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

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For me, I think it's mostly been school shoes, he is a typical boy and likes to play so have to get him new shoes frequently (that's why we buy cheap shoes nothing expensive) also before my youngest came along we brought a new car (people carrier) because we thought we needed the space and we was planning to have 3 kids at least and would have had the space for everyone in a seven seater! X

With our DC we tried to keep to what was needed, especially at the baby stage, and we had a cot and a buggy handed down. It's so easy to get carried away and think you must have a changing table etc.

Holidays tended to be going to stay with parents-in-law as they had the space and were close to where my parents were so that saved quite a bit.

Biggest cost is definitely university/accommodation etc.

We took them to WDW Florida, we wanted to see their faces in the parks, it was amazing to see them light up at all the things they did and saw

School trips !! 4 last year !!

I have found that I am constantly having to fork out each month for something. Whatever your needs are they come second best to your child's. I work shifts and every month I end up doing a shed load of extra hours to get extra money for all of the things my children need. I do feel sometimes they are a bit spoilt, because I always want the best for them. They needed new beds, so I brought them ones in the shape of a castle because it's something I would have loved as a child. Both my children also have Birthdays in the same week, so that's always an expensive time of the year. Each year we end up doing a day out somewhere for them and then presents. I think every parent wants the best for there children.

Tell you when I forked out??? It would be quicker to tell when I didn't! My son is 42 now, and I just gave him €60 yesterday for petrol to take his daughters to Disneyland. He is a lovely caring man who works in a care home for troubled teens, so he's never going to be able to buy his own house or be financially secure. But he's happy, well respected and a terrific dad!

Best not to think about it in detail I find. Having children is expensive but just a normal part of family life.

I'm always splashing out on branded clothes. She is fine wearing primark clothes but when I see her face light up when she sees an expensive disney princess top or dress.. I can't help myself and have to buy it for her!

For me, it has been the hobbies. Oh I thought the baby years was expensive, and I thought once they started school, they would get so much cheaper.... It's a hollow laugh, as they now cost me a fortune!

When they started school, I said two hobbies each... Thought that was manageable and not too expensive.

But then DD1 joined the development squad for gymnastics. In a blink of an eye, she's training almost 20 hours a week, and I'm paying £££ for training sessions, new leotards and equipment (hand guards etc), competition entry fees, not to mention driving or hotel costs to get to said competitions. Earlier this year, my daughter did a Gymnaestrada at the other end of the country with her squad. By the time I'd paid for flights, outfits, travel, hotels, training sessions, tickets to watch, the obligatory t shirt and photos that I'm told every other child has, It was easily over £500 for a display that lasted only 5 minutes. That's £100 a minute and more than the cost of a small holiday!

But of course, what you allow for one, you have to allow for another... So DD2 likes to do festival dancing. Again, you can count up all the costs... Lessons, shoes, outfits, entry fees, hotel rooms...

Hobbies, music lessons and the like are now our biggest costs after our mortgage. I pay more to the gym club than I pay on my council tax!

I did use to enjoy forking out money for nice holidays. These days, I enjoy forking out £££ to go and stay in the back of beyond somewhere to spend my days watching a bunch of children I've never met dance / do gymnastics just so I can cheer on my daughters for 1:30 minutes exactly. Now that's the life!

When we go on trips, we sometimes spend a bit more to go to attractions to make the most of the day

The biggest thing has definitely been the house - we moved from the small place I bought after University to a bigger house when the children were small.

But it's everything really, and coupled with loss of income due to maternity leave/part time working and child care costs.

My daughter is 18, I still need to pay for haircuts and toiletries, and she has expensive taste. It usually means that I have to go without to be able to buy hers

shoes was mine then now trainers are as they so exspensive for the trainers your children want

•Health
Braun Thermoscan thermometer
1 million bottles of Calpol, Nurofen and Dentinox teething gel
•Childcare
£5.50 an hour childminder for 2 children.
•Education
Not yet
•Home & Garden
Glass balustrade to keep the kids from falling off the 3 ft high wall in the garden
•Cars
13 reg C Max so we can go on family holidays in the UK
•Insurance
Nothing especially
•Technology
Not yet!
•Travel
Just the UK and a flight abroad when the eldest was under 2 so free
•Baby Products
Most of it I've bought second hand like bouncy chairs, walkers, bouncers, Bumbos etc

We were really lucky and got a lot of essential equipment from family and friends, but as DD has grown it has to be shoes, I have no idea how tiny shoes can cost lots more than adults but they get away with it as every parent wants those perfect fit shoes to ensure no damage to tender feet. But how I wish they would fit longer before needing the next size.

So far I haven't spent a huge amount more. DD is only 18 months old so we still have gifted clothes and were given lots of hand me downs too. I found big nursery purchases like a cot, buggies (all terrain for dog walks and umbrella fold for trains and town), reusable nappies and maternity wear on gumtree and spent under £1000. My dad bought her first car seat and base and we saved up for the second.

I love buying things for her instead of me, at 5 feet tall clothes shopping is frustrating. DD looks good in and fits everything. She gets so much joy from the toys we get her (again often at second hand sales or utilising offers and vouchers) it is a pleasure. We live in a very small house so have got used to considering purchases carefully, for example borrowing books and dvds instead of buying.

I don't go to many paid activities, enjoying library bookbug sessions, toddler groups with a nominal fee and using memberships for outings that I have had for years for work as a nanny We are aware our budget will change as she gets older and takes up more paid activities, bit then I will probably also be in a position to return to more full time work without discounting my rate to have her with me.

I can't think of any one big spend:-

•Health
Nothing major here. Am wondering whether to get the meningitis jabs. Spend a lot on food to stay healthy eg berries.

•Childcare
Fed the biggest expense. I've been very lucky with flexible working though. That said I've halved my hours do that would be the biggest expense!

•Education
I've bought lots of extra reading books, as well as the story books we have, to give DS a boost.
I've also bought some maths resources- £50 worth.

•Home & Garden
New beds and sofas worn more quickly. Have to clean carpets more often.

•Cars
Swapped to older cars!

•Insurance
No difference

•Technology
Tablets for both children bought as gifts.

•Travel
Cheap holiday abroad every few years vs every year pre children.

Spend a fair bit on activities- swimming, tennis and gymnastics £6.50 per activity per child per week.

The price of school trips and hobbies always takes me by surprise. And just feeding them; non-stop eating from the minute they're awake

School uniform, especially now oldest is starting High School. Not able to get cheap things, as most have to come from a certain shop.

education, education, education

Main unexpected expense is activities. Two dc compete at elite level in sport and training, kit, competitions, travel etc have all been expensive. Obviously, everything else is also more expensive with kids: housing, food, holidays, bigger car etc.

Most recently we astroturfed the garden so it is usable all year round. This was quite expensive. It has made the garden usable in the winter months. Dd loves being outside so we might have saved money in cleaning products for the mud she used to bring in.

Cars have been our biggest spend - have had to get bigger ones to accommodate our growing family.

There are a lot of everyday expenses for the DC but then I don't go out as much as I did so overall our whole spending has changed. We live within our budget though so have never had to cut back on anything specifically to fund the DC. Life changes all the time and so do our priorities and therefore our spending habits.

Education.
4 kids
Private school. ( SE)
Around 6k a term per child.
2 are now at uni ( more expense) one Is in 6th form. One has a good few years left.

Oh God, I want to retire soon ( no chance there then)

Holidays are certainly more expensive now we have to take them at peak times.