Margot and Pierre, 3,901 euros and 3 children: “it is more practical to buy him new clothes”

How much does it really cost to take care of one or more children each month? What is the parents’ budget? Do the expenses incurred change according to the age of the children? Each week, in our “When We Love, We Matter” meeting, parents open their accounts and share with us how much one or more children cost them, monthly.

This week it’s Margot and Pierre to lend themselves to the exercise.

The income of Margot and Pierre, with three children

• First name: Margo and Pietro

• Age: 35 years both

• Professions: Part-time freelance nurse / night watchman

• Total net family budget: € 3901

• Number of children: Three children aged 4, 6 and 9

• Place of life: House on the outskirts of Nancy

Margot and Pierre have been in a relationship for 12 years and have been married for 6 years. Together they have three boys: 9-year-old Robin, 6-year-old Liam and 4-year-old Alan. All five live under the same roof, in a 130 sqm terraced house with a garden, on the outskirts of Nancy. Nursery, primary and university schools are less than 300 meters from their home. Margot and Pierre own their property, which they pay on credit.

Between them Margot and Pierre win 3400 € per monthand touch € 501 family allowances and family supplements. They have no other external income.

Each month, the couple pays € 1486 loan, including the repayment of the house, the purchase of a minivan and the insurance that accompanies these credits. They also consume € 12 water, € 41 electricity and € 131 gas.

Childcare expenses for their children

After explaining their total income, Margot and Pierre share the sums spent to equip themselves with baby equipment for their three children.

In total, the couple spent € 120 for two bouncers, two multi-position chairs for € 400a combined stroller equipped with carrycot and bedside table for € 500two activity mats for € 120 in total, a baby bath and a reclining chair for the bathroom € 100baby bottles – but without being able to quantify them, three car seats for a budget of € 600 as well as two cane strollers, one a € 60 and another a € 99.

Many objects were given to them when their children were born, such as an umbrella bed, a changing bag, but also the furniture of a bedroom complete with bed, wardrobe and changing table. All these objects will be served to the three children.

Hygiene side, as they are older, children no longer consume special baby products. They use basic products, common to the whole family, such as bubble bath, toothpaste and toothbrushes, a few wipes, to a monthly budget of around € 10.

The level of health, only 9-year-old Robin, costs him € 15for the rest to be paid eyeglasses. Enrolled parents a mortgage for their three children, a total of € 92this amount also includes a visit to the hairdresser every 2 months for each.

Food expenses for the couple and their children

As for the purchase of food for their children, Margot and Pierre explain that only the youngest of the family eat in the canteen 4 days a week, which corresponds to 18 meals a month. € 3.24.

Robin and Liam only eat in the canteen once a week, because they come home from school alone, being in elementary school. For them, the meal amounts to € 3.24, 4 to 5 times a month.

As for food spending, the pair fluctuates monthly between € 350 and € 450. Children all eat the same thing.

Margot and Pierre are not fooled by their children in supermarkets, as they shop almost exclusively in drive-thru, for brands like Cora or Match.

Sometimes they are asked in advance if they have special wishes, but without necessarily taking them into account.

The couple does not follow strict rules of quality, price or practicality, but tries to buy fruits and vegetables that are as French and organic as possible.

We buy very little red meat, little white meat or cold cuts without nitrite, and we buy few other organic products, such as milk breads and brioche. When we start a drive order, it is always revolving around all promotions.

Shopping for clothes and toys for the couple and their children

As for the three boys’ clothing budget, Margot and Pierre explain that they buy new clothes only for the first-born, and reuse everything for the siblings, even if that means replacing worn parts with new ones if necessary.

We prefer to invest in something new for the older ones rather than for the younger ones. We generally do two or three large orders a year to dress them, and it is therefore more practical to buy new ones, to restock from the same place.

Blunt throughout the year, the budget for children’s clothing is estimated at 75 € per month.

As for toys and games, the couple prefers second-hand, but does not hesitate to make new purchases, according to the wishes of the children:

It all depends on what they want and availability. This week, for example, we started Christmas shopping and it’s mostly second hand. We mainly buy Lego and there is little wear and tear.

Monthly, Margot and Pierre estimate the expense € 60 of toys and € 10 of books per month.

The budget for activities and childcare

Before going to school, the children were looked after by a nanny until the age of three. Once at school, Margot and Pierre didn’t need to look after them after school, as their working hours allowed them to pick them up and pick them up from school.

Sometimes we both work on Saturdays and Sundays, and in these cases they are looked after by grandparents who are very young retirees.

Their nursery budget therefore depends on them 0 €.

As for children’s activities, parents adapt to their wishes:

Only the older ones practice a sport, kickboxing, and for this year we are lucky! In fact, according to the club’s treasury, re-enrollment only cost € 25 for the year, which corresponds to the license price, instead of 110 €. Being our second child more creative than sporty, unfortunately we have not found a suitable laboratory for him. Finally, Alan, having just turned 4 in September, is still small and hasn’t shown any particular interest in a discipline.

Margot and Pierre explain that they offer their children thematic outings, in structures such as trampoline parkpool rides or rides, for a budget of € 40 per month.

Pocket money and transmission of the value of money

The couple talks about the relationship with money in their family, what they have been passed on and their current relationship with their children. For Pierre, money was never an issue in his family:

I come from a family of two children and I believe we never lacked for anything, our two parents worked. Money never seemed like a problem to them, although I later learned they had financial problems, so they chose to keep us, I guess.

For Margot, it’s not the same family background:

I come from a family of three and only my father worked until the age of 12: my mother became a nanny in our home at that time. I did not suffer from a particular lack. However, I immediately felt that you couldn’t have it all and that you had to make choices, save and wait. I have often had the impression that when I had something, my parents had to deprive themselves of themselves in order to make me (us) happy.

For the couple, the topic of money is not a taboo, and they can talk about it with their children, who are not particularly interested:

Talking about money is absolutely not taboo, but they really don’t care. When we talk to them about it, it’s usually to get them a little down to earth and let them know that others are less fortunate than they are.

For Margot and Pierre, money and its value are not the most important topics, they see further:

More than the value of money, it is the way the world turns that we teach them that almost everything has a cost, be it electricity, water, bicycles, toys, etc.

The fact that there are three also implies fairness, and they are told that the cost for one is not the same as three children, or five, as a family.

The couple does not give their children pocket money and does not see, for the moment, the meaning of the process. They have opened three booklets A they provide when they can, with what they have. To date, each child has little more than € 400 placed.

At the end of the month there are 1365 € to the couple. A sum they use to pay € 140 personal insurance, € 400 shopping for adults, € 50 reciprocal, € 125 property tax e € 100 gas.

When the total amount spent only for their children in addition, Margot and Pierre spend € 866 monthly.

Thanks to them for answering our questions!

Photo credit image of one: Getty Images