If you’ve got babies or toddlers and you’re longing for the end of nappies so that your life can get cheaper, I’m sorry to say that I’ve got bad news for you.
Life doesn’t get cheaper as your kids get bigger. It just gets a whole lot more expensive.
Not only do teens and tweens eat CONSTANTLY, but they keep growing (and bigger clothes cost more money than tiny ones) and they start doing expensive hobbies. Or even cheap hobbies, but lots of them, which all add up.
Over the past few weeks, these are the essentials I’ve had to buy for my kids for their hobbies and school:
Eldest
- Explorers shirt (because he’s too old for Scouts now)
- New school rugby shirt (because he’s grown)
- New violin bow (because his old one was coming apart)
- New school trousers (because he’s grown)
Younger son
- 2 pairs of new school trousers (because he’s grown)
- New rugby scrum hat (to replace the one he’d lost)
- Black shirt (costume for school musical)
- New water bottle (to replace the one he’d lost)
Daughter
- Black leotard (for the panto)
- 2 pairs of natural coloured dance tights (ditto)
- Black jeans (ditto)
- Black jazz shoes (ditto – thank goodness for reviews!)
- Foundation, powder, blusher, lipstick, eyeliner and eye shadow (ditto – thank goodness for Boots Advantage Card points!)
- New swimming costume (because she got picked for the school team)
- New school shoes (because she’d grown)
- New leotard for tap and jazz (because her teacher changed the uniform)
Every single one of these items was essential and non-negotiable. They couldn’t have managed without them.
And, in case you’re wondering, yes, I did get the boys new school trousers in September. They really have grown that much! And, yes, they will be buying their own items next time they lose them.
And before I know it, I’ll be having to find the money for university tuition fees…
December 8, 2015
Don’t worry, they get a loan for their university fees….mind you it was costly getting her to and from all the open days and interviews, not to mention the cost of setting her up there, the ongoing mobile phone bills, the train fares to and from home etc etc – definitely not in profit by her moving out yet!!
December 8, 2015
That doesn’t surprise me! I wonder if parents ever actually make a profit from their teens going to university?
December 8, 2015
I totally sympathise with this … the amount of times I have heard my girls say I neeeeeeed this! Without being stereotypical, girls seem more expensive than boys too!
December 8, 2015
I haven’t really found that myself. They seem to be equally expensive in my house!
December 8, 2015
I feel your pain, I have just had to buy a £57 leotard for gymnastics an 2 oboe reeds at £12.50 each!!! *fallsover
December 8, 2015
Wow, £57 for a leotard! Our leotards were £10 and £14. Although the violin bow was £50 🙁
December 8, 2015
I remember when my son left nursery and I thought we would be RICH due to no more nursery fees. And then they start school, and then Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Karate, endless trips, uniforms for this that and the other. Can’t believe your son has grown that much since September. And yes losing things. Or in my sons case, getting ink on his school shirts. First time I brought him another one. Second time I made him pay. Lesson learnt as no more ink stained shirts xx
December 8, 2015
Yes, both boys have grown that much! Eldest has grown loads. He’s had oil on his school shirts too. My kids will be paying for lost stuff now, so hopefully they will learn their lessons too. x
December 8, 2015
You forgot about the driving lessons before Uni. 16 was when the cost of things really went up for me (to pay for him to train to become a lifeguard). Looking at your lists i wish we could swap now lol. Least the 9K tuition fees are covered for us.
December 8, 2015
I know it’s only going to be worse! I hadn’t thought about the driving lessons. I had mine for my birthday, so I would do the same for my kids (although I ended up paying for a lot myself with my earnings!).
December 8, 2015
Think you need to stop feeding them!!
December 8, 2015
Ha ha, that would work! Although somehow I don’t think I could ever stop them eating!
December 8, 2015
oh dont get me started, i only have 1 of the 5 kids i still have to fund, he’s in 6th form now so suits are the order of the day and every time he comes to Dubai he brings winter clothing with him as all the summer stuff we bought him on his last visit, he either forgets to bring back with him, he lives for the day, or he’s grown out of it
December 8, 2015
My teen son lives for the day too. I could just imagine him taking the wrong clothes with him!
December 8, 2015
They really do add up! That’s reassuring to know about the student loans at least.
December 8, 2015
Oh my word, this is so demoralising! Actually our girls cost us very little right now. Most of their clothes are birthday / Christmas presents or bought from charity shops, I have a problem with buying things new if it’s not necessary. We also use cloth nappies so no worries there. I think we’re going to have even more of a shock to the system than you as they get older!x
December 11, 2015
I think you will! It’s good that you’re finding ways to economise while you can. A lot of schools sell second uniform as a fundraiser, so you might be able to stick with the second hand clothes for a lot longer yet!
December 8, 2015
No-one gave us any warning just how expensive these kids would be! Mich x
December 11, 2015
It’s probably a good job they didn’t! 😉
December 9, 2015
It’s not too bad right now for us but I can completely see it coming, everything seems to be bigger and more expensive at school these days and there’s always some new club or other. To my slight relief, they don’t allow you to join some until year 1. But argh uni fees.
December 11, 2015
I’m going to keep my head in the sand about uni fees for a bit longer I think! Enjoy having not too many clubs while you still can.
December 10, 2015
I think your lot cost more than my two at the moment – my 13 year old hasn’t grown that much in the last year or two after a growth spurt in year 6 thank goodness. She’s still in the same PE kit and trainers that I bought her in Y7 and it’s still slightly too big. They’re in great condition too as she’s not that sporty so they don’t really get much use standing around trying to avoid exercise lol 😉
December 11, 2015
To be fair, my eldest is in year 10 and this is only his second school rugby shirt. I definitely won’t be buying him another one after this! As the boys are at different schools we can’t even pass stuff on. My daughter has had to replace a leotard she hasn’t even grown INTO with the new uniform leotard!
December 11, 2015
Oh wow, I’m dreading the teenage years!
Saying that, these past few weeks have seen me handing over so much money for essentials that I doubt I’ll notice much difference, school and all it’s activities and associated costs just seems to be more and more expensive.
December 11, 2015
It really does! One year I tried to keep a track of school costs, but it just got too depressing, so I stopped after a few weeks. It’s relentless!
December 11, 2015
Tell me about it. Mia has just done a MASSIVE growth spurt and outgrown everything and I mean everything. From pants to swimming costumes to tee shirts and uniform.
December 11, 2015
Eek! We’ve never had a growth spurt that bad. For my eldest it’s just his legs and his feet that keep growing, so he just needs new trousers and shoes all the time.
December 11, 2015
Tell me about it. My two have weekly piano lessons, £34 a week. And only one of them actually enjoys playing! (I know, I know, but I really want them to be able to play an instrument).
December 12, 2015
Eek! I didn’t even dare mention the cost of the music lessons here! All of mine play an instrument with varying degrees of interest and motivation.
December 12, 2015
I loved her little list of make up! Ha ha ha! All essentials! Especially the red lips! Ha ha ha ha x
December 12, 2015
It’s not even her list! The theatre gave it to her – that’s exactly what they all have to have! At least we’ve got it all now for if (when) she does it again in the future. x
December 18, 2015
Oh don’t get me started on this one! Without plays and pantos, I seem to spend all of my money of clubs and kit, it drives me crazy!! This year it has been rugby and suddenly they need special kit, under armour, head guards and we are on about gum shield number three (x2). It is constant and there is always something. R is starting triathlon club after Christmas, so there will be another list of things I expect…
December 18, 2015
And there I was trying to talk the husband into having three…..! He says it is too expensive! And to be fair we have both had enough of sleepless nights! Xx