by Nadya Williams (@NadyaWilliams81)
How much does it really cost to raise kids these days? At a minimum, normal family budgets must account for the weekly grocery bill, clothing and shoes that get regularly destroyed or outgrown, and such miscellaneous needs as child care and schooling-related expenses, medical care, and (in my family) books. I’m not mentioning basics like rent or mortgage and transportation costs, which often increase for families with children. But it turns out that when it comes to the costs of raising kids, normal is relative.
Last month, the Wall Street Journal ran a piece on kids’ sushi habits that are destroying family finances:
‘I see omakase customers as young as 6 years old,’ says David Seo, the chef and owner of Shumi, a sushi restaurant with two New Jersey locations. Seo said his restaurants are packed during the hours of 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. with families paying $95 a head to eat 15 sushi pieces. ”The parents say it’s a reward for finishing homework,’ Seo said.”
