to ask if teenagers are a lot more expensive than children?

[burgatroyd]

Yesterday I asked advice on how to stop my rather irrational broody feelings. Money is a large factor for me not considering a third as I hear teenagers are a LOT more expensive than young children. So though I could possibly afford more kids now would worry I'd find it tough when they are older.

Those with teenagers or older kids, do you find it a lot more expensive?

I'm finding home-made lasagne the snack of choice ATM. But the portion sizes are gargantuan.

God yes, loads more! Honestly I don't know how families with more than one child do it!! They eat like the hungriest adult EVER ever single day and need adult clothes and shoes.

Oh yes and as mentioned above, they have a growth spurt suddenly and NOTHING fits so you need to replace EVERYTHING

DD1 is about to become a teen, DD2 is just 9.

I work from home so don't have childcare costs so comparing like for like, DD1 is more expensive to run.

She's not the world's biggest eater so food wise, she's no more expensive

Clothes are more expensive. She's quite thin, but very tall with size 5 feet, so we're in that cross over between children's clothes/shoes and size 6 women's clothes/shoes. She's not into designer stuff, and is still quite happy with H&M and Primark with a bit of Top Shop thrown in, but her style and tastes are more expensive than her sister's. Shoes are more expensive

Days out and her social life - a lot of the stuff round here stop children's tickets at age 12. Plus she wants to go out with her mates to the cinema, etc so money for bus fares, cinema, bag of chips and an ice cream if she's at the beach with her mates. She's not quite so happy with crabbing/kite flying and a picnic like her sister still is. Equipment for her hobbies is more expensive in the larger sizes

School uniform - now she's in high school, gone are the days of supermarket skirts and polo tops with a cheap pair of shorts and trainers for PE - £47 for a blazer, £35 for a skirt, £80 for a PE kit, plus extras for things like football boots that were only worn for 6 weeks.

School trips are more expensive than they ever were in primary

She's constantly in the shower, face washes, toiletries, bits of make up, hair gubbins, even the hair dresser is more expensive.

We haven't even got into the realms of driving lessons/Uni yet

Yes

Teen DC here too:

Computer (laptops are too easily broken and if one part e,g keyboard fails, the whole thing has to be replaced). Steam games here too to save ££.
Sports - membership, kit & boots, travel etc
Clothes - its better now that their growth rate has slowed down but at one point I had to replace school shoes, rugby boots, trainers etc every few months.
Food - sporty DS eats all the time at home and has to have huge adult sized meals when out so family meals out are now rare
Second hand old iphones on £10 pm payment plans
Going out costs a fortune - over 16s have to pay adult prices for bus, cinema and entry to attractions
Flights - adult fares after 11 years old
Due to sports and lack of suitable part time vacancies, they don't work - pubs & restaurants (if they serve alcohol) won't take on under 18s and cafes want them to work Saturdays which is when they have sports fixtures to attend.
School - uniforms, bus passes, trips, lunches, bags, stationery, PE kit etc.

To be fair, there are essential costs and optional costs. While housing, food, warmth, etc are basics and trips, some pocket money and activities are comfortable, things like driving lessons and games consoles etc are truly optional aren't they?

I don't have teenagers yet so am unqualified to comment really. But, my parents wouldn't have dreamed of paying for my driving lessons, label clothes/trainers or expensive electrical goods (no phones back then). That was what we had Saturday jobs for. We lived rurally and the bus took eons which was good motivation to get my test passed ASAP. My fitness were all the same, so i don't think I was deprived. I even paid for most of the cost of the school skiing trip because I wanted to go and it was so expensive.

I really enjoyed working and earning my own money and feel really proud that driving and my first car etc were all down to me.

I guess times have changed and everything not only costs more but society in general is more materialistic.

I am just emerging from paying more than my wage in childcare each month and so my mind is boggling at the idea that the worst is yet to come!!

'things like driving lessons'

Not if they want to get a job, it really restricts their options and public transport really isn't what it used to be.

Stinkle you could be talking about my DD, although she is almost 14 so older than yours.

My DD is back to school today. Last night I wrote a cheque for the final payment for her school trip for next year. Total cost for that is £900, and that is before ski equipment, and spending money.

Loaded up her payment card for the month for school meals(£40) her best friends are 14 today (twins) she spent £15 each on them on giftcards(this is modest compared to what some of her friends spend on presents.

She has a birthday soon, and is having a meal in Nandos for six friends, which we will pay for.
She has asked for some Doc Martins for her present (about £100) All this, and it is only the first week back after the school hols. Still I wouldn't have it any other way, and don't begrudge a penny of it. she is a great kid, works hard in school, and is a pleasure to be around (most if the time anyway) She has put her name down for a paper round, but is way down the list..

I don't understand being frugal or frugals sake. I don't live my life kû that, and wouldn't expect my children to!
DD has a friend who she's known since primary. Parents are well off but really miserly. I truely feel sorry for her. She is not a happy girl.

I meant to say, I only have one DD. Don't know how people with more than two kids manage, are not bankrupt

Hugely so. Our food bill has to be seen to be believed, fruit bowl, bread, crisps, milk, fresh orange are rare after an hour being in the house, clothes,all adult sizes, my 18yo son takes size 11 trainers and extra large mens sweatshirts. We have two at uni one left home and it's extortionate. Oh and then they want to TRAVEL during the holidays?!

I have a 15 & 13 yr old (and a younger one)
Clothes, shoes especially are more expensive
Food is more expensive as they eat more than you do.
You'll need a bigger car with three adolescents too

But have a third if you want one :) mine was a surprise but we wouldn't be without him

Shonajay, I feel your pain. I will have planned the weeks meals and then will go to cook it and find most of the ingredients have been eaten

Ah yes, the car.

Somehow we forgot, when buying one-last-family-car to run into the ground, that three teenagers weren't going to cram in behind us quite as easily as one teenager and two diddy primary kids.

'I will have planned the weeks meals and then will go to cook it and find most of the ingredients have been eaten '

Mine are very good about not doing this, but I write 'Not Forage' on things with a sharpie, or I use post-its.

I have no problem with people having as many children as they want. What does irratate me, is when they then complain that everything is so much more expensive with 2,3,4 whatever the number is!

My friend has two teens, and after a 10 year gap decided ( despite her husband not wanting anymore children) that she desperately wanted another child, three years in, and she now complains about the cost of childcare, not being able to afford to go on holiday, the cost if eating out,having to get a bigger car., etc..

Frankly, I'm not interested in listening to it, and just change the subject. She knew all this before she made a conscious decision to get pregnant.
So Op, if you want another child and you can truely afford it, go ahead. Otherwise stick with what you've got, and be grateful.

Yes!

ALOT more expensive in my experience. My ds 13 costs a lot more than he did when he was younger

Oh Gawd. sports kit. I have just spend nearly £200 on shoes alone, and mine is only 12 and in Y8! I shudder as he grows older!

Celtic that is why I'm posting. To confirm cold hard facts and be grateful!

Its a hard one...

For parents saying I didn’t have XYZ growing up so I don’t see why teenagers today need them. Think about your own teenage years compared to your parents. Did you have things that they didn’t have while growing up? Almost certainly. So why should that same rule not apply to today’s teenagers.

A lot has changed since I was a teenager. Jobs for teenagers are scarcer than hen’s teeth. Far fewer paper rounds as so few people have a paper delivered. There is much more competition for part time jobs as many adults compete for what would have been Saturday jobs for school students.

I see driving lessons as one of those paying it forward things. My parents paid for my lessons. I paid/will pay for my DCs. IMO if parents can help with this then they should. It is a very useful skill and tends to be easier to pick up when young.

God yes!

They eat like ganets. They grow like nettles.

Then there is the endless stream of incidentals...

And university to think of ...

Also be aware, if they have a talent for something/enjoy it then you may end up spending a fair bit on hobbies. DD's dancing costs at least £100 per week I estimate, £600 per term fees and then travel, costumes, shoes, uniforms etc.

Oh yes, activities and music lessons are a lot!