Child Maintenance, how much does it cost to keep a child per month?

[Deserted]

Hi all, I was wondering how much people pay to keep their child a month. We have a 3 year old and make sure he has more than enough clothes and spoil him a little. I've noticed that we spend about 12k a month on everything, food, nappies and so on. But then I thought the average Thai child can't have that much spent on them as the average wage is around 8k. I know some people who only pay 3k but then their children wear the same clothes all the time and eat basic food, and we don't want that.

Does 12k seem to much to be spending on a child per month or is that about right?

[Boo]

I'd say if you can afford it & it makes you feel happy that the child is well provided for then it's fine.

If you are spending excessively on "non essentials" days out toys sweets whatnots, then scale back a bit. A 3 year old needs attention & stimulation & that can be given for free

[Deserted]

For sure, there aren't too many non-essentials although my wife insists on having a lot of clothes to choose from but we don't buy pricey stuff. What do most people spend per month I wonder?

[MaeJoMTB]

My 4 year old boy, around 1,000bht to 2,000bht a month.

Broken down, 20-40bht in snacks each day, school 200bht/month (inc school bus and 4 uniforms).

Teenage girl, around 4,000-6,000bht a month.

Broken down, 100bht for snacks and petrol (she drives a m/c to school), school 1,000bht/month (inc 5 uniforms).

(obscenely short shorts only cost 50bht ....... practice shouting 'you ain't going out wearing that little')

They both eat Thai food that costs almost nothing for main meals.

Sticky rice and steamed greens, sometimes a bit of fish or chicken.

Edited January 20, 2016 by MaeJoMTB

[aussiandrew]

How long is a peice of string?

[Deserted]

My 4 year old boy, around 1,000bht to 2,000bht a month.

Broken down, 20-40bht in snacks each day, school 200bht/month (inc school bus and 4 uniforms).

Teenage girl, around 4,000-6,000bht a month.

Broken down, 100bht for snacks and petrol (she drives a m/c to school), school 1,000bht/month (inc 5 uniforms).

(obscenely short shorts only cost 50bht ....... practice shouting 'you ain't going out wearing that little')

They both eat Thai food that costs almost nothing for main meals.

Sticky rice and steamed greens, sometimes a bit of fish or chicken.

Ok, well the nappies and the food are about 4k per month. So we are spending far too much then.

[4evermaat]

Are you using disposible diapers 100% of the time? Should be 50% split between cloth and disposible, mainly using disposible when you go out or at sleep time. It becomes much less at the 1 year mark. Pre-school they also follow suit where they promote potty training early. They clean up their crap/piss and change out clothes if they forget.

You can get the 26 pack of xl mammy poko happy pants for 170-180 baht @ makro. The strap version that we used at night was more. Like 280-300 on sale. But they go up to xxl.

To add, we stopped usimg cloth diapers pretty early....just shorts as young as 6 months. Since the pee just goes right through anyway, didnt see the point.

Edited January 21, 2016 by 4evermaat

[dank04]

If you can afford to spend 12k a month then dont worry. I have 2 girls, a 3year old and a 6month old and we would spend as much if not more than 12k a month on there needs, food, milk, nappies, kindergarten, snacks, clothes as usually the cheaper stuff doesn't last too many washes, i think thats what you work for to provide the best you can for your kids who cares what it costs

[Lostpack3t]

If you want to buy quality brand name clothes and provide western foods including such items as strawberries, cherries, good quality meats, even western cereals then you will spend much more. It really just depends what you want to provide and what you are comfortable with. The choices you are facing are really the same if you were living anywhere. Some things you will buy the cheap option and sometimes you will buy the more expensive or best option.

[Jacks77]

I would get rid of non essentials and start saving for an international private school.

Might as well feed your son or daughter w peanuts if u plan on sending him or her to a public thai school.

[bark]

If you are really concerned about 12,000 bt. Just wait to your kid is 5 years old. You need to send them to an International School. Forget the Thai schools, your kid will learn nothing. Assumption College as an example cost about 300,000 - 400,000 bt per year; for the first 6 years. Then it gets very expensive after that. Average is 800,000/ year. So start saving.

[catman20]

ur welcome to all the kids and the expense that goes with it, at my time of life rather spend the money on me

[NickJ]

It's when you start soundproofing rooms that runs into money. .........

[Deserted]

Not worried about what we are spending. Compared to the UK I think its a lot cheaper here but I did think we could cut it down. Just wanted to know what others spend really.

[MaeJoMTB]

If you are really concerned about 12,000 bt. Just wait to your kid is 5 years old. You need to send them to an International School. Forget the Thai schools, your kid will learn nothing. Assumption College as an example cost about 300,000 - 400,000 bt per year; for the first 6 years. Then it gets very expensive after that. Average is 800,000/ year. So start saving.

My boy will go to the normal Amphur school, free to age 12 including lunch.

Uniforms extra, around 3,000bht a year.

Absolutely no argument for choosing between junior schools world wide (unless it's to avoid violence, rife in the UK).

Mainly play, socialize and a little learning basic reading & writing.

(from a former UK high school teacher, with a little experience teaching junior school)

Edited January 21, 2016 by MaeJoMTB

[Johnniey]

I think you are being excessive but that is normal with your first child. I suggest you cut back a lot as I remember you are an English teacher so probably aren't a millionaire. I have 4 kids and putting them through reasonable schools was very expensive but as they get older with one now at a UK university, I'm glad I put a little away every month when she was young. To put things into perspective - for a decent university plus living expenses, it costs me around 1 million baht per year. When she finishes, there will be next one ready to go.

When they were young I'd each child only cost about 2-5 thousand baht extra a month(not counting holidays and school fees)

[Deserted]

I think you are being excessive but that is normal with your first child. I suggest you cut back a lot as I remember you are an English teacher so probably aren't a millionaire. I have 4 kids and putting them through reasonable schools was very expensive but as they get older with one now at a UK university, I'm glad I put a little away every month when she was young. To put things into perspective - for a decent university plus living expenses, it costs me around 1 million baht per year. When she finishes, there will be next one ready to go.

When they were young I'd each child only cost about 2-5 thousand baht extra a month(not counting holidays and school fees)

Yes you are probably right there, he is a little spoilt and our only child.

[Apiwan2]

If you are really concerned about 12,000 bt. Just wait to your kid is 5 years old. You need to send them to an International School. Forget the Thai schools, your kid will learn nothing. Assumption College as an example cost about 300,000 - 400,000 bt per year; for the first 6 years. Then it gets very expensive after that. Average is 800,000/ year. So start saving.

Is assumption college considered an international school ?

[dutchisaan]

Enjoy your child, OP!

Don't worry about the cost if you can aford this.

But I have a question for you;

Why do you post a question about your child, the same way I would post a question about the cost of driving my truck.

Have a nice day.

[dotpoom]

I doubt that anybody will alter their spending patern on their children based on answers that will be proffered here?

[dotpoom]

I doubt that anybody will alter their spending patern on their children based on answers that will be proffered here?

[gamini]

How long is a peice of string?

Exactly. It was a stupid question. Who is he talking about? Rich or poor farangs?

[gamini]

Not worried about what we are spending. Compared to the UK I think its a lot cheaper here but I did think we could cut it down. Just wanted to know what others spend really.

It really depends on what kind of expat you are. All my friends, Thai and expat have nannies for thier children. Cost about Bt 12-15,000 per month. Some of us have tutors to help with home work. Miost send thier children to boarding schools in England when they get older. I sent my children abroad for thier education.

[sead]

WOW!!

[Deserted]

Enjoy your child, OP!

Don't worry about the cost if you can aford this.

But I have a question for you;

Why do you post a question about your child, the same way I would post a question about the cost of driving my truck.

Have a nice day.

Its just a casual enquiry, nothing more.

[Happy Grumpy]

My 4 year old boy, 20-40bht in snacks each day, school 200bht/month (inc school bus and 4 uniforms).

You let the school bus take care of transporting your 4 yr old?

Teenage girl, around 4,000-6,000bht a month. (she drives a m/c to school),

You're happy letting a teenage girl ride a m/c to and from school on Thai roads?

[cyberfarang]

Not comparing a dog with a child just giving an example.

Have 2 dogs and they cost me from 8000 baht to 10000 baht a month. Reason is that they are old now and unable to digest normal meat and veg diets any more. Don`t trust the cheap tinned food sold in stores and I buy the Hills Prescription tinned dog food supplemented by the Hills Prescription dry dog food from the animal hospital. Plus their vets bills, vitamins and other necessitates works out expensive. My Thai neighbours have dogs and their dogs are just given left over scrapes of food and rice, so their dogs probably cost them next to nothing a month.

My message is, any decent parent would not be counting the costs for their children. There are always cheaper alternatives but like my dogs that I love to pieces, I would want the best for my children. Best food money can buy, best clothes and the best education, in fact the best of everything. I think a parent asking about how much money to maintain their child is very odd.

[mrwebb8825]

You might try potting training the poor kid and stop buying diapers for 1. I will never understand people in Thailand (or anywhere else) with kids 2-5yrs old wearing diapers and sucking on bottles.

[gamini]

Not comparing a dog with a child just giving an example.

Have 2 dogs and they cost me from 8000 baht to 10000 baht a month. Reason is that they are old now and unable to digest normal meat and veg diets any more. Don`t trust the cheap tinned food sold in stores and I buy the Hills Prescription tinned dog food supplemented by the Hills Prescription dry dog food from the animal hospital. Plus their vets bills, vitamins and other necessitates works out expensive. My Thai neighbours have dogs and their dogs are just given left over scrapes of food and rice, so their dogs probably cost them next to nothing a month.

My message is, any decent parent would not be counting the costs for their children. There are always cheaper alternatives but like my dogs that I love to pieces, I would want the best for my children. Best food money can buy, best clothes and the best education, in fact the best of everything. I think a parent asking about how much money to maintain their child is very odd.

a nice post for a change. Interesting about your dogs. I see you are an animal lover like us. The only problem is that my wife feeds our dogs better than she feeds me.

[FritsSikkink]

Hi all, I was wondering how much people pay to keep their child a month. We have a 3 year old and make sure he has more than enough clothes and spoil him a little. I've noticed that we spend about 12k a month on everything, food, nappies and so on. But then I thought the average Thai child can't have that much spent on them as the average wage is around 8k. I know some people who only pay 3k but then their children wear the same clothes all the time and eat basic food, and we don't want that.

Does 12k seem to much to be spending on a child per month or is that about right?

the minimum wage is around 8k, not the average