Have A Girl - Save Some Cash
AdventureDad | August 1
I often refer to my 2-year old daughter as “high maintenance”, although her needs so far are emotional. But according to a recent UK study, boys are in reality tougher on a family’s finances during childhood years. I’ve always been happy with a girl and a boy and admit never having thought of which gender was more expensive. My gut feeling tells me girls are financially more high maintenance but I’m obviously wrong. Girls or boys, who’s more expensive? Since all kids are different individuals, is it even possible to determine?
Boys cost thousands of pounds more to bring up than girls because of their obsession with sports and electronic games, says a survey.
Raising sons costs £32,000 through their school years, £7,000 more than daughters. Parents run up a bill of £2,143.75 a year buying their sons gadgets, including computer game consoles, equipment for their hobbies and new clothes. Daughters cost £1,631.86 a year - or £24,739.03 throughout their childhood.
Computer games and game consoles might be expensive but do last for a while. I (incorrectly?) always imagined parents spending far more money on girls clothing, my daughter must apparently have a seemingly unlimited amount of pink clothing while my son wears anything. I guess we’re lucky to discuss this in a humorous way, there are certainly many countries where having a boy is seen a financial gold mine and a girl being equal to a death sentence. I’m thinking of countries like China and India where girls are tossed in the trash or aborted for being useless.
Boy or girl, who cares. Real parents love them equally. But is it time to stop referring to girls as being high maintenance?:-))
Hey, my daughter never wore anything pink until this year (she turns 15 in the fall). It wasn’t until she went to see Avril Lavigne that she started wearing pink :-)
And right now, she definitely is more high maintenance than her brother (he’ll be 13 in the fall), but I think this has something to do with puberty and all that. She’s living above her standards *sigh*
But yes, we are fortunate to live in the countries we live in. As I was told by a colleague who was in South-Africa for 5 months, where she couldn’t go alone in certain areas as a young woman.
My son is costing me so much more money than my daughter. We just got the hospital bill (this is the total before the insurance pays up - I don’t know what it will be after it does) for his second broken bone/surgery/observation in less than a year, and each time he breaks a bone, it runs about $8000. Fortunately, our medical insurance covers most of that, but we end up paying a percentage of it.
My daughter has never broken any bones or ended up in the hospital yet for anything other than her birth. She’s definitely the least expensive of the two.
Hmm, but I wonder, if you consider that many of the video games are partly purchased for dad to enjoy as well, how the costs come out?
Course…I don’t play “Cars” very often, or “Reader Rabbit” so maybe they’re onto something.
Goodness, I am happy I have a boy.
I have a feeling a girl will be next.
Tommy Galan
http://thedaddyexperience.blogspot.com/
Good to know… we’re expecting a girl. :-)
Makes sense… boys want 3G iPhone and girls want hair brushes and cosmetics. It’s clear which adds up first.
Dang, is it too late for a refund?
+1. Who more? :)
I found your blog while I was googling about high maintenance five year old daughters. My problem with my sweetie is the emotional stuff. She’s so needy for attention and manipulative and bossy. I’m afraid there may be some truth to the apple not falling far from the tree so I am watching myself very closely. Still, there has got to be some strategies out there that I could try. Any ideas?