Three Moms and a Single is a facebook page run by, well, by three moms and a single. These ladies, one of whom is a regular reader and commenter here at A Million Miles from Normal, write about all sorts of interesting issues that might be relevant to a mom, or sometimes to a single. It’s a good site full of interesting info, so check it out if it sounds like it floats your boat and you get a sec.
Anyway the reason I mention them is that one of their current articles is based on a study released recently by the USDA, that middle-income parents spend a total of $222,360 to raise one child through the age of 17.
That folks, is a grand total of R1.67164089 million. Yup almost two million South African Ronds.
So, since I’m usually pretty single, and don’t think I ever want children of my own (would be potentially cruel to inflict these dodgy genes on another generation), I thought I’d do a little study of what I could buy for the R1.67164089 million I won’t be spending on a 0-17 year old.
Now please don’t get me wrong, I love children. I have twelve nieces and nephews who I’m crazy about and all my friends have some of the most gorgeous kids in the world. So I’m not a baby hater, I just don’t choose to go down that road myself. So, now that we’ve got that sorted, let’s take a look.
People, if this study is anything to go by, I could have a seventeen year old or I could have one of these:
(thanks gav)
Or
Courtesy of Pam Golding, I could have this charming Victorian cottage in Claremont, Cape Town (Three bedrooms, two bathrooms):
Or 52 of these:
(At around R30k a pop.)
Or a good couple of weeks here:
Or 5 572 grams of cocaine:
Or
You had me at, R8! 🙂
AUDI-AUDI-AUDI-AUDI-AUDI-AUDI(*breathe*)AUDI-AUDI-AUDI-AUDI-AUDI-AUDI-AUDI…
Dear goodness. *quietly revises life plan*
I’m glad I won’t be having kids then!
what do i get with 3 (three) kids?
a fighter jet maybe? or a … yacht?
i’ll post them to you later, let me know 🙂
ah fame at last…
R8 no good to me, fighter jet neither as no boot space…
what about an island – could we buy a small island? I could go for that… and as I’m about to have my 2nd, theoretically I have double the amount to spend…
Bwahahahaha abraxas, cash on delivery. NOT.
I love that you want a fighter jet. It’s such a guy thing to want.
Lood – I’m with you dude.
liquid pixel – it is gorgeous, right?
Deems – I couldn’t have written that last line without you. You win an imaginary R8.
Peatree – thank you so much for the inspiration for this post. sadly not enough for a small island (unless it’s really really tiny, more like a rock in the middle of the ocean i suppose) but carry on having kids, and then we can rack up more $ and trade up for the slightly bigger island/rock in a few years time. plan?
I Love you blog, Paige … its brilliant, funny as hell and well …. brilliant! Well done! Now if I had read this say three years ago instead of frolicking on the banks of the Orange River with a German Tourist … well then I might be living in a nice little house or driving a sexy little car … BUT reality is: I have a German husband and a 2.6 year old son whos shoes size almost matches mine. Perhaps I will reconsider the second child … or maybe not 🙂 Thanks for posting on our facebook page, its great to have the support and please comment as much as you like! Lee-Ann from Three Moms and a Single(Jason’s sister remember???)
As the ‘Single’ in 3 Moms and a… I can only say HELL YEAH for the car, cottage, holiday etc 🙂
Thanks for breaking my most excellent decision not to have kids down into a cold hard wishlist!
Hi Lee-Anne, of course i remember you. thanks so much for swinging by. Didn’t know you had a 2.6 year old. Your boet is seriously slack in the info dept.
Loving three moms and a single. v. v. interesting.
@Birgit – hi *waves enthusiastically* – i’m so with you on the cold hard wishlist!