The “cost” of a newborn (and how to avoid unnecessary expenses)

Those who have the joy of having a child know very well that being called mom and dad is priceless, beyond sleepless nights, educational efforts and impact on the income statement. It is precisely the latter, however, that represents one of the greatest concerns both of parents and of those who would like to have a child, but do not have an income situation such as to face this choice serenely. And while the Government speaks of a single family allowance to replace the various bonuses, also with a view to incentivising a birth rate that in 2020 has reached an all-time low since the unification of Italy, the various surveys and statistics on which the “cost” of a child they are not missing.

According to the latest Federconsumatori National Observatory available (2011), the latter varies considerably on the basis of various parameters such as assets, family income and the age of children, with proportional growth compared to the latter. On average, from 0 to 18 years old, there is talk of a total expenditure of 113,700 euros for the less well-off households, 170,940 for those with average income and 271,350 for those with a high salary. Overall, these are direct maintenance costs which involve approx between 25% and 35% of extra expenses compared to a couple without children and of equal income. If indirect costs are added to this figure, we are certainly talking about a deterrent that does not favor the birth rate.

Looking only at pregnancy and first year of life of the newborn, there are those who estimate a cost of up to 7,000 euros, but there are also considerably higher forecasts, up to double, as well as halved. The truth, in fact, is that if on the one hand there are essential and relevant expenses, such as the babysitter and / or nursery school (in the absence of the precious grandparents), on the other, especially at the beginning of the experience with the first child, it is easy to run into unnecessary expenses on the push of sector marketing. It is partly the same thing that happens with the wedding business, where, aware of the emotional impact of the event and the inexperience of the protagonists, companies raise prices and work in unison to create unnecessary needs.

If getting married is an important step, becoming a parent is certainly no exception. It is a delicate moment, which invests a new responsibility and often makes it difficult to orient oneself in terms of purchases, especially a priori. Combine the sense of insecurity with the common desire to be prepared for anything and you will have the perfect recipe to empty your wallet without realizing it. According to the European Nursery Products Confederation, the market for heavy and light childcare only (products for transport, bedtime and so on, excluding furniture, toys and clothing) has seen total turnover decrease in recent years in line with the decline. of births, but increase per capita expenditure, that is, per child, in several countries, including France and Italy.

This means that, where the customer base or target (the new parents) cannot be expanded, it is necessary to increase the earnings on the “average receipt” of the single family. The result, for example, is an extension of the ranges with new products that are proposed as always better than the previous ones, or with references suggested as essential for the care of the newborn when in reality they are not. One of the secrets, as always, is not to let oneself be dragged into a sort of upward game made by incipit-type such as «while we’re at it», or «for safety», or even «but if it happens that».

The first winning solution (tested with your hand) is “If in doubt, don’t buy it until you need it”, assuming you don’t live in isolation from the world, with the closest store 300 kilometers away and Amazon not delivering. The second solution is “Even when you need it, remember it won’t last long”, because newborns grow so fast that they do not allow the expense to be amortized. It is therefore not advisable to use the logic of investment, because the only real investment for the future is the child as such, without accessories. Indeed, looking around just a few hundred meters, it is very likely that there is a family with already “grown-up” children who can’t wait to empty the cellar and garage, getting rid of that stroller where the little one doesn’t even have never wanted to stay.

In gallery, some curiosities about the “cost” of children (such as the difference between boys and girls) and other tips for saving money.

Foto in apertura: courtesy of Pixabay