Sorry if you’re looking for an actuarial study, there isn’t one yet. I just thought it would be a fun exercise to see how much it would cost to raise one child over 18 years. (Of course in my idea of the world, the child leaves the home at 18.) I’ll give you my estimates as a clueless childfree person, then you can tell me how far off the mark I am.
- Pregnancy and childbirth: 100,000 PHP
- First 5 years (doctors, vaccines, diapers, formula milk, etc): 10,000/month x 12 months x 5 years = 600,000 PHP
- Tuition fee under K-12: 40,000 x 12 years = 480,000 PHP
- College tuition (UP Bracket A estimate): 60,000/year x 4 years (you hope) = 240,000 PHP
- Living expenses for 13 years: 5,000/month x 12 months x 16 years = 780,000 PHP
Total Cost: 2,200,000 PHP
The average number of children in the Philippines is 3.06 children born/woman (2014 est.), so that’s 6,600,000 PHP.
And that’s just the children. There’s also mortgages, your own expenses, trips, medical expenses, and so on.
I’m sure the following things are going through your mind:
- That doesn’t matter if you have a good job.
- That doesn’t matter if you marry a stable person.
- That doesn’t matter because children are a reward in themselves.
In which case, good for you! You’re ready to have children and you’re going to have a wonderful life with them! You can go on and read this article on why it’s awesome to raise children in the PH.
But please don’t give childfree people these arguments.
As a childfree person living on an average salary, it does matter. It matters very much. Because these are very real costs that impact on every aspect of life and freedom. I can’t live on sentimentality and “family values,” I have things I need to do and places I need to be. That very low estimate of 6+ million can help me achieve so many of my own goals. Basically, what I’m saying given these costs is, I’ll leave the childbearing and child-rearing up to you guys! 🙂
The Childfree Filipina 
O_O I bet that 3 kids/woman is much lower than in the not-so-distant past! I don’t know what 6.6 million is in Australian dollars but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a similar cost to having children here. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that a college buddy got herself pregnant in her final year; partly because careers in natural health are not very secure when you’re just starting out (you usually begin self employed with few clients and/or with a casual job in a health food store, I have the latter and am always on my best behaviour).
LikeLike
Nice ❤️👌🏻
LikeLike
My exact sentiments, as a 42 yrs old child free woman i totally agree. I know ive taken the less travelled road but trust me i have never looked back with regrets. I have travelled around the globe, lived in 7 different countries and have an almost nomadic life. Got nothing against kids but i like to be mobile. To be able to go at the drop of a hat plus im just not the maternal type. Anyways, to all those who plan to have a childfree life … never be afraid to take the less trodden path. Having a childfree life for me is the best decision ive ever made. Best thing is that i am healthy and look 10yrs younger, probably because i dont have much stress 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you for this! Definitely gives me something to look forward to.
LikeLike
i am glad for this post. It may seem like a selfish response, but for me, its best to not have children if you can’t afford it. I’ve seen children suffer through so much because their parents can’t even afford to feed them, much less give them education and a proper and healthy upbringing. its sad that people can’t see this in the philippines. People “value life” so much here, but is it really valuing life if the children are suffering and dying anyway? why let them go through all that in the first place?
LikeLike
btw.. i posted about this on a blog that I just started :3
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww! Thank you so much! I also read that you’re tokophobic too. “but when he asked me if I wanted to “get better or get over my fears” I honestly said ” no.. I don’t want to get better “ but not because I enjoy panicking and having anxiety attacks, I mean who does? O.O but somehow, I just know that this is who I am and I wouldn’t really go about changing that…” I relate to this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: [In response to] the Cost of Raising Children in the Philippines (childfreefilipina) | My Abstract Jigsaw Puzzled Mind
Am I the only one reading this in 2017? Feels great to know there are like-minded individuals in this country. I’m married but don’t plan on having kids anytime soon. I’m 25 (soon 26!) but I feel like there’s still more to life for me than popping out a little human being I have to be 101% responsible for. I mean, I have nothing against babies and in fact I find them cute most of the time. It’s just I feel like I’m not going to enjoy it as much as others claim to, and it would be very unfair for the would-be child if I’d feel any regret not being able to do what I want because of her/him. If you know what I mean y’all.
LikeLike
I have to totally disagree with this post, it is however right about the pricing of somethings. 1st off I’d like to point out that 10.000p per month for the first 5 years is ridiculous that alone is 600.000 which is crazy. I have spent a total of 100k Php from birth until now for my daughter who is 5. Ill do my break down of prices so far.
Pregnancy and childbirth: 20,000php (Midwife)
First 5 years (doctors, vaccines, diapers, formula milk, etc): 7000php /month x 12 = 84,000 per year x 5 = 420,000
Titution I can only speak of pre-K – 5 it does increase every year with book fees and this is private school, public is cheaper but not as great.
Tuition fee under K-5: 5000php
college, my daughter better go to the U.S and get some loans like I did, or join the military for free school. I will be retired and if I don’t have 1 million USD in my bank she has no college.
Living expense, there is none extra maybe I pay 3000php more every month for food, water and other things in house.
Im American and have child in Cebu, yes its expensive, but not as expensive as the USA.
LikeLike