Raising Kids...without breaking the bank

Designer label baby clothes, the latest pram with suspension wheels, school fees, tennis lessons, birthday parties the cost of having kids can really add up.

Whether you're expecting your first child, or juggling the demands of three teenagers, everyone can do with a little money advice when it comes to raising kids. Raising Kids without breaking the bank will help you to:

* weigh up the real costs of returning to work, hiring a nanny or signing up for day care at a childcare centre;

* find out what, if any, government assistance or tax breaks you qualify for;

* budget for the big ticket items, such as school fees, glasses and orthodontic treatment;

* decide when to start giving your kids pocket money, how much and what to say when they ask for more; and most of all

* save money on all those extras music lessons, school excursions, maths tutoring, and so on.

Raising kids doesn't have to mean sacrificing everything. With a little sensible planning, you'll find that you can give your kids the best in life without breaking the bank.