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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Are We There Yet?

The cost of raising a child

According to this story from Reuters, the cost of raising a child born in 2007 until her or his 18th birthday will exceed what some families might spend on a home.

Middle-class families should expect to spend $269,040, factoring in inflation. That total doesn’t include money for college, by the way.

Since 1960, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been conducting an annual study on child-rearing costs, according to the article. Food accounted for 17 percent of the total cost, while child care and education expenses made up about 12 percent.

According to the story, USDA found that children get more expensive as they get older. Teenagers were the most costly. Also, child-rearing costs are the greatest in the urban West.

What do you spend the most on for your child?



This blog is intended to provide a forum for parents to share knowledge and resources. It's a place for parents young and old to combine their experiences raising families into a collective whole to help others.