When you put together all the factors that go into raising your kids such as food, housing, school and countless other expenses, it all adds up.

A recent government report shows middle income families can expect to spend over 200-thousand-dollars from the time a child is born until their 18th birthday.
Holly Jackson is the mother of two and is the owner and director of Creations of a Child Daycare. She knows first hand how expensive it can be just to feed your family.
Jackson: "Groceries are a big one. Myself, and for my family of four. We spend close to 900 dollars a month on groceries".
What the study did not show was all the other expenditures that go into kids such as dance class, basketball camps, vacations and so on.
Jackson: "Sometimes you want to give your child everything you can, but its just not possible".
But one financial advisor says that it is possible to get ahead *if you start early.
Scott Auvil, Financial Planner: "You have to plan".
Auvil used me as an example since it's fairly common for a person at my age to start a family.
We went over the rising cost of inflation added with the value of the dollar. Scott explained that with all my expenses, it's time for me to start saving now.
Auvil: "You have all these expenses that if you're not careful add up and eat away at the amount of money you could be putting away for retirement. It's always easier to spend today than it is to save for tomorrow".

One thing to keep in mind is that the two hundred thousand dollars does *not include the cost of sending your child to college. So start saving now.