Kids costing more at school??

Hey Ladies,
One of the factors in us deciding not to have a third child was financial reasons. But one thing I found odd is that people kept saying – oh just wait til they get to school, that’s when they really start costing more. I just can’t see it. Maybe if you didn’t have kids in daycare, or they were going to a private school, but for me I can not see how it will cost more when they get to school – even though mine are only in daycare part time. I’m looking forward to the savings when they get to school!! So if anyone could enlighten me?? (I’m assuming I’m missing some costs that will increase when they get to school.)

OK, so currently we spend 200/wk for their two days in daycare, plus $22 for DS’s kindy (private kindy). My husband takes one day off a week which saves us $100 in daycare costs as I work 3 days (but his income will increase when they are at school as he will be back to fulltime). Next year my daughter will start at kindy too (long story) just for one session and DS will add that session too so that will be another $50/wk. So total will be about $270 for childcare for two kids part time til DS starts school mid-year.

If they were both in daycare fulltime it would cost about 415/wk (cheap-ish by ak standards).

When they start school the fees are around $200 each for the whole year. Even if they did afterschool care it would be 60 in total for two days a week (what they currently do in daycare). And full time (which would mean me and hubby are both working more as I work 3 days and he does 4 currently) it would be $150 for both. Still nothing compared to $415 in daycare for both fulltime.

So even if I add 1000 each for school books, uniforms and trips etc (and I would spend far more on daycare clothes than school uniforms anyway!! And they will stop growing out of clothes so quickly so the clothes bill will actually go down a lot!) I’m guessing we will be saving around 9000 with paying for afterschool care every week (which I wouldn’t be due to all the holidays so savings are actually more). If I still work part time but spread the hours out then we will have no afterschool care (save another 3K) and DH will be working an extra day (at least 10K more a year).

They already do dancing / athletics / swimming / soccer, so wouldn’t spend anything extra on activities initially. I spend a fair amount on toys already, so I’m guessing it won’t really increase much as they will get less stuff (just b’days / xmas) but maybe higher value items.

Am I missing something???

I'm with you RachelBerry ... even with part time daycare its over 1000 a month for us - I just can't see how school (at 200/yr) could cost more!?

I am not sure that it is kids cost more at school than they do at day care but they do cost more when they get older.

If we had put of having kids due to money then we would of had none.

I have 3 at school now & pay

$600 school fees (public school)
$180 books
$2395 uniform
$200 bags/lunch boxes
$15 a day per child for after school care (have done this not any more).
$18 for all 3 to buy their lunch at school...only as a treat, so not often.

Holiday programs from $30-$50 a day per child

our school does a lot of fun raising & we pay for all extras so I am always paying for something,last week DS1 needed $2 for science project, DS2$3 needed $1 for seeds each, $30 for calendars, just had school trips that were $15 for 1 &$10each for the other 2. DS1 is in a school group & I have paid out $130 so far. We have BBQ day,ice block days, sausage sizzles, gold coin days for charities, mufti days & so on & with 3 of them it adds up. So at a guess an extra $200 each a yr per child.

The cost of a child go up as they grow up. I was always looking forward to the saving money from nappies & formula but found there was always something else the money went on for the child.

Other cost that go up are toys & clothes. When they get to a certain age you will be buying what they want & not what you want. The cost of food will go up as they eat more.

A lot of place are entry free or lower costing while pre school & once at school you will be paying more.

DS1 is at intermediate next yr so the $ will go up & he will be getting a school bus. Also not sure about after school care for him if I am working or studying.

PS - and 30-50/day for school holiday programmes is better than 67/day for daycare (DD) by a long shot, and we'd probably only do that one week per holidays if at all.

For me it is about the same if not cheaper. We didnt do daycare of kindy. She was a playcentre kid so I am still spending the same there as it is a fee per family $35 currently, but can go as often as you want.

Then clothes: I buy less, she doesnt need that much. Her uniform I got 3 -polo tshirts from the school at $20/$25 can remember the price and I was told I am buying too many. So got one in size 4 and two in size 6 (Andrew can use these too one day). Then her top for winter was $20 and I bought a size 4 and 6. Then shoes is any, Got her socks for winter (any black or white ones). And any black bottoms. So got some 3/4 ones, tracksuit ones and skirts. This is costing me less than having to buy casual to dress her in differently every day. So buy less clothes now.

Toys--- I buy less to be honest. Cant see it being more expensive though as a lot of things we make now.

Then food: She still eats the same as normal. I still bake the same send the same things in etc.

Sports: At the moment still relatively cheap.

Then other costs like your books and that. it was something like $45 for the whole year and now got Please pay $2.2 for another mathbook. Will cost me more to buy it all myself and this way all the kids have the same. (this was for the first year next year it is like $27).

School activities that they go out on and trips. That varies. They go about once a term somewhere. And no more than $25 per term for this.

So I budget $50 per month for all school things, including spending money at calf club day and so far we dont go over that.

So yip not that expensive so far (but we are in a country school with a very very active PTA)

Totally hear ya Nikki - I keep thinking the same!! At the moment I am spending $11,000 a year on daycare and it will be $8,000 for primary school (private). I do realise that there are uniforms and music etc on top of that but I just think of how much time she spends sleeping at daycare and it just doesnt seem right

Oh and you're right Jazzy about the times 3 for all costs, that is a big difference from having two (and daycare costs x3 is one of that main reasons why we didn't have another child soon after no 2. DD being a "trying" toddler and complete lack of energy was the other reason!).

Forgot the school fees is $60 per year and $80 if there is two of them to a max of $100 per year per family.

If she wants to go on the bus for to school and back it is $40 per child.

Another reason I love this school.

My kids aren't at school yet, but I'm looking forward to it. As for when they are teenagers - my income will increase as they grow due to my contract conditions, so I think that will just suck up the extra income, rather than being too much of an extra drain.

I hear parents all the time coming in so excited when their children (younger siblings of children in my class) start school - no more daycare fees! I haven't heard one parent, who had children at daycare, comment on the cost of school/5+ year olds. The parents who haven't experienced the huge weekly costs of care do notice it though.

kiwigal wrote: It does depend on where you live, kids etc. My son's old school was decile 9 fees were $37.50 a term, his uniform was damn expensive, $45 for one pair of cargo pants, polar fleeces were something like $50 or $60 and polo shirts and shorts were around $30-35. Coin donations on top for mufti day, sausage sizzle, cake stalls $2 hot dog every week. My son was forever having holes in his pants as he is so hard on them so replacing them at $45 a pop does get expensive.

That is so my kids school, our fees are $200 per child a yr & no discount for more children so $600 for us...no wonder lots don't pay. We may be in a financially good area but there are still lots of people struggling.