Children are expensive. But here are a few more than I expected costs.

It’s no secret that raising children costs money. A typical middle-income family will spend up to $ two hundred thirty-three thousand six hundred and ten brought a child, not including college payments.

I always knew that my own children would put a huge strain on my budget. But through the years, I’ve been downright shocked to see how expensive some of the associated costs have been. The following are some of the specific has caught me by surprise. repeatedly.

1. In the academic year Parenting

I work full-time in the office, my biggest child was born, and in a week he sent $ 300 nursery costs. This is not surprising. What to Surprisingly, howeveR, I currently spend my daughter’s preschool program in six hours a day, plus the cost of after-school nanny, so I can get my work done workload.

I have twin daughters had my son three years later, I was transferred back to freelancing, so I can finish my work at home. Frankly, full-day kindergarten fees for three children has been almost wiped out my wages, it is not worth it. Although I am not spend $ 55,000 a year I quote the first two infants and young children in the nursery, so my job is not really the time I spent more than $ 12,000 a year of kindergarten, as well as a variety of other nanny $ 2,000 to $ 4,000 to At the end, the school out of control. Similarly, we are not talking about $ 55,000, but it is still a lot.

2. Summer camp

The reason I do not agglomerate into a summer camp than a protected species, I feel it necessary to call out just how much it costs money. Now, here on the East Coast, summer camp may be more expensive than it is in other parts of the country. But for full-day care eight weeks of the summer, I spent an absurd $ 12,000 to be looked after and entertained my children. Of course, I would not, if I do not work, to bear this cost – I will look for entertainment instead of cost. But still … ouch.

3. After-school activities

I know the value of keeping kids active and entertained school year. But between soccer, swimming lessons, and martial arts, and I easily spend upwards of $ 500 a month, trying to avoid boredom and help my children to keep busy and society.

4. Medical

Sick children have a tendency – sometimes with uninterrupted virus and disease-related costs can really add up. There are months when I spent a pediatrician appointments $ 200. my favourite? When the diagnostic ear infections appointment, and then follow-up appointment to make sure it’s cleaned up. Of course, the latter is important, but when you’re on your registration fee tenth of the month, you get a little annoyed.

5. Food

I know, because my kids got a little older, will increase the cost of feeding them. But these days, I spent a month about $ 300 more than I used to separate groceries. Part of which is due to the fact that my kids love fruits and vegetables, which I would not discourage, but also from the fact STE milliseconds, my children are fussy eaters, and as such, needs its own unique meals. result? Many supermarkets charge on my credit card.

6. Clothing

Clothing I bought my kids are quite cheap. However, they tear, stain or a week means I actually spent a small fortune or wind it grow faster than every other. I started not even let the children shoes, adult shoes and spend more than six months last best.

7. Travel

I have been very good cheap travel. But when you put the child into the mix, you can not always do so. For example, when we try to stay in the hotel, we often have to because we have a cheaper room than the maximum allowed guests to get more space. Whenever we go anywhere, whether it’s a theme park, zoo or aquarium, my child is special ticket bygone era, which means we pay a lot of rides or go exotic animals or sea creatures stare.

Do not get me wrong – my kids more than I deserve to play financial situation has taken all these years. But if you have kids ideas, know what you want to – and have some money in the bank as a backup