Costs of motherhood revealed
The financial burden of motherhood in modern Britain has been unveiled in a new study.
Insurance firm Legal & General's 'Value of a Mum' report reveals that chores, errands and greater expertise run up annual costs of £24,456.
This amounts to more than double the figure obtained from similar surveys 25 years ago and shows why motherhood is being attempted slightly later in life, supported by savings accumulated from a previous full-time career.
'Over the last 25 years, family structures have changed,' said professor Richard Verrall from the Cass Business School.
'The pressures on women and their career expectations have altered and one trend, for example, that has emerged is for them to delay having children.'
The costs, however, have come as a surprise to both men and women in Britain, with males assuming that mothers had to pay out £267 in weekly expenses and females guessing at £278.
The actual figure amounts to £407 a week. | 
