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

[EmmaMumsnet]

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

I work in a school so I've been lucky to have time off with my daughter during half term. We used to do lots of local days out, picnics, visits to the beach etc.

Now she's started high school and wants to go out with her friends every day. I made the mistake of giving too much money (which I don't have) and trusting her to use it wisely. Yesterday she spent £9 on lunch...£9!

I always used to spend on myself before Olivia was born but now when I shop it's always for her but I love seeing her little face light up when she gets a present

It's a toss up between childcare or the £12k car we bought to manage our expanding brood. I suspect it will only get more expensive the older they get.

I find my children cost a lot more as they get older. But my daughter has had so many different hobbies/lessons. I gave all my children swimming lessons because i think its important. My daughter has done swimming, athletics, judo, karate, football, majoretts , hip hop, surfing, brownies, hockey. She gets bored of everything really quickly and quits. She has stuck to the piano for 4 years and violin for 2 and is doing really well, but I have told her i won't be signing her up for anything else!!

Replacement carpet in the lounge after an incident involving dd2 and some paint.

A couple of Christmasses ago - got carried away because I was in a shop with the intention of buying one thing but saw so many lovely toys and games I ended up buying more than a basket for. Needless to say there was an awful lot of packages to unwrap on the big day

My child has glue ear and has been back and forward with the ENT doctors for nearly 3 years. They are hoping he grows out of it but we got so fed up of waiting to get on the list for grommits, i took him to have candle wax treatment. I had no idea whether it would work but despite the cost we were willing to try. He has had 3 treatments that have been 35 each but his hearing is SOOOOOO much better and its been well worth it! Sometimes a more natural approach is best!

Technology is the most expensive outlay for children these days.

Computers, tablets and smartphones are so expensive, and to keep up with friends, they have to own 'the best' brands!

I used to spend a fortune on school uniform,always wanting my daughters to have the best and to look pristine for school.I bought new cardigans and dresses nearly every term.Looking back now, I see what a waste it was as nobody other than me , even knew or even less, cared !

When my second grandchild arrived we bought a new car to accommodate a folded buggy and 2 car seats.

Many things which is only to be expected, but I suppose I was always buying clothes which perhaps were not always needed

I spent a lot of money on food,clothes and furniture and had to buy a new house as there was not enough space.

Shoes and clothing in general. I can't believe the rate that they outgrow them, one week they fit perfectly and the next they are a good few cm's too short on the arms/legs!

Just had to replace a laptop/tablet for my eldest as it dropped, it was a few years old so was really time for an upgrade. Made the following month a bit tricky but we always seem to manage somehow...

Holiday clubs in the summer holidays are costing us a fortune. Not to mention that grocery bills are sky rocketing!

I have two daughters. Six and one year old. My eldest daughter's has cerebral palsy. She is fully disable with related medical conditions. The major expenses so far was our home adaptation. We got some help from our local council but that was not even cover the half of the actual cost.

We wanted her to have a normal life as other children. We spent lots of money into Special needs cloths , toys and private therapies.

The term " special need" is costing us a real fortune .

Paid for his car insurance and MOT as he was very poor but working so hard.

do tend to look for coupons in all areas now DC has arrived, was never too bothered before, but there are a lot of good deals out there. Extreme Couponing needs to come to the UK... :)

The biggest sacrifice for us has been our nights out - we used to go around the country going to gigs, but something had to give when DD1, and eventually DD2, came around. We never economise on shoes, and it seems there's always something that needs replacing or upgrading. Carpet in their bedrooms last winter, new beds next year...but at the end of the day, it's a sacrifice we chose to and are more than happy to make.

Teenage boys and trainers. I say no more.

I think School is probably the place we have forked out the most! My daughter was lucky to gain a place at the local Grammar School. There are many previously private school girls there and the school are constantly asking for money for this and that. Her German exchange trip cost £750! Most weeks, we get a request for something. This was topped off at the end of last term when the school told us about the arrangements for next June's work experience, telling us that this was a free service to benefit the girls, and then asked for £25!

I think it's trips and days out. DS is an only, so I try and do some good outings every holiday, but they are so expensive!

Worst for me has to be cars. Ok I'm rather fond of my Golf Estate now but it'll never compare to my beloved air cooled beetle, sold when I got pregnant the first time 😫

In terms of 'forked out', money I have viewed as a special expenditure in addition to the usual clothes, food, school equipment, travel, etc, I would include:
Musical instruments. DS is enthusiastic and accomplished, and his playing is part of his school life, academic achievement and increasingly, social life. he has not demanded or expected new instruments, he has saved diligently for upgrades and different models - but twice we have invested what we would consider 'forking out' sums to top up (double)his savings, and bought one outright for a birthday.

Theatre tickets for plays that are on the school curriculum, and shows like War Horse and Curious Incident

I once took DC to CERN for the day - return tix on EasyJet cost us less than £60 between us and it was a fabulous inspiring day.

'Added value' in terms of experiences. We are not ones for spending £££ at theme parks etc, but when on a day out or holiday will spend to make an experience really worthwhile. High spends on specific outward bound type activities and course, a flight in a small plane, hiring boats etc - fun and an 'experience'. We tend to holiday in quite modest ways, no hotels or Florida, and we don't tend to seek out 'attractions' for days out. I have been spared, for example, Peppa Pig World, but we did go to Port Lympne and Howletts - big entry prices.

We spent a lot of Scout trips and expeditions - they went on 6 or 8 one summer, at £25-40 a time, but I found that money well spent, for overnight / weekend trips.

We go camping , fell walking, visit parks and walk, NT properties. I never spend vast amounts feeding us al at fast food and overpriced 'attraction' places.

We spend no money (and are not asked for it) for designer or branded clothes - DC and friends consider it a rip off.

I think I am lucky in not being badgered for money for expensive events. I feel I am getting off quite lightly in these teen years!

I know there is a school field trip on the horizon that will cost £600 so we are saving for it.

Also, no tech stuff - DC shares an iPad with us, has a cheap non-branded phone on a cheap contract, and a 5 year old laptop that was bought half with his own money. No interest in replacing his second hand ancient PS-WhateverItIs.

I know I am lucky....