What age kids become expensive?

[Glassofredandapackofcrisps]

Just that really. My dd is nearly 2 costs creeping up slightly and so wondering is it a gradual rise or does it come as a massive shock around a certain age? Thank you!

Early years as childcare is at its peak then, after that I'd say secondary school as numerous trips per year, social life, clothes etc.

They cost as much as you choose to spend. If you mean groups and activities, you're the one that chooses whether to do three activities a day, or three a week. I always found the big expense was shoes.

Right about the time they get out of the womb

I think when they cost the most when they are young as they either cost you in childcare or lost wages if your reduce your hours or take a career break.

People say teenagers are expensive but I will not be spending thousands per month on mine so for me young children are more expensive.

Teens.
Everything costs more, they grow out of expensive shoes on a weekly basis, they eat you out of house and home, they want clothes, they have hobbies, expensive school trips, calculators, books, pocket money, laptop, phone, bike, sports gear, then they leave it all on the bus...

Relentless expense.

What Slack said!

Teenagers.

Even if they're not into labels, teens can be expensive. They eat at least much as adults, and of course by 12 they're in adults' clothing and shoes, which they grow out of with alarming rapidity.

Flip side of course is zero childcare costs.

I also said I wouldn't spend loads as they got older, but i am now eating my words! Our choice though! My eldest has become very good at their chosen sport, so more costly, become interested in clothes after starting secondary, and become more sociable which often costs. The big bonus is no wrap around care.

There are plateus then big steps.

So far the big step ups in cost were 8/9 and 10/11. I'm anticipating another around 13/14

Peak expense was probably when they were at nursery but that felt different as it was a set amount each month and I always knew what it was going to be. Both DC are at school and I'm still spending £750 - £800 per month on wraparound care but then there are all the activities they do, the school trips, bits the need for school, presents for the birthday parties they are going to.
I can only see it getting more expensive as they get bigger and food & clothes cost more.

Apart from childcare costs I would say once they reach year 6 in school and have their first residential school trip.

After that it's high school uniform (no more polo shirts and skirts/trousers from Asda), shoes cost a fortune and they grow out of them rapidly. All the clothing costs escalate as they know what they will/won't wear and you can no longer get hand-me-downs from friends etc. They grow, they eat endlessly, their school trips become very expensive.

I do laugh when people say that they won't spend £'s on their teens. You will. You will want them to have the opportunities to do things like DofE, the NCS scheme, the activities that keep them busy and off street corners.

DD1 is 19 and living at uni. She still costs me money. I help her with fuel for her car when she's short, I help her with buying books and I often take her food shopping when she's home so she has stuff to take back.

DD2 is 12. Two residential trips this year, one in 3 weeks time to France, the other in July. Total cost of £700. She requires a wetsuit and other stuff for the second one which we already have although she needs a new rash vest and wet shoes. Next year is the ski trip which she isn't going on, she got the choice of going on 2 out of the 3.

She doesn't start high school until year 8.

Supporting them through university (topping up student loan, so they can pay rent and survive) isn't cheap.

An other one voting for teens!
To me it's not just the obvious financial impact (clothes, shoes, school stuff or activities.) It's also the little things like, petrol, more washing, and of course food. My teen eats more than me!!!

Teenagers are pretty expensive. Especially when they get into labels (something I swore my children wouldn't do....)

People say teenagers are expensive but I will not be spending thousands per month on mine so for me young children are more expensive.

Young children will grow, they'll need more expensive adult size clothing and shoes, eat more, have to pay adult prices for tickets and travel. Regardless of you planning on not spending more they will cost more than younger children. I have two primary children and two teens. The teens cost more.

I think it depends on if you WOH or not. So e.g. the post above has said 8/9 and 10/11. Well I have an 8 and 10 year old but am feeling rich at the moment because our youngest has just started school so our childcare costs have gone from £1100 pcm to £0 pcm (+£13k per year) and I've increased my working hours (+ £5K per year). No children's hobby or clothes costs £18k per year so we'll be quids in for a good few years now.

However if I didn't work then by the time my youngest had started school I'd have no doubt have forgotten about my wages and so would find school uniform and shoes and hobbies more expensive than what came before.

Until 18 whenever you let them become expensive, otherwise when they go to university, then they really become expensive and you can't really argue, because it's an education not a designer label!

Teens definitely.

13! When dd hit 13 our school fees bill hit £36k per annum for two DC. 13 is also the time when they never stop eating, become interested in clothes/phones, and may need dental work/braces. Add in music, sport, school trips, lap top, books, exam fees.

It goes on for longer now too. We elected to pay DS's uni fees, add £7k for rent and some for subsistence.

Next year dd goes to uni £9250 plus maintenance. Her bro starts a Masters I think it's £14k, plus of course maintenance.

Both having gaps this year. Both working. . But goodness written down like that it's gob smacking.

Once they reach adulthood - weddings, house deposits.

Yup, uni is horrifically expensive. My dd’s were only a year apart, so I had them both at uni at once, for an overlap of 4 years. By the time you’ve paid tuition fees, rent in two different cities, and food, books and travel, there’s not a lot left. I’m a widow, so my one salary had to be split between 3 separate households. Nightmare! I feel unaccustomedly wealthy now they’re both graduated and earning...!

9yrs plus in my experience with 3 DC. School is very expensive now-school trips, donations, in school events and uniform. Then moves in to after school activities, money for trips out with friends and phones.
If you have some disposable income then I would consider saving a small amount each money to have a nest egg for school trips, activities and expensive one-offs like phones. I wish I had. I had no idea how much we would struggle as them got older.

I know a few people who have chosen to have several children and whine about the expense (and illnesses, time, lack of sleep etc ) and say cheerily that they won’t pay for their university costs. Sadly for them, their incomes will be taken into account if their kids want to go to university as it will effect the amount of loan they’ll get. The only real way to get out of this is to have some kind of official documentation proving you’re not part of your kids life, like if you’ve put them in care or they’ve ‘divorced’ you. The average cost of raising one child to 18 (not including university) is about £230,000. That encompasses either loss of earnings or childcare, extra electricity and heating costs, all those shoes, newer cars to fit them into, food, food, food, consumer products, clothing, school costs like trips and uniforms, etc.etc.

As the mother of 3 young adults ; two in university and the last one there next year I’d say 18+ is horrendously expensive.