I have also read about this 500-euro statistic, which takes into account higher housing costs, higher heating costs, a bigger car, etc. Conversely, I assume that with above-average income, one also spends proportionally more on their child. I can also well imagine that costs can fluctuate greatly over the course of a year, for example, when there is a class trip or a new bicycle coming up.
As far as vacations are concerned: As long as the children are small, a holiday at the North Sea or Baltic Sea is enough, although I recently had to swallow hard with acquaintances when I saw what a vacation costs initially when you are four people with children (the acquaintances’ children are 13 and 14 years old) getting diving certificates and subsequent excursions.
: Yes, that is indeed steep. Since we are still childless and there are hardly any children in our circle of friends so far, it is rather leisure activities that cost a lot of money. Besides, we love cooking passionately and also rather high-quality and elaborate dishes. I think a lot will change when children are there, and in the end a visit to the swimming pool is probably cheaper than going to a restaurant, and there will probably be less time for elaborate cooking more often. Maybe there is some buffering here. I hope so anyway.