CarlyRaeJepsensMalort wrote:
inb4 flagpole chimes in telling you you're throwing that money away. something something you could get a better return in the market, etc. also how much extra are we talking? unless it's like multiple thousands i still am not seeing how the math adds up.
1) Well, you didn't get in before me, and you were wrong anyway. I have 2 children who are now adults. I am all for people who want children to have children.
2) I am unclear what you are asking there, but it APPEARS you are not sure kids cost that much money? If that's the case, think again, sister. They start costing before they are even born...Dr. visits, home preparation, prenatal vitamins, etc. Then either one stays home for a while and loses income or you pay for day care. Then, you now have another mouth to feed, so food costs, diapers, clothes that don't last long because kids grow quickly, a bigger house, a bigger car, health insurance costs more, you spend more on water, on electricity, costs associated with k-12 school, a third car when they are old enough to drive, pay to play, sports equipment and fees, instrument for band that may or may not be a requirement (my daughter had a $10,000 clarinet that was my wife's, and we bought our son a $3,000 trumpet...and neither of them were in marching band because they ran cross country), fence the yard because you're getting a dog, pay for family vacations, orthodontist, and then there's COLLEGE. We did very well with both of our kids with regard to cost due to some crazy financial aid from one elite college and the combination of athletic and academic scholarship from another...all told for both kids for college, we spent about $70,000 total (and that's VERY LOW these days), not including trips to see them or bring them back home as both were in out-of-state colleges. My wife was a stay-at-home mom for 15 years...a loss EASILY of $900,000 in income if not more, and if we had invested all of that plus all the money we spent on the kids instead of having kids, Jeebus, I'd be ready to buy my own private island by now.
3) So, kids are very expensive...BUT if they are a life priority, you make it happen. We wanted kids. We made it happen.