How Much Does it Cost to Raise a Child?
There is much joy in having children. From the time of conception to birth is a time of mystery concerning the child. We may ponder over such questions like, who will the child look like, will he or she be healthy , and a host of other questions.
There is also another concern, the cost of raising the child. The cost of raising a child can be expensive. It is estimated that from birth to age two the cost of raising a child is $11,700. Even though this may seem staggering, this is actually the least expensive period of a child’s life. By the time the child is seventeen years old the cost has risen to $13,500.
There are other expenses to consider like childcare and medical expenses if the parents work outside of the home. Once the child reaches high school there are activities such as sports the child may want to participate in. Once the child has finished high school they are now ready for college. College tuition can reach into thousands of dollars depending on the institution.
Certainly raising a family is something that requires much forethought. It is wise to calculate the expenses, small and large.