Categories of expenditure on children
Child support is about paying for the goods and services needed by the child, and perhaps also those desirably spent on the child, while it is growing up. Remember: middle-income parents tend to spend more on their children than poor parents. Rich ones tend to spend more than middle-income ones.
It is useful to have categories and checklists about where the money may be spent:
- to ensure that nothing is missed (eg. are "toys" included?)
- to allow some rigour when comparing one view with another (eg. do they both include "nappies" in "consumables"?)
- to enable arguments and disagreements to to be focused (eg. should "designer clothes" be allowed for?)
- to clarify what is not included (eg. "lost opportunity costs" of the resident parent)
| Main category |
Specifics |
Comments |
| Fun |
entertainment |
The marginal extra cost of entertainment that exist because there is a child. If the parent wouldn't otherwise have done this, this may include the cost for the parent too. |
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activities |
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hobbies |
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holidays |
The marginal extra cost of holidays that exist because there is a child. If the parent wouldn't otherwise have gone on holiday, this may include the cost for the parent too. |
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toys |
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games |
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| Life |
education |
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books |
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magazines |
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career-preparation |
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| Consumables |
food |
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clothes |
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nappies |
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toiletries |
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| Accommodation |
shelter |
The marginal extra cost specifically for the child. For example, having an extra bedroom. (This may increase the rent or the mortgage, or incur the cost of moving house). |
| |
comfort |
The marginal extra cost specifically for the child. |
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heat |
The marginal extra cost specifically for the child. |
| Travel |
vehicles |
The marginal extra cost specifically for the child. For example, having a larger vehicle. (Judging by the cars parked outside schools, this appears to mean the marginal extra cost of having an off-road vehicle! Why?) |
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fuel |
The marginal extra cost specifically for the child. If the parent wouldn't otherwise have traveled, this may include the cost for the parent too. |
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fares |
The marginal extra cost specifically for the child. If the parent wouldn't otherwise have traveled, this may include the cost for the parent too. |
| Care |
health |
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child |
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other care |
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baby-sitting |
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| Money |
pocket money |
They'll spend 38% of this on sweets & crisps! (Halifax LittleXtra Club Savers survey). |
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investments |
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| Incidentals |
telephone calls |
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external liabilities |
For example, the child bikes into someone's car and the parent pays for it to be retouched. (The car!) |
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celebrations |
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anniversaries |
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Not included
For completeness, the following are not included in the costs of children:
The "lost opportunity" cost of a stay-at-home or reduced-career spouse/partner:
- Career break
- Out-of-date skills
- Low pension
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