Are 3 kids much more expensive than 2?

[Jojay]

I'm kind of broody for no 3 but I'm still trying to work it out in my own head.

DH's main reservations are financial, ie we'd be broke with 3, but ok with the 2 we have.

We have a 3 bed house that would be ok for 3 kids - the bedrooms are a fair size so 2 could share, but we'd need a new car.

Those sort of one off costs we could cope with, it's more the ongoing costs.

What do you think?

[luckywinner]

Have no idea but am in exactly the same situation as you. And I have days where I really want another baby and days when I just can't face it! Will be watching this thread though to see if it helps me make up my mind .

I can't imagine it would be much extra unless you are considering private schools and I suppose holidays would be a bit more expensive.

[Jojay]

Private school out of the question LOL!

Had thought about holidays etc

Anyone have a view on things like supermarket shopping bills etc?

[bran]

It would be for us as we'd have to move house and buy a new car.

I think on the whole things tend to be set up for a 2 child family, you often see family entrance to places specifying 2 adults and 2 children so a third child would have to be paid for separately. If you expect all you children to go on to further education that could wind up expensive, especially if the youngest child going to university coincides with retirement age for one or both parents (it would for us).

[Nabster]

yes

[princessmel]

I think it's more about things like school shoes, school trips, presents for the endless parties etc. Oh and their birthday parties and christmas presents etc. Eating out is more pricey too.
They might not seem like a lot but they all add up.

This is coming from someone who is pregnant with no 3!

[GossipMonger]

holidays would deffo be more expensive as would days out

Extra curricular activities would be more. Atm I pay £100 for 2 boys for a term of swimming so then it would £150 for 3 of them.

Hotels are more as you would need 2 rooms for 5 of you.

Shopping will be more as you will need nappies/milk/baby stuff and then as they get older you will have 3 teenagers to feed as opposed to 2!!

Am painting a picture of doom and I only have two!!

I think 3 will cost a lot more than 2 but it depends how you feel......

[Galava]

I cant say I have noticed the food, but at the moment they are all small ie not teenagers !

Washing - no real difference

Car - yep... had to get a bigger one

Foreign holidays ... definitely thinking twice about it now there are 5 of us. Even hotels where we are forced to get two rooms is a bit of a pain. Still we have got a tent now

Clothes ... not really an issue as some hand me downs and the price of clothes these days is not really a factor.

School fees is a biggy for us and we are seriously contemplating not sending DC#3 until secondary.

Child benefit ... same as for second child.

[cba]

one thing to consider is shoe bills, for example when I go shopping for shoes sometimes I can need the following all at once. ds1 school shoes, trainers and football boots = £90. ds2 school shoes, trainers and football boots £90.00 dd school shoes, trainers £60.00

That is without seasonal items such as wellies, sandals etc... ds1 and ds2 are more or less the same size so not much recycling to be done really.

[OrmIrian]

Yes.

Bedroom sharing is fine but when they get older it gets more difficult. DS#1 is 12 and sharing with a 6yr old. Not great Was fine until about 1 yr ago.

We've just had to get an MPV - our old estate was Ok with 3 little children. Not mmuch good with 3 growing DC who happen to like surfing, mountain boarding and cycling.

Our food bill is horrendous but I guess not that much more than for 4.

But the worst thing is days out, meals out, cinema etc.

[cba]

for holidays, much more economical to hire a villa and more comfortable or apartment.

[cba]

even a trip to soft play can be £30.00. saying all that I am pregnant with number 4.

[cba]

fio, i am with you there. ds1 born loads of gifts and visits, ds2 not so many. dd born dont think we even got a card. Now expecting number 4 will not even expect a cup of tea to be made for me.

[OrmIrian]

And family tickets often only include 2 DCs.

[GossipMonger]

Thank goodness I am not broody!!

[electra]

LOL fio

[Jojay]

Oh poo

I hoped you were all going to tell me it's hardly any different at all !

[tiggerlovestobounce]

I found 3 a lot more expensive than 2 - bigger car, holidays very expensive, extra curricular stuff, going out, and suddenly we seem to get through a lot more food.

I think that 3 children is a lot more chaotic than 2 - much more rushing about trying to meet different childrens needs.

That being said I chose to have 3 children, and certainly dont regret it.

[OrmIrian]

SOrry jojay! No, no it's no different at all!

[Egg]

Three children is definitely more expensive. It just all adds up. As others have said holidays etc are much trickier and more expensive, and if you would need a new car that's a big spend!

I don't think one extra child makes food bills much more (as long as they don't need any specialist diets etc) but saying that we do go through 30 pints of milk a week with our three which mounts up. Things like nappies etc cost a fortune though.

As Orm says, shoes get expensive! We had to buy all three in one go last month and will need to buy another lot within a month or two, esp as will need summer type shoes as well as cold weather type shoes. Grr.

We have two sharing a room but they are only little still so not a problem. All are close in age so hopefully it wont be a problem at all until they are much older. Not sure what age or gender your older two are.

And don't presume you will only get one baby . I had no idea I would end up with twins.

[MorocconOil]

We end up spending at least £100 on a birthday party, so times by 3 it is a significant amount. The same goes for birthday presents, stocking presents, christmas and easter eggs.
I also find going out for a meal, to a cafe or the ice cream van mounts up when you have 3 DC.

[Ceolas]

I have 4 and expecting no. 5. Things I didn't find more expensive:

food- I mostly cook from scratch so day to day no more for 5 than 4. Eating out yes but we do that only a few times a year.

washing - machine was on all the time anyway when we had 2.

holidays - we have self catering holidays in UK. Still affordable for us with 4.

Things I did find more expensive:

car - we bought a bigger one just before having no.3 but only because they were close in age and the car seat issue dictated.

Christmas/birthdays - I like to spoil them on these occasions and tend to spend the same amount regardless of how many there are.

shoes/clothes - I had a boy after 2 girls so hand me downs weren't an option any more. Shoes, yes but now they are all at school and need max. 2 pairs of school shoes a year. It's a lot when you all troop into Clarks at once but as an annual cost it's not massive.

Hth a bit