New York - USDA: Pricetag to Raise a Child -- $291,570 |
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News Source: Reuters
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New York - A middle-income family can expect to spend $291,570 including inflation to raise a child born in 2008 to adulthood, the government estimated on Tuesday, up slightly from the estimate made a year ago.
The estimate covers food, shelter and other necessities for a child to age 18, said the annual report by the Agriculture Department. The figure does not include the cost of childbirth or college.
Housing accounts for one-third of expenditures on children. Food accounts for 16 percent, the same as child care and education, said the Expenditures on Children by Families report.
Last year, the USDA estimated it would cost $269,040 to raise a child born in 2007 to age 18, including inflation. The USDA has made the estimates since 1960, when the estimated cost was $25,300. The department said it planned to have an updated “Cost of Raising a Child Calculator” on the Internet soon.
Annual spending for child-rearing ranges from $11,610 to $13,480 for a middle-income, two-parent family, the USDA said. Families with lower incomes will spend less and families with higher incomes spend more. Expenses are highest in cities in the U.S. Northeast, followed by urban areas of the West and Midwest. They are lowest in rural America and cities in the South.
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Read Comments (35) — Post Yours »
1
Aug 05, 2009 at 02:06 PM Just Thinking Says:Report as Inappropriate
Add tuition you hit about 900,000, add everything else it takes to be frum, like a very very mehudar esrog planted by a big rov every year and you can hit a million easy, not to mention the shidduch fee
2
Aug 05, 2009 at 02:31 PM i wonder Says:Report as Inappropriate
what would you guys estimate raising a frum kid costs?
3
Aug 05, 2009 at 02:31 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Seriously, $290k doesn't even cover tuition through high school, time for a reality check.
4
Aug 05, 2009 at 02:38 PM Fed Up Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Add tuition you hit about 900,000, add everything else it takes to be frum, like a very very mehudar esrog planted by a big rov every year and you can hit a million easy, not to mention the shidduch fee ”
It's nice to joke about the high cost of being Jewish, but look at all the people we lose because of these expensive practices. The Jewish community needs to control the price of Jewish neccesaties like tefillin, esrogim, kosher foods etc....... if we don't, then many will leave the flock because they are ashamed "they can't keep up with the Jones'"(or the Goldbergs)
5
Aug 05, 2009 at 02:44 PM Liepa Says:Report as Inappropriate
This article only goes up to age 18. There's a huge cost from 18 till the child goes under the Chuppah, huge.
6
Aug 05, 2009 at 02:32 PM i wonder Says:Report as Inappropriate
i mean u need to add yeshiva, and clothes for youm tov and food and lulavim etc
7
Aug 05, 2009 at 02:24 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
The estimate is quite low for frum families when taking into account Yeshiva tuition and Kosher food among many other thing. It's at least half a mil per child today.
8
Aug 05, 2009 at 02:22 PM AAA Says:Report as Inappropriate
What would be the Amount for Yidden? More or less.
9
Aug 05, 2009 at 02:56 PM Love the picture Says:Report as Inappropriate
Nice picture :)
10
Aug 05, 2009 at 02:55 PM Askupeh Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ This article only goes up to age 18. There's a huge cost from 18 till the child goes under the Chuppah, huge. ”
So let's go back to basics; Ben Shemona Esrah Lechupa.
11
Aug 05, 2009 at 02:52 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
A child over the age of 18 should be helping to support themselves- and when my daughter is old enough to get a job, I will insist that she does. There is no reason to send your children to expensive yeshivot if you can;t afford it. Aren;t we supposed to teach them ourselves?
12
Aug 05, 2009 at 03:04 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ So let's go back to basics; Ben Shemona Esrah Lechupa. ”
let's go back to middle ages - kick them out at 16 with their brides of 13.
13
Aug 05, 2009 at 03:03 PM handy Says:Report as Inappropriate
assuming a lower priced beis yaakov at 17k times 14 years = $238k already.
With 5% annual tuition increase, that's $333k
if it's a 7% annual increase, that's $383k
assume a better suburban yeshiva at 25k - that's $350k.
With 5% annual inflation increase it's more like $490k
and with 7% annual increase, that's $564k
So, a non-jewish kid costs $291k to reach 18 years old.
feed them kosher food and other religious items, and add 50% = $437k
add a jewish school and you get $1,001,000 - nice number, no?
And this is an average cost - the Northeast USA is more, of course, and the NYC area is even more.
So next time you hit the jackpot and win $10m - realize that your 4 kids will use all of that before you buy a new pair of socks...
14
Aug 05, 2009 at 03:38 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Don't forget the son inlaw you have to support because working is 4 letter word in lakewood. You can a million and half easy for each kid
15
Aug 05, 2009 at 05:41 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Yes it's very expensive to raise a child, but there is a bit of exageration going on here. The 290 figure already includes about 45,000 for education expenses. Granted that's a lot less than Yeshiva costs, but how many frum families really pay 10 or 20K/year per child? So many rely on scholarships. As for Kosher food, it's not 50% more as some people claim. There are so many kosher products available at the average grocery store. If you are eating so much meat and dairy that you are paying 50% more than the average american for food, it's time to re-examine your family's diet.
16
Aug 05, 2009 at 05:15 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Don't forget the son inlaw you have to support because working is 4 letter word in lakewood. You can a million and half easy for each kid ”
No one has to support a married child. That's a choice.
17
Aug 05, 2009 at 05:15 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ i mean u need to add yeshiva, and clothes for youm tov and food and lulavim etc ”
The 290K figure already includes clothes and food for special occassions. Non-jews also dress their children and spend money on holidays, festive meals and special occasions.
19
Aug 05, 2009 at 05:50 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Doesn't all this mean that we need to make sure our children are well-educated or trained for good jobs and have a good work ethic? If not, how will they raise the next generation.
20
Aug 05, 2009 at 06:03 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
worth every penny
21
Aug 05, 2009 at 07:31 PM Meir Says:Report as Inappropriate
Add 50,000 a year for Ivy League college + chupa
22
Aug 05, 2009 at 07:29 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ This article only goes up to age 18. There's a huge cost from 18 till the child goes under the Chuppah, huge. ”
What do you mean, children cannot get a job and support themselves. They need to be supported by their parents till their parents are no longer able to pysically sustain them.
23
Aug 05, 2009 at 08:07 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ This article only goes up to age 18. There's a huge cost from 18 till the child goes under the Chuppah, huge. ”
What do you mean, children cannot get a job and support themselves. They need to be supported by their parents till their parents are no longer able to pysically sustain them.
24
Aug 05, 2009 at 09:52 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ No one has to support a married child. That's a choice. ”
it seems everyone forgot to put in summer camp, bungalows(a must for the kids) & israel . now add that up over 18 yrs.
25
Aug 05, 2009 at 09:49 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ No one has to support a married child. That's a choice. ”
do u have married children? what happens if they need help?
26
Aug 05, 2009 at 09:46 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ let's go back to middle ages - kick them out at 16 with their brides of 13. ”
dont make fun. just 50 yrs ago to live in a hick town in europe maybe costed 2,000 a yr. and i promise they were happier and alot more relaxed then most of us here.
27
Aug 05, 2009 at 10:02 PM shmiel glassman Says:Report as Inappropriate
to handy # 13- your numbers are way inflated take brooklyn as an example the number 290G is in range for the chassidishe kehillos certainly -
heimishe mosdos are getting 4000 a yr tops & about 2100 tops for camp ( before tips...)but take flatbush where a comfortable family with a few kids is paying approx. 6000 a kid for 15-16 yrs. add to that 8 yrs of camp at say 4500 with tips ...(add 15000 for eretz yisroel....college. did the study go past 18)
( to those mentioning the esrog i think that the esrog & matzos are alot less than your clothing bill for yomtov )
" ki em leyadcha hapesucha vehameleah""
28
Aug 05, 2009 at 11:14 PM Stimulus package Per Child Says:Report as Inappropriate
Because of the high cost per child the Government should give each family a stimulus Money handout, according to the number of children they have at least for tuition, for those whos freedom of religion doesn't allow them to the use of the non-kosher public school system.
Our freedom under the constitution includes our RIGHT not to be forced to consume non-kosher foord or "non-kosher education", unless we are penalized for our "free choice", by having to pay double: Once in Taxes and Again, in tuition, while everyone lese only pays once.
29
Aug 06, 2009 at 02:21 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Because of the high cost per child the Government should give each family a stimulus Money handout, according to the number of children they have at least for tuition, for those whos freedom of religion doesn't allow them to the use of the non-kosher public school system.
Our freedom under the constitution includes our RIGHT not to be forced to consume non-kosher foord or "non-kosher education", unless we are penalized for our "free choice", by having to pay double: Once in Taxes and Again, in tuition, while everyone lese only pays once. ”
Or why can't they at least base the income tax rate on "per capita" income, not a measly tax credit per dependent. About time some Jewish organization starts asking for it -- instead of just harping about tuition breaks which are difficult bec. of separation of church & state issues & mighty teachers' unions.
Let's start the battle cry on behalf of our large families, "Make taxation wise, base it family size!" And if we're lucky it might even protect us from more bad headlines...
If anybody has ideas for a grassroots campaign, please post. Seriously.
30
Aug 06, 2009 at 01:09 PM Raphael Kaufman Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Because of the high cost per child the Government should give each family a stimulus Money handout, according to the number of children they have at least for tuition, for those whos freedom of religion doesn't allow them to the use of the non-kosher public school system.
Our freedom under the constitution includes our RIGHT not to be forced to consume non-kosher foord or "non-kosher education", unless we are penalized for our "free choice", by having to pay double: Once in Taxes and Again, in tuition, while everyone lese only pays once. ”
Get this. You have the same rights under the Constitution as every other American. You also have the same resposibilities, which include living within your means and not being a burden on your neighbors. The First Amendment guarrantees your right to practice your religion, to eat kosher, to send your children to private parochial schools and to live a "frum" lifestyle. It does NOT mean the government, I.E. your neighbors, have to pay for it. The Government (your neighbors) provides certain public services. If you wish not to use them you are free to choose any other at your own expense. If you think that providing a "frum" life for a large family is to expensive, have fewer kids. If tuition has got you in hock, how about sending your kids to Public School and Talmud Torah after. Who knows, they may actually get an education and know what the Constitution really says.
31
Aug 06, 2009 at 01:09 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
I am very concerned. This is probably the governmen's first step at limiting healh care expenses for Obamacare. They may tell people that if it costs so much to raise a child (including healthcare expenses) then the government may want to limit the number of chilbirths that they'll cover. Watch for end-of-life statistics to be released next, and you can see where they will go with those statistics.
32
Aug 06, 2009 at 01:00 PM Raphael Kaufman Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ dont make fun. just 50 yrs ago to live in a hick town in europe maybe costed 2,000 a yr. and i promise they were happier and alot more relaxed then most of us here.
”
Yeah, life was great in the shtetel. that is if you didn't mind rampant disease, incipient starvation, grinding poverty and the occasional pogrom.
and to #25. Occasionally helping out a married child is not the same as supporting said child.
33
Aug 06, 2009 at 03:32 PM Theres a G-d who already decided your parnassa Says:Report as Inappropriate
Well said #20! With each child, Hashem opens up a new channel of parnassa just for that child and with out studying numbers too in advance, it all works out inb the end
34
Aug 31, 2009 at 10:43 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Seriously, $290k doesn't even cover tuition through high school, time for a reality check. ”
send your kid to a normal school.
35
Sep 04, 2009 at 12:33 PM David Says:Report as Inappropriate
Public college cost $10,000 a year times 4 years which is $40,000. They forgot to add that to the total expense.