You can't put a price tag on the love of a child. Unless you really want to. Then it's $221,000, which is the average cost it takes to raise a child to age 17 for middle-income families.That is, until you adjust for inflation; then the number is more like $292,000 smackeroos. Oh sure, there's nothing that can compare with the joys of having a kid blah blah blah, but just think what else you could do with all that dough.
You could by a house in glorious Maine for the median selling price and still have enough money to buy a little boat so you can eat nothing but lobster for the rest of your life.
Read more things you could do with the money it takes to raise a child after the jump.
You could buy a Maserati and have enough cash left over to crash it a few times. Look at you! You're Lindsay Lohan!
You could get a law degree from Harvard and laugh and laugh all the way to the bank.
You could have five Arby's roast beef sandwiches three times a day, every day for 41 years, or until your heart explodes from happiness, whichever comes first.
What would you do with that much money -- have a kid? See the world? Let us know!
Comments:
Add a comment
Saturday 15 August
By fedup52
Let's see - they factor in the cost of housing. HOUSING? Where are you living while you raise your child? Commuting? If you already have to have it for your quality of lifestyle, then don't "tack" that cost onto raising your child. What other little tidbits did they sneak in there? See another issue with reporting. The facts presented in multiple different ways like an infomercial. There is no greater reward (and sometimes angst) than raising children. It's just a shame that too many never learn to be parents that are ghosting as one.
Reply
Saturday 15 August
By mac hattan
'GOVERNMENT PUTS DOLLAR VALUE ON A CHILD'S LIFE" is an irresponsible headline that feeds into the phony scare tactics about "death panels" and such.
Reply
Friday 21 August
By patrick
i agree with you there
Saturday 15 August
By releigh
if i was that greedy then yeah i'd spend the money on a house or a boat or burgers but i wouldn't change having my kids because they are more important then all that material stuff. with kids you have someone to laugh at when their silly and cuddle when their hurt. yes having a good career is something everyone wishes for but you can't replace your kids, you can get a new job, buy a new house or car but you can never replace your children because even if you have more that will never change that child you lost.
Reply
Friday 04 September
By ryf4165
You only saying that cause it's too late to get ur money back xD.
Saturday 15 August
By Lucy
This article lacks the signs of a Harvard Education.
Reply
Saturday 15 August
By Barbara Pettard
First there has always been A $ value on the life of children the most you get from a civil suit depending on how old the child is, when it died, from accident etc.
How much to raise a child, well no matter how much it's more like an investment that pays while your investing and then until you die.. Payment is in LAUGHS, JOY, TEARS, HEART ACH,AND SO MUCH MORE..
HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD IT COST TO GET THOSE THINGS THROUGH OUT YOUR LIFE WITH ALL THE ACCOMPANYING MEMORIES.
Reply
Friday 25 September
By Mary
There is nothing more valuable than the life of a child. I am a mother and there is no amount of money I would trade for watching my baby grow up. Having her has been the best thing that has ever happened to me and she has made me happier than anything I could ever imagine. The best example I can give was last week when she said, "Mommy, you're my best friend. I love you!" That is worth everything to me!!!!! Nothing could ever be better than that!
Reply
Friday 21 August
By Keri
Of course those of you with kids aren't going to give up your children for any amount of money, this article isn't suggesting that you do that. It does, however, detail roughly what it costs over 17 years to raise a child, and then jokes about what you could do with that money INSTEAD of having kids. You breeders are so sensitive.
Reply
Tuesday 27 October
By Kit
Of course, they calculated the cost based on double income, white collar jobs, with daycare from infancy onwards.
The kids are a LOT less expensive if you raise them yourselves....
Reply
Thursday 10 December
By areapal1994
yes. im agree with you. we can't put any money value to match the love of children. nice article.
http://www.areapal.com/rapo
Monday 26 October
By none
"There is nothing more valuable than the life of a child." - spoken like a true breeder. It is funny how defensive breeders become when you question the value of their crotchfruit.
Reply