To not understand why teenagers are said to be quite so expensive

[theduchessstill]

On here I often see it written that having teenagers is so incredibly expensive and I don't understand why.

It's actually getting me quite anxious as ds1 is 10 so the teen years are fast approaching. I followed one of those links people post last week where you put in just your income and how many dependants/adults live with you, and apparently I am better off than 81% of people now but that will plummet to 51% of people when both dc are 14 +. Obviously this is a crude tool, but it has been niggling at me.

Why are they so expensive and are none of the costs balanced by the absence of childcare fees with this age group ? Childcare is easily my biggest cost after my mortgage and I often think I will be better off when I don't need it anymore. Exactly what takes its place? I know food - and am already seeing it with ds1, but food can only cost so much, surely. What else is so expensive with teens? I know I probably sound stupid, but, hey, I want to know.

[JoNapot]

Food.

School trips.

Adult prices on clothes and shoes and often tricky to fit so few bargains to be had.

Adult transport costs.

Adult entrance charges / holiday places should you be lucky enough to afford these.

On the one hand it's a relief if they play a sport or have a hobby but can be dear.

..and maybe this is just our house but my son doesn't seem to know his own strength yet and breaks stuff.

[WaxOnFeckOff]

Whilst there are lots of things you don't have to spend money on, the reality os that most people will spend money on at least some of the expensive things.

For us the costs are:
Food
Electric and Gas - no longer all in one room and computers etc all being used, showering every day.
Toiletries are used more plus may have shaving kit etc
Washing machine on more as clothes are bigger
Clothes are more expensive - even if you don't buy expensive brands, they grow fast and need appropriate clothes.
Entertainment, they don't get a child price so every cineam trip or day out or meal out means paying for 4 adults (in my case)
Petrol/bus fares etc - they need to get to places
Sports kit for hobbies
Fees for sports or other activities
Music lessons
Socialising
Mobile Phones
Birthdays/christmas cost more as you can't just buy a couple of lego sets and a few books - everything that they want or need costs £££
Rewards for exam passes
DofE costs
superfast wifi
Driving lessons
Haircuts
Holidays means 4 adults.

How can you not think that they are going to cost more?

[Afreshstartplease]

Ah right. Mine are set to receive a larger sum of money at 21 which is why I was intending the trust funds at 18 would cover driving Etc

[ReelingLush]

Hmm - wait and see. Challenge you to come back to this thread in four/five years and give us your low-down on life with a teenager.

Just off the top of my head

Some secondary schools ask for regular voluntary contributions - ours for DC1 cost us £400 a year (from Yrs 7 - 13)

School trips - some schools do very few but some do up to three a year every year - with the cheapest starting at £350

Additional activities at school - CCF, DofE, NCS, LAMDA etc...all add up

An allowance or funding socialising

Clothes - there aren't too many teens who aren't keen to have popular brands even if they are happy to mix and match with a bit of Primark etc...

Adult clothes cost more because they have VAT added

The amount of food they eat

They suddenly start costing more when you travel with them...

Amusing them during the holidays becomes significantly more expensive -as does taking them out for meals once they're beyond 'kids' menu' meals.

That's just for starters

[Sparklingbrook]

Yes, I see what you mean Afresh but it might be hard when all your peers are having lessons and passing their test and you are waiting IYKWIM. Plus 17 is ideal to learn before they go off to Uni it's all done and dusted.

[RainyApril]

Sixth form school transport is expensive, and further transport costs of their school allow them to go home for study periods.

Braces are only free if their teeth are more than (I think) 8mm out of line, otherwise deemed cosmetic.

I know a lot of pp were joking about ski trips and ponies, but most teens pursue some sort of hobby and most parents encourage music, drama and sport if their dc are so inclined - the cost of which increases dramatically as they move through secondary school. Even stuff like DofE to boost their uni applications are expensive.

[WaxOnFeckOff]

A lot of it pisses me off when adult prices are charges after age 12 or 14 or whatever for a service that doesn't cost the provider any more - e.g. cinema tickets - they are still only using the same seat and don't suddenly have an idependant income at 12 or 14 or whatever, you are just ripping of parents. i appreciate them charging more is fair if it's for an all you can eat buffet after age 10ish.

[SparklyUnicornPoo]

With mine its the 'mum I'm going out with my mates, can I have a fiver?' and constant eating. Also school - Uniform and PE kits are more expensive, the trips are much bigger and more expensive and food tech ingredients, text books etc soon add up.

I'm quite lucky in that mine couldn't care less about brand names or what he's wearing, doesn't have expensive hobbies and isn't into computer games, technology etc, my 17 and 14 year old brothers are way more expensive

[Butteredparsnip1ps]

One week School trip by coach in year 9 was £800

School bus once they hit 6th form was £900

As others have said there is a big difference between a family meal for 2 adults and 2 children and 4 adults same for holidays and days out.

After school clubs and equipment/clothing/travel required v expensive

Driving and insurance

Equipment for GCSE options

Clothes, food, toiletries

We limited designer purchases, but peer pressure is a big issue. Some purchases are inescapable

[JoNapot]

When eldest went to university the electric and gas bills went down noticeably. The charger use and showers obviously add up.

[Dragonglass]

I'm on my 5th teenager now and haven't found them that expensive. More than a younger child though.

None of mine have cared about branded clothes or shoes. They have cheapish phones on giffgaff and the phones were birthday/christmas presents. They do eat more but not a huge amount more. Eating out we do at cheap places (Wetherspoons is great) or with Tesco vouchers.
None of them have been into expensive hobbies. DS2 is 13 and goes to athletics training which costs £24 a month. Cheap trainers/ spikes from Sports Direct or sales and kit from Primark/Sports Direct.
DD3 has a bus pass as her school is not easy to walk to but DS2 prefers to walk to his school.

[Afreshstartplease]

Yes sparkling I see what you mean there I suppose we will have to look at that nearer the time!

I had already been told ds should get braces on the nhs as he is at 11mm. Do many people pay for them?

Once DC are at secondary school are after school sports etc paid for?

[worridmum]

How are contact lenses not a luxury? They can wear glasses which work out far cheaper then contact lenses which are just a vanity item in the vain of make up nail polish etc or cosmetic surgery.

[dustarr73]

Afreshstartplease not all posters are in Britain.The braces posters used Euro prices.So no NHS.

[Sparklingbrook]

Afresh what made it worse was DS1 was summer born so his September born mates were passing before he had even started learning. I did not think that through when planning a baby. It's been the same with being 18 and going out for a drink.

I know loads of children that have had braces but don't know anyone that paid for them personally. They do lots of measuring, and the teeth have to be wonky by a certain measurement.

Both DSs have done after school football clubs but I have not had to pay for it.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Contact lenses are not a vanity item if you play a lot of sport.

[Afreshstartplease]

Never even thought of it like that myself sparkling!

Good to know about after school activities although wonder if it varies on school as primary seem to

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

I have found that having a reasonable allowance helps keep costs down: they learn how to budget, decide between a posh coffee and cake or a Primark t shirt, prioritise which movie of the two coming out that week is a must see, they learn to think about their spending.

What also helped was my girls had a charity shop vintage habit rather that any kind of interest in designer labels (liked expensive footwear though). My son stuck to adidas (mainly for Christmas) and Primark, but didn't have tons of clothes.

And also making it crystal clear they were expected to get a part time job.

[Sparklingbrook]

The Part time job thing for teens has always been a bit of a controversial topic on MN.

Many think they should be having a rest after GCSEs, and once A Level starts they should be studying 24/7 and should not even have time for a job.

[WaxOnFeckOff]

I forgot contact lenses. Not a luxury item when you have a minus eight prescription either. You have the choice of leaving them wearing heavy thick lenses, paying for thinned down lenses or paying for contact lenses. The first is not an option.

[elevenclips]

Haven't rtft but will just write this:

1. Technology ("I'm the only one who doesn't have xxx")
   
2. Food (I just watched my ds eat enough lunch for three people)

[chelseahotel]

I think we were lucky that a sixth form bus pass was free. Mine got part time jobs but not until they were 16 and then not much. I agree that driving is an essential skill and best done before uni. I paid for that as well as insuring them on my car.

[Oblomov17]

Depends what kind of child you have. If you have boys who eat like and adult and need trainers in adult sizes it's costly.

If you have a meek child who cares not for the latest phone, labelled clothes, etc, probably less so.

[BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou]

DD didn't have a part time job when at secondary school - the school were very specific that they expected pupils to NOT have jobs. Studying for four a'levels (the minimum allowed by her school) left little time for social life let alone a job as well.

She does do some waitressing work (through an agency) now she is at uni but I'm happier for her to concentrate on her studies.