Moneymakeover Cost of kid(s) at various ages

I agree
We didn’t let them work during school term, aside from tennis coaching or assisting at martial arts classes. There is enough on already. School days can be long and sports and music etc take up a fair bit of the weekend.

The money soon went on clothes and phones
 
blackdog said:
I think what we're saying is that upon reaching teenage years the child wants "discretionaries" but has not yet had the opportunity to learn "to consume discretionaries one must produce", etc. and therefore has no real way to regulate their demands.
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That's where the word "no" comes in useful again.

Pocket money, sure. Birthday and Christmas presents sure. Every shiny thing you want because the other kids have it? Feck off, that's just not happening, and if you really want it enough you can save from your pocket money.

I don't think I'd have any issue with summer jobs if they can find them.

Experiences are something we're already happy to buy though- memories are more valuable and last longer than material things. I'd guess our child will be more likely to blow their money on holidays than fancy clothes or a fancy car when they're older. Which is fine because I agree with Mark Twain that travel is the best education.
 
Don't assume that just because you're based in Dublin, your child will go to university in Dublin! We're about to wave goodbye to one who is heading west. Accomodation + living expenses will be easily 1.2k p.m.
 
Truffade what was the reason for the move? was it personal preference or was it that the course could only be done in the west?
 
As a parent of a 17 year old boy and 14 year old girl, I am seeing the costs of teenagers. And mine aren't demanding or looking after the expensive clothes.

  1. Braces. All kids have great teeth now. If their teeth aren't a mess, you won't qualify for the HSE and have to pay for them yourself. €4,000 in today's money.
  2. Secondary school. It's up to you on whether you send them to fee paying or not. My son's fees this year with all the extras was €9,300
  3. 3rd level is about €3,500 in fees. If they have to move away, you have rent, food etc. How much that is depends on where they stay.
  4. 1st year and TY - expect big outlays for these years. 1st year you have to get all the new school gear. TY has loads of activities including a ski trip. It cost me an additional €4k that year.
  5. Grinds - this can be an additional cost if your kid is struggling in any particular subject (usually maths)
  6. Clothes - they were adult clothes as teenagers and you have to pay the cost. Some kids are mad into labels and matching gear (thankfully mine aren't).
  7. Sport - if your kid is into sport, the costs can add up. If they pick up injuries, you can be spending money on physios all the time. Then you have boots and gear that you'll need loads of.
That's just the costs that spring to mind, there's loads of other costs that spring up all the time.

and on part time jobs, it is much more difficult for kids to get part time jobs these days, 16 year old especially. There's so many chains these days, they do all their job prospecting online. Which for a kid looking for their first job is always hard to stand out on. They aren't allowed sell alcohol or cigarettes if they are under 18 years of age. A lot of other places want kids to work when they go back to school. With school, sport and study, there isn't any time for them to work too. My son was lucky in getting a job this summer in a garden centre, especially seeing as we had a nice summer and he got to work outdoors.
 
My oldest is starting out in college .
9,800 for lottery system cheap campus accommodation . 11800 if your looking for non lottery . Fees 3k. So all in first year at college will roughly be 18k . Times 4 .
Second is in leaving cert .
Overall late teenagers to me are the most expensive . They no longer get cinema, matches, travel at kids rates. Also night out are more expensive .
 
Homewardbound11 said:
9,800 for lottery system cheap campus accommodation . 11800 if your looking for non lottery . Fees 3k. So all in first year at college will roughly be 18k . Times 4 .
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Yes, huge costs.
For somebody like the OP I find it impossible to predict whether these college costs will still be justifiable 10+ years from now for three quarters of school leavers (as per current uptake). It may become increasingly hard to sacrifice 4 entire adult years trying to "build a moat around yourself" in a world of accelerating technological development/skill obsolescence and where knowledge jobs can be increasingly outsourced to cheaper locations abroad. Who knows.
 
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There will still be a need for teachers, nurses, doctors, physios etc. If your kids are that way inclined its necessary to plan for that.
 
A lot of my UK friends have spent a lot of 3rd level for their kids. The tradition of going away, living on campus etc added to 12k fees means the kids mostly have student loans as well as parental funding.

Most of our friends saved from birth for this. Others weren’t in a position to do so.

The graduates who go on to well paid professions will get over it. Others not so much.
 
Homewardbound11 said:
9,800 for lottery system cheap campus accommodation . 11800 if your looking for non lottery . Fees 3k. So all in first year at college will roughly be 18k .
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Annieindublin said:
The tradition of going away, living on campus etc added to 12k fees means the kids mostly have student loans as well as parental funding.
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And suddenly our offspring's investment account doesn't look at all like a ridiculously over-funded insurance policy against being forced to work an extra 5 years.
 
With regard to third level fees (and, in some cases, maintenance), bear in mind that the SUSI grant scheme is pretty generous with households with under €115K reckonable income qualifying for some level of grant.

Undergraduate Income Thresholds and Grant Award Rates

What are the SUSI grant award rates and income thresholds for Undergraduate students
www.susi.ie www.susi.ie

Irish Times - "[SUSI] Grants extended to students with household incomes of up to €115K"

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/education/2025/04/03/grants-extended-to-students-with-household-incomes-of-up-to-115000/ (Not paywalled for me at the moment...) https://www.susi.ie/news/susi-is-now-open-for-new-applications-for-academic-year-202526/
www.askaboutmoney.com
 
At 115k the grant is 500 EUR. Study carefully the rates and income limits before including SUSI grants as part of college funding planning, especially adjacent and non adjacent rates.
 
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