Life costs. Just waking up in the morning reminds you another day is another dollar. The sheets on your bed, the heating, lighting, the shower and kettle, your clothes and shoes, even the dog you take for a walk cost. It all adds up. Life is pretty expensive. And it just seems to get more and more expensive as house prices rocket, university fees climb and gas bills soar.

So how much does it cost?

The cost of children

According to research the average UK child costs £166,000! That's £22 a day from the day they are born till they reach 21. Childcare and education are the key expenses as well as a university education. You'll need your child to become a brain surgeon to support you when you're a poor, broke pensioner!

The main expenses are:

•£15,630 for food

•£12,109 for holidays

•£12,055 for clothes

•£9,369 for hobbies

And if you give birth in London, than hopefully your pay packet is that much bigger. London is the most expensive place to bring up children whilst the West Midlands spend the least on their offspring.

Two weeks in the sun

If you're going on holiday this year, the chances are you want to escape the stress of life but when you look at how much it costs, than you could end up being even more stressed.

Despite low-cost airlines and internet deals, a family holiday abroad costs an average £2,725 when you factor in travel, accommodation, sightseeing, souvenirs and food and drink.

Location, location, location

But even if you stay at home for your holidays, you'd be forgiven for thinking the cost of your house was enough to expect a six star luxury abode. The average cost of a house in the UK now stands at a staggering £199,184. If you live in a detached house that leaps to £300,349, a semi-detached costs £180,170, a terrace £158, 493 and a flat £185, 703.

Where you live will also hit your wallet. Windsor and Maidenhead top the top ten most expensive places to live, with property averaging £350,590, closely followed by Surrey, Greater London and Buckinghamshire. Wokingham is fifth, followed by Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Poole, West Berkshire, Bath and North East Somerset.

Nice day for a white wedding

Getting hitched might be the most romantic thing in your life but it could also be the most costly thing you do too. Saying ‘I do' will cost you an average of £15,244 if you are going for the full shebang that includes a reception of £5,000 and honeymoon of £4,500.

If you love somebody, than perhaps lavishing money on a wedding could be your dream. But don't despair, you can still get married in a registry office, have a reception in a pub and go to Blackpool for your honeymoon on a few hundred pounds. Romance shouldn't after all cost the earth. And the less money spent on the day the more you have for your life together. But if you want to go the full hog there are some ways that you can, and still cut the costs:

•You can hire your wedding dress at the fraction of the cost of buying one.

•Reception venues can be cheaper midweek and out of season.

•Limit your reception dinner for a few close people and have a party in the evening for the rest.

Man's Best Friend

What price can you put on unconditional love and a wagging tail? Surely such things are priceless? Well, no. Dogs may be a man's best friend but they are certainly enemies of your bank account. The nation's love of dogs costs a grand total of £145 billion and the average cost of a dog now tops £22,000 over its lifetime. Ouch! And on top of that, they make your house smell.

Dogs can live up to 16 years, which is a lot of dog food, grooming, vet bills, insurance, pet accessories, and boarding kennel fees.