It’s no surprise that raising children can be expensive, but how much that little bundle of joy will cost in the long run can be surprising.

Last August the U.S. Department of Agriculture released Expenditures on Children By Families, a report that found middle-incomefamilies with a child born in 2008 can anticipate to spend $291,570on their child until they reach age 17. This includes food, shelter and other expenses.

Resources such as The Navy Marine Corps Relief Society’s Budget for Baby class helps Marines and their spouses take a look at theirfinances and plan for the expenses a baby will bring.

‘‘A budget helps you become a wise consumer,” said Carey Shott, a NMCRS volunteer and military spouse for more than 20 years.

During the class, participants take a close look at their finances,including debt and estimated food cost when the baby arrives. The NMCRS suggests parents should ask themselves questions such as, ‘‘what they can afford, what is safe, do I really need to buy this, what can I find second hand and does my baby needs this?” Asking questions such like those can help keep thing in perspective while shopping for a baby.

According to the report, housing is the largest expense when raising a child; Expenditures reports 32 percent of the total cost goes to housing. Food and childcare⁄education were second with 16 percent and transportation third with14 percent. These estimates do not include the cost of a college education.

‘‘You should always pay yourself first,” said Shott.

Paying yourself first helps build a savings account in case of an emergency. Other ways to save are shopping at the commissary instead of local grocery stores and using coupons.

Mothers who meet income restrictions can enroll in Women Infants and Children, a federal program that provides nutrition education for breastfeeding, non-breastfeeding postpartum women, infants and children until age five.

Some information provided by NMCRS states breastfeeding will cost average $150 to $300 per year, depending on how long the baby is breastfed. In comparison, formula will average $1,350 to $2,160 ann-ually depending on the type of formula the baby will need. Not long after the baby is born, parents will need to factor in additional food costs once the baby begins to eat solid food, around six months of age.

Either way, using resources such as the commissary, coupons and WIC will help cut some costs associated with feeding a baby.

Diapers are another expense that can average $600 to $1,000 per year. Although there a different diapering methods, parents have to consider what is more cost effective for their family. Cloth diapers may save money, but they have to be washed, which will cause utility costs to rise. Similar to formula, shopping at the commissary and comparing the price of diapers at local stores may help save some money.

Childcare costs are also on the rise and in a report entitled, The Three Faces of Work-Family Conflict The Poor, the Professionals, and the Missing Middle, released in January, ‘‘30 percent of American families try to get by on a median annual income of $19,000, earning less than $35,000 dollars a year.”

A family earning less than $35,000 a year may spend more than 10,000 a year on childcare.

Organizations such as the National Association of Child CareResource & Referral Agencies can help military families cut down on the costs of childcare in their local area. NACCRRA can also helplocate childcare and home daycare providers in the area for a family.

For more information on Budget for Baby classes call 703-784-9754. For information on WIC visit ⁄www.fns.usda.gov⁄wic⁄ to find your local WIC office. For information on childcare subsidy contact NACCRA at 703-341-4100.

—Correspondent tiffiney.wertz.ctr@usmc.mil