London - Having teens in a hosuehold adds just over R42 700 a year to a typical family’s bills, according to a new report.
It found that a family of four with two younger children spends R9 508 a month, or R114 097 a year. The monthly total includes R5 010 on food, R2 138 on petrol, R296 on energy bills and R871 on TV and broadband.
But once the younger children become teenagers, the bill soars to R13 505 a month, or R157 623 a year.
The biggest expense is the food bill, which jumps to R7 024 month. The monthly petrol bill also rises sharply to R3 208, the utilities bill to R2 139 and TV and broadband to R954.
Not surprisingly, most teenagers are unable to contribute to the bills. Only 39 per cent of parents said their children did so, and of these, the average contribution was R576 a month.
The survey found the average teenager earns R753 a month, and receives an extra R247 in cash from their parents.
Ben Wilson, from Go Compare Energy, which conducted the study, said: ‘It’s surprising to see the difference between four-person families when there are teenagers involved.
‘Clearly, their growing appetites and active social lives, as well as the days they spend in the home studying when the house would otherwise be vacant, all take their toll on the monthly bills.’
Daily Mail