Every parent has felt it: that nagging voice in the back of your head wondering, “Are we spending the right amount on our kids?” Spend too little, and you worry you’re depriving them. Spend too much, and you’re suddenly eating ramen for lunch while your toddler wears shoes that cost more than your own. The internet is full of conflicting advice, leaving most of us more confused than when we started. ...
If you’ve ever read a headline about the cost of raising a child, you’ve likely been met with a dizzying number. Figures often soar past $300,000, enough to make anyone reconsider starting a family. But what if this number is a myth, built on a flawed premise? The truth is, children are not inherently as expensive as we’re led to believe. The staggering totals often cited are not a reflection of a child’s basic needs, but of a specific, high-cost lifestyle—one that is largely optional. When we look at data from around the world and break down spending into “mandatory” versus “optional,” a much more affordable and optimistic picture emerges. ...