I know a guy who was dating a woman for about 1 year. They broke up. She called him a few months later and said, "I am pregnant with your kid." He went back to her, they got married, and had 2 more kids. Then they got divorced. He has a 1, 2, and 4 year, old and pays over $1400.00 month in child support. Will continue to pay that until his kids are 18 or 22 (if they go to college). And its usually more than $1400 a month. Child support covers the basic necessities (food, clothing, shelter, school stuff). However, if the kid wants to join an after school program or a sport, the father has to pay half, in addition to his $1400 per month. In essence, it turns out to more than $1400 a month.