Why does saving for your child matter?
The costs arrive either way — the question is whether the capital arrives too.
- A childhood costs six figures — spread over 18 years
- Education, driving licence, first flat: the big items land from 18 on
- Time is the one advantage you cannot buy back later
Why should you start saving for your child early?
Because time is the biggest lever saving has. The costs of a childhood arrive anyway — around €69,000 across the typical stations up to university. Start early and compounding does the heaviest lifting: €100 a month grows over 18 years to far more than was ever paid in.
And the foundation needs no extra money: the child benefit that arrives every month anyway is enough to start. You can run the numbers further down.
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Investments carry risk.
University, first flat, driving licence, starting capital — at 18, 21 or 25 the dream becomes an invoice. And every year of waiting costs your strongest ally: compounding.
Financial Guidance for Expat Families in Germany
Raising a child in Germany: What it costs and what you should save.
...that’s how much parents spend over the course of a child’s life - often without even noticing it.
| Initial Equipment | ca. 1,000 € |
| Baby Carriages and Furniture | ca. 1,000 € |
| Baby Clothes and Accessories | ca. 2,000 € |
| Diapers and Care | ca. 1,000 € |
| Daycare Center Fees | ca. 7,000 € |
| First hobbies & Activities | ca. 1,000 € |
| Toys & Clothing | ca. 1,000 € |
| School Materials | ca. 1,500 € |
| School Trips and Excursions | ca. 2,000 € |
| Hobbies and Clubs | ca. 1,000 € |
| Clothing and Shoes | ca. 1,000 € |
| Leisure and Vacation | ca. 1,000 € |
| Drivers License | ca. 5,500 € |
| Lifestyle | ca. 2,000 € |
| Vacation and Hobbies | ca. 2,000 € |
| Graduation Trips | ca. 2,000 € |
| Cell Phone and Laptop | ca. 2,000 € |
| Study and Learning Materials | ca. 15,000 € |
| Year abroad | ca. 10,000 € |
| First Apartment and Furniture | ca. 5,000 € |
| World Trip and Experiences | ca. 5,000 € |
Cost of Living.
Surprised by the truth? You're not alone in this!
ETF4Kids shows you how to build sustainable wealth for your child step by step - with small monthly contributions that help you support every stage of their life. Simple, secure and sustainable.
Do any of these sound familiar?
These are the sentences parents tell us most often in the clarity call — and our honest answers.
“We meant to start ages ago — but life …”
Understandable: nursery, job, life. That is why getting started with us takes 45 minutes — one video call, and the topic is off your list instead of on it. Your child is not getting younger; the rate may be small, the start should not be late.
“We are afraid of doing something wrong.”
The healthiest worry there is — it protects you from rushed signatures. Our way: understand first, decide second. You see every number and comparison live, and after every call you decide whether to continue.
“Our bank gave us bad advice once.”
Banks recommend in-house products — often they may not do more. We compare tariffs from more than 21 insurers and show you the comparison on screen, so you do not have to believe — you can see.
“ETFs, crypto, stocks — what is actually safe?”
Short version: a broad ETF is a basket holding ~1,400 of the largest companies in the world. You are not betting on one horse but on the whole race. Why that is the solid route for child savings: Why an ETF?
“Our child is already 8 — is it still worth it?”
Yes — just differently: ten years of compounding are fewer than eighteen, so every further week counts double. Set your starting age in the calculator below and see for yourself.
Why starting early changes everything
The chart above shows the spending side. The other side: every year you start earlier works for your child. Over 18 years of saving, more than half of the final capital comes not from your payments but from growth — provided the money is invested rather than parked.
That is why the starting date matters more than the amount: €25 from birth beats €100 from the first day of school. What to invest in? That is here.
The best time was yesterday. The second best is today.
45 minutes, free, no obligation — we run your start together.
Free initial consultation