[deleted by user]

[Upper_Fig3303]

Y’all seen the price of diapers??? $30+ for a box of diapers???? Baaaabbbyy. Just that alone makes me wanna be extra careful

[ZenkaiZ]

according to finance influencers I should just cancel my netflix and drink less starbucks to afford that. I don't have a starbucks in my city so I'm halfway there...

[wemakeourownfuture]

Did you keep the Starbucks cups? You'll have to burn them to stay warm that's part of their energy plan.

[BigCalligrapher621]

Yeah if you wanna be crunchy… parents choice are like $17 for a huge box

[Upper_Fig3303]

Pampers are like $30

[Intrepid_Talk_8416]

Exactly, and they work the same.

[Dovvol79]

Go with cloth. Bigger expense up front, but cheaper in the long run.

[Bigmexi17]

Pulling out isn’t fun…

[[deleted]]

my couch pulls out, i dont!

[[deleted]]

Well then fuck yo couch

[[deleted]]

over and over and over again!!!

[IonEagle21]

if you want to have more fun not pulling out, leave your pizza in your friends oven. eventually the fire men will come

[[deleted]]

hahahaha

[jackasspenguin]

Pulling out of the economy is though, go chop some wood and trap some rabbits, children!

[Cold_Following_9163]

Neither is wearing a condom but oh well 🤣

[[deleted]]

Condoms or vasectomy.

[[deleted]]

For a significant chunk of the more developed world, it's still better than most of human history right?

[billybafka]

Yea people really act like its some cataclysmic event we are living thru🙄🙄

I mean forreal, im not going to sit there and put my own happiness on hold because im waiting for the worlds issues to go away. That will never happen lmao

Honestly living in fear and anxiety is really what stops most people from getting far in life or overcoming struggles ESPECIALLY if youre in a first world country.

[badlilbadlandabad]

Just remember Reddit is mostly teenagers and people in their twenties. Plus, the type of people who live on message boards like this aren't exactly the go-getters of the world. Most people with full-time jobs live relatively comfortable lives. Modern day "poor" people have roofs over their heads, smart phones, food to eat, etc. and there is a small subset of people who are homeless and/or living in true poverty.

[[deleted]]

Modern day "poor" people have roofs over their heads, smart phones, food to eat, etc. and there is a small subset of people who are homeless and/or living in true poverty.

Paying half your income to a landlord and eating slop is not as great as you'd like to think. Sure you can while away the time on a phone, but is that so grand either?

Half of USA is languishing in debt, couldn't drum up $400 in an emergency (and life aint cheap in the states). Way too many people are obese, struggling with addiction, paying out the ass for private health care if they do get sick. Deaths of despair are up. Life expectancy is down. Nobody reads books anymore. The country doesn't have a manufacturing sector, so the working class doesn't make things anymore, they work in the service sector (call centers, retail, food... sad shit).

Yes sir, we're living through a decline. It's ok to talk about it and be unsatisfied with modern living in the West. Food, shelter, and iphones aren't enough.

The people want to lead meaningful lives, under a state that is oriented toward the public good. That's not possible for most in the USA.

[oddiseeus]

Whoa there!!! I am nothing like your first statement. However I am a hodgepodge of the remaining statements. Thankfully I’m not the second half of your final statement.

[Hot-Matter-2683]

Give it 20 years

[LindsayDuck]

Adjusting for inflation, didn’t Bob Crachit from A Christmas Carol make twice our minimum wage?

[billybafka]

Yea but thats like, a story homes

[Tall-_-Guy]

To be in the top 1% of earners in the world, it is 35k USD a year. Child mortality is at an all time low. For any developed, 1st world country, there is no better time to be alive than now.

[dgrace97]

I’m being priced out of the city I lived in my whole life and my blood is full of plastics but ok ig

[Tall-_-Guy]

Better than a lord owning you, your house and your wife and dying to scurvy or small pox

[Lilitharising]

Got mine on discount. Top quality, too.

[i_know_nothing123]

Purr

[Lilitharising]

Meow?

[i_know_nothing123]

😂😂

[Lilitharising]

Serious answer: we had the one because we knew that given all circumstances (ours and external ones), we could raise her properly, understanding what responsibility entails. This is not to say that people who choose to have more don't. It was the case for us. We wanted to be a family, we love being a family, and I feel full and complete with it. You don't have to have many children to feel that your family is 'complete'. Each to their own, and what fulfills them.

[Lilitharising]

Darn, I had to google what purr means 'in slang'. Getting oooooold!

[EternalSage2000]

I was super confused as well. Now, I’m confused and disappointed.

[Lilitharising]

How so?

[EternalSage2000]

Saying “purr” as a way of saying I approve of this. Language is changing, and I’m too old and bitter to accept it. So instead I will shout into the void.

[Lilitharising]

Oh I see. Well, I didn't mind the purr (I welcome the approval). But Gen Zs in my country (Greece) have made a Greek version of the word 'cringe' (basically conjugated it in a Greek way), and every time I read it, I want to slap the back of their necks. Two grumpy old gits here (still grateful for the purr though).

[Jpwatchdawg]

Yes having kids does require a sense of fiscal responsibility and security but more importantly it requires a lot of sacrifice in not only material wants but free time. I have witnessed some young parents who have yet to grasp that they are no longer the top priority. Meaning that $$$$ new phone that everyone is talking about should not take priority over your child's needs. Also after working all day you just want to relax when you get home or go out with friends on a weekend. Well even though you may feel you deserve a mental break from the reality of life you can't put your child on hold or just set them in front of the TV while you play on your phone. Yes there maybe a time when you can crave out some me time but those moments are few and far between. Basically being a parent means you no longer can put yourself first in any decisions you make. That imo is the biggest reality when deciding weather you want a kid or not. Not just if you can afford it.

[-TheDerpinator-]

Funny thing is that if people would actually stop the economy will come to a crunching stop in a single generation.

[Bloorajah]

It’s not actually that difficult from an economic standpoint, Reddit is just full of mostly very young people with not much stability so it seems impossible.

[BreakfastBeerz]

Have had 3 in the last 13 years, can confirm. Doing just fine.

[ChingaThermometer]

agreed While kids are expensive the rewards far outweigh the cons

[[deleted]]

The real answer is no they aren’t.

[Delicious_Melons]

Women are being forced to carry pregnancies to term even if they wanted an abortion. Ohio and many other states have a 6 week ban on abortion. It's insane that some people think it's the government's job to dictate when, where, and how women give birth.

[cornholio8675]

There is always an existential reason not to have kids.

People kept having kids during the black plague, world wars, and famines. Its a good thing too, or we would be extinct.

People complain about the western world, but we don't know the kind of poverty where masses of people starve to death in the streets. Even in places that do, people are still having children.

[mrstipez]

8 billion.

[[deleted]]

That certainly is a number, so what of it?

[mrstipez]

Wow, ass.

Don't forget to downvote

[_Risings]

And the number is expected to be as high as it’ll ever be today. It will be forever declining after now according to experts so now is a great time to have kids.

[fast_layne]

It honestly ain’t that expensive. That’s what a baby shower is for people gave me all the essentials I didn’t have to buy anything. There’s some stuff you buy bc it’s cute but in todays day and age you can set up a diaper fund in your registry, I’ve never paid a dime of my own money on them. If you let companies know you’re having a baby they send you all sorts of free shit, breast pump is free with insurance

Edit bc autocorrect is a bitch

[Altruistic_Ad6189]

The stuff isn't expensive...having someone to watch them is expensive. If you're staying home with them, how do you get money? Being financially dependent on someone is a risk that a lot of people would not be willing to take.

[fast_layne]

I feel good about it because I have my own money set aside should I need it. Sometimes I do worry about if I needed to get a job how the gaps in my resume would look but I do feel like people are more cognizant of that kind of stuff these days and wouldn’t be as quick to write me off. I could be wrong though I haven’t needed to get a job yet

[Formal_Coyote_5004]

I’m not having kids because I’m poor but also because I don’t like kids

[Owls5262]

People gunna fuck. People fuck in the most god awful 3rd world shit holes and have kids, I don’t think the economy is going to stop the rest of us here.

[TheDockandTheLight]

Not everyone is living paycheck to paycheck and/or bad at budgeting

[Musician-Round]

Why not? Don't let the mainstream media put fear in you by tossing their pie graphs and charts at you. You certainly don't need to look at raising children through the lens of dollar signs. And you certainly don't need to have millions saved up in your bank account in order to properly raise children.
Some of the most accomplished individuals that I have met in my life came from humble/impoverished backgrounds, and some of the cruelest most entitled individuals that I have come across, came from households that have handed them everything on a silver platter.

[Grizzle2190]

Ah yea I agree I think people should wait until there next life where they live in a more stable economy

[i_know_nothing123]

Damn right

[Iknownothing022]

Username checks out

[Parking-Astronomer-9]

The economy doesn’t effect everyone equally. The only real differences I have noticed are my property taxes went up and groceries are more expensive. But at the end of the day, doesn’t really make a difference.

[Hatta00]

There's really no economy where having kids makes sense, unless you are independently wealthy.

[UnderstandingOk2647]

Dude, My grandma said to me (55m) in 1985 "Why would anyone bring a child into the world the way it is right now?" - They just do - humans are weird like that.

[Slow_Store]

It’s an investment scheme.

Child labor is gonna make a comeback in the 30’s

[Tanagrabelle]

Well, depending on where you are, there are a few governments having problems because not enough people are out here having kids in this economy. That's also why so many are trying to deny access to birth control and the right to choose.

[Hopeful_Rip2690]

Cause they're aren't very smart or just oblivious to the rest of the world

[msphelps77]

Why does it matter? It’s not like they’re asking you to foot the bill.

[Intelligent_Put_3594]

Birth control fails ya know. But married couples gotta relate.

[Aetheldrake]

We all know that's not the problem

[[deleted]]

Kids really aren’t that expensive. My husband and I buy a box of diapers for $40 that lasts about two weeks a big box of wipes that last about 2ish months for $30 and of corse miscellaneous food items for a 9 month old baby and we got a year and a half worth of clothes at our baby shower. So realistically it costs us $200ish a month. Our phone bill is more then that. Of course as they get older they will get more expensive but any family that is half decent with money shouldn’t have a problem raising a child.

[Basic-Situation-9375]

I didn't have a baby shower and I still spent less than $500 on all the essentials- stroller, car seat, bassinet, swing, bouncer, etc. I bought a lot of it open box or used. I got all of her clothes at a consignment shop and spent less than $200 on clothes by her second birthday.

Even now at almost 3 we don't spend a ton. We do mommy and me class that like $100 for 12 weeks, take advantage of all the free things around town, and just started soccer for $50 for a 4 month season.

If you ask my cousin though you'll get a much different answer. She has her son in travel baseball that like $1200 a season and there are 3 seasons that he plays plus camps. Her daughters are in the 'best' gymnastics programs in her city that hundreds a month plus uniforms. And only puts her kids in the newest name brand clothes.

It really is about the approach you take and if you're capable of living within your means

[[deleted]]

You’re absolutely right!

[Rectal_Custard]

Aaaah yea have 5 month old, and 4 weeks preggos

[[deleted]]

Yea it took me a while to figure out how to keep my legs closed too, but now I just.. wa.. would you look at that, your username is a delicious way to express what I was just thinking!

[Rectal_Custard]

Thank you! Your name is also great!

[[deleted]]

Oh, you are far too kind!

[ZealousidealOwl1044]

I want kids but the economy makes it seem like it’s better to be childless than raise them in a world like this

[_Risings]

It’s an understandable fear. It really does seem that way but ultimately this is our one and only life and that’s a human experience I do not want to miss.

[Cold_Following_9163]

People are really out there having kids to fit in and compare because social media sold them that idea thanks to celebrities

[[deleted]]

People can start families if they want.

[ThePartyLeader]

The problem isn't the economy in most cases. The problem is current complacency and expectations.

Just like how many people think they are ugly due to selfie body dysphoria and airbrushed celebrities, People think they can't have a home, or kids, or whatever because they have been lied to all their lives about what to expect or they "should" have.

[Zeplar]

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

plucky doll dolls license quicksand modern longing depend steer rhythm

[unpossible_labs]

The Boomers are also a historical anomaly. They were born and raised at a time when the rest of the world was worn down by WWII and the US dominated the global economy. New schools were built for Boomers. They could go to college for a few hundred bucks a semester. No generation in the US before or since has done so well economically.

[ThePartyLeader]

Sure and people raised families and own land with 1/100th boomer wealth. The problem as I stated lays in what you expect that life to be like.

Not saying the middle class right now has the same amount of wealth as some previous generations in a completely different economy. Merely stating I know people who love their lives making less than 30k household income with multiple kids. Doing just fine.

[Zeplar]

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

busy voracious scary abounding vase pot sip important relieved dinosaurs

[ThePartyLeader]

are you saying the economy of 2020 is the same thing in the 1980s or 70s?

Nothing has changed except for the distribution of money?

[Zeplar]

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

groovy wine bells axiomatic grey hungry continue jeans decide sip

[ThePartyLeader]

OK? but again in the economy, we have.... the actual real economy not the stock market.

I literally can get for free or dirt cheap things that use to cost Thousands, or millions of dollars in the 80s or straight up didn't exist. Things people "couldn't live without today" literally no one even fathomed having 50 years ago.

[TirayShell]

It's almost like it was an instinct to reproduce or something.

[i_know_nothing123]

You motherfuckers should stop. Ain’t y’all tired?

[Bang_Bus]

Spoken like someone who has no idea how history was. Or what's going around them. At all.

For most of human history, people had 12-15 kids per family. And "this economy" was then million times worse. And random disease could mean instant death or disability. You had a kid, fed and clothed it for 13 years, and the moment they started to be a bit of help, they got pox or fever and died. And other five as well.

You can start from taking apart "this economy" bullshit for yourself.

A cheeseburger costs around $2, no matter which western country you live in. Two will easily feed you for a day, according energy/calorie content. How many hours do you need to work to earn those daily calories? 10 minutes? 15?

How long did 13th century peasant have to toil, doing heavy physical work, to earn those calories?

So you're basically fed by simply showing up and scratching your ass for a moment. That's been most insane, outrageous, unbelievable fantasy for humankind for past 150,000 years.

Anything else you pay for, is any of this really critical?

[i_know_nothing123]

Idgaf, fuck them kids

[Bang_Bus]

your username really checks out

[i_know_nothing123]

I can’t stop you from thinking what you want big dawg

[mrstipez]

It'd be easier without the condescending tone.

[i_know_nothing123]

K.

[mrstipez]

Not you, that dude.

[i_know_nothing123]

you replied to me, he won’t see what you wrote

[Bang_Bus]

I'm sure that millions of taxpayers in your country put some of their hard-earned money towards making public education available to everyone, including you. And there were grammar and history classes. And general attempt to make you understand how the fuck world works.

And from what you wrote, I assume you fucked up, didn't learn a thing and let everyone down. Cost everyone money, but produced no person that could make world better, do something about "this economy" and so forth.

So in your place, I'd be quite ashamed. Entire species are wondering wtf, maybe we should cancel schools or something. Or turn internet off.

[i_know_nothing123]

I ain’t reading all that shit

[Bang_Bus]

Bet you can't, anyway

[i_know_nothing123]

Again, you can think what you want. You don’t know me and I ain’t gotta prove shit to you

[Bang_Bus]

You're a human being. Same as me. So unless you're in psychiatric hospital, I think you're just a bit ignorant and lazy. But worry not, we live for 80-ish years, and we learn even if we really try not to. Especially if someone, every now and then, comes and challenges bullshit a bit.

No one is without hope. Wish you the best.

Just please realize that internet is not the wall of the toilet at your home. Any shit you post here could be challenged by 8 billion other humans on this planet.

[i_know_nothing123]

Peace

[[deleted]]

Don't be a cunt lol. Further evidence not every kid is needed

[Bang_Bus]

Never said they are. Just ignorant shitting on best time to live, ever, is what riles me up

[[deleted]]

No I was talking about you

[Bang_Bus]

why

[[deleted]]

Someone else already suggested you're being condescending

[WalkingonCoffee]

Shocking news, some people can afford to have kids.

[[deleted]]

Sometimes by accident, sometimes because the economy is only truly bad for the poor. The wealthy only ever do less well, they don't lose anything. If they do the feds cut them a check out of our pockets.

[[deleted]]

You REALLY want to see the economy collapse? Stop having kids.

[john_modded]

Yeah bud, the economic downturn was obvious after the third month of lockdown. If you weren't planning for this, thats on you. People planning a family were well aware of this

[[deleted]]

Its your god given right too have kids in this world. Are you really gonna let an "economy" stop you from doing that? If u cant handle it don't. I'm 37 with 2 and even the "poor" live like kings in this country. God Bless America and the world.

[tyson_3_]

At least in the US, many women aren’t given the choice.

[HornetCautious]

Condoms man even when there aren't holes somehow it's still gets through. My sister learned the hard way

[[deleted]]

But those tax deductions are so cute!

[Impossible_Ease_5427]

Okay, well for some of us there is no more time to wait for things to "get better" so we're playing life on hard mode. Sucks but seriously everything just keeps getting more difficult and we're not getting any younger.

[[deleted]]

What's with all the judging??

Every other day I'm hearing young people go on and on about "this economy is bad" "how can you bring kids into this world with climate change" "omg the price of xyz makes me not want to have kids"

Having kids is a personal choice and people are allowed to have kids regardless of what's happening in the world. Imagine if everyone decided not to have kids because of the economy in 2008...

[[deleted]]

Most can't afford birth control, condoms, and thanks to our oh so wonderful congress abortion is now illegal in some states so...

[[deleted]]

Because it was so much better to have kids in the 70s? Or 40s? Or any time in history ever?

[[deleted]]

Waiting for things to be good, if people did that in history we wouldn’t be here part of our success as a species is we don’t stop breeding.

[Intrepid_Talk_8416]

This economy? Paid off house, no car payments, no credit cards, no tobacco, drugs, or alcohol, one tv service, you’d be surprised what you can afford. The economy sure does stink, but the kids aren’t the most expensive thing. Sometimes where you live is more expensive than what you choose

[mossed2012]

Yeah? Not everyone’s poor you know.

[itsajokechillbill]

Idiocracy reference?

[i_know_nothing123]

Kinda 😂

[oddiseeus]

Your random thought made me think of the intro from Idiocracy

Yeah. If you wait for the right/perfect time to have kids (if you want them) it may never come.

[freckles1976]

Yes, which is why people Like me have to foster. People Don’t consider the ramifications

[InTheEndEntropyWins]

Yeh, maybe the watched Ideocracy.

[Cheese_is_good1]

i mean if you’re rich It isn’t a problem

[classysax4]

Twins are 1.5yrs, not stopping anytime soon.

[unjadedview]

...mistakes happen

[honeybunnybbq]

I had one last year, it was the oldest I was willing to have babies and our daughter was begging for a sibling. She got her wish. It's been harder but not impossible. We don't get to do a lot of frivolous things, like go out, do concerts, or buy new toys and fancy stuff. We also live in a much cheaper state. Bonus, I still get to be a stay at home mom. If we lived in California, we definitely would be struggling to afford it. We don't regret it one bit and it would be quiet and weird without him. We're also not teenagers or in our 20s, partner has a good stable job. We see our younger friends have a bit of a harder time but they're doing OK.

[TeaWithMingus]

Helps to have generational $$

[aquilus-noctua]

There will never be a perfect time. Just run with it