Cost of Parenthood: $221,190

Posted by Miss Cellania in Baby & Kids, Money & Finance on August 5, 2009 at 3:23 pm

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is apparently concerned with more than raising crops, has announced that the estimated cost of raising a child born in 2008 from birth to age 18 is $221,190. If you adjust for expected inflation before the child reaches adulthood, that figure is $291,570. Your mileage may vary.

The report by USDA’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion notes that family income affects child rearing costs. A family earning less than $56,870 per year can expect to spend a total of $159,870 (in 2008 dollars) on a child from birth through high school. Similarly, parents with an income between $56,870 and $98,470 can expect to spend $221,190; and a family earning more than $98,470 can expect to spend $366,660. In 1960, a middle-income family could have expected to spend $25,230 ($183,509 in 2008 dollars) to raise a child through age seventeen.

When you consider the income levels in these calculations, it doesn’t seem all that bad. Many families spend more than that on a house. Then again, the child’s shelter expense is the biggest item on the total bill, comprising 32% of the total. Link -via J-Walk Blog

(image credit: Flickr user Matt Stratton)

 
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The Problem of Money in Star Trek Economy

Posted by Alex in Money & Finance, Movies & SciFi on March 29, 2009 at 2:17 am

Warp coils and photon torpedoes aside, have you ever thought of the weird fact that there’s no money in Star Trek? Or how people get stuff done in real life when they can just … erhm, enjoy what the holodeck can offer?

Our very own John who blog at The Zeray Gazette has, and he’s given it some serious thoughts:

… my usual interpretation of the economics of Star Trek: they were unrealistic, as they eliminated the first law of economics — scarcity. Thanks to the replicator, there is virtually no need to manufacture anything. Although there were a few objects, such as latinum or yamok sauce, that could not be replicated, there was essentially nothing that your replicator could not provide for you — including more replicators.

Link

Come to think of it – how would a money-less economics of the future a la Star Trek work? Who’ll do the scut work?

 
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