Having a little one to snuggle up with at the end of the day makes life better, but it’ll cost you. Whether you’ve got baby cravings or long for a cuddly, four-legged “furbaby,” there’s a lot to buy before you bring your new addition home. We would never dare to declare a winner in the baby versus pet wars, but we can help you plan for the financial implications of adding a new member to your family.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a cat person, a dog person, or a baby person—we’ve got the numbers you need to get started. We looked at the average cost of taking home a bundle of joy (fur-covered or not) so you can know exactly what you’re getting into (stinky messes and sleepless nights aside).
We didn’t include medical costs or adoption fees in our comparison, but those can make a big impact on how expensive the first year is. If you’re ready to open your home (and heart) to a new family member, here are some tips to ease the sticker shock.
Both pets and babies enrich our lives and give back to us so much that we don’t mind the cost of taking care of them. But why not be smart about it and do what you can to minimize expenses? Use these charts and tips to estimate how much your new addition will set you back—and find ways to save without skimping on your baby.
SafeWise calculated the average cost of the highest-rated Amazon products for each essential item listed. From there we estimated the annual cost for recurring needs such as diapers or food, and we used this information to find the total amounts. We excluded hospital costs and adoption fees because these vary depending on individual circumstances.