I'm an American mom living in Northern Ireland. Raising kids here is much cheaper than in the US.

Courtesy of Jennifer Cairns

• Jennifer Cairns is a 52-year-old American who has lived in Northern Ireland for 24 years.
• She has raised her now 18 and 14-year-old children in Belfast.
• She says raising kids in Ireland is cheaper than the US, especially when it comes to health. 

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jennifer Cairns. It has been edited for length and clarity.