According to the US Department of Agriculture the costs associated with rearing a single child are staggering.  They estimate it costs $210,000 from birth through age 17! 

In my previous post, I offered some tips on how to save money during the first few years, from homemade baby food to gently used clothing. 

But as children grow, so do the expenses, right?  Kids eat more than babies, and teenagers eat more than elephants.  Groceries, activities, private education, higher education; no wonder many a husband’s normal reaction to a positive pregnancy test is, “I think I’m going to be sick!”.

But, just as with newborns and toddlers, older children are only as expensive as you allow them to be.  In virtually every area that you spend money on your children, there are numerous ways to cut costs and enjoy the family with whom you have been blessed.

6) Every time I think my child cannot possibly eat any more, he does.  My grocery bill is creeping towards our mortgage payment!

Groceries can take a huge chunk out of your monthly budget. But many people don’t realize that food shopping is a great place to cut your spending.

Junk food, fast food and convenience foods are the biggest culprits when it comes to wasting grocery money.  For every $10 frozen pizza purchased, you can buy several days worth of whole foods.  If you do not know how to cook from scratch, it is well worth the effort to learn.  You will benefit your family’s budget and their health. 

Plan a menu before you shop and stick to your list.  Grocers are not stupid.  Stores are set up to lure you into impulse buying.  If you shop from a menu, you are much less likely to buy items you do not need.  Blissfully Domestic posts a weekly menu every week. 

Use coupons wisely, buy store-brands whenever possible,  and take advantage of excellent deals to stock up on often used items.

Grocery savings will be discussed in much more depth in future Blissfully Domestic posts.

7)  Between baseball, karate, piano, dance, and soccer, I’m spending thousands on activities!

Perhaps you have shelled out a few hundred dollars for an organized sport/activity only to find out your child hated it.  You can either allow the child to quit, effectively wasting that money, or force the child to continue, causing misery all around.

Why not do a trial run instead?  Many studios and organizations will allow your child to observe or participate in a class or even several weeks of classes while deciding if it is for him or her.  This also gives you the opportunity to observe the coach/instructor’s personality and abilities and the class make-up.  Chances are there will be far fewer wasted fees.

If you have found the perfect activity and find it still out of your budget, contact the organization to see if they have scholarships or reduced fees available.  I know of at least one dance studio, in my area, which has such a program. 

You may also consider setting limitations on the number of activities your child can participate in (perhaps two a year for a first-grader or one per quarter for a middle-schooler).  It is much easier to set your budget when you know exactly how many fees you will have annually.   

8)  I really want a private education for my child, but the costs are far too high
                                                         or
     My kids are in public school, but we still spend hundreds each year on parties, gift-exchanges and other “requested” contributions.

The education of your child is such a multi-faceted decision.  Obviously, it should not be made based solely on the cost.  There are, however, a few suggestions to making any education less expensive.

Did you know there are Education Savings Plans that can be used for elementary and secondary school expenses?  Called Coverdell accounts, they allow up to $2000 per child, per year to be saved.  The contributions can be withdrawn, tax-free, to cover eligible education expenses.  (Traditional 529 plans only cover college expenses).

If you truly desire a private education for your children, but are prohibited by cost, consider homeschooling.  Once a tiny, fringe portion of the population, homeschoolers are a growing and connected network.  Many experts estimate that over two million American children are currently homeschooled.  With a vast array of available curricula and co-ops in even the smallest communities, homeschooling is a valid and inexpensive alternative to traditional, private education.

In many schools, the add-on expenses can be overwhelming. But do your kids really need another gift at Christmas?  And is an entire bag of candy at Halloween the best thing for a Kindergartener?  Feel free to offer cheaper (and healthier) alternatives or politely decline!

Next week, the final two expenses associated with rearing children debunked.