If someone does a simple search on how much a child costs to raise, they will see countless sources that claim that it costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to raise one child from infancy to adulthood. Many estimates published by mainstream media and family journals suggest that a family spends approximately $20,000 a year on each child they have. This number is inflated, with many parents debunking the idea that they spend anywhere close to $20k per child each year, but why does the media collectively promote this narrative?
For example, Fox News published a report that shows the breakdown by state of having a child, ranging from $15,000-$30,000 per year. The study they cite suggests that the annual cost of raising a child is $21,681. This figure takes into account the average cost per child being $1,104 for housing difference in cost, $3,254 for food cost, $11,752 for childcare, $6,010 in ‘transportation’ expenses, and figuring $2,888 for health insurance into their equation. Countless other studies suggest similar costs but with radically different explanations for why the cost of raising a child is so high.
These numbers always annoy me because this isn’t the average minimal cost of a child, it’s the average cost US parents choose to spend on their children.
The difference is need vs wants. Most of us parents spend WAY more on our children than the bare minimum for survival… https://t.co/cNKIffJJkW
— Samantha D. (@Prolife_Sam) February 13, 2024
SmartAsset claimed that the average cost to raise a child is $20,813 per year. They claim, however, that the main factors contributing to this cost are $9,051 for childcare, $3,407 in ‘housing,’ and an average food cost of around $2,000 per child. They do not explain what else causes the number to reach $20,813 but rather show a breakdown of the most and least expensive areas to raise a child, with some places costing over $20,000 for childcare and $10,000 for ‘housing.’
Investopedia claims that it costs $310,605 to raise a child from 0-17. They do not even break down the annual cost that this would equate to for a family, which would be around $18,270. This site just shares the doom and gloom perspective that the cost of raising a child has risen since 2015 by about $80,000. This site does not explain what has factored into this equation or break down these categories but rather claims that the increased cost of housing contributes significantly to the cost of having a child. It also mentions that college funds impact the cost of a child, so it is unclear how many actual expenses are directly related to caring for a child and are necessary according to this source.
An analysis by Bankrate admits that 29% of the cost they factor in is for ‘housing.’ The USDA claims that raising a child costs significantly less per child as one has additional children. This figure suggests that parents of a one-child family spend 27% more than a two-child family on their child, and parents of 3 kids spend 24% less on each kid than parents of only 2 kids. They claim that the reason for this is that “Each additional child costs less because children can share a bedroom; a family can buy food in larger, more economical quantities; clothing and toys can be handed down; and older children can often babysit younger ones.” While some of these factors may be true, do reusing toys and clothes, and buying ‘bulk’ food really make expenses significantly lower for families per child?
If those percentages are accurate, families allegedly spend thousands less per child as they have more children. But it is simply unnecessary to spend around $20,000 a year per child whether someone has one or multiple children, and to claim this and broadcast it everywhere is misleading. The countless studies that suggest the cost per child is around $20k per year had different breakdowns for how that cost was determined, and many left out relevant information on how the costs they suggest could be significantly reduced.
The average cost of "non-essential items" in the U.S. is $17,958.24 annually. Simply cutting out frivolous nonsense—without any additional sacrifice or work—will almost pay for your kid, who I promise will bring you much more joy than Netflix, UberEats, yoga, and brunch combined. https://t.co/xcqbr914X7 pic.twitter.com/ruRHCOiZqf
— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) February 13, 2024
The extra cost to a family to raise a child can be significantly decreased by choosing to not spend money in many of the categories described by these various studies. There are countless budget resources available online and in books today that provide information on how to save money in every aspect of life, including child-related expenses. The $20k estimates of having a child clearly seek to portray the most fearful picture possible for millennials and Gen Z individuals who search for information online about the cost of children. This widespread misrepresentation of costs in the mainstream media leads to a lot of fear about having a child, but there are so many resources from parents with experience available that prove that these high costs do not have to be anyone’s reality. Conservative podcast host Alex Clark featured a woman on her podcast last month who is a stay at home mom with three kids and a husband who makes around $40,000 a year.
There are online calculators about how much parents will spend on a baby, and if they do not waste money on extra accessories or buy the most expensive equipment, having a child may only add a couple of thousand dollars of expenses each year. Categories included in many of the mainstream studies often include thousands of dollars on transportation, housing, food, and childcare. However, if a parent or relative can care for the child, daycares would not be needed so the annual costs suggested by these studies are cut almost in half. Plenty of budgeting resources can be found for managing all kinds of costs by families like family bloggers “Construction2Style” who have shared resources on how their family of 5 spends $300 on groceries per month.
Additionally, the high housing and transportation difference costs are reflective of averages and many people would not need to move or get a new car due to a child, so these figures suggesting that a family will need to spend thousands of dollars each year per child is misleading. It is obvious that families with several children will need a house and vehicle larger than a couple alone, but these costs cannot be reasonably included in the average increased cost to a couple for one child. These mainstream studies are overly simplistic and do not explain that the costs they suggest could be lowered substantially if a couple does not need to pay for childcare, formula, move to a new place, or buy a new car. Many calculators and sites also suggest high costs for buying many unnecessary items and expensive versions of basic essentials.
So why does the media collectively publish articles and studies claiming that it costs on average around $20,000 per child each year when, after digging into these claims just a bit, it is clear that many expenses are not necessary or even accurate? It’s no secret that the left hates children, family, tradition, and normalcy. We see attempts to constantly ‘normalize’ rejecting children and even accepting pets in their place. The DINK (dual income no kids) lifestyle has been mainstream and glamourized in the media, and this lifestyle is being strongly recommended and pushed by leftwing influencers and publications. Business Insider recently published an article entitled ‘There’s Never Been A Better Time to be a DINK.’
The glamorization of selfishness is rampant and is exemplified in one of the evilest ways through the rejection of children. Our culture does this through abortion, contraception, encouraging the dislike of children, glorifying the ‘single life’, and wasting disposable income on oneself. Progressivism inherently rejects what is good and moral, which we see all around us in the attempts to redefine marriage, gender, and sex.
There is no question that the rejection of morality, virtue, biblical sexuality, and family is a rejection of reality and truth. These good and prosperous things are under direct attack by opponents of God in our culture today. A message that discourages people from having children is clearly not going to be based on what is good or reality. It is important to understand the value that God places on the family when seeing information that is meant to tempt people (like self-centeredness inspired content) or suggests that what is good (having children) is actually bad or unattainable.
Erin Weeks is a Staff Writer for Turley Talks.
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