Children are expensive there is no denying it. Every time we leave the house they seem to need money for something. Yet how much do they actually cost? According to Natwest the average cost for feeding a seven year old is £40. I tested this out over a week to see if this was actually the case.
To work out what we spent I have worked out the cost per person per meal. Molly is very active and seems to be always hungry. I think she must be having a growth spurt.
Monday
Breakfast: weetabix, honey,
Lunch: cheese sandwiches, blueberries
Dinner: spaghetti , yogurt
Snacks: apple, banana, cereal bar
Cost: £3.40
Tuesday
Breakfast: pot of porridge, honey
Lunch: ham sandwich, crisps, apple
Dinner: chilli and rice, yogurt
Snacks: sweets, pear, cheese strings
Cost: £3.60
Wednesday
Breakfast: weetabix, honey
Lunch: ham sandwich, cheese, grapes
Dinner: sausage and mash, jelly
Snacks: ice cream, raisons
Cost: £4.10
Thursday
Breakfast: Cheerios, honey
Lunch: jam bagel, apple
Dinner: pesto pasta, yogurt
Snacks: raisins, cereal bar, cheese and biscuit
Cost: £3.90
Friday
Breakfast: Cheerios
Lunch: toast and jam, banana
Dinner: stir fry, yogurt
Snacks: Apple, bag of crisps
Cost: £2.20
Saturday
Breakfast: weetabix, honey
Lunch: cafe lunch box
Dinner: pizza and chips, yogurt
Snacks: sweets, grapes, bread sticks and cheese spread
Cost: £6.50
Sunday
Breakfast: pot of porridge, honey
Lunch: ham sandwich, apple
Dinner: roast chicken and vegetables, yogurt
Snacks: cereal bar, tangerine, whippy ice cream
Cost: £4.30
Drinks
Drinks for the week: milk, Squash, 3 fruit shoots, 2 carton on juice, hot chocolate
Cost: £5.20
Total Cost: £33.90
I think £40 is probably about right as an average cost If you ate out more often though it would be more. We had a week at home and didn’t eat out much as it was in between trips away so I was actively trying to save money. I can see I could easily save money by not buying drinks while we are out as this does cost more.
The thing is of course this doesn’t take into account the cost of all the other things we had to buy that week. This included a trip to the soft play, loom hands, a magazine, new school shoes, school uniform. As well as the household things needed like washing powder and bath things. I would estimate during the same week I spent When you look at it children really are expensive. Good thing the joy they bring is priceless.
If you want to see the cost of your children then go to the Natwest Child Cost Calculator
