Yesterday, we tried to find the answer to the question: can a minimum-wage salary afford the basic needs of a baby? We went shopping and came back with $186 worth of what we considered necessities. But numbers on a receipt only tell part of the story and today, we took that receipt to the streets to speak to the parents. Jaleeza Roberts is back with Part Two of this story:

Yesterday, we went shopping for baby supplies and today, we're shopping for opinions. We took the same $186.43 receipt from our newsroom grocery run and brought it to the streets, because behind every dollar spent on diapers or formula is a parent trying to figure out what gets paid first. And the answers were different. But there was one thing they all agreed on and that's that raising a child is expensive and a minimum-wage paycheck doesn't stretch very far. For perspective, Belize's minimum wage is $5 an hour at 45 hours a week, that's about $225 before deductions. But what the 186.43 bill reflected over 37 hours of someone's life given to work. So this is what the streets had to say about the cost of living:

Resident
"Back then things were far different from now because right now to raise kids it's unaffordable and light bill raise again, cost of living really high so I don't know what we will do now because everything sky rocket."

Jaleeza Roberts, Reporter
"How many kids do you have?"

Resident
"12"

Jaleeza Roberts
"Would you have 12 kids if you were having kids in this day and age?"

Resident
"No, no no no, I wouldn't even have one."

Jaleeza Roberts
"Why?"

Resident
"Because cost of living sky rocket and as you go you have to pay for everything"

Resident
"The sole pampers, back then we would use nappy and plastic panties now it's pampers but like I tell you cost of living high in awhole."

Resident
"You could have afforded for kids back then but now you can't afford because milk, everything I don't know"

Parent
"I don't have weekly expenses because you buy every month right and you try to buy in bulk so you don't feel it as much."

Jaleeza Roberts
"But when it comes to how much you spend a month, around what are you looking at?"

Parent
"Well the pampers is a hundred and odd for the case, and then milk is 37 dollars for the can if you're buying the cheapest milk if you buy the expensive one that is 70 odd so just times that by 4."

Jaleeza Roberts
"How much tin of milk your child runs through for the month?"

Parent
"4"

Jaleeza Roberts
"How are you able to afford it?"

Parent
"It's really hard and inflation crazy, it's really hard like you're scared for anything to happen or what If the milk runs out or something like that it's really hard"

Resident
"When you go to the shop everything raise up so I say, it doesn't make no sense now."

Jaleeza Roberts
"Would you still have a child now in this day and age?"

Resident
"No"

Jaleeza Roberts
"How many Kids do you have?"

Parent
"3"

Jaleeza Roberts
"How old are your kids?"

Parent
"30, 16 and 17."

Jaleeza Roberts
"If you were to still be starting your life and just having kids would you still have 3 kids?"

Parent
"No"

Jaleeza Roberts
"Why?"

Parent
"Because the cost of living compared from then to now is very very high so I would consider it even if it's only one or two."

Jaleeza Roberts
"What do you think of the baby items that you're seeing on the shelves now?"

Parent
"Whew, enfamil only used to cost like 9.95 back then and now I don't know the price but I know it's expensive, much more expensive"

Parent
"I would make that choice if I would be starting right now to make my family, I think I would settle for one cause years from now we don't know where we'll be"

For some families, surviving the month isn't about whether they can afford everything. It's about deciding which need can wait. The wipes can run out, the brand can change, the shopping list can get smaller but the baby's needs don't change. Jaleeza Roberts, 7 News.

Tomorrow, we'll take you back to the streets to find out whether a minimum wage salary can afford to send a child to school.