BETA
Moving from point A to B
Transportation makes up 15% of the child-rearing budget. Families face higher costs from purchasing larger vehicles like SUVs, paying for extra auto insurance for teen drivers, and driving thousands of miles annually to school and extracurricular events.
Chapter 1
The big ticket items
Chapter 2
Hidden and unexpected expenses
Chapter 3
Location, location, location
Chapter 4
The college savings mountain
Ch 1 · The big ticket items
sloane Drag baby essentials into your budget to discover the true cost of raising a kid.
sloane Cost of Raising a Child
A little one, oh what a joy! / (Oh-oh-oh!) But the bills, they pile up, boy! / From diapers to school, the years fly by, / (Yeah-yeah!) Over three hundred grand, oh my!
Fun Fact
USDA history: The U.S. Department of Agriculture has been tracking the cost of raising a child since 1960, when it cost just $25,229.
Quiz
What percentage of the total cost of raising a child is spent on housing, according to the USDA?
Quiz
According to a LendingTree report, what is the average annual cost of infant daycare in the U.S.?
Quiz
Which age group is the most expensive to feed and clothe, according to USDA age multipliers?
Quiz
What was the estimated average total cost to raise a child born in 2025 to age 18, adjusted for inflation?
Quiz
According to USDA data, what percentage of a middle-income family's pre-tax income is spent on basic child-related expenses?
Quiz
How much less does a second or third child typically cost to raise compared to the first child due to 'economies of scale'?
Quiz
Which government agency historically published the 'Expenditures on Children by Families' report?