In this sense, it provides an 'ideal' or desirable costing. NOT included are housing, transport, school fees or uniforms, child care, medical or dental expenses.
Holidays are a component of the middle income figures only.
Costs of children vary according to the number of children in the family, the parents' incomes and whether one or both parents are working. The Lee data show that two children cost about 55 per cent more than one child, while three children cost about twice the cost of one child. In March 1998 the Department of Social Security published a report it had commissioned from the Budget Standards Unit of the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of New South Wales. Saunders, P. et al. Melbourne Vic 3000, Australia.