How The Fuck Can You Afford To Raise Kids Nowadays???

[Greg B]

I cannot fathom how anyone can afford to raise kids in the U.S. nowadays. How do you parents here do it????

[sherie]

I would imagine that if you weren't loaded IE rich that you would go without shit so that you could afford to have kids....IE vacations, multipule shopping spree's...things like that. I don't have any kids but I could afford them if I wanted....well at this moment anyway.

[Bro Media - BANNED FOR LIFE]

i sold mine on the black market

[Lycanthrope]

Most "middle class" people can't. You have to be somewhat well off or have absolutely nothing then have these same middle class people that can't afford their own children pay for it all.

[MetaMan]

you cant, my parents hadnt gone on a vacation the entire time i was growing up.

we werent even poor, just middle class, i couldnt imagine how poor people get by.

[KRL]

I have one and he costs a fortune. My sister has 6 kids and besides spending a ton for monthly expenses for them all she has literally zero time for herself to enjoy.

I would say anything more than a couple you need a really big bankroll if you want to live well.

Toys are outrageous. I was shopping the other day and my kid had 3 PS games in his hands, and they're $49.95 each. He acts like $150 is no big deal. Its nutz.

Then they have to have name brand sneakers, shirts, etc. And they outgrow them every 3 months so you have to keep rebuying.

I pretty much let my ex do all the clothing shopping for him now and I buy his toys. That way I don't get as aggravated by the expenditures.

[dynastoned]

as if it wasn't hard enough for some middleclass families they raise gas prices to make sure they absolutely can't save any money..

[Greg B]

I have friends who had to wait until their mid 30's to have kids.

I see these immigrants in LA and very low income people with umpteen kids all dressed up. My siblings all had kids before they turned 30. I don't have any fucking idea how they pay for them.

I haven't had kids because I couldn't be responsible for them. Didn't want to have that burden over my head where they want want want and I couldn't provide. It must be miserable to live that way.

I've had relatives who just bred like rabbits and would mooch off me or my parents. Family is family but for cryin' out loud be responsible.

I shudder to think about college and marriage costs or if one of your kids ends up having kids out of wedlock or before they hit 18.

It's a fucking shame that middle class people can't afford kids because they're taxed to death to support the kids of people who are stupid and/or irresponsible.

[Greg B]

Originally Posted by dynastoned

as if it wasn't hard enough for some middleclass families they raise gas prices to make sure they absolutely can't save any money..

OH! You sure hit the nail on the head right there! The cost of living has gotten so out of hand 'I', again, 'I' may have to get a 9-5!!! I haven't had to get a 9-5 in 20 years! Especially the past 9 years of doing stuff online! Luckily though I could do a 9-5 for one year and take another 5-6 years off but that's because I don't have kids. It must be like slavery for the average guy and girl to make ends meet nowadays.

[myjah]

It's all a big conspiracy.

[Rochard]

It's simple. When you have a child your entire life changes. Material things no longer matter to you as long as your child is happy.

[RhiannonAPM]

I raise my two kids (5 and 2) by myself. Its not easy at all. I sacrafice everything so they can have the things they need. I don't go out. I don't spend money on worthless things. Two weeks worth of work pays my rent so im broke most of the time at the beginning of the month. It isnt easy to raise kids no matter what. Gas prices don't help much but either do daycare prices. They want over 800 a month to watch my kids mon-fri for 8 hours a day. Its ridiculous. So how are us single moms suppose to raise our kids and have jobs when the expenses on getting to work everyday are more then rent. I give alot of credit to people who have kids and can make it. One day all this stuff will be taken care of and no longer will I have to sacrafice.

[Morgan]

Originally Posted by Greg B

I cannot fathom how anyone can afford to raise kids in the U.S. nowadays. How do you parents here do it????

There are poor people that raise 3 kids and live in THE OC. It's probably not as hard as you think.

[loverboy]

Originally Posted by Rochard

It's simple. When you have a child your entire life changes. Material things no longer matter to you as long as your child is happy.

very well said ^^

[Morgan]

Originally Posted by Greg B

I have friends who had to wait until their mid 30's to have kids.

I shudder to think about college and marriage costs or if one of your kids ends up having kids out of wedlock or before they hit 18.

adopt a black boy. college will be covered by scholarship and his fiance's father will pay for the wedding.

[TheSenator]

I have three kids and it is not so bad. I started early so that I can get them out of the way when everybody else is just starting. I be enjoying myself when I am older instead of changing diapers in my 30's.

[dynastoned]

Originally Posted by Morgan

There are poor people that raise 3 kids and live in THE OC. It's probably not as hard as you think.

yeah not hard if you don't mind substantial creditcard debt.

[Manowar]

Originally Posted by KRL

I have one and he costs a fortune. My sister has 6 kids and besides spending a ton for monthly expenses for them all she has literally zero time for herself to enjoy.

I would say anything more than a couple you need a really big bankroll if you want to live well.

Toys are outrageous. I was shopping the other day and my kid had 3 PS games in his hands, and they're $49.95 each. He acts like $150 is no big deal. Its nutz.

Then they have to have name brand sneakers, shirts, etc. And they outgrow them every 3 months so you have to keep rebuying.

I pretty much let my ex do all the clothing shopping for him now and I buy his toys. That way I don't get as aggravated by the expenditures.

Yeah, they cost a bomb!

[SykkBoy]

It's not easy. I have 4 kids, 2 of which live with me and 2 with my ex and between child support for my two girls and doing everything for my two boys, it means sacrificing things, but it's also made me more responsible with spending.

[jimmy-3-way]

My kid's tuition costs more than a goddamn Mercedes S-class...and he's in first fucking grade, this is only gonna get worse.

[Cyndalie]

I'm turning 30 this year and honestly, kids scare me.
The cost of living versus the economy is so far out of whack it's insane.
There are 2 schools of thought here, or dice that are tossed. One is to have kids young (planned or otherwise) and figure the rest out as you go so you're not older with children. The other is to do things in "order" and thanks to G.W. Bush getting to kids in the "order" : college, career, marry, house, dog, kids, retire : and you're well over thirty for sure.
Whenever you have kids, you dont think about how you're going to afford it, you just do. You find ways, because nothing will stop a parent from getting their childrens needs taken care of before their own.
Not many people are ever quite "ready" for kids, but when it's yours you're talking about, there will be a way to make it work.

[willow370]

with technology booming in along with its prices (game consoles, computers) it will get worse, especialy for parents who are raising little basterds of kids

[StuartD]

Originally Posted by Rochard

It's simple. When you have a child your entire life changes. Material things no longer matter to you as long as your child is happy.

Precisely.

[stickyfingerz]

Nothing to it. Kids arent alll that expensive imo. I have two. No problems here.

[RhiannonAPM]

Originally Posted by TheSenator

I have three kids and it is not so bad. I started early so that I can get them out of the way when everybody else is just starting. I be enjoying myself when I am older instead of changing diapers in my 30's.

That is exactly why I myself started early. By the time I hit my early 40s all the kids will be gone and then it will be time for me to enjoy my life and take care of myself. My kids keep me grounded though. I love them.

[Jade^]

Raising a child now and days, is not easy. I'm a single parent of two, Dont get any child support for my lil girl and at the same time, Helping my oldest daughter with college. However for some apparent reason, when place with a huge responsibility in our hands. We take charge, We learned to do with out certain things. Put our need to the side, Just so that we can supply food on the table, clothing on their back and a roof over their head. You be surprise what a parent would do...just to make sure, that their kids don't suffer. It's hard, yet, it's a blessing to enriched our heart's and life with tiny footsteps, they are our blueprints to our acheivement in life.

[chase]

I have three kids. My son's father died, but I do get Survivor's benefits from Social Security for him, $301/month. My two daughters' father pays $300/moth or $75 a week child support. The rest is on me, and it's probably more than 50% that I take care of, but there my babies, so I am happy to provide for them. It is DAMN hard though, and that's why the shows I have attended would have been out of the picture if it wasn't for winning passes or the generosity of someone special. Otherwise, I just can't spare the cash. But, now that I am on my own again, even though my bills are bigger, my privacy is also a lot improved, so I can do the things I need to do to build my business and boost my income to where it needs to be to allow room for the must-haves, AND the I-wants.

[jimmy-3-way]

Originally Posted by RhiannonAPM

That is exactly why I myself started early. By the time I hit my early 40s all the kids will be gone and then it will be time for me to enjoy my life and take care of myself. My kids keep me grounded though. I love them.

Well the reason I started early is so that I can date my son's girlfriend's older sisters when he's in high school. I figure by that time I'll be a good looking middle aged guy and still young enough to put up with 19 year olds. Plus I'll be sick and tired of his man and I can kick her to the curb.

[dwalliz]

I love kids and all but I dont want to have any someday. and people think I am crazy when I tell them that. I am just too self centered and spoiled. and by me having kids they will come first and not to mention the expense. I be seeing single moms all stress out and shit all time when I seen and talk to them. they look so frustrated and all tired out. more than half of these moms are under 30. I do give them props man because they have to do two jobs: kids and work to make a living. but I dont want to be in their shoes no thanks. I already have enough shit worry about and I am single! i have to worry about bills and god knows the government doesnt have your back if you are single and childless. if I ever want to have kids it is because I want to not because of the single mom trend or whatever. or because that way I wont be the lone female in the girlfriends' group without any kids.

[Greg B]

Originally Posted by RhiannonAPM

I raise my two kids (5 and 2) by myself. Its not easy at all. I sacrafice everything so they can have the things they need. I don't go out. I don't spend money on worthless things. Two weeks worth of work pays my rent so im broke most of the time at the beginning of the month. It isnt easy to raise kids no matter what. Gas prices don't help much but either do daycare prices. They want over 800 a month to watch my kids mon-fri for 8 hours a day. Its ridiculous. So how are us single moms suppose to raise our kids and have jobs when the expenses on getting to work everyday are more then rent. I give alot of credit to people who have kids and can make it. One day all this stuff will be taken care of and no longer will I have to sacrafice.

Jeez! I don't know how you do it! With health insurance costs and weird job market fluctuations it's no wonder people go off now and then. The stress must be incredible. How do you unwind?

[ContentSHOOTER]

You mean to tell me that kids don't live the way they do on MTV's Laguna Beach

[Greg B]

Originally Posted by Jade^

Raising a child now and days, is not easy. I'm a single parent of two, Dont get any child support for my lil girl and at the same time, Helping my oldest daughter with college. However for some apparent reason, when place with a huge responsibility in our hands. We take charge, We learned to do with out certain things. Put our need to the side, Just so that we can supply food on the table, clothing on their back and a roof over their head. You be surprise what a parent would do...just to make sure, that their kids don't suffer. It's hard, yet, it's a blessing to enriched our heart's and life with tiny footsteps, they are our blueprints to our acheivement in life.

Okay that's what I'm talking about! I cannot believe the stories I hear from people who have kids and have to struggle to make ends meet. There are days when they don't have squat and somehow, someway by sheer luck or generosity or something they make it. There's gotta be some scientific explanation for this. I could not imagine the exhaustion of worry a parent must go through.

Single moms scare me. How in the world can they deal with it. Single dads too. Dads sometimes can be far worse worry worts than moms. I know I would be. I would go psychotic if someone hit my kids.

About 10 years ago an old pal showed up in town with his son this is a tearjerker so don't read if you can't take it.

I hadn't seen this friend in over 15 years. I'm godfather to his first boy but didn't know he had gone on and gotten remarried and had two more kids. His new son was his spitting image. Just like slapping an apple off a tree. Glad I took video then. I was so happy for him. Then about 5 years ago my godson told me the same boy had been killed by a hit and run driver. I was devestated. I had looked forward to him growing up and hanging out with us like old times. I was totally distraught. When I called my pal however he kept a stiff upper lip, told me he took care of things and was moving on with his life and his band. Then when the big hurricanes hit Florida the past several years he didn't budge. He stuck em' out. I couldn't believe his resolve and tenacity. I would have been a total fucking nutcase. They would have had to lock me up UNDER the jail. I helped raise 8 kids, siblings and cousins. From diapers to grade school before I was 18. I was ready for handling kids but the responsibility and mental power and downright resolve I couldn't imagine.

If you've raised a kid to adulthood, my hat's off to you!

[High Plains Drifter]

Originally Posted by Rochard

It's simple. When you have a child your entire life changes. Material things no longer matter to you as long as your child is happy.

This is what I was going to say.

And its a good thing that material things don't matter anymore, cause the kids suck up every last dime. Kids are way more expensive than you can even estimate. I had maybe one year in my life where I was making decent money and before I had kids where I could spend money like a drunk indian... then reality kicked back in.

Its all very worth it.

[wedouglas]

When you decide to have kids, you should have pretty much accepted the fact that you will have no time and spend a lot of money and not have all the luxuries you had before.

I don't have any, but I think thats pretty much common sense.

[Cyndalie]

Well my brothers were born when I was about 12, 11 months apart. I helped raise them till I moved out when I turned 18 and have been a support for them since as I still live close by. The oldest just graduated highschool, the other has a year to go.

My parents raised me that my brother's weren't "their" kids, it was "our family" and I was the "built in babysitter" (yeah, fun teen years) but it has been worth every sacrificed night out, every time I've gone out of my way. I had a big hand in helping to raise them and I think both my parents would have gone nuts without me. So I KNOW, in part, what it takes. I swore to myself I'd never have kids till they got out of Highschool. Now it looks like I may be lucky to even be able to HAVE kids without fertility treatments.

Which makes it even more complicated, if you have to pay 10g's just to try to conceive, imagine the hole millions of people must be before their child is ever born. Alot of people these days have fertility problems, more than you'd think.

Rochard is right on. When that good news comes, everything changes. But thinking about it is frightening as hell.

Most of my friends dont have and dont want kids. Us GenX'ers are either totally self centered or really smart, seeing the world we live in today.

[StuartD]

I'll have to bookmark this thread for a certain someone who seems to think that my trading my SUV and sports car in for a Saturn is a sign of failure.... rather than understanding that you have no need for a gas guzzling status symbol when your child is all that matters.

[RhiannonAPM]

Originally Posted by Greg B

Jeez! I don't know how you do it! With health insurance costs and weird job market fluctuations it's no wonder people go off now and then. The stress must be incredible. How do you unwind?

You cant. When they go to sleep at night you are so tired from working and cooking and cleaning and doing all the shopping that you just want to go to bed. And then you get up and do it all over again the next day. Full time mom with a full time job. At one time i worked two full time jobs and never got to see the kids cause I was always working but that wasnt cool so I choose this job so I could be around for dinner and at night when they go to bed. I get some help from my sons dad but just financially. I have to be mom and dad to both of them cause their fathers arent around much. But I do it cause Im the one who brought them into this world and it is my responsibility and wouldnt want it any other way.

[CynthiaB]

Oh man, perfect morning for this - my teenager just ripped the crotch out of his last pair of jeans - that means at least $35 a piece to replace those. And since he turned 15 - I can't seem to keep enough food in the house! Even fruit prices have gone up for heavens sake and meat is out of this world...

How soon until he can get a job and pitch in????

[WebairGerard]

status symbols and luxury items mean nothing and most realize this once they have kids unless they are very well off to begin with. Everyday cost of living is getting so high that it's starting to impact everyone, kids or not. If you have kids it's just that much harder.

[Bro Media - BANNED FOR LIFE]

Originally Posted by MetaMan

you cant, my parents hadnt gone on a vacation the entire time i was growing up.

we werent even poor, just middle class, i couldnt imagine how poor people get by.

we pay for them thats how... our taxes go for their welfare

i've heard of some people who keep having kids just because they get more welfare and don't have to work

[Peaches]

You would be amazed at how cheaply you can do things. When I first got divorced, I had NOTHING and had no idea there was any kind of government assistance available. You learn that spaghetti and broccoli can be eaten several times a week, thrift stores have incredible deals on children's clothes and you kid doesn't need every toy on the market

My brother and SIL waited until they were in their upper 30's to have kids. He lost his job the day the first one was born, worked 6 months in the next 2 years and lost his next job when the 2nd one was born. BAD LUCK! But now he had a steady job, they live in a big house they plan on staying in forever and they spend their money wisely. She doesn't work - never has since she had the first baby.

She drives a 10 year old car, he drives an 8 year old car. Both are paid for so they save on car payments and collision insurance. They shop at Costco and she cooks most if not all meals. They buy clothes and toys at thrift stores and consignment shops. She doesn't work but trades "babysitting time" with other parents to cut out on the need for expensive baby sitting. They spend a lot of time at the public park w/in walking distance.

The girls take ballet/gym classes, they take vacations (just got back from a cruise) and just find other ways to do things less expensively.

It's possible

[xlogger]

I think i would be a good parent. I brother is 13 and you should see the things i got him. PSP, ps2, xbox 360, 50 games for each, his own laptop, cloths every month and more! My parents never gave me a lot of things when i was little so i was like fuck it. He gets them for keeping his grades up, so i dont think he is spoiled or anything.

[dwalliz]

Originally Posted by LOL :D

we pay for them thats how... our taxes go for their welfare

i've heard of some people who keep having kids just because they get more welfare and don't have to work

I know people like that. some of them are horrible mothers or don't seem like that they want to be moms yet they continue to have these kids. as long their kids are under the kindergarten age they dont have to work. what worst is some of the welfare workers encourage this behavior telling them they don't have to work if their kids arent in school.

[Babagirls]

Originally Posted by Rochard

It's simple. When you have a child your entire life changes. Material things no longer matter to you as long as your child is happy.

im not a parent but i imagine that this is exactly what its like.

[Doctor Dre]

Originally Posted by MetaMan

you cant, my parents hadnt gone on a vacation the entire time i was growing up.

we werent even poor, just middle class, i couldnt imagine how poor people get by.

Yeah same here... they still hadn't. Gotta pay for my 2 brother's university (some) right now. I'ma pay them a vacation soon I think.

[LaoTzu]

Homeschool and don't spoil your kids. Limit the TV time, and they won't bug you for all the shit they get sold on every comercial. Live within your means and make sure your kids understand the value of a dollar. Anyone not prepared or even excited about changing their lifestyle should not have children in the first place.

[czarina]

We have a son that is about to turn 1 year. I have to say that he is worth more to us than we have ever spent.

Doctor all the way throught hospital, and birth was about 4.5k then started the really expensive part. diapers, and wipes. diapers are about 12dollars a bag, and he is changed about 8 times a day. Sometimes more, sometimes less. Formula is 16$ a can, but lasts about 3 weeks. The food in the little bottles is about 55 cents each, and we are going through about 8 to 10 a day. And that does not include the cereal and meat that we make for him.

[quiet]

33, no kids, and no plans for kids. but kudos for those of you who do...

[StuartD]

Originally Posted by Babagirls

im not a parent but i imagine that this is exactly what its like.

It really truly is... one day you wake up, look at your childs eyes and realize "I don't really need to have all the things that society tells me I need to have."

It's amusing to come to GFY and read all the posts about how they'd only ever buy the latest model luxury or sports car... and why? Because it's a status symbol. 99% of them can't afford it, but they know they must have it because society tells them they need to have it to be happy.

Having a child changes all of that.

[Jay]

I have twin girls that are about to turn a year old. We probably spend about $150 to $200 a week just in formula, diapers, and wipes. And when you have twins, its two of everything, two cribs, two playpens, two swings, two bouncy chairs, two hi chairs, two car seats...and on and on.

Just last nite I bought some of those foam squares for the floor so they can play on them and not hurt them selves when they fall(I have mostly tile floors). They are about 2 ft square, come four in a pack and are $20/pack! Between that and baby gates, I spent $400.00 just last nite.

Never mind health insurance, ...it goes on and on.

But I would not change it, I am close to 40 so I was ready. They are the most rewarding and enriching thing in my life right now.