Teen years for sure!!! I used to buy entire seasonal wardrobes at rummage sales or 2nd hand stores for each child on less than $50(when they were infants/toddlers), cost me about that much now for one pair of shoes for each!

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"Go on, get outside, get the stink blown off ya!!"

Definitely teens!!! Though my 22 yr old can be pretty expensive too

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~Happiness is a large family~

definately teen years....ds will be 14 next week and he eats enough for three kids PER DAY..and he wears mens medium size now and has size 12 feet !! ( where he puts all the food he eats i have no idea...he is a bean pole!!)

wow------I guess I better start to put more money away for the teen years. I thought it was expensive now---but everyone makes a good point and I definately see why teens would be the most expensive

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"Families are like fudge... mostly sweet with a few nuts."
~Unknown~

For us I have totally seen their expenses go up as they have gotten older!!

I can only imagine that going even higher!!

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Grace

Wife to Stoney

Mommy of Sarah (8.5), Hannah (7), and John(5)

Forgot to mention the teenager's phone bills......yeah that's about the same cost as a 3 month supply of newborn diapers! lol

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"Go on, get outside, get the stink blown off ya!!"

I am with you fergy78. I need to figure out how to make more before then. 2.5 is easy she hasn't started wanting things.
Babies have the initial start up cost so they could be the most expensive ask anyone who doesn't have health inurance and has a premature baby.
Alot depends on what you do with your child. For example I spend more on gas because I am toting my tot to playdates but less because I have 100% handme downs.
Yes it will go up but you also have some say. A Cell phone in my opinion is a want and not a need. We hit teens and we started babysitting for our clothes and activities.
Yes they will eat more but at the same time a teen can do more to earn there keep. Also look at activites if your teen plays 6 differents sports or activities you are constendly have fees and expences but if you limit them to one activity at a time or will only pay for one at a time it can be less.
So It depends on the kid still in general I think teens are the most expensive category with the exception of if you have a very sick baby or child.

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Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006