how much more expensive would it be to have another child?

[tygh787]

I appreciate this is a bit silly but I've got all anxious about the rising cost of living and everything going up. DH and I were considering whether we should try for another kid - our only is now 5 so it's sort of now or never. Despite obviously already having a kid, I cant quite figure out how much more expensive would it be to add another to the mix. I obviously still remember all too clearly the very expensive early years, but whats it like thereafter. At the moment, we mostly just spend money as a two of us so either DH or I would say take DD to soft play or other paying outings. We dont worry too much about her hobbies because we can currently afford them especially now that she's at school. Is anyone else thinking that with the current squeeze they just wont be able to have another child? Have I completely overthought this?

Personally I don't find it particularly expensive to have a baby if you've already got all the equipment from first time around. The expense is child care!!!!

Biggest expenses are childcare x 2
More food/petrol etc..
More expensive holidays
As they get older More expensive clothes, toys, phones etc...
Clubs and activities

I didn't want another so no concrete info, but it depends on what your childcare is for the 5 year old around school and the holidays. I'm not sure I'd want to be funding wraparound care, nursery, and rising bills/mortgage/rent after a year off on mat leave, for example.

And then when they are teenagers the expense ramps up again, especially as parents are expected to make up contributions towards students who don't receive the full student loan.

With our second I was able to breastfeed so other than the 'equipment' like a cot, baby monitor etc we were able to mostly use what we had from our first child so baby number 2 was relatively cheap. Ongoing costs are nappies and wipes which aren't that bad tbh.

As a PP said the biggest cost for us is childcare. I think ours is roughly £800 per month.

My friend in Dublin spends 25000 euro a year on childcare for 2.

We will definitely have to pay out for another set of nursery plus childcare and everything else. With both of us working full time and no help, I was also just wondering what it's like after the first three years because I kind of know what thats like.

Teenagers are expensive

My second turned out to be twins (total surprise - none in the family), so the whole "you've already got all the equipment" thing didn't really pan out...

I'm feeling the same way although DD is only 3. About to remortgage and with rising interest rates and let's face it everything getting more expensive it feels like a 2nd child could be financially difficult (I planned to wait till DD is in school to reduce childcare costs but even so everything is getting so expensive)

Teens. Sports or music lessons. Clothes more expensive. "Toys" so much more. Everything. School trips.