I never like to admit to anyone (especially myself) that I am getting older and I certainly do not want to fall in to the cliche of constantly talking with my kids about how much more difficult my life growing up was than theirs is, but is it just me or is it insanely expensive to raise kids today? Forget the cost of clothes and food (you know, the basics) but when you consider the growth of entertainment and media devices and services that our kids have to choose from today the accumulated cost can be overwhelming.
My Childhood (Family of 4)
Cable TV: $0 (We had an antenna)
Internet: $0 (What’s that?)
Movie Rentals: $5.00 each (Blockbuster)
Streaming Movies: $0
Movie Ticket: $3.55 (1985)
Cell Phone: $0
Number of electronic devices in the home: 3 (TV, VCR, PC)
My Kids Childhood (Family of 6)
TV: $100 (Comcast)
Internet: $50 (Comcast)
Movie Rentals: $1.50 each (Redbox)
Streaming Movies: $20 per month (Netflix)
Movie Ticket: $8.13 (2013)
Cell Phone: $85 (None of my kids have one…yet)
Number of electronic devices in the home: 19 (3 TVs, 2 DVD players, 3 cable boxes, 2 cell phones, 3 iPods, 2 iPads, 2 laptops, Xbox, Wii)
Inflation certainly has a lot to do with how much more expensive it is to raise children today but the sheer volume of devices and services that we choose to offer our children has caused a greater portion of the growth. Not that I am ready to cut any of this out–I enjoy using these devices and services to the same extent the kids do–but, oh my, it is certainly expensive and I am sure I have forgotten some things from my list. Share your list with me and I will update mine.
