Children absorb a third of the average monthly family expenditure: forced to give up 6 out of 10 parents

This gives food for thought, especially when it comes to identifying policies and solutions that can guarantee support for families. Five out of 10 Italians have children living with them; of those over 18, almost half are totally dependent on their parents. On average, children absorb one third of the average monthly family expenditure, mainly on clothing and footwear, school books, sports activities and meals out. But for a third of families, spending on children accounts for between 40% and 70% of the family budget.

To sustain these expenses, 6 out of 10 parents are forced to renounce purchases for themselves, go to restaurants and cut back on holidays; while 3 out of 10 have had to impose sacrifices on their children for purchases of clothing, a new smartphone and outings with friends. The photograph is taken by the FragilItalia Report "The cost of having children", drawn up by Area Studi Legacoop and Ipsos, based on the results of an analysis conducted on a representative sample of the Italian population (800 cases aged 18 and over) to test their opinions on the subject.

As mentioned, half (48%) of the respondents say they have children living with them. In the case of adult children (19% are between 19 and 25 years old; 23% over 25), almost half (47%) are totally dependent on their parents, while 29% work and contribute to the family expenses. It should be emphasised that 24% of children aged 18 and over, while working and not burdening the family budget, continue to live with the family, a clear sign of the persistent difficulty for young people to meet the cost of renting or buying an independent home.

Spending on children represents, on average, 34% of the average monthly family expenditure; in more detail, 51% of families allocate between 21% and 40% of their spending to children; 32% between 40% and 70%; 17% between 10% and 20%. Clothing (63%), textbooks and school books (51%), shoes, bags and accessories and sporting activities (48%), meals out (46%), followed by school supplies, medical expenses, entertainment and mobility (all at 45%) are at the top of the list of items that have the greatest impact. Four out of ten (41%) indicate expenses for school, university and kindergarten fees. Children's expenses weigh, above all, on the household budget of parents under 30, for whom the first three items indicated reach values of 73%, 62% and 54% respectively; of island residents (70% and 59% for positions 2 and 3); of working class families (69% and 60%).

Not infrequent are the cases of renunciations made by families to meet necessary expenses for their children. 66% of parents have given up buying something for themselves (31% often, 34% sometimes); 60% have given up going to restaurants (26% often, 34% sometimes) and cut back on holiday time (25% and 35%); 58% on buying a new car. 51% (often 19%, occasionally 32%) had to cut back on food spending by choosing products on offer; 39% had to forego a private medical visit or had to postpone it. Renunciations weighed heaviest on parents under 50 (for whom the first three items reach values of 76%, 70% and 65%), on those living on islands (78% the first two items, 65% the third) and on those from the working class (84% the first item, 82% the second and third).