Opinion: Back to school costs no easy feat for parents

Back to School costs can be high. The Wilton family (l-r) Adam 12, Kirsten, and Isabella 13

No one says having children is easy.

In fact, it is probably the hardest thing you'll ever do.

Aside from the challenges and triumphs of raising a child, each age bracket also has its costs, with IRD estimating that by the time a child reaches 18, you will have spent $250,000.

That estimate was made in 2009. With ever-growing technology demands, I'd wager that figure is considerably higher now.

In a land of "free education" many parents would agree most of that $250,000 is spent during the schooling years of a child.

And with the new school year fast approaching, there will be one thing on their mind - back to school costs.

What used to be a stationery list of 50c HB pencils and $1 exercise books, now, for many, contains a $400 Chromebook.

Put on top of that uniforms, school donations and camp fees, and you've spent hundreds to get your child ready for their first day.

It's easy to sit back and tell parents to plan ahead or buy stuff throughout the year, but when you're living week to week, that's not always realistic.

And it's also not helpful when people who raised their children 20 years ago chime in with, "It was never this hard when I was raising my children - you've got your priorities wrong".

Because the majority of parents don't have their priorities wrong - the reality is, raising a child (and in particular, putting them through schooling) in 1998 was cheaper than it is in 2018.

I don't have a magic solution to make this time of year easier for parents, just take solace in knowing every other year you have managed back to school costs, and this year will be no different.