How Much It Actually Costs To Raise Kids In The U.S.

[@unabashedlyashley]

What I don’t get is how childcare is so expensive but the salaries of the childcare workers are insanely low. There’s absolutely no correlation

[@CyFi6]

Supply and demand.

[@organizedchaos4559]

good question, wonder who makes money off childcare.

[@edbd4613]

Its like most fields where the bulk of the profit goes to investors and CEOs

[@BSReese93]

@@organizedchaos4559 the owner of the childcare facility.

[@sreenathatirunarayanapura9296]

USA should forget its capitalism and add some socialism to it and focus of families and society rather than GDP. Else white liberal population will be reduced drastically over next few decades Nature corrects by removing anomalies

[@jellygurl27]

I do not want to hear anyone ask a Millennial or Gen Z adult when they are having children. Some of us Millennials are still recovering from the 2008 crisis, having Student Loans, living with Parents, we can not even survive basic as a single adult. Let alone have a Child? We are literally living through a crisis. The national average rent is $2,000 and you have to make 3 times that.

[@Drunken_Master]

As usual, a millennial complaining...

[@Brathsolus]

@@Drunken_Master and as usual, someone with a useless comment

[@andrewchaviano3477]

@@Drunken_Master lmao

[@cringelord7542]

@@Drunken_Master I understand what you're saying since real median wages have recovered. But house price to income ratio has been skyrocketing recently. So it is getting harder to move out and start your own life.

[@erikprestonTV]

I envy anyone who can live at their parents

[@nripenshenoy3238]

Forget about raising children, think about maternity expenses in USA. Around 20k-30k bill just for delivery of a baby 🙏

[@maythesciencebewithyou]

The trick is to find a job at a company that pays for your healthcare. Those who have that, don't want universal healthcare, as that would reduce their paycheck.

[@nripenshenoy3238]

@@maythesciencebewithyou Yes, that would be better than struggling for medical expenses 🙏.

[@Protectedbikelanes]

You pay for a service, that's it. You don't want to pay so much $$, cook for yourself, deliver your baby yourself etc.

[@Protectedbikelanes]

@Taylor Madden it's a reality though, a lot of people go to Mexico because it's cheaper for services.

[@Protectedbikelanes]

@Taylor Madden I wasn't saying have a baby in Mexico, I was saying people go to Mexico for general medical procedures. Some women have babies too fast and they end up delivering them themselves. So it's possible but not everyone wants to or think they can. As in they are very dependent on hospitals in general even in a non emergency situation. Also you could give birth and a birthing center or at home both with a midwife and that is cheaper than a hospital birth.

[@mida8261]

It's amazing how in the early '90s, my dad had a mortgage, two cars, and for my mom to be a stay at home mom for a few years all while making slightly above minimum wage and not using any government assistance (my dad "made too much" to qualify.) Granted, money was tight, but we were able to manage it until my dad got his big break and scored a great job as well as my mom. Meanwhile, I went to school, and now work as an accountant. I'm single with no children and live paycheck to paycheck despite living a very frugal life (I still drive my car from high school, I have the cheapest phone I could buy on MetroPCS, I can't remember the last time I ate out, etc.) I don't live in the best part of town because it's all I can afford. I don't think I'll ever have children because of this. If me, a guy with a career, can barely afford to take care of himself, I cannot imagine those who are making less than me, able to get by with a family in this crazy economy. I hope this all fixes itself sooner than later because I don't know how much I can take this.

[@gadflyofhumanity_6847]

***Spoiler Alert*** It's NOT LOL

[@shannon2748]

Yep. Gen X'ers and younger generations don't stand a chance, unless they come from money or inherit money/houses, or have connections. Even if you get married, it takes two working just to get by.

[@nafaamejri7808]

Why don't u just leave us and go live in any other country .. like am suggesting this because in general people with a us degree have higher salary .. like in my country Tunisia ... And it is so cheap here if u get to live with USD

[@EAAAA1505]

I feel you. I also have an accounting degree but could never afford to have a kid.

[@expensivefreedom]

I don’t understand this at all. My wife and I both work, but live on less than a third of our household income. I work for a small shipping company and she’s a paramedic (in training to be a flight medic), so neither of us is really raking in the dough.. Small town America is still an awesome place to live and work your way into the American dream. For the record, both my wife and I came from absolutely nothing. My dad died with an almost exactly $0 net worth and her parents are lower middle class.

[@dawnjohnson9726]

And people claim that being child free is selfish.. NOPE .. we are being socially responsible. How irresponsible is it to have children when you can't take of yourself financially??

[@stu3705]

Neither is true. Not having kids has no effect on any of basic disasters you might.be expecting.

[@bigcahuna42366]

I'm with you, I really hate when someone labels me as selfish for having no children. Many parents who say this are probably jealous of our freedom.

[@KyleEvra-15]

Preach it! 🙌🏽

[@caleyc8896]

I'm a college Instructor and my husband is an engineer. We would be living paycheck to paycheck if we had to pay for childcare in our area (central N.C.) for our daughter. Fortunately, we have family that can help, but not everyone is so fortunate. Two parents working full-time jobs should be able to afford childcare. Every other high-income country in the world subsidizes childcare. We are the only outlier because corporate greed is running rampant in this country. This is not just an issue for just poor people, this is now an issue for most anyone that works today.

[@michael.r.landon]

CNBC really nailing this "it's-too-expensive-to-live-in-America" series

[@rash_mi_be]

Exactly, what are they trying to portray America as? Prices are rising everywhere!

[@_Painted]

Hey, when they’re right, they’re right. It is too expensive and that’s a big part of why American median savings is quite low compared to other “wealthy” countries. We’re a wealthy country as a whole, but every time the common man gets an extra dollar, the profiteers running our nation increase the cost of living by a dollar. It has become unreasonably hard for most Americans to pull themselves up by their bootstraps.

[@_Painted]

If the US doesn’t reduce income inequality, Americans will develop learned helplessness and will give up on trying to work hard to improve their condition in a rigged and unfair system. As that happens, culture of poverty will spread, crime will rise, and we’ll stop being a wealthy nation at all. Fixing this is a looming existential crisis for the USA.

[@christinadavis7000]

It’s too expensive to even breathe in this country

[@mackenziegray2090]

not just america

[@saramatthews7159]

In this day and age I am just happy to be childfree. Cost of living in the United States is just getting out of control.

[@glorfindelchocolateflowery6392]

I feel you girl, I'm so happy I decided not to have a child. Too much stress

[@saramatthews7159]

@@glorfindelchocolateflowery6392 exactly lol

[@kitaboo206]

So true

[@rickbailey189]

Keep voting for Democrats and it's only going to get worse. The donkey crats want to tank the US economy...most especially DC-District of Corruption.

[@lordpezl5424]

Same. Got a vasectomy last year. Am currently 30. My wife and I decided in our early 20s children is not an option for us. We know we can afford 2 comfortable with our current salaries but it is not worth it. We live in TX so not too expensive but seeing how parents struggle to the point of leading to divorce we decided no thanks. Got pets though. Now that everything is so expensive we dodged a bullet.

[@nearby222]

This is what happens when you run a society like a business 🤷🏿‍♂️.

[@peterf4620]

Yup!

[@wolvesrfun]

B-But our RECORD BREAKING PROFITS.

[@kathydelarosa1286]

Seriously though

[@munequa81]

Bingo!!

[@jojosmom8819]

Capitalism, ain’t it a b!tch?😅

[@scott2228]

Had a vasectomy at 30 with no kids. Now, at 45, I’m still happy with this decision.

[@glorfindelchocolateflowery6392]

I wish women had such a easy civil right

[@scott2228]

@@glorfindelchocolateflowery6392 although more invasive, women have the same right. It’s just not as common.

[@glorfindelchocolateflowery6392]

@@scott2228 no, I am a woman that has tried to have that basic civil right and I was denied so its common doctors just don't give women the same grace in that situation period.

[@marilynmonheaux]

@@scott2228 some doctors won’t tie your tubes

[@scott2228]

@@marilynmonheaux I couldn’t imagine the frustration that could cause. I get there needs to be criteria that must be met but if a woman wants 1 they should get it. The dr should not be concerned if the person regrets it down the road. Which is prob the #1 reason dr’s say no.

[@CordeliaWagner]

Main reason for staying childfree: I just don't want kids. I want my life for myself.

[@mcc_1993]

sameee! Isn’t it enough to just say “I just don’t want any?” Kids don’t bring everyone happiness.

[@JenniferRusso5]

I have never wanted kids.

[@polltlopoz9746]

Same i dont want kids

[@ttgooljc6154]

So selfish!

[@Sunshine26762]

@@ttgooljc6154how is that selfish? How can she be selfish to something that something that doesn’t exist?

[@jdreign7210]

and people wonder why these younger generations have less kids now

[@iheartdelrey]

The world is overpopulated so that's probably a good thing.

[@SMD965OFFICIAL]

Yet Africa is having thousands of kids every minute

[@lexie5066]

@@iheartdelrey I heard that was a big myth and the world is going to be extremely underpopulated if the birth rate continues as it is. Where'd you hear that the world was overpopulated?

[@mfk833]

@@SMD965OFFICIAL Very funny that you are accusing Africa, when the two must populated countries are in Asia: China, then India. Do you know that, if you take all the 54 countries in Africa: like EVERYBODY from 54 COUNTRIES. There is still LESS people than in CHINA ONLY. There is more CHINESE people in this world. Than there is people in a full continent of 54 countriess. What about that racist person? What about you get an education first, before showing off your lack of brain material, meaness and lack of education to the world?

[@SS40-nah]

I was about to mention the declining birth rate, but I'm glad you beat me to it. 😂 People now a days are choosing to go child-free which is understandable.

[@sauheaven7]

Everything in US has become so expensive, that it has gone from "Cost of living" to "Cost of barely surviving" !!

[@Itoshimi]

@Incomeking No things are getting more and more expensive while the rich and wealthy and politicians do nothing as it doesn’t affect them or their money.

[@Itoshimi]

@Incomeking Especially when the hoard all the money in oversea banks

[@iseegoodandbad6758]

Universal healthcare for all would vastly increase the average Americans disposable income even if they payed more taxes. They wouldnt have to pay tens of thousands for an operation for example!!

[@nich0lee]

@IncomekingIf they hoard it, it doesn't circulate, so there is less for everyone else. As people become impoverished, the government has to print money, which results in inflation. If the wealthy spend their money on goods and services, it circulates throughout society. That is not the same as giving it to the poor. Also, as long as no new money is introduced into circulation, the wealthy could, in fact, "give it all to poor" and there would be zero inflation. You don't understand how money works.

[@whitneyw.7919]

THANK YOU TO THE FED AND THE BAILOUTS AND THE COVID REGIME. I LOVE the new America/the new normal!

[@noahbusker2674]

As an American living abroad, this is why if I ever have children, I won’t have them in the US.

[@_Painted]

Yeah, I think the best route might be to save up money and then move to Eastern Europe, Africa, India, or island Asia to have kids. Unfortunately, by the time most people would have saved enough money to do that, they’re too old to keep up with kids (if not actually sterile).

[@pbassassinz8097]

@@_Painted I don't think its better to do anything in those countries over the U.S including raising kids people in the U.S just complain more than people in other countries because Americans expect everything to be perfect.

[@zakuma22]

Having kids in the US nowadays is plain stupid and a terrible investment.

[@thecrippledpancake9455]

@@zakuma22 That’s probably why they made abortion illegal. People quit having kids and they don’t want to run out of people

[@cody4916]

Your kids will still have US citizenship though and that becomes a headache down the road with FATCA and citizenship based taxation. They'll be at a disadvantage financially when living abroad with US citizenship.

[@jenniferrudiman7090]

I am so grateful that my partner and I are childfree by choice but I feel horrible for people who really want or wanted to be parents and are struggling to raise their children

[@qjtvaddict]

Better yet leave the country to a place that’s affordable to raise kids in.

[@zacksung11]

It's this, along with climate anxiety and mental health, that's made me decide that having kids and raising a family is not for me. It's difficult enough to have a well-paid job that helps me save money to have my own house; it's virtually unthinkable to think about them while having children at the same time. Burning both ends of the candle is not good, and people are simply too stressed about job insecurity and other factors to decide to become parents. In the end, I'm afraid it'll only be the rich who'll be able to afford to raise kids. What a dispiriting future we're all staring into.

[@Ja50nkAt]

Same, it's like what kind of a world are people sending their kids into?

[@bayouboyentertainment2106]

@Aleido Vellerophon rich people want people to keep having kids because it keeps you working in their businesses to pay for those expenses and it ensures in the future they have a workforce to replace you in the future so their business doesn't suffer. Elon don't care about the average person he cares about getting that average person into his factories. Like most rich people he's not gonna have his family working on the factory floor he could have 40 kids and none of them would be working at the ground level lol it's why they keep pushing for people to keep having kids replenish the ranks otherwise they think finding people is hard now but in a decade or two you're gonna see the declining birthrate take effect and hit that economic workforce hard.

[@williamdiggs7881]

Kids are more important than your dream home.

[@holeephuk]

What's wrong with climate? Mental health problems are causing people who tell you all this rubbish..stop watching news and enjoy life..life is great 👍

[@misterbanshee7992]

If the rich have kids they won’t be rich anymore 😂

[@dukemandu]

I can't even take care of myself.

[@plbeckman]

Yes and it's rough. Glad someone else understands this

[@BagsNBaguettes_327]

Right..it’s hard enough to take care of yourself!!

[@oof6052]

Ahahahahaha so true. 🤣🤣🤣

[@MoneyMan28]

I'll take care of you if you give me money

[@blacklyfe5543]

Then you're not an adult

[@jasmine9538]

As a childfree person I know exactly how expensive children are. Why are new parents so clueless and caught off guard? Not to say they don't need help- they absolutely do!

[@edvaira6891]

So glad my kids were young in the late 90’s early 2000’s when it was a bit easier and less expensive…but,as my kids reach their mid 20’s, we are saddened to realize they will likely NEVER be able to afford to be parents themselves…

[@Lee-ks1en]

My daughter and SIL waited until they were 33/34 to have their only child. If America wants women to have babies, at least at replacement levels, we have to invest in children and families like other western countries.

[@RLYYLR]

@@Lee-ks1en immigration can make up the difference.

[@moisesbeyond]

@@Lee-ks1en all western countries are the same, all have kids below replacement level

[@The-Oneness11]

@@RLYYLR Yes, that's why the government doesn't care. They can pay the immigrants less than actual born Americans.

[@scholaroftheworldalternatehist]

A basic STEM degree should allow people to afford kids

[@1HeatWalk]

Just having enough money is not enough to be a good parent or help a child to grow up into a proper adult. My parents worked all the time, but didn't spend much time with me. All of their wisdom never got passed down to me. I struggled to fit in with people and society all my life which lead to being bullied and massive depression because the lack of confidence to take on life's challenges.

[@Bunny11344]

Awww I’m so sorry to hear. I was kinda in the same boat but you just really have to work on yourself and get to know yourself. Have self worth!! Hopefully u can have a better relationship with your parents

[@lorettagallagher]

I Relate to the Bullying. Now I have Grown 💪 Stronger from Living that Experience.

[@mida8261]

Story of my life. On the bright side, I was able to develop my own wisdom. Hopefully things got better for you as an adult.

[@plbeckman]

I felt this post. It is the truth and blunt.

[@cameronf3343]

Same story here. I didn’t start getting better at actually dealing with it until I was 16, 17 years old. I’m just glad I did eventually.

[@kingquan3826]

I can barely afford to take care of myself so I literally cannot ever dream or think of having a child. Hell even dreaming nowadays cost money.

[@Smartskull0]

Let’s assume that it would cost $288,000 to raise a child from age 0-18. That would work out to $16,000/yr, or $1,333 per month over 18 years. Now let’s assume that instead of spending $1,333 every month on your child, you chose to invest that money at the start of every month in the stock market using a total market index fund that returns 10% annually. At the end of the 18 year period, you would have over $810,000 in your account, of which $523,313 is investment gains. The real cost of raising a child is roughly $810,000 and NOT just $288,000 when you factor in the opportunity cost of spending that money instead of having it invested in the stock market with compound interest at work.

[@gamer-ff6mh]

But you cannot buy the physiological ratio mixture of chemicals in the brain with even 10x that money... atleast for many people. That is why they will have kids no matter what

[@jaysaiuniverse8628]

The market I thought returned less than that 10 percent is nice though but even on real estate getting a 3 percent return every year makes it a whole lot better

[@Smartskull0]

@@Wave331-d8g spoken like a true broke person. Ever heard a rich dude saying their money doesn’t make them happy? And if one of them did, why wouldn’t they give it all away or light it up on fire?

[@charlesleebaird]

Not asking for wealth, just security.

[@mike619]

Best comment here! People always forget opportunity cost. The $$ could have been put to work! 🤝

[@swaggery]

Also, in the US your ability to work is greatly diminished with a child. You are expected to transport them everywhere until they are at least 17 years old. Then with the urban planning that forces social isolation, it's much more difficult to access free childcare labour (aka old people) if individualism wasn't ingrained into the culture and legal system.

[@HassanalBolkiahSoyjak]

Free childcare is a mother + grandparents to supplement.

[@HindiLearnersDiary]

@@HassanalBolkiahSoyjak Why are grandparents obligated to watch grandkids? They have already raised kids. Don't they want a breather? Do not deserve some rest?

[@starzzzy22]

@@HassanalBolkiahSoyjak And what if grandma and grandpa are still working themselves? Why does childcare have to equal a mother staying home? Why not the dad? What about families who need two incomes to provide for their families and save for their children's future?

[@cringelord7542]

@@HindiLearnersDiary I think it's a good thing if the whole family raises a child. This way more thought and care is put into raising the child and people in retirement can be "economically" productive again.

[@HindiLearnersDiary]

@@cringelord7542 Maybe if men helped women , grandparent's help would not be needed. All too often I see scenarios where both parents work , yet childcare is almost entirely on the woman. Men need to start contributing more, not ask grandma's to help. It was YOUR decision to have that kid.

[@NocturneSonate]

This is definitely not the time period or country to have a family. Living as a single adult is expensive enough from being gouged at the grocery store, gas station, in health care and other areas we are battling “inflation”. Wages stagnate or lag behind the current costs of living. There is light at the end of the tunnel though. That light is that there will be a total collapse in our current system and life as we know it here in the US will be different. You can only take from the bottom, the foundation of an economy for so long until the foundations integrity fails.

[@Lousasshol]

yup , recession 2008

[@Crusader1984]

Well the conservatives still are having more children than liberals so in the future we will have more conservatives and liberals will disappear Liberals have more abortions than conservatives to

[@Brix212]

Why did you put inflation in quotes?

[@moriah1796]

Right? Being black especially I can’t imagine having kids here now, if ever.

[@_Painted]

I agree, except I am holding onto a sliver of hope that we can still see meaningful reform without catastrophic collapse. If a society doesn’t allow the people a reasonable opportunity to thrive, why should the people devote their effort to support a system that is crushing them? People need a minimum of good access to food, shelter, and enough free time to raise a family, or else they’re better off checking out of the system and returning to the forests. But when I hear about the government penalizing victims of the broken system, like Tennessee literally making homelessness a felony!!! …my temper starts rising and I start fearing revolution has become necessary.

[@pinkeysherbet7249]

I love children and always wanted to have them, but I’m choosing not to have children for this reason. It’s not fair to bring a child into a world where I have to choose between being a present and involved parent and making enough money to support us. I fully believe stay-at-home parents and family caretakers for elderly and disabled people should have the right to universal basic income so we can compensate people for the very real labor they put in to make society function, especially since we expect this work out of people (especially women) for free.

[@johnmartin4641]

It doesn’t have to be money or kids. You can have both. I made good money and was at all of my kids sporting events, dance recitals, etc. So were my successful friends. Also, you don’t get to spend that much time with them during the week during the school year anyway. They’re in school until late afternoon and then have sports and homework afterwards. You get to spend more time with them on the weekends, which you probably won’t be working.

[@kamilareeder1493]

Yes ☝️👀 and affordable is GOOD because it give all women/moms/dads the right to choose wether they want to pursue their career or stay home. ☝️👀 I think it'd be bad for women en mass, to go back into the home even w extra money. Affordable daycare would allow us the freedom to choose

[@jaddek.astrie3071]

Not only the expenses but the fear of war. I'm already 43 and i do not think I will have a child.

[@maddiefaye696]

Yes 🙌

[@ariefarief4808]

I agree with you. I grew up in a poor household where I had to work when I was only 14. Now I don't think it's fair to have children when you are poor

[@AK-rx6hv]

Scary thing is the poorest people have the most kids

[@pamelalima5401]

This happens all over the world… family planning education is needed

[@Jo-vu1me]

Right! And then complain about it 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@FeyreArcheron741]

I’ve always wondered why. I truly don’t get it

[@odysseus0990]

S G lack of education, birth control out of reach, abortions difficult to get, etc. In places like japan and Korea, even among poor, babies outside of marriage is rare because of access to abortion and access to cheap birth control. In areas with free birth control, babies outside of marriage is low.

[@rarab22]

I learned about this in my evolution course. The species who are more endangered die sooner and tend to produce more offsprings and the offspring mature quickly. While the species who aren't threatened much live longer lives and reproduce less offspring. Those offspring take time to get to maturity.

[@bdog1323]

I feel so right and vindicated after decades of NEVER wanting kids. At 51 years old, I'm enjoying early retirement and enjoying life like I've imagined now.

[@arabicmusiclady1428]

count me in. I'm a 31 year old child-free by choice woman. I've never wanted kids and never wanted marriage either. Looking at how crazy and miserable the world and society is becoming I know I made the right choice of choosing to never have kids. I love my freedom and peace that comes with the child-free lifestyle.

[@muskokaboats]

@@julm7744 most children are just putting their parents in old age homes and waiting for them to pass away to get their inheritance…

[@muskokaboats]

@@julm7744 i’d consider having kids if this were the case but we know it would never happen in america

[@arabicmusiclady1428]

@@julm7744 Nope, I won't regret it. I am very happy with my choice. I come from a beautiful family. And I have wonderful nieces and nephews. I have some family members who never married and some who have married. The ones who never married and never had kids are happy with their lives just like some of my family members who chose to marry and have kids are also happy. Not everyone wants to have kids and get married. Many people can have fulfilling lives and happy lives without ever having kids and getting married.

[@arabicmusiclady1428]

@@muskokaboats So true! lol. This guy is delusional for thinking that having kids means that those kids will take care of them in old age lol. People who are single and never married and never had kids are the ones who actually have family like sisters, brothers, cousins, aunts, nieces, and nephews who take care of them and look out for them in old age while many married people are left alone in nursing homes. These married people have no idea how nice and good single people have it in this world.

[@derpmansderpyskin]

I feel like this video didn't do the title justice. The title "Why raising kids is so expensive in the U.S." wasn't really talked about at all. You mentioned how raising kids _is_ expensive, and you talked about some government programs that could give people money to help pay for it, but you never even touched on _why_ it's expensive, or if it's more expensive here than in other parts of the world. Is there (like with healthcare) something unique about the U.S. system that makes it more expensive than the rest of the world? Or does every other part of the world have similar issues with the cost of childcare? Given the title, that seems like an obvious thing you'd want to discuss. A more fitting title might be "What can we do about the rising cost of childcare" or something like that. Edit: Thanks for changing the title. New one is much more fitting.

[@LifeAdviceSite]

I agree it didn’t touch on the title whatsoever. My takeaway title was something more like, “Why Financially Struggling Black Families Suffer More Than Financially Struggling White Families”.

[@21silvermoon]

Well it's just darn expensive. If you have kids and payed for childcare. That costs says it all. These businesses want rich parents.

[@Tron08]

@@21silvermoon Personally I find the main reason is due to the fact that child care just cannot benefit from economies of scale like a factory making widgets. There are (very justified) limits to the number of kids a single teacher is allowed to care for at a time. And apparently insurance costs for these businesses are astronomical. This is just an industry where competition cannot bring down the costs for families.

[@derpmansderpyskin]

@martin stone Where do you live? Also $5 a day is nearly $2,000 a year, which makes me wonder just how subsidized it is lol.

[@jarednovel]

Once again, CNBC is gaslighting the liberals as usual ....CNBC is trying to clean the mess created by the radical left yet each time they try they make the situation worse

[@NaomiTCOOKIES]

These days, it's also kids having kids and many come from low-income families. This creates a cycle of poverty, generational trauma (especially if from an immigrant family), mental health issues, and often times abuse.

[@jennywinter3025]

Most immigrant family kids are not having kids just saying

[@NaomiTCOOKIES]

@@jennywinter3025 Yeah I know; I'm a kid from an immigrant family and I'm not having kids because of the abuse I went through and still recovering from

[@macristo33]

Exactly, if you can’t afford to have kids, don’t have kids. I definitely wanted kids, but as I got older, work became more stressful and time consuming, that it just was not worth losing everything for a marriage with kids. I am completely happy being single without kids.

[@NaomiTCOOKIES]

@@macristo33 Agreed! Some people don't even get to start living or enjoying their lives until their adulthood. It'd be hard to do that if you have children because then you'd have to live for them and not for yourself. But we deserve to enjoy the fruits of our own labors. I know too many parents who become resentful of having to spend their hard-earned money on their children.

[@amberjohnsonlogan]

It's easy to know that Teen Birth Rates have been declining since 1991- records are kept and published by agencies such as the CDC and OPA. At 15.4 births per 1,000 the TBR has declined 75% from 1991 to be just 5% of all births in 2020.

[@SLangel18]

I had to declare bankruptcy 🏦 after my kid. Abortion is not the cause but the effect of a bunch of different factors. Like non paid child care, expensive diapers and formula, 3 month non-paid maternity leave….etc. My daycare was $208. That’s $10,816 a year from my 35,000 salary. So my take home? $25,184 a year. Why is it so expensive? Because taxes we pay don’t go to the right places. We don’t need to spend soooo much in defense. We need to spend on affordable healthy care so that women can get access to medical care during pregnancy, we need paid maternity leave because those 3-4 months can set back families. We need free 8 hour a day daycare. If people need to work 8 hours days, we need a place to have those children taken care of.

[@melissahouse3488]

By strangers!?! That's how I was abused!!! There is something called adoption although the left hates to hear it!!! I notice your quick to suggest abortion but of course not adoption!?! Why have a child just to pass them off to stranger's, and pay a fortune to potentially risk likelihood of trauma occuring. You mention "free" child care, if it's anything I've learned in life it's that everything has its price and nothing truly FREE in this world. I will be damned if my taxes fund abusive child care for other people kids when I had to go without due to responsible choices. Let them take your taxes!!!

[@Protectedbikelanes]

Or you could just work at a daycare and have your kid with you

[@ursulasmith6402]

Definitely ot defense because there aren't enemies anymore, they fight the CIA now. It started with the Korean War all the way up to now.

[@IHateMyAccountName]

@@Protectedbikelanes gotta wait in line for that.

[@ilovegoodsax]

In 1986, I paid $198.00/mo for my daughter's childcare. My monthly gross was $1050/mo. Take home was around $800/mo. Forunately I worked at a job that provided some overtime which I always took to help make ends meet. Child care has always been expensive.

[@dave35311]

Don’t have kids, you’ll save money,save those children the pain and grief of this life and even the planets resources will benefit.

[@glorfindelchocolateflowery6392]

Exactly my major regret in life is being born. Future babies really aren't missing anything on this planet

[@dave35311]

@@glorfindelchocolateflowery6392 Yeah, I know it doesn’t sound warm and fuzzy but the only reason we’re here is because of our parents decisions and what they wanted. Check out David Benetar and the anti-natal philosophy

[@cameronf3343]

@@dave35311 Just because our only reason for being here is because of our parents’ decisions and sometimes lack of decisions doesn’t make it pointless. You don’t need some grandiose reason to be alive to enjoy the unlikely opportunity at being alive in a place that has more life. Look at the trees in all their beauty flowing in the wind and wildlife moving free and think about every decent person you’ve ever met. Life’s hard but life’s not bad. I swear you antinatalists are worse than the most desperate of religious people at your sense of need for some fantastical reason to justify life and having one. Quit being sad about that there is no purpose and it becomes 1,000x easier to realize it’s about you defining and living your own purpose.

[@dave35311]

@@cameronf3343 Good luck with that.

[@cameronf3343]

@@dave35311 I don’t need luck. But good luck to you and the rest of your lot to someday be better mate. 🍻

[@mariaansley1519]

The most expensive part is not being able to work because after expenses on childcare and gas it's more expensive than working

[@fark69]

That's not expensive though... You're saving money by staying home?

[@mariaansley1519]

@@fark69 yes in a way but gaining a gap in schooling and employment history. Long run it costs money.

[@fark69]

@@mariaansley1519 I see. That makes sense. I guess you could use the money you save to boost your earning potential later. Like go to school when the kids are older, get an advanced degree or certification, etc.

[@Georgiagr-uf5kq]

As a medical assistant with 10 years experience, I would only get paid $16 to $17 and hour, if I'm lucky. Factor in gas prices, taxes and child care if I worked mon-fri and then I wouldn't have money leftover. We save money by me staying home. Child care here in NC for and infant is $$800 to $1,000 a month. That's the same as my rent. Doesn't say go to school cause I did and thought I had a good job in Healthcare. Not anymore.

[@fark69]

@@Georgiagr-uf5kq If you're saving money by staying home, sock it away in an index fund, and when the kids are in school, you can go to a boot camp or learn a new skill or get a certification with that money and get a better job! Sometimes working towards some goal makes it a lot more worthwhile

[@d3vilman69]

Gone is the era where our fathers and grandfathers can just hold 1 job as the breadwinner and still able to support a family with over 3 kids. Now, just being single trying to hold on to a job and maintain regular mortgage and bill payments is already a challenge. How can anyone sane even contemplate marriage with kid/s? Peoples' salaries now can't keep up with the rising housing, healthcare and standard of living costs. In many developed countries people generally are having less children which put governments in a sticky situation as there will not be enough youngsters to replace the workforce

[@codacreator6162]

And the immigration rate will dry up as more and more people realize America is a terrible destination for quality of life.

[@kitaboo206]

Yep I've caught myself lately saying " Why do people even have children?" This world is horrific and our government doesn't care at all about its people. Life is a scam.

[@rosepistilli223]

people actually do have kids all the time and it works out ok. we didn't make enough for daycare so I stayed home. we lived in a really cheap house and shopped at garage sales and thrift stores instead of going to designer baby stores. everyone is trying to dump their baby gear on you so we didn't pay for any of that either. we didn't buy a snoo or an ergo. I mean- if you don't do daycare and you're able to breastfeed it costs like $50 a month to feed and clothe a small child....

[@kitaboo206]

@@rosepistilli223 Yes its just circumstantial. It matters where you live, how much money is coming in, is it you and a partner or are you alone, and if your lucky enough to have family and close friends. My dad tells me" You can do it! It's easy" Lol. I wish I had his optimism, and your reply reminded me of his words. Sometimes it's fear the holds us back, but I do think the fear I have about having kids is understandable.

[@tianawashington8869]

​@BEATNiK B.A.E has CHUTZPAH!!!

[@MS-qh8wc]

This video is right on! And yet the same people turn around and wonder why the birth rate is dropping and why more people are choosing to be child-free. This. This is why. Everything in this video is why.

[@moisesbeyond]

FALSE...it is because women have a very easy life how is possible that in places of the world were women have way less access t oresource they tend to have more kids? cause kids assure them than men will work and provide for her and the kids....but westerners with the obsession with female freedom and empowerment are sigging their own tomb....dont worry third world will take all of your assets for being so stupidly naive.

[@jtrocks7102]

🙌🙌🙌

[@KC-kr8qe]

Couldn't agree more. Having kids comes with wanting to provide them the perfect lifestyle which means working until I'm dead and never enjoying life.

[@moisesbeyond]

@@KC-kr8qe why people in third world countries can have more children?

[@Bunny11344]

@@moisesbeyond cause no education or protection.

[@justjay6445]

I once went daycare shopping with my best friend after she had her kid and I was shocked at the cost! This was a little less than 10 years ago and I was in my mid to late twenties. People look at me like I’m crazy when I say that unless I’m making $100k/year I’m not having children. My Dad for the longest made over $100k/year, but refused to move us out of the hood since he was always afraid of losing his job-lucky enough he was able to purchase a multi family property that helped with the bills, but not once has he ever bought himself a new car and pretty much never asked my mother for money for us. I always ask myself how can my peers and cousins afford to have children in this decade. People, do yourself a favor and go day care shopping with your peers after they have children. Also, buy a multi unit property to help alleviate the cost of your mortgage since your job is never guaranteed.

[@nochannelfoundhere]

The decision to have kids all comes down to finances nowadays. It's true. I've seen with many couples who are struggling to maintain good financial health after having kids, or are waiting long enough to build enough finances before having kids

[@MisterE331]

Seem like a vasectomy is more of an investment to avoid this ridiculous cost of raising kids 😂

[@grumpybulldog19]

Yes, it is. I did it 10 years ago and no regrets. It costs me 50 usd in Brazil.

[@lordsteppergod7269]

Just freeze some of your sperm just in case

[@IIII......]

Abortions also exist.

[@Bunny11344]

I wish more men would do this.

[@carultch]

@@Bunny11344 If every man figured this out, our species would go extinct. Our species depends on people having kids by accident.

[@aidecastaneda7964]

They want no abortions but there is no help how do they expect us to do this

[@spectermakoto9029]

it's cheaper just to bring in foreign workers

[@notyourmama4166]

pull out, rubber, birth control, swallow, vasectomy, tube tying. i just gave you 6 ways of how us tax payers expect you to do this, 5 of them are literally fool proof, all of them except one is a CHOICE made by the two people screwing.

[@jasonbeil7093]

they don't care about the suffering of the serfs they are just worried that we aren't making new ones

[@yamchayaku]

Having both spouses being required to work 40 hour weeks to make ends meet, It would make no sense to have kids. No parent will be present to raise kids except for weekends and putting them in daycare is really no way to raise one. Not only is daycare expensive, it removes parents from their responsibilities of raising one.

[@sarinasmall6619]

✔✔✔

[@whitneyw.7919]

Thank you for your high throne of dr. laura judgmentalism. if it weren't worth having kids w/ two working parents, then pple are self interested and wouldn't do it. You mainly commented because you think pple are undedicated to their kids and you wish to go back to a more conservative past

[@rams3955]

@@whitneyw.7919 No one is even saying go back to a 1 income lifestyle calm down. Countries have the crazy thing called parental leave that the US doesn't guarantee making childcare prior to kindergarten basically a necessity unless you give up 1 income.

[@johnmartin4641]

You don’t get to see them that much during the week anyway because they’re in school until late afternoon and then they have sports and homework afterwards. By the time all of that is over with, you would have been home for a long time if you work 40 hours a week. And then you’ve got all weekend with them. And both spouses aren’t required to work. My wife didn’t work. If some ignorant dream killer told you that’s required in our country, that’s not true.

[@yamchayaku]

@@johnmartin4641 School is basically a daycare anyway so their parents can work 60 - 80 hours a week. About the both spouses not being required to work, that's probably true if you live in some small area, but not likely the case in higher density areas where most of the higher paying jobs are located... That also happens to have a significantly higher cost of living as well. 600k-1mil for a fixer upper or 2.5k-3k rent is usually what most professionals are usually left with. After expenses they'd have some spending money, but most likely will still get ruined as soon as a medical emergency that insurance won't fully cover happens.

[@maywalker997]

The anti-abortion supreme court ruling was already bad enough as it is, but even worse when you consider the crippling costs of raising children in the US. Nothing good will arise from forcing people to have children that they can't afford, let alone want.

[@carieyounginsurance]

So glad there are so many ways to prevent them 🙄🙄 it’s not rocket science

[@savage.4.24]

Some on social security or disability live on less than 1k a month. Think about that. You can break your back at work or need a month off to recover from surgery or a car wreck and end up on disability. Then lose everything. And have no boots nor bootstraps and are stuck in bed or unable to function or are just plain old and retired. Welcome to america.

[@maywalker997]

@@savage.4.24 Not only that, but to give birth in hospital in America costs employer health insurance an average of $14,000, with people typically spending an additional $1000-$2500 out their own pockets on top of that (depending on what state they live in). How on earth this can be feasible for someone, say, like a 15 year old girl to pay for, is beyond me. People who don't have health insurance and who come from poor families who can't cover their costs (or possibly don't even have a family to help them to begin with in the 1st place), will be unfairly punished by these laws as they will have neither the money to pay for pregnancy nor the means to travel out of state for an abortion. So what we will witness is an increase in deaths caused by botched abortions, increase in childbirth mortality rates, increase in child abandonment rates (which will also result in a lot of child deaths), increase in children being born with significant disabilities, increase in poverty (for both children & adults alike) and increases in other problems associated with dire poverty (such as child human trafficking, organ harvesting and child sexual abuse). I've never been convinced that a lot of pro-lifers are "pro-life" because the moment you start mentioning things like the systemic issues with the childcare systems, ectopic pregnancies or general widespread poverty in society, its a mere afterthough (if not something avoided thinking about altogether). Instead, a lot of pro-lifers seem to view girls/women who want abortions as sexually wanton and amoral females who should basically be punished for their "sins" by being forced to remain pregnant and go through an adoption process. And there has always been this sexist, s***-shaming, 1950s Irish protestant-style undertone in a lot of the pro-life movement (even in the comment sections here I have seen pro-lifers saying stuff equivilent to "they [pregnant girls wanting an aborton] should have just kept their legs together or they wouldn't be in this mess in the first place") . In this respect, the "pro-life" movement is much less about "pro-life" and instead more about "pro-existence", "pro-forced gestation" and "pro-punishment-through-pregnancy". edit: I still find it so surreal that in the 21st century, not only has the separation between church and state in America thinned so much, but that people are now being subjected to (and forced to suffer from) these 18th century values. It is also very scary because if people don't do more to stop the pro-life movements from being taken to their logical conclusions, then women and girls in American future society will risk facing being prosecuted for murder for committing abortions (and I kid you not, some politicians in the pro-life movement are now pushing for this to be the next step forward).

[@theia1653]

@ May Walker If you love your daughter, put her on birth control once she has her period, so all this can be avoided. Even if poor with no insurance there are low cost BC. Do it for her health and future, however uncertain it may be.

[@deborahd.7281]

@@maywalker997 It's a good thing that a child has two parents so that one. often the husband, can work as the mother works raising the child.

[@ChadEAult]

Not realizing having kids is not only super expensive but exhausting is truly ignorant. Many people simply shouldn’t have children to begin with. I think I read that a long time ago in “Duh” magazine.

[@Bunny11344]

I realized this as a child lmaooo my mind hasn’t changed either

[@rosepistilli223]

right, can be exhausting and expensive- but it also doesn't have to be and it's actually extremely worthwhile. the biggest cost in childrearing is not money but the personal sacrifice and maturity it takes to do it well. it's actually a good thing to grow up and take care of people.

[@hanalala3164]

@@rosepistilli223 lol you're trying to convince yourself huh?

[@proudly_precious]

i think people know it's expensive, there just don't know how expensive it is till they actually have kids and get the shock of their lives.

[@JL-dj5ek]

Having kids nowadays are more of a burden and stress instead of happiness and fulfillment...

[@rosepistilli223]

it's all how you look at it..... contentment is possible, but only if you want it.

[@truthlove1114]

Sorry but love my kids and they bring me a ton of happiness.

[@thephilosopher5799]

You see it that way. If you truly wanted kids you would make it happen.

[@VicDame]

Yall need to actually listen to people's experiences around you & face the facts. I wish I could afford a family, but as much as my partner and I want to start one, it is just financially unfeasible. People should not have to suffer or worry for their kids concerning poverty level living in order to make it work. Reality, folks.

[@supra2828]

Yep, having kids in the US doesn't make economic sense at this point in time for the majority of people; that's wild.

[@triplikeido75]

Having kids hasn't made 'economic sense' for many decades. The difference these days is that having kids doesn't make any rational or moral sense whatsoever.. and unlike our ancestors, we can choose not to.

[@kevinsanders5410]

“That’s wild” go woke go broke

[@melissahouse3488]

If you buy into the puffed left prop piece!!! Die alone and watch how many of them will be visiting you!!!

[@Mike-dd8bd]

Yet the majority of people are having kids.

[@ajays9936]

@@Mike-dd8bd Birthrates are down to all time lows in the usa...? census data is free Mike

[@PleasantRevolt]

Thank you for bringing up the rebalance of spending from seniors to children, this is SO understated.

[@Zelp789]

@@blakejohnson3864 Communists will invade and steal everyone's inheritance.

[@whitneyw.7919]

Question though, should the old people just die off? I'm not saying they shouldn't just curious to know what you think

[@o0Jahzara0o]

What exactly was she meaning here? Senior care is abysmal.

[@eaguas90]

As a nanny for almost 10 years in some of the most expensive cities, the average competent nanny is not charging 80,000 per year. She may need to specify which tier of care she desires and be more transparent. Caretakers in the US are some of the most needed and underpaid positions. Most families approach me with $15-$20 an hr over the past years. It is normally under the table and your financial safety is not guaranteed at all. Domestic labor is one of the most exploited jobs worldwide, mostly held by women and other minorities with little power to leverage.

[@tashaholyfield5]

I transitioned from nannying making that to a newborn care specialist making 30-35$ a hour. Less stress as well. You basically take care of peoples newborns overnight or during the day and most parents provide a bed for you to sleep in while the baby sleeps. I’m in texas

[@kamilareeder1493]

Usually the agencies charge 80,000$/ year and then they pay us 9,000$/year 😪. Im not a nanny but I teach group classes and birthday parties

[@kamilareeder1493]

@Elena Zara how long did you work as a nanny ? ☝️🙂

[@darlinspaces]

I once got offered 50K a year cash as a nanny to 2 kids and several cats almost 20 years ago. I did not want the responsibility of driving a car that I did not own or get sick from the cats. I knew I made the right decision and just continued with other jobs I did not take the risk of exploitation. I never regretted that!

[@sp123]

@Elena Zara sounds like the plot of a Netflix movie

[@21silvermoon]

Everyone take this as serious warning! We are now in RICH and POOR economy. Wages are not keeping up with needed living expenses. Get to trade school are degree that is the future. Don't have kids if you cannot afford it. It's about to get really bad for people who are living paycheck to paycheck.

[@OJGLOVE]

Previous generation seriously failed us

[@AskMiko]

People are not having children, the cost of raising children is high and now we have children sacrificing their lives to go to school. The US aging society is not realizing their bad decisions is creating a population deficit that can't be fixed with a tax credit. 🤨

[@intreoo]

Over 200 million+ Americans live paycheck to paycheck, and that rate is growing. And yet, amidst all of this, the right to abortion was overturned. Overturning abortion only ensures a new generation of unwanted children that will grow up in poverty with little way of escaping it, only furthering the insane wealth divide. Hard to believe we're the richest country on Earth.

[@alliestella97]

I do not want a child until I have a ton of cash in the bank,investments,multiple flows of income, a stable marriage,etc. The thought of having a child is terrifying to me. the cost is absolutely insane. the fact that we don't have universal paid leave yet is insane to me

[@rosepistilli223]

from someone who has four kids and is ok... it's going to be ok. having kids is hard work but it's wonderful and worthwhile. love exists!! I would rather have all my kids than a vacation every year or the ability to just buy whatever I wanted. some risks are totally worth it❤️

[@rosepistilli223]

and yes, getting married to a good person before you have kids is the best way to ensure financial stability and good outcomes for everyone

[@hanalala3164]

@@rosepistilli223 hell nah. Most mothers I see in my office complain all the time about their kids. Yet when I tell them I don't want kids they turn around and say how wonderful kids are. total bs

[@HasanPulur-mk3it]

@@hanalala3164 yea she is just coping. She is happy and then on youtube. Spreading happiness 😊 bs

[@shihster88]

I tell people that I don’t want kids because of cost in terms of time and money and people chastise me and call me selfish. Experiences like this makes it hard for me to feel bad about families who struggle and makes me not want to support any tax credits for families. Like, I chose to live my life responsibility based on my income…sorry not so sorry you didn’t.

[@anaroman1499]

Yup same... They say just have one and I say are you going to help me with diapers and daycare? Just crickets...

[@miket8909]

Not to mention they get tax breaks for kids while our money goes to schools for kids we dont have

[@TwoLargePizzas]

bringing a kid into the world and unable to support it and unable to give it the life it deserve just for the sake of having kid is the real selfish.

[@donakidder3424]

They are just wanting you to jump off the same cliff they did. You are smart and not obligated to pop kids out for anyone

[@Bunny11344]

I think it’s peoples backward mentality old country mentality. A lot of the boomers were so judgmental. People now see choosing not to have kids is becoming a norm. People are less judgemental knowing how the cost of living has skyrocketed

[@tsunghsiwu]

I spend more on 4 years old son than on myself. you have 80% of miserable life to get 20% of happiness from your kids. if you have very little savings without a kid, than having a kid make you poor due to more spending

[@moyndebs6759]

I’m a Childfree Nigerian guy. If it’s like this in mighty America imagine how difficult it is in Africa. I dunno why being Childfree is still controversial to many. I hope things get better for our world.

[@Coastpsych_fi99]

Same. Sending generation African immigrant that’s childfree.

[@ivyrainbitch]

y'all pick and choose when to call Africa Africa and not the country y'all in.

[@nothingmatters3802]

In poorer nations, more kids means more hands in low skilled labor like farming. But for a country that moved out of low skilled labor, it's a liability.

[@DylanDkoh]

@@nothingmatters3802rich country have child labor and safety laws, get rid of them and people will have more children

[@ursulasmith6402]

No Universal health care, no child aid, no motherhood allowance and no paid maternity leave. Moreover, not any social programs no affordable housing.

[@militaryhomes6292]

I highly encourage some families to look at how much they are making vs how much they pay for child care. You might be surprised how much cheaper raising a family is if one parent stays at home. (If that's a possibility) If one parent stays at home they might be able to become a one car family, they might be able to make better meals instead of eating out because both parents are tired. The stay at home parent can keep a better eye on household expenses and deals at stores. Etc

[@remoir6273]

Ah military family? Lmao. You’re subsidized by the government heavily

[@xxxxMonkeyGirlxxxx]

The United States has changed its economic structure that now relies on a two person income to be able to afford day to day expenses.

[@militaryhomes6292]

@@remoir6273 yep military and I have 2 other sisters and several friends who also stay home with their children. One of their husbands is a nurse another is a high school guidance counselor. I could go on and on about what other jobs they do. They also make it work. So thanks for just assuming that because my husband is military it's the only reason I can stay home with my kids... Look, I posted about staying at home because some parents feel legit stuck right now. The possibility for one parent to be home with the kids is still possible. Look up the KZbin channel" living on a dime" they have great tips for how one parent staying at home can actually help the family save money. People are running this rat race and there are ways out.

[@wystearya4347]

I'll add my two cents. I am not in a military family, and I am blessed to be able to stay at home. We did go down to one car, we are debt free and live frugally. You CAN go to one income and make it. Often it does SAVE money because you don't have to pay for the second car, or childcare, or meals out, etc. Someone has time to cook meals, shop deals, and so many other things that take time but save money! It may not be for everyone, but it works well in our family.

[@militaryhomes6292]

@@wystearya4347 🙌🙌

[@Hersheydimples]

Childcare is ridiculously expensive, and when children do become school aged you have to worry about them getting shot. I'm just not going to have any 🥺😮‍💨

[@Brittany4sure]

Nailed it, I’m with you 😔

[@BeneGesseritSaya]

AND schools are HORRIBLE! I withdrew my son! 1/26 ratios! How tf can a teacher manage 26 kids?!?!???

[@jayrob846]

Or worry bout the kid shooting u these lil punks are monsters these dayz

[@blacklyfe5543]

They are not getting shot wtf

[@asnmdnss]

@@blacklyfe5543 it has happened before, many times

[@heyitsbroski]

I'm blessed to have my daughter at home with my wife staying home to care for her and school her. Our daugthter is 7 and is finally going to regular school this coming school year.

[@grumpybulldog19]

This is the right thing, parents should take care of their children, this isn't a task that you can outsource. Congrats.

[@diegolara4202]

I approve this message.

[@meetseth3]

With all the mass shootings, better to homeschool

[@d3vilman69]

You MUST express appreciation and thanks for your wife to agree to stay home and educate your daughter. I hope even after a hard day's work coming home, when your wife need to relieve the day's stress by talking to you, you will still take some time to listen. It is not easy to take care of household chores and caring for a child at the same time.

[@heyitsbroski]

@@d3vilman69 I got this. 😁

[@tonygilbert5256]

Correction - New Mexico does technically have Paid Family Leave, but it is only for workers of the State of New Mexico who can get it. 12 weeks, fully paid, benefits, and continued accruement of paid time off (vacation and sick time).

[@creatorofgods1668]

Damn if, this is true and only requires for you to be a resident of New Mexico. If, my GF and I have kids we will be moving there 🤣

[@gabval81]

@@creatorofgods1668 I think by state workers, he means government employees.😕😐

[@creatorofgods1668]

@@gabval81 Oh okay 😅 thanks if, you stand corrected.

[@airot1987]

Same with Delaware

[@thecrippledpancake9455]

@@_Meng_Lan Quit rubbing it in, only two states in this county require 12 weeks paid for the mother only. None for the father (Note that some companies do this anyways but even when not legally required)

[@edyann]

It's expensive EVERYWHERE. Not only in the U.S. That's why I only have dogs and cats.

[@janaynmelis5250]

Although I agree with you, I'd still argue that having children in the US is the most expensive. Everything costs more than it should: giving birth can easily cost anywhere from $10-30k or more, the majority of people don't get any help with paying for child care, there is no monthly allowance for people with children and we don't have a federal law giving a good amount of time off of work (getting paid) while taking care of a child.

[@Amanda-zg9pz]

@@janaynmelis5250 kids are a choice. You don’t have to have them. And the stats back me up. Birthrate has been on the decline in the US, Canada and Europe for years. Less people want children I think and the expenses only compound that sentiment.

[@unknownwelder6815]

That's because the world bank controls inflation and our governments sell us out.

[@janaynmelis5250]

@@Amanda-zg9pz yes, having kids are a choice. I didn't speak about it being necessary. The video is about why raising kids are expensive, not why people should or shouldn't have kids.

[@calvinfan6330]

Having a pet is expensive

[@chrisaycock5965]

There's a reason a lot of people are having less if not no kids myself included. Taking care of my household without kids is hard enough why would I want kids if It's such a struggle already?

[@Jessie-uj1sm]

I was a stay-at-home mom and homeschooled, and we struggled. Now my kids are older and I work at a daycare but I am so glad I stayed home. Such a waste of money, it's more cost efficient to watch your own kids if you can. Half the daycare workers are stressed and overwhelmed so half the babies I watch get ignored for pretty much most of the day except for food and diaper changes. It sucks, I hate it for those poor kids. It's also cheaper to homeschool right now, so many groups they can join, free classes online, library books and they don't need new school clothes all the time.

[@plbeckman]

Fantastic points made in this post.

[@economicdevelopmentplannin8715]

This vid is sending the wrong message. With a paid off residence, costs for my family are under $10k yearly per person. I try to teach my kids to finish high school early, so they can get their residence paid off early in life too, to then find someone similar and raise their babies... This cycle goes on forever. From 5-15, we're training our kids for the workforce, so they can secure financial freedom asap (working a couple jobs and using OJT to double wages a few times), then marriage and babies with someone similar at healthiest birthing ages (for mom typically to be at home birthing, nursing, and educating the children, while the fathers continue working FT)... this is where the cycle starts over again.

[@kamilareeder1493]

Having too large of classes is a problem 🙃🙃🥲 when I have to watch lots of babies like that I tend to read and play my guitar so I can try to connect with all of them at once 😪. One time I did the math, and it would be impossible with me to spend more than 20 minutes a day with each baby. If each room has 2 teachers, its still not enough quality time for a baby/small toddler within a 6-8 hour day 🙃🙃. The number difference in what we are paid vs. What the parents are paying shouldn't be allowed ☝️. I've heard elder care is just as bad

[@ShortCircuit131]

This video reconfirmed that getting snipped was one of the best decisions I have ever made. No kids and keeping it that way.

[@rond5936]

🤔😂😂😂😂

[@rond5936]

Yes. It's really becoming too expensive. But some are having 5 kids and receiving government benefits. Your taxes will be used to take care of an irresponsible man's kids so you must have at least 2 kids.

[@pinataprotest]

Right on

[@TheCarlinCoop]

Why do we have to speak about race instead of poverty. There are millions of white parents struggling. We need to help any and all parents despite race but poverty in general. Just a thought

[@stancooksj]

Race is directly related to socioeconomics. The poorest people in the nation tend to be people of color. Yes, there's obviously poor white people but MOST whites have programs and resources to raise their children. If we can't fix the disparities between races, how can you make policy work equally for every citizen?

[@TomyPesantes]

I understand your point, it does seem a bit pointless to talk about the color divide when there are poor white families as well. However if the video were to be more in depth, the color divide is important to mention only because generational wealth is a factor in how much you're able to afford childcare, because if grandpappy left some inheritance or a house in a wealthier neighborhood or whatever instead of nothing, that's always a help in comparison with having generations of people subjected to having nothing

[@TomyPesantes]

@@julm7744 Well even if that was proposed, that would immediately get shot down due to the fact that white people have the political power

[@PP-mz4hv]

Race. Poverty. They've always been synonymous..

[@roo5940]

I mean… do you need like a full American history lesson to understand this or what?

[@Brittany_NRG]

Having insane student loan debt makes it seem absolutely impossible to support a child in the US.

[@johnmartin4641]

1. Get your parents to pay for it. 2. The typical student debt is only around $30,000. That’s less than a new car, yet people pay off their cars in 3-5 years typically.

[@blacklyfe5543]

@@johnmartin4641 they are not going to pay for it

[@jaddek.astrie3071]

@@blacklyfe5543 It's not fair with parents having to take care of that expense.

[@pablo8524]

@@johnmartin4641 It's very stupid to assume that every person has parents who are willing to pay for their debt

[@johnmartin4641]

@@pablo8524 no it’s not. Part of a parent’s job is to provide for their children. From the moment parents find out they’re having a baby until their kid goes to college, they have 2 decades to work, save, invest, and get promotions. The kid obviously can’t do that from the moment they form in the womb.

[@rigil5477]

1) preK and after-school for ALL American children until age 12 2) paid maternity leave for 12 weeks 3) paid paid paternity leave for 4 weeks 4) expanding the child tax credit to ALL American families earning less than $150,000 a year 5) an additional "father" tax credit to recognize married couples How much do these programs cost combined?

[@anodizervintage9622]

socialism doesn't work

[@sorenfuerst7507]

@icky Vicky yeah it should be equal. 12 weeks is not enough either for woman imo

[@rigil5477]

Sweetheart. Did booking your flight go okay?

[@rigil5477]

Well, you must come to my city first. Nothing happens until you arrive. It's long shot but you must come here first. I am sorry if it sounds drastic but it's the only way I know you are sincere. 😂

[@ursulasmith6402]

Look , how much foreign aid, wars and the military costs. They live like royals while everyone else struggles. They get housing allowanc, free housing, hezthcare. Germany and Scandinavia have the best systems, America needs to adopt these. If I were president, that will be my first priority. Solidarity helps too, toss out individualism.

[@divagirl10]

I never had children but I commend those who do and somehow make it work. Much stronger than me

[@ImVeryBrad]

It's hard work, but rewarding. My kids are 8 and 6 now and I find myself reflecting alot on my own childhood

[@hanalala3164]

@@ImVeryBrad lol kids are only fun while they're small. Then you have to deal with preteens and teens sux

[@Elena-er7zp]

This is why families need to stick together!! But nobody supports one another anymore. After my grandparents moved in with us - we no longer needed daycare. My cousin would live with us for the summer. Help each other out!

[@CordeliaWagner]

What about abusive families? Many people have good reasons to cut contact..

[@miket8909]

They're extremely expensive for the citizens that dont have kids. How about tax breaks for those without children, maybe the people who actually have kids should pay for them

[@Homeinspectorsny]

Having kids is like a sentence with restitution. It's costly financially and in many other ways.

[@lazarusblackwell6988]

Very true.

[@kevinc8955]

Paid family leave sounds great until you realize your company is not hiring replacements for you, and all your coworkers now have to work that much harder since they’re now short handed.

[@roddyrod583]

"If you can't feed your baby, then don't have a baby." - MJ

[@jasonshaw3605]

Having kids is expensive, period. Whether that be the government paying for part of it, the employer or the family fiting the whole bill. However at the end of the day it is a choice to have children. Also the cost of having children is not a secret. I knew since I was a teenager that if I was going to have kids I needed to have or be able to generate ( inflation adjusted) at least $600,000 in wealth over 18 years. If I could not generate that amount of money, kids were not an option for me. This is on top of saving for retirement. As a result I have saved and spent wisely since I was a teenager. Now approaching 40 I finally feel like I can generate the revenue and wealth needed to have one or two kids but also realize this still might not be an option for me if I don't find a partner to share/split some of those cost. Kids may not in fact be in the cards for me ever. And I know a thing or two about benefits and finances being in Human Resources.

[@deskubrir]

I won’t have kids either. All my friends push really hard telling me how awesome kids are, but they always skip the part about costs and when they are fed up with their kids and give them an iPad to stay “calm”. For me there’s a saying I love: “I’ll have kids when I get tired of having free time”.

[@nomadundercover3018]

This just makes no sense. People all around the world have kids and earn under $500 a month. Why on earth do you believe you need so much money to have kids? We are millennials and raise a nice size family on way less than most people live on for 2 or 3 people. The problem is people have way too high living standard expectations.

[@deskubrir]

@@nomadundercover3018 Then why a great deal of parents in the U.S. keep complaining that Gov. hand outs such as $3k/yr is not enough? Why kids keep asking for college loan forgiveness that would be paid with all taxpayers money?… and… many more?

[@deskubrir]

@@Dimitris_Half Yeah, because children have a good life only with love, and no financial stability in the families. Then, how come we have so many adults committing crimes or orphanates with plenty of kids? Not to mention, the millios of U.S. citizens receiving extra money and goods for their kids because “they cannot afford them”?

[@deskubrir]

@@Dimitris_Half No, it’s called planning. Just look around and see the huge amount of parents with children that barely have the means to support their own children. Some of them don’t even go to school and rely on the Gov hand outs to “survive”. If I decide to become a parent, I will never worry about money and enjoy raising my kid with a great quality of life… By the way, the first cause of divorce and families in distress is….MONEY!

[@catholicfran]

As latinos, my husband and I plan on helping out our children in the future with childcare the way my mother and her mother did. We want to be present in our future grandchildren's lives. Also, it would greatly help financially the way it did for us. That's the difference between the anglo culture and us. We're family-oriented and that's of utmost importance, our families.

[@dergluckliche4973]

Am Latino. No kids here.

[@r3dp1ll]

I'm a french guy in Mexico and I agree

[@whyguitarguy1]

I have 1 child with my Ex and we have an agreement of what I help with per month, and daycare basically wasn't an option with how expensive it was. (Thankfully we're on great terms with each other) But now he's about to start Kindergarten. My fiancé and I actually decided that we don't want kids due to the world's shape and how our economy is. We'd rather spend a lot of time with each other and my son whenever he comes over. So I got a vasectomy and am glad that I did. My fiancé is too.

[@peni1641]

Congratualtions! I hope you and your wife will have a happy & successful marriage. All the best to your son.

[@Europa1749]

You're going to have a great life!

[@MF-ty2zn1]

Salaries and wages need to go up and high salaries / bonuses need to be kept in check with a percentage ceiling. Also, taxes shouldn't begin until a basic salary of $50,000 is earned.

[@Protectedbikelanes]

Actually people who own their own business pay themselves 60k and they still get kick back privileges from their business expenses for a business tax write off.

[@jayrob846]

If your not making at least $33. Or more an hour in this economy its like working for free!

[@travis303]

"Redirect money from seniors to childcare" the reason why seniors get so much attention paid to them is they actually vote. I'm no senior but I know enough to know that politicians pander more to people that are more likely affect their jobs. Until younger people start outvoting seniors, younger people are going to get squat. That is just the way it is. Seniors are more reliable voters and they vote for things that benefit them, hence all of the money directed toward seniors.

[@carparthero]

never mind expensive, i would like to see parenting education be compulsory for people actively seeking to have kids. too many birdbrains that don't have the emotional maturity or financial capability to have kids. raising kids is a big responsibility.to each their own, i guess lol. having kids and being married was def not the life for me to live. and i am glad i don't have kids to this day.

[@grumpybulldog19]

I agree a hundred percent.

[@sshukla7975]

You are living the dream. And your points completely valid.

[@rebeccaoprea9917]

I agree with your above statement. Although I did start a family and it’s hard and doesn’t come with a manual.

[@carparthero]

@@sshukla7975 thanks for your kind words. all the best to you, personally and professionally. cheers 🍻 from southern ontario 🇨🇦

[@melelconquistador]

The education is very much available and hard to miss. The people you refer to will have kids regaurdless.

[@mhill2468]

Short answer. Government is to blame. Every time a “well intentioned regulation” is put in place by government… the private industry ends up profiting by gaming the regulation. That’s what happened to college, housing, health care, freaking everything.

[@maythesciencebewithyou]

You are in this situation, because your Capitalism is not well regulated. People are free to make as much money as they can.

[@IHateMyAccountName]

Private businesses doing what they want without repercussions is why our healthcare is awful. You can buy the same insulin in Canada for $50 as in the states for thousands because their government tells businesses they can only charge so much.

[@2laidragon]

It will be cheaper for Asians because both paternal or maternal grandparents are willing to take care of their grandkids for many years especially those that are already retired.

[@sshukla7975]

Not the case with most of us. Most Indian grandparents retired or not never help around with kid. Although they want to be cared for like kid, surprisingly just after the birth of child. Most of them start to act as of clueless how to do anything for a child or even themselves. So, it adds more burden. I wish I had central and east Asian grandparents. I have seen how the move in and help out ALOT.

[@janetyingy]

That is not true, sir. And I am Asian.

[@sshukla7975]

@@janetyingy oh no, even there grandparents don't help out? What's happening everywhere?

[@ariapinandita9240]

The minimum number is 2 and the ideal number is 8 children. For the 1950s, having 13 children was very common in Indonesia. Now, both the poor and the rich people prefer to have 3 children...

[@Lee-ks1en]

I retired at 50 to ensure that my grands didn’t need daycare. My daughter and SIL waited until they were 33/34 to have what’s going to be their only child. The cost of daycare is absolutely obscene!

[@frag_g]

When you say make it more affordable, what you're trying to say is make other people pay for the cost of raising your kid.

[@mwilliams82684]

Who are these parents figuring out children are expensive AFTER they have them!?!?

[@mtljin]

I tell every young American I can: if you can? leave america, move overseas. life is so much better elsewhere. leaving New York was the best thing I have done. if you have a college degree leaving america is a lot easier.

[@jessi-rey]

This is good advice. If I may ask, do you think someone with a social work degree find work in another country ?

[@darlinspaces]

@@jessi-rey Canada pays better. But you should be bilingual to come here. Left NY and wound up in Canada- much less stress.

[@jessi-rey]

@@darlinspaceswhich other languages Re useful? I know English, Spanish, and a little German

[@darlinspaces]

@@jessi-rey the most common spoken languages are French (since the 1960s), Cantonese and Arabic. I can tell you our govt. Invited / took in many refugees from African and other countries with Arabic speakers

[@ms_cartographer]

I know which generation is responsible for this, but I'll get accused of age discrimination if I say it.

[@ajays9936]

Boomies

[@JB21-]

I’ve been a stay at home mom for 4 years now because we can’t afford to both go to work and pay childcare on top of everything else, but now things are getting worse and I’m gonna have to do a night shift somewhere while my husband sleeps with them at night and then come home when he goes to work and take care of the kids. It sucks but I have to make sure my kids eat.

[@jigsaw4253]

Best of luck. That must be really hard

[@lenastahl7679]

We pay about 150$ in Sweden for daycare each month/ per kid incl. Food and diapers. Its get cheaper if you have more children. UK has the same issues as the USA. Hope there will be soon a change! ❤️

[@jayrob846]

What ? I pay 1600 for daycare a month here in the U.S.

[@alexfill86]

There will be no Sweden left soon, the way things are going. Last time I visited Stockholm, I thought I was in Pakistan.

[@kaydod3190]

@@alexfill86 damn 😂

[@bobbyboygaming2157]

Yeah just wait until you get a wave of 50 million mexicans establishing themselves in Sweden and everything is gonna suddenly become more expensive, call it inflation, gentrification, budget crisis, it's probably all connected.

[@thedude8526]

You also pay 50 percent in taxes right to support services like this?

[@rickbailey189]

The "middle class" is disappearing in America. Our $1 is shrinking FAST due to inflation and the cost of living is rising too quickly and wages are NOT keeping up. Children are OUT of the (?). TOO expensive.

[@maame4592]

Here’s a groundbreaking idea: don’t have children if you can’t afford to take care of them! I can’t afford a Ferrari and so I don’t have one. Why have kids if you can’t afford it? As a black woman, I know lots and lots of people who have 5, 6, 7 kids when they don’t have stable well-paying jobs or savings. Like why do that? And they fully expect us childless people to subsidize their poor life choices. Hell no!

[@jd7313]

If you're low income, the worst thing you can do is have a kid. Absolutely selfish. Stabilize your finances first, and get to a decent point, before having a kid.

[@samuraijack1371]

That’s a dystopian idea.This is not a universal issue. It’s a US only issue. So what you proposing is just wrong!

[@dawolvx3098]

The worlds resources are dwindling, having kids are for the rich so they may inherit what is left. Population has been on a decline for decades. The reason the US has expensive daycare/childcare is because the US is a litigious society so they need to charge more for Insurance and Legal...simple. After that they go to Tax Payer daycare ie 'Public School'

[@HelloThereUniverse]

Stay single. Simple life. Travel around the world without the hassle of raising a baby. Never a fan of having a baby & will continue to stay that way (at least for me). Many of my sisters having kids and I often wonder to myself, why? You having babies means you're losing your freedom what makes you happy. I know I'll offend people about this but so be it. I'm not looking forward to having kids & will never be.

[@Kingoftheworld500]

I always wanted to have at least one baby but I worry it won't happen for these exact reasons. It's so expensive! I had to go to the hospital earlier this year and I'm still paying the bill on that. I can't imagine what delivery would cost me, even assuming there are no complications.

[@estherfromasia]

Not only in the US, in other countries even in China, Vietnam,etc the costs of raising a child is very expensive too, especially if you wanna give them good education. And the more concerning thing is after they graduate it's gonna be extremely difficult for them to buy a house due to skyrocketing housing prices and inflation. If they are not super lucky or smart and they are just office workers, there's no way they could buy a house.

[@hectoralejandro9883]

Why is childcare so expensive? Why are these prices skyrocketing? No analysis there, thanks CNBC.

[@hectoralejandro9883]

@@julm7744 what is decent? Should you make 6 figures just because you watch 5 kids? Does every kid have to go to a daycare their parent qualifies as sufficient? What if their kid isn’t special or worth blowing out someone else’s tax money?

[@hectoralejandro9883]

@@julm7744 agreed. Help, we can’t afford the expensive options, please pay more taxes so I can afford this elective education instead of basic childcare. Lmao.

[@Nicox4]

I hope this doesnt sound insensitive, but maybe people who can't afford to provide for their children shouldn't have any......

[@OctoberOctopusM]

It's the usual idea that only the rich should have children and the poor should work for the rich as their child carers. Nothing new there ....

[@mysticaccy]

Last year husband spent 18k daycare for our 3 yr old daughter... Our house is $1296 month( ins and morgate) the daycare is $1436... We are literally paying for another mortgage. Thankfully she is starting public Pre-K this fall 👏

[@bigcahuna42366]

I'm 48 years old, never married nor have children. Currently I don't struggle with finances at all because I'm a household of one and earn about the average salary in America. But money would be tight if I had at least two children or more.

[@ericnewman6523]

Child care should be free to all working middle class families making less that 250k a year. They can scrap the tax credits and just give parents 12 weeks of paid leave. Our tax money is used poorly and it’s crushed the middle class.

[@montywilt]

I'm in complete shock that 'the experts' being interviewed in this video have no idea how a tax credit works. You cannot receive a credit against your tax burden if you have no tax burden. Standardized tests to graduate in their states must have been putting shapes in cutout boards. Apparently no one in America learns that the more money you put into the system, the more prices increase. Look at cost of education and look at mortgages. Homebuying is easier to understand... because we allow people to take out a 30-yr loan, it makes the monthly payment more affordable. In turn, that just sets the home prices to what people can afford per month. If 15-yr loans were the maximum home prices would be about 30% less. The more the cost of children is subsidized, the more it will cost. The cost is not static, it is tied to what people can afford. Finally, the "Advanced Child Tax Credit" was awful policy. It had blanket income restrictions across the nation. However, everyone was eligible until they weren't when they filed their taxes in winter of 2022. Therefore, you had people in expensive parts of the country that were just getting by, and they ended up having to pay back the money during tax season. These kinds of programs cannot be determined at the Federal level because it is much more expensive to live anywhere in California than it is to live anywhere in Kansas.

[@carloconopio6513]

So for what best solution?

[@theodorelaurence1790]

People are a joke pretending like they don’t understand why it is so expensive to take care of another human being. Childcare is one of the primary reasons that mothers around the world are poor, you know why? Because being responsible for another human being is expensive. It takes a tram of being to fully address the need and demands of a child, a tram of high quality people and you need to pay for them. Why do you think strangers should provide high quality care to your kids for free? It’s the reason why so many fathers like to be absent or away fro m the home, taking care of kids takes a toll. Being custodially, legally and medically responsible for another person is a huge demand and those are all the demands you are making of a care taker when you ask them to take care of tie kids. If you think taking care of your kids is so easy and simple then do it yourselves. 😂

[@melelconquistador]

The world doesnt deserve children, so let's starve the meat grinder.

[@52baldingindianjanitor72]

Having kids is a choice, if you can't afford it, don't get knocked up/ don't knock someone up. Simple.

[@danceteacherrlb]

Our society is actively hostile to children and families 🙃

[@AtillatheFun]

How? We just don't wanna have to pay for your kids school lunches or other shizz. Just leave us alone.

[@eurekamreum5458]

And is also actively hostile towards single people. In reality everyone who is not filthy rich is being screwed up.