Wedding costs, child-rearing expenses, divorce costs, and financial compatibility
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The average US wedding costs $30,000. Raising one child to age 18 costs $310,000 per USDA data. The average US divorce costs $15,000–20,000 in legal fees plus ongoing financial restructuring. $30,000 invested at 7% for 30 years instead of spent on a wedding grows to $228,000. These are not reasons to avoid these decisions — they are numbers every adult deserves to know.
Major relationship milestones carry significant financial costs that are rarely calculated in advance. This calculator shows the direct costs and the opportunity cost — what the same money would be worth if invested instead. Understanding the financial impact of major decisions leads to better planning not fewer celebrations. This calculator is for informational purposes only.
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