Financially speaking, are the elementary years easier than preschool years?

[mccartygirl]

Clearly you haven't met my daughter - LOL.

I think expenses change. Toddlers aren't too picky about toys. Older kids are. Plus they get more interested in what they are wearing. Older kids get involved in more activities.

You should meet my 3 yr old - she is extremely picky about her toys, clothes, food, etc. She's 3 going on 16. She is also involved in 2 activities per season. We pay $10,000/year for the Montessori pre-school, it will go down a little when she is in the elementary section of the school. I don't know if it will ever get cheaper. Thankfully DH and I don't have to pay for before & after care at pre-school and won't when she is in public (still deciding on that). We have extremely flexible jobs and that helps us save on the part of the care. I'd gladly give my $10,000+/year for her so that's okay.

We also go to Disney every year, this will be the 1st year we've had to pay for her tickets. It's been nice the last 2 years. Oh well. She's still in the cheaper 3-9 yrs old ticket but it was quite a jump when I priced it out.

[DebbieL]

It depends on the kid. My 14yo daughter has always eaten like a bird. I don't think it costs much to feed her at all. She started swimming lessons at 5 (and took them off and on for about 6 years) which were pretty inexpensive. She began horseback riding at about 9 which is $20 per session (about $80/month). She takes guitar lessons (another $80/month). She is also in Pathfinders (girl guides for teens) - about $2/week plus extra fees for special events.

If I didn't choose to have her in these activities, she would be a pretty cheap kid. She doesn't care about fashion/makeup/etc.

Like I said, each kid is different. When I was my daughter's age, I could have eaten you out of house and home, lol.

[dtjunkie]

I don't think expenses for kids change at all from year to year. It just goes to different things. What i was paying for preschool for my daughter is about the same as what i'm paying for her private school. I know i can send her to public for free....but what can i say, she's my one and only and i'm very protective. The one thing that def. goes up is going out to eat, especially at all you can eat restaurants. As far as toys and clothes, i think i've been spending about the same every year, when i stopped buying diapers and wipes the money just went to her regular clothes and shoes. Instead of formula and baby food you buy other snacks little kids like to eat.
Word of advice to expectant parents and parents with new borns: DO NOT buy baby furniture and baby toys, i can almost guarantee all you'll need is a playpen for sleeping, a stroller and maybe 1-2 toys. Looking back, my kid did not need or use her bouncy chair, her walker, her feeding chair, her changing table, her crib, her monitor, and countless baby toys! The only people that benefited from all those things are the ones i gave them away to when i finally had to. Others obviously might have diff. stories, but i'd love to know if any body had the same experience as me.

[LuxLiving]

Don't forget that whichever spouse is staying home there is opportunity cost that is being paid! No income = no earnings reportable for SS benefits and zero to little $$'s going to a 401-k OR being contributed to an IRA (unless the working spouse takes it upon themselves to fund a spousal IRA.) Compound interest is not being accumulated.

AND when you venture back out to the corporate world there MAY be additional costs involved in getting educated, re-licensed, or back up to speed in the latest developments, and/or re-outfitted in clothing for corporate world. Additional fees may be increased automobile insurance coverage if the mileage travelled per year increases very much.

Zetta - you said there were only two options - another could be the stay-at-home parent finds some kind of work to do while still sitting w/the little ones.

[zetta]

Lux -- after chasing my toddler around I'm not sure how people make the work-at-home idea actually work for them. At least for me, it's impossible to concentrate on anything while he is awake. I suppose some work could be done during naptime and after bedtime.

[PRICEPLUS]

As my daughter got older things got more expensive. Piano lessons, used piano, keyboard, viola lessons, inlie skates, tutors, computer, iPod, etc and so on! Yup elementary is more difficult than the preschool and was certainly more expensive. Wait till the college bills roll in! Oh boy!

[DebbieL]

I think that for most people the pre-school years would be more expensive (if daycare is involved). I didn't work or need daycare (my parents live really close and are retired and willing, lol), so not an issue for me. I started working once she was in Grade 1. There is no reason for an older (elementary) aged kid to cost more. My kid has never been demanding of things or cared about fashion, etc. If she wanted something (even by the age of about 3) she would ask if this was too expensive, can we afford this, etc. If I said "No" she never bothered me about it. Maybe I just had a very accepting child?

What's wrong with telling the older child "No"? Who cares whether a kid wants the latest iPod or styles. I am the parent and I decide what my kid will get and how much she will cost me. I give her a nice life (horse riding, guitar, etc), but she will not be SPOILED or demanding things from me - EVER.