BABY BUDGET

So how much does it cost to raise a baby? Raising a child is big bucks! In fact, it is about $235,000, close to a quarter of a million dollars by the time they are old enough to move out of the house.

Objectives:
Students will be able to determine rough estimates of the costs of having and raising a baby for a year.

Materials:
Baby Cost Worksheet Print out two for each group, one for estimations and one for actual costs, or have students complete the online estimate of having a baby with our Baby Budget activity.

Procedures:
Have students estimate how much it will cost to raise a baby for a week, month, year.

Have students check sale ads, Internet, and local discount stores for actual costs.

Have students figure how much they would need to earn per hour to afford to have a baby. (See Chance of Life)

Have students think about costs not listed that would be associated with having a baby, going to the doctor, toys, books, cereal, food, juice, medicine.