In the last few weeks, I have debunked the myths that infants and older children  need to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to rear.  Today, I will tackle two of the larger expenses normally associated with a growing family.

9) If we have more kids, we’ll need a bigger house and a bigger car!

Until the last few decades, most families lived in modest ranchers or small Victorians.  As the average family size has decreased, the average middle-class home has increased, dramatically.  But there are many ways to fit a larger family into an average sized home.  Consider losing (or not taking on) the burden of a huge mortgage, and extra utiliities

Sharing bedrooms is an excellent way to save space and encourage deeper sibling relationships.  Bunk beds, trundles, shared bathrooms, and closet organizers can help create space in a small area.

Buying a car that fits your family’s needs and size can be an expensive decision, if not done correctly.  Before you even think about looking at vehicles, research, research, research.  The internet has a plethora of wise-buying tips and articles.  Know your budget, know your vehicle and refuse to pay more than you should. 

When we found ourselves in the unenviable position of having to buy two vehicles at once, this past summer, we spent several weeks just researching what would fit our family.  We spent an additional week test driving car after wagon after van after SUV.  But, even though we really liked some of the vehicles, we walked away when the price was not right.  Eventually, we found two used vehicles for the Kelly Blue Book value of the larger one.  We were able to pay cash for one and will pay off the other when our house sells (in 2027, apparently).  Sure we had to pay for a rental for a few weeks, but had we gone with an impulse buy, we would currently have two car payments.

10)  College, University, Higher-Education, One Big Party.   Whatever you call it- it’s expensive!

According to Plan It, the averaged total tuition and fees for a four-year public university was $12,796 for in-state students, and $30,367 at four-year private colleges for the 2006-2007 year.  When you begin multiplying that times several children, it can seem daunting or unobtainable.

There seems to be a common misconception that college is an entitlement, the expense of which should be borne by the parents.  But there are many families that do not take this approach. 

Between financial aid, scholarships, grants, online classes, community colleges, in-state discounts and good-old fashioned part-time jobs, college can be affordable to any student in any financial position.

It may not be the most popular opinion, but fully funding your child’s college education is not a determinant of good-parenting.

As parents, you can choose to spend as much money on your children as you see fit.  If you desire to spend the USDA’s estimated $210,000 on each child, that is your (insane) choice.  But if you desire to have children, expand your family or just spend less on the ones you already have, it is possible.  Your children will thrive on the love, respect and quality time you give them, regardless of how much money you spend.