Revealed: £225,521 is the average cost to raise a child in the UK!

• Parents can expect to spend up to a whopping £222,521 when caring for a child up to the age of 18, which equates to over £12,000 a year!
• Almost half (41%) of parents are spending over their budget to raise a child.
• With the current cost of living crisis, over half of UK parents are concerned about their finances (58.2%) and 71.9% wish for more funding from the government.
• Reassured teamed up with the experts at NerdWallet to provide top tips to help new parents navigate the high costs of raising a child.

Becoming a parent is for most people one of the happiest days of their life, with a baby bringing so many joyful moments, but do you know exactly how much a child is actually going to cost you?

The latest figures from the life insurance broker, Reassured, reveal that the current cost to raise a child in the UK is a whopping £225,521.35! That’s £12,540.02 per year until they hit the age of 18!*

The study shows that almost half (41.4%) of parents are having to spend more on their kids than their budget allows, resulting in over three quarters (76.9%) having to budget for other parts of their lives since becoming parents.

With the current cost of living crisis, 67.7% noticed childcare costs increasing recently, leaving over half (58.2%) concerned over their finances and 71.9% wish for more funding from the government to help with the rising cost.

See below for the full list of how much parents spend on their children:

London is the most expensive city to raise a child

Unsurprisingly London is the most expensive city in the UK to raise a child, costing parents £20,060.71 per year, and £278,316.40 by the time the child reaches adulthood. London is closely followed by Manchester at £18,115.77 yearly, and £250,641.22 in total. Then Norwich comes third in the rankings costing parents £16,084.56 yearly, and £224,029.78 overall.

On the other hand, Edinburgh is the cheapest city to raise a child according to the reassured study, costing parents £6,831.86 per year, and £96,790.05 in total. Leeds is the second cheapest at £10,632.12 yearly, and £144,672.81 in total.

Top money saving tips for parents

Reassured teamed up with the experts at comparison website NerdWallet to give five money saving tips to help parents navigate the high costs of raising a child:

1. Claim up to 30 free childcare hours

If you have a young child, you may be able to claim for up to 30 hours of free childcare per week during term time – or for a full year, should you use less than 30 hours a week. To find out what you can claim in your country, visit the Government’s website. There’ll still be the nappies, trips and meals while your child is in a nursery but every little bit helps.

      2.Consider hand-me-downs

Hand-me-downs are a great way to save money – and have a positive impact on the environment.  If you have friends with children around the same age, it’s worth asking them if they have anything that would fit your child. Local marketplaces and apps like Depop, Facebook marketplace and Gumtree can help you pick up a bargain – you could even make some money by selling the items that no longer fit your little one.

     3.Look out for school forums

To help parents keep up with the cost, many schools now have forums where parents can buy and sell quality school attire and equipment for a fraction of the new price, ensuring your kid is kitted out in the school’s colours and branding, and minimising waste

       5.Visit voucher and cashback websites

Voucher websites like hotukdeals could be a great place to look for voucher codes and freebies. Sites like these can also give you a nudge as to which supermarkets are running promotions, with the validity of the offers voted by like-minded bargain hunters.

Similarly, cashback websites give you money back every time you shop online – on everything from clothes to toys and even activities.

     6.Share toys and games

A great way to save on toys and games is to team up with other parents and take part in a swap shop, where you exchange toys to keep the little ones entertained. It’s important to set boundaries so you know what is being swapped and when you can expect your items back – and in what condition you expect them to be returned to you!

A spokesperson at Reassured comments on the study: “Especially in recent months, the cost of living has risen immensely, causing many families to struggle to cover the day-to-day expenses.

“Life comes with many challenges and taking out life insurance early can give some peace of mind knowing your children’s financial future is secured. As the UK’s largest life insurance broker, we compare different offers for you, finding the most suitable cover for your needs quick and easy.”

To find out more about Reassured and the cost of raising a child in the UK please visit: https://www.reassured.co.uk/the-average-cost-of-being-a-parent-in-the-uk/

Uma Rajagopal

Uma Rajagopal has been managing the posting of content for multiple platforms since 2021, including Global Banking & Finance Review, Asset Digest, Biz Dispatch, Blockchain Tribune, Business Express, Brands Journal, Companies Digest, Economy Standard, Entrepreneur Tribune, Finance Digest, Fintech Herald, Global Islamic Finance Magazine, International Releases, Online World News, Luxury Adviser, Palmbay Herald, Startup Observer, Technology Dispatch, Trading Herald, and Wealth Tribune. Her role ensures that content is published accurately and efficiently across these diverse publications.