Final answer:
Adding another child to a single-parent family budget impacts the monthly expenses and hourly wage required to meet these expenses. Categories like food and clothing are most affected, while utilities may see the least impact as they do not rise proportionally with the number of children.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to understanding how adding another child to a single-parent family budget impacts overall monthly expenses and the required hourly wage for a family. Furthermore, it explores which budget category is least affected by this change and seeks an explanation for this minimal impact.
When a child is added to the family, it is expected that expenses in categories such as food, clothing, education, healthcare, and possibly housing may increase. These expenses vary based on the age of the child and other unique needs. To accommodate the added financial burden, the parent may need to work more hours or seek a higher wage.
The category likely to be least affected might be utilities or transportation, as these costs do not necessarily rise proportionally with the number of children. For example, the cost of electricity or water may only see a marginal increase as these services are shared among family members.