[USER]

I feel like coast fire and FI is bs for anyone who plans to have kids.

I have 1.1 M but realized that kids can easily eat up 500k-1M if youpay for college, day care etc.

Day care cost 20k a year.

That’s just like a public college yearly where I live.

What the hell was the point of me saving and investing just to still be stuck in the rat race.

Just want to be done with all the stress already

[Perry]

The best thing that I ever done was have a kid, I couldn’t image going through life childless.

[Camille]

I appreciate the overall honesty of the OP to not gloss over the truth of how expensive kids are and be candid at how this is affecting their FIRE journey.

[Rosemarie]

Richest thing in life having your child’s arms wrapped around you. Better than, any diamond or money in world.

[Ross]

U.s army is accepting applications for free college

[Heather]

Our annual expenses as a family of 5 in Dallas, TX are under $60k and we go on 3-5w of vacation a year.

Kids CAN be really expensive.

They also definitely don’t have to be THATTTT expensive.

Also the costs that exist are spread out over 20+ years…

it’s not like you have a 1M hit to your portfolio all at once.

Theoretically that 1M portfolio would be able to yield $40k a year…

certainly more than enough to cover expenses for my kids…

and even the fanciest private school kids aren’t generally costing their parents more than $40k annually.

[Nom]

Having kids in America doesn’t seem viable. The squeeze on the middle class is unreal.

[rian]

I’ve got 3 kids, zero plans to pay for their college education. They’ll either make it on their own, or go into the trades military is also an option.

If you do the hard work for them it’s of a whole lot less value.

Just set 20k aside for their down payment on their first house, but don’t tell them.

[Steve]

Well, you can have no or fewer kids. That’s your choice (hopefully).

[Kristin]

As a pediatric therapist for special needs kids I’ve ONLY seen how expensive and stressful parenthood can be.

I can’t imagine opting into children in 2024 or ever.

Depending on the situation frugality isn’t an option.

Atleast you made it to 1.1m, that’s far more than most parents will ever see.

[Nickole]

I have 3 kids…. Just make sure they don’t do travel sports and you will be fine

[Kirby]

Kids are definitely expensive. So are boats, motorcycles, international travel, dining out.

Can minimize the cost on each of these, or go all out and spend the big money on each too.

Depends what you want in life.

[David]

“Middle class” parent in America, here. We’re literally dying out here. Don’t do it.

[John]

We started early with 529 s and paid both our kids college and retired early on sub 100k salaries.

We just did without and lived below our means and made re a priority

[Ira]

I checked just in case (for my own family) and a community college doesn’t seem like a bad option for the first two years.

It’s cheap (even in an expensive area in an expensive state).

Can that be an option?

Daycare can be avoidable if your spouse can stay at home without compromising your lifestyle, etc.

If you feel like your life will be compromised because of the cost of having a child then think well and hard in order to not regret anything in the future.

[Aaron]

ANY large expense will push off your FIRE date, and children are a huge one.

[Charlotte]

Kids have options—some schools offer dual enrollment in high school where they can come out with an associates degree for free at the same time they graduate high school.

[Sarah]

That’s why I am 1 and done. He is now old enough to watch himself, so I no longer worry about childcare.

I used to want more children but I know that I’ll struggle to afford a second child.

[Fewee]

Mine oldest 2 had a full ride or all
Tuition and fees paid at school.

I also had a 529 to help cover other expenses . We were able to do it on one income upper 5 digits and pay for 3 additional kids to go
To college in Philippines.

It’s doable.

We started as soon as I gave birth to save for them and our retirement concurrently.

And still travelled internationally every couple of years while they grew up.

Didn’t splurge on hotels or

Food but splurged on experiences.

Lots of sacrifices but will be well
Worth it.

[Ellen]

My kids have brought more joy into my life than I can express. Many on their FI path decide they should set aside $$$ for “experiences” and boy, oh boy, are kids “experiences!”

Mind you, I did the whole thing backwards.

I worked below market value when my kids were little (Barista FI kinda) so there was no daycare expense and I only worked on school days so all the holidays and snow days were as if I was a stay at home mom.

After the youngest went to college I got a new job to earn and save more.

I’m all set and will likely have a higher monthly retirement income than I do now.

I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

[Candance]

I’m always amazed at these statements…like how many people don’t realize that people with all kinds of incomes have children.

People who have low incomes have figured out how to “afford” children It’s all about your priorities! Just like anything in life!

[Kim]

Life isn’t all about having kid(s). It is OKAY if you don’t want to have kid(s).

Don’t let anyone guilt you into having kids just because they did and do.

Also, if you decide to have kids, you ARE NOT obligated to pay for their college.

here is no law that requires you to do so, but it seems like most parents feel like they are obligated to pay for it.

[Author]

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