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MNHQ

Tell us when you’ve forked out for your DCs - £100 voucher to be won NOW CLOSED

296 replies

EmmaMumsnet · 05/08/2016 10:12

As you well know, having children isn’t exactly cheap… Just when you thought there wasn’t anything else your DC could possibly need, something else crops up and rinses your account.

Since your DC entered the world, at what points have you found yourself shelling out for things? Maybe when your DC got older, you had to splash out on a new buggy, or your second DC arrived and you found yourself looking for a new home?

What have been the major purchasing decisions in your child’s life so far? Have you had to cut back in some places in order to afford what your child needs? And how have your buying habits changed over time? Maybe you used to spend money on holidays and now you spend more on childcare? Finally, what have been the products you’ve spent the most money on as a result of having children?

Here are a few topics to think about:

• Health
• Childcare
• Education
• Home & Garden
• Cars
• Insurance
• Technology
• Travel
• Baby Products

All MNers who post on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £100 Love2Shop voucher.

Thanks, and good luck!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

Tell us when you’ve forked out for your DCs - £100 voucher to be won NOW CLOSED
OP posts:
Cailin7 · 13/08/2016 23:01

My purse is always open. This is not unexpected or begrudged. It is all the constant requests for money from the school that add up with 3 DCs. Money for trips, materials, and the £1 dress down days..

goldenretriever1978 · 14/08/2016 10:09

Definitely a new and bigger car when the third child unexpectedly came along.

HelenSw4les · 14/08/2016 16:26

When my children were young I bought lots of clothes that were hardly worn, I wish I'd saved my money for when they're older, they seem to grow out of clothes in no time, or get big holes in the knees of their jeans, boys and girls too!

SuzCG · 14/08/2016 16:35

They definitely cost more the older they get!

I'd have so much more surplus cash if I wasn't shelling out out on swimming lessons, dance lessons, gymnastics clubs etc.
The amount of different types of shoes they need when their feet grow - school shoes, trainers, wellies, dance shoes etc...

But they are worth every penny!

Eva50 · 14/08/2016 19:04

Music lessons! We have 3 dcs and they are all musical. Every spare penny and some that were not spare in the first place, have gone on piano, violin and cello lessons and all that goes with it. It's such a gift though, it has to be encouraged.

Choccybadger · 14/08/2016 21:43

We had a nanny since our smallest was 2 until 5.5 due to my health problems. I was unable to do the physical parts of being Mummy to a small child after major spinal surgery. No way I could have potty trained her or taken her out for a run around in the park every day.
So I've been a mixture of working Mum at first out of the home, and latterly remote working on a contractor basis to make sure my little one had what she needed. So, so much of the money earned went on her childcare - about £100k over 3.5 years!
Now she's at a lovely private school and the fees don't feel that bad after that sort of expense and now she's so self sufficient, I no longer need the help at home and we manage great.
We also pay a fortune for sports and out of school activities that I just can't do with her. It's all worth it so far as she's a lovely kid with blossoming confidence.
I miss being able to go shopping at Selfridges and not really caring what one big treat costs. But I don't miss it that much.

boptanana · 14/08/2016 21:44

Childcare has been a major factor for us. Everything is getting more expensive as they get older and more demanding!!

bicky · 15/08/2016 00:05

My biggest spend every month is the different hobbies they do, some dearer than others, food is a big outlay especially as my son has a massive appetite. Haven't been abroad for 10 years, but we're happy that's all that matters

cookie09 · 15/08/2016 11:22

Having children brings with it cost. I had twin boys and i'm constantly forking out for new clothes, new shoes, new computers. The worst of it is there are things that they could share for example a computer, but no i had to buy 2 xboxes, 2 laptops, 2 psps. They simply can't share anything. I think the unexpected times you have to fork out are the worst. When they come home from school with a residential trip letter, begging to go because all their mates are and you feel obliged to send them even though it skints you for the month. I just hope when they get older, they will perhaps fork out a bit on me, its only fair! Smile

pinkunicornsarefluffy · 15/08/2016 13:20

Eating out costs more now that DC is 8 and wants to eat an adult meal sometimes. Also, it costs more as they get older due to things like Brownies and all the uniform and activities that go with it.

It just means that I have to earn as much as I can to pay for everything, but I don't spend much on myself for clothes, and I buy all of DC's from the supermarkets, so get stuff as cheap as I can.

Pinkangel23 · 15/08/2016 15:41

For us I found once they get to about a year it just keeps getting more expensive. You cut down on formula but they need more food and snacks. They then need shoes every couple of months. I'm quite lucky in that my mum is a great bargain hunter so gets a lot of their clothes from Gap and Next quite cheaply.

Childcare is also another big one, we get tax credits to cover a lot of the costs and in the past got help from my college/uni but we still had to pay a good bit, and the costs has seriously impacted my availability to work.

I have 2 kids at very different stages. DS is 7 so I've just bought school uniform and I pay £25 per month on karate lessons plus extra for belts and competitions. DD is 11 months so I've forked out on baby stuff and will be buying first shoes soon but still buying formula and nappies. We used to waste so much on takeaways before having kids, but we've cut down massively. We don't buy much clothes for ourselves either and I get my hair cut 1-2 a year.

bojo7 · 15/08/2016 21:52

Having to buy children's books and toys. Much more than they needed as I loved buying them so much!

juju3 · 16/08/2016 07:37

dd just having first baby - £700 for a top of the range pram - I suppose money will now go to dgd rather than dd

Lulabellx1 · 16/08/2016 12:51

Shoes! I never realised how much I would spend on shoes.

The other major thing is birthday parties... there are many ways you can be savvy to make them cheaper but they still end up costing an arm and a leg.

And then... there are all the birthday parties the kids get invited too where each birthday girl/boy requires a present!

StillNoFuckingEyeDeer · 16/08/2016 13:33

Our biggest thing we're forking out for is a house. (Fingers crossed). The rental market where we live isn't very good ( unless you're a landlord!) and I hate the uncertainty of being a tenant.

Childcare has proved to be much more of an expense than I'd ever considered before having children.

50ShadesOfEarlGrey · 16/08/2016 13:37

Mine are 20 and 22 and it is now more expensive than ever! Uni for both, one doing a masters for 2 years which isn't funded at all and therefore doesn't even give bonus points on the funding application for the other one. So into second year of £600 per month for flat and topping up for the other one by £300 per month as her loan doesn't cover housing charge, sot hat's without spending money/food, travel. Nothing extra curricular is free at uni, so paying for gym, clubs, trips etc.

All through secondary school paid out £1000 per year on trips. Daughter was great dancer so fees, exam costs, uniform for that was £1000's per year, both played musical instrument! TBH it makes me want the baby years back again (yes really) whatever you are paying now, prepare to quadruple it and more. We are older parents, and certainly haven't been able to save for retirement. Car 10 years old etc. No holiday for us this year. They are both so worth it though, they are well rounded individuals and great company., which is great because we might have to live with them in retirement Wink

Silvertap · 16/08/2016 14:18

I've actually become far more money savvy and better at making my money go further.

My parent never taught me how to budget and I've only really Sussed it recently. I hope my children learn it earlier than I did.

My most expensive purchase so far? A toy Gator from John Deere to match grandpas. Other than nursery fees I think they're quite cheap. That will change next year when private school fees start!

kayleigh39 · 16/08/2016 14:42

To be honest, the most money I have had to fork out is for food! They eat like pigs - well, not literally! Before when times were tough, I found myself skipping meals just to make sure they had plenty to eat.

CharliesMouse · 16/08/2016 15:24

Shoes are always a major expense. Mine have skinny feet that off-the-shelf shoes never seem to fit. And it's never just one pair of shoes either. Every time their feet grow they need new school shoes, new trainers and plimsolls for PE, out of school shoes, wellies, sandals, flip lops... The list goes on.

As they have got older the major expenses have been technology. They absolutely need a laptop for school and of course they both want phones and tablets.

I'm anticipating the next stage will be expensive too - the driving lessons, university fees etc. It's never ending!

cheryl100 · 16/08/2016 18:36

I have paid out so much and the most annoying part is when it is unexpected! From small things like paying for cub camp just to be told the day prior that specific items are needed....quick shop! To larger things like holiday prices and the constant need to buy footwear because my son loves playing football!

Atlas15 · 16/08/2016 20:37

I just bought a two seater Mini Cooper ride along

Girliefriendlikesflowers · 16/08/2016 22:02

My dd is 10yo.

The things that have cost the most money over the last 10yrs are in no particular order;

Childcare, being a working parent means shelling out a fortune on childcare, this has got a bit better since dd started school but still costs up to £100 a month, in the school holidays its that a week!

Clubs, dd currently does swimming, football and horse riding, the costs and associated costs (sports wear etc) is a lot. Currently at least £30 a week best.

Clothes and shoes, dd has recently gone through another growth spurt and outgrown everything. The older she gets the more expensive the clothes are and I buy as cheap as possible!

Christmas/ Birthdays again the older dd gets the more expensive the gifts seem to get.....

Others include food and days out.

unadulterateddad · 16/08/2016 23:45

Private school fees were the worst cost, luckily we now live in an area with a really good middle school which DS can walk to on his own - saving both fees and travel costs

Yasmin1592 · 16/08/2016 23:57

Financially I haven't forked out a lot as I cannot afford to, I'm a single mum to special needs children.
What I can afford to do is hand out and endless amount of love and energy.
It usually begins at 2am, when I greet my nearly 3 year old daughter with a loving smile, as tired as I am, as much as I would love to stay in bed, I know I can't, my day begins then.
Sleeping disorders are very common with the special needs my daughter and son have.
I throw all the love and energy I have into make ping her breakfast at 2am.
I fork out extra love and energy at 3am to do some quiet play and to keep her as calm as possible.
Come 7am I am lagging, I feel like I have 0 to give, but despite this, I give more love and more energy.
I fork out lots of love and energy during the numerous meltdowns my kids have each day, I fork out love and energy preparing their special foods, and I fork out love and energy providing their therapies on a daily basis.
My day starts at 2am and finishes at around 10pm-midnight.
Every day of the year.
So maybe I don't have enough money to buy an expensive pram, super special bedroom, but I have an unlimited amount of love and energy that I provide constantly.

Rigbyroo · 17/08/2016 09:51

Constantly forking out! I try and do things cheaply but days out anywhere cost a fortune if you have a child that you also have to pay for, a trip to the farm can cost almost £50 just for entry!
Car seats and mattresses have been the biggest expense, oh and childcare. Nothing like spending loads of money and feeling super guilty for it!