The Bottom Line

Mr. and Mrs. Surly better do some math before they go down the reproductive road. ^{Hat Tip Instapundit}

Escalating kid spending is more rampant among wealthier households, so we used the government's top-third income bracket as a starting point. We also added some costs that aren't included in that government calculation, such as college-savings plans, which a growing number of households are setting up for their kids.

We placed all these expenses on a spectrum, from those that parents and experts say are the most common, up to more unusual -- and costly -- frills. At the lowest end, our estimates came in at about $800,000 (in 2007 dollars) through the age of 17. Add in extras like private school, a nanny and a flat-screen TV set in a kid's bedroom, and that figure climbs to $1.6 million.

Eight hundred thousand dollars??? What are you, out of your freakin' mind???!!!

All you suckers can squeeze out all the puppies you want. While you're depending on your surly, likely drug addicted progeny to pick out a nice nursing home for you, Kid Various will be putting away for his skiing retirement at Lake Tahoe.

It's mine you understand?

All mine!

Go! Go! Go!

Down! Down! Down!

Mine! Mine! Mine!

I'm rich! I'm a happy miser!