Having Children Too Soon Will Make You Poor

[trex]

I have nothing against having children, but I think that you are doing a disservice to your finances when you have children young and you don't have your finances in order. Having children cost a lot of money. A huge amount and if you don't have your finances in order before you have children, you are going to have huge problems later in life because you will always be poor.

Think of it this way. Look at the people that say having kids when you're young is good. They are almost always poor. Kids cost a ton and when you have a child, you are committing yourself to live at the current lifestyle and even below. Any extra money will go to diapers and other kid costs. If you have debt, you're going to keep debt and probably increase it.

There is nothing wrong with having kids. Just don't have them until you have your finances in order and save yourself a lot of stress and fights. Will your survive when you have kids when you're young? Sure, but you will survive without any money.

[project15]

Welcome to the boards. Interesting first post.

According to statistics, the later in life you have kids, the greater risk they have towards disabilities. So you can either have healthy kids when you're young and not have money or you can have unhealthy kids when you're old and pay more money for medical costs.

Point is: kids are expensive anytime you have them. It's a life choice based on more than just finances.

[trex]

Welcome to the boards. Interesting first post.

According to statistics, the later in life you have kids, the greater risk they have towards disabilities. So you can either have healthy kids when you're young and not have money or you can have unhealthy kids when you're old and pay more money for medical costs.

Point is: kids are expensive anytime you have them. It's a life choice based on more than just finances.

I didn't say have children when you are old, I said have children when you are financially secure. Having children when you are in your late twenties or early thirties doesn't carry those risks.

[m3racer]

I have nothing against having children, but I think that you are doing a disservice to your finances when you have children young and you don't have your finances in order. Having children cost a lot of money. A huge amount and if you don't have your finances in order before you have children, you are going to have huge problems later in life because you will always be poor.

Think of it this way. Look at the people that say having kids when you're young is good. They are almost always poor. Kids cost a ton and when you have a child, you are committing yourself to live at the current lifestyle and even below. Any extra money will go to diapers and other kid costs. If you have debt, you're going to keep debt and probably increase it.

There is nothing wrong with having kids. Just don't have them until you have your finances in order and save yourself a lot of stress and fights. Will your survive when you have kids when you're young? Sure, but you will survive without any money.

Amen to that!!!

[cicy33]

Well, then, I must be an alien! I had my daughter at 17 when I had no money and soon after went on public aid for a few years. Fast forward to today I went back to school, have a great job, am not rich by any means but am not poor. Our family average income is around 65k. Just because you are poor when you have kids does not mean you will be poor forever. Every person makes their own choices. I could have stayed on public aid for the full life of my child but I did not. By the time she was 5 I was self sufficient. Not everyone who has kids when they don't have much money are doomed to a life of poverty. and if anyone was headed for it I was. I was 17, high school drop out, no drivers license, no skills, NOTHING. But I decided that was not the life for me and my child. I raised my daughter by myself for most of our lives and the only help I received was a medical card for her after the age of 5. I am sure you didn't mean to generalize but I am not just like everyone else and I had ALL the strikes against me. If I can do it anyone can, you just have to want to. and that applies to people without kids too. for the record. My daughter is now 22 and has given me the most beautiful and amazing granddaughter. I am so happy that at 40 I am still young enough to enjoy my grandchild. She has worked since she was 16 for the extras she wanted, i.e. cell phone, car insurance. I bought her first car. I think I paid $500 for it. And if we have any young moms (or dads) out there that think there is no options think again! There are always options. You just have to have the desire to want more.

[Lori63]

If I waited until I was financially secure I wouldn't have had my three boys. We struggled at times but I wouldn't change the way we did things at all.

I do, however, understand what you are saying.

[jc3900]

I havn't had kids and am from a family of 8 kids. I don't think the decision to have children has anything to do with your finances.

[Ima saver]

I agree with not having children the first few years of marriage, if possible.

[trex]

Well, then, I must be an alien! I had my daughter at 17 when I had no money and soon after went on public aid for a few years. Fast forward to today I went back to school, have a great job, am not rich by any means but am not poor.

I would agree with that assessment. You are not normal because you are on this board which already shows that you are not a typical person.

[trex]

I don't think the decision to have children has anything to do with your finances.

Which would make you wrong.

[aevans1206]

To each his own

I hear my brother and sister discuss how they want to wait for the "right time" to have kids. There is no "right time" or perfect plan to having children. Businesses can fail, people can lose jobs or people can also appear to be well off, but accumulate massive amounts of debt while young and carefree about spending. I believe to each his own. I had a child at 24, have subsequently furthered my career through education and my income has increased to almost twice what it was when I first struck out on my own. Although I may have debt, we are by no means poor on any level. We are an extremely happy family and are not in want of anything. I couldn't live without my bubby! Remember that one's opinions can sometimes hurt the feelings of others.

[trex]

I hear my brother and sister discuss how they want to wait for the "right time" to have kids. There is no "right time" or perfect plan to having children. Businesses can fail, people can lose jobs or people can also appear to be well off, but accumulate massive amounts of debt while young and carefree about spending. I believe to each his own. I had a child at 24, have subsequently furthered my career through education and my income has increased to almost twice what it was when I first struck out on my own. Although I may have debt, we are by no means poor on any level. We are an extremely happy family and are not in want of anything. I couldn't live without my bubby! Remember that one's opinions can sometimes hurt the feelings of others.

Never said there was a perfect time. I said there is a difference between being in debt and being financially secure when you have children. Look, I'm sorry if my opinion hurts other people's feelings. I just say it like I see it.

[cicy33]

I would agree with that assessment. You are not normal because you are on this board which already shows that you are not a typical person.

Well, thank you! I love being different, normal bores me. Seriously, I believe that most people want to do well. It is the few that do it on purpose and keep themselves poor make a bad name for it.

[aevans1206]

Never said there was a perfect time. I said there is a difference between being in debt and being financially secure when you ahve children. Look, I'm sorry if my opinion hurts other people's feelings. I just say it like I see it.

I just wonder, do you happen to have children TREX? And what is your definition of poor?

[trex]

I just wonder, do you happen to have children TREX? And what is your definition of poor?

Yes, I have two beautiful daughters. One 3 years old and one 6 months.

My definition of poor is not being able to live on what you make and save a minimum of 10%. It has nothing to do with what you make, but whether you are financially secure.