The average middle-class family will spend nearly a quarter of a million bucks to raise a child born today, according to a study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That’s before the kid starts applying for college.

The study found that new parents today will dole out $245,340 on a child to age 18, assuming inflation continues to clip along at a 2.4-percent annual pace, the final bill will actually be closer to $304,480. Wealthier families naturally will spend more on their kids—nearly $408,000 through 18. (Time)

Paul Asay has written for The Washington Post, Christianity Today, Beliefnet.com and The (Colorado Springs) Gazette. He writes about culture for PluggedIn and wrote the Batman book God on the Streets of Gotham (Tyndale). He recently collaborated with Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, on his book The Good Dad. He lives in Colorado Springs with wife, Wendy, and his two children. Follow him on Twitter.