养孩子说钱，够晦气的。不过要紧的不是不讲钱，而是不能计较。大家整天都琢磨着升学爬藤，没钱是不行的。在美国，要花钱，有你花的地方。如果你错过了美国尖子中学的故事，读读都是你们华裔学生给弄的。
中国高考是举世为之瞠目结舌之事，中国普通孩子很难，我也说不上什么，那美国呢？
几个月前国内出了个《再见北京》爆红的“移民爸爸”【1】，大家也许听说过，但感觉是美国远远不如国内反应大，为了孩子（中小学）教育而移民美国，国内人面临的艰难选择，已经移民美国，安顿下来了，这不是问题。中国全民义务教育，但教育质量差别很大，城市与农村，城市与城市，城市内区与区，说天淵之別好像也不过分，要紧好学校，就得住在哪，好学区房价自然比金子还贵。教育是中国畸形房价的一个主要的因素，这也是“移民爸爸”再见北京的最后一推。
大家觉得“移民爸爸”50万美元（投资）移民美国的价钱是异想天开【2，3】，50万即使能到美国，也只是绿卡费，之后再砸50万，也不知道是不是够了，不信的人多【4】，50万够房子，之后才是真格的。
国内人的痛苦，感得到，帮不上忙，那已经在美国在美国定居的呢？美国教育费用也因地不同，差别大的也不少，但程度远远美国国内大。（文学城）丽娜妈妈就“移民爸爸”一事对大家执着于硅谷等地的教育费用不以为然（写的挺好），觉得美国到处都是生活教育质量很高的城市社区，费用大家完全能负担，确实如此。
那算到钱上，具体要多少？如果你已经安顿，已经拥有房子（不再需要付款），从小学到大学毕业，每年2万，一定很好了。
每年2万，估计大部分双职工华裔家庭都能承担，税前3万左右，如果两口子收入（税前）15万，中等的样子，教育占了两成。
这数字是怎么来的？
《华尔街日报》做了个统计，美国平均到中学毕业的教育费用是25万，但居住占了7万多，刨掉后，到18岁每年一万。华人比较着重教育，我加上5千课外教育费，如音乐体育等，这是每年1万5千。大学，藤校之类的私立就另算，公立每年4万，（22年）总共44万，每年（平均）2万。
美国养孩子太便宜了（别忘了只是从出生到大学毕业），比起国内，幸福多了。
从呱呱落地到大学毕业，你得挣66万（美金，税前，房子另计）
你要爬藤，估计得乘二了。不过真能成才，没几个，爬藤也没用，不如省了。
【资料】
【3】自由是得花钱买的，好的日子，也得钱，50万，少了点。
【6】
In general, the cost of child care alone, when adjusted for inflation, has climbed nearly twice as fast as overall prices since the recession ended in 2009. The figures below are based on what a middle-income family spends per child. (To determine these income groups, the USDA divided the sample of two-parent households into equal thirds.)
【数据注记】
Housing expenses: mortgage payments, property taxes, or rent and maintenance fees, plus utilities and other household items including furniture and appliances. Housing in 1960 was measured using a per capita. Currently, researchers use the cost of an additional bedroom.
Food expenses: food and nonalcoholic beverages bought at stores, eating at restaurants and on school meals. Food expenses in 1960 were measured by a scientific standard of what children should eat rather than what they actually ate, which is the cost that is currently used.
Transportation expenses: down and monthly payments on cars, gas and motor oil, maintenance and repairs, insurance, and public transportation, including air fares.
Clothing expenses: diapers, clothing, shoes and any clothing-related services such as dry cleaning and repair.
Health-care expenses: medical and dental services, prescription drugs and medical supplies not covered by insurance, as well as health-insurance premiums not paid by an employer or other organization; medical services include those related to physical and mental health.
Child-care and education expenses: day-care tuition, elementary- and high-school tuition; babysitting; school-related books, fees, and supplies for both public and private schools. Child care and education in 1960 included families with and without the expense. Currently, these expenses are calculated for families with the expense.
Miscellaneous expenses: personal care items (haircuts, toothbrushes, etc.), entertainment (portable media players, sports equipment, televisions, computers, etc.), and reading materials (nonschool books, magazines, etc.)
Food expenses: food and nonalcoholic beverages bought at stores, eating at restaurants and on school meals. Food expenses in 1960 were measured by a scientific standard of what children should eat rather than what they actually ate, which is the cost that is currently used.
Transportation expenses: down and monthly payments on cars, gas and motor oil, maintenance and repairs, insurance, and public transportation, including air fares.
Clothing expenses: diapers, clothing, shoes and any clothing-related services such as dry cleaning and repair.
Health-care expenses: medical and dental services, prescription drugs and medical supplies not covered by insurance, as well as health-insurance premiums not paid by an employer or other organization; medical services include those related to physical and mental health.
Child-care and education expenses: day-care tuition, elementary- and high-school tuition; babysitting; school-related books, fees, and supplies for both public and private schools. Child care and education in 1960 included families with and without the expense. Currently, these expenses are calculated for families with the expense.
Miscellaneous expenses: personal care items (haircuts, toothbrushes, etc.), entertainment (portable media players, sports equipment, televisions, computers, etc.), and reading materials (nonschool books, magazines, etc.)
