By Ripeka Timutimu
We all know raising a child costs big money - but how big exactly?
One study found by the age of 18, one child will have chewed up almost $250,000 of your hard earned money.
But can a baby survive on the bare essentials? Getting set up is costly but that's only the beginning.
Childcare is another cost to add to the growing mountain of expenses and a recent report showed New Zealand two-parent families were spending 29 percent of their incomes on their preschoolers' day care.
Emily, a parenting blogger, says there is definitely pressure and you're given the idea you have to have all these different things to make your baby happy. Products are marketed as a necessity rather than a luxury.
So is it worth it as a business venture? As an investment in someone who will hopefully look after you later in life?
Story got the calculator out.
Watch the video for the full Story report.