ideal situation, of course). But I'm just saying, it's not quite as bad as it sounds.
As for having a baby for the first time, it's unbelievable all the things you need to buy, and how much they cost! Lucky for us, I am a bargain shopper (or at least I like to think so), and we have done pretty well for ourselves! In the nursery, there are clearly some big ticket items... crib, changing table, rocking chair... we got all those for $100! The crib and the changing table were free from the Montulli family, and we bought the rocker used for $100 (normally it is $400). I have been buying used books and toys, and so far I have spent about $50 or $60 and we have plenty of stuff! As for clothes, well, we don't know if it's a boy or girl, BUT I can't resist a bargain, and I found someone selling gently used baby clothes for $5. FIVE dollars! And there are lots and lots of clothes... now, mostly boy clothes, so we'll see how that one works out for us! But seriously, here (in NZ) you can't even buy a single onesie or outfit for $5, and we must have gotten 100! I told you, I can't resist a bargain. That's probably hundreds and hundreds of dollars of baby clothes that I got for $5. I could probably sell the ones I don't like and make a profit here (except for the fact that I like all of them). I got some other baby accessories used as well, like a boppy pillow (we'll buy a new cover) and moses basket and a few other things. We did splurge a buy a really nice jogging stroller (which was $150 off, I must add), but I think that is well worth it. We also bought the nursery decor for full price... it was just so cute, and I liked it for either a boy or girl, so I got sucked in a paid full price for it. Oh well.
Anyway, there's plenty left to buy, but I'm refusing to let myself buy ANYTHING else (except for these little shoes I bought today which were just SO cute... 3 pairs for $5...and I think I made a great connection for really nice/inexpensive maternity and newborn photos out of the deal). Anyway, not buying anything else until at least February 12, when we find out it it's a boy or girl. Until then, I'll just do some virtual shopping and add it all to our online baby registries! But check out these little boots!
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