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Comment by simonh | Hacker News Reader

Once you have kids the calculation changes, at least for me.

I could retire comfortably in a few years, but my earning power is at it's peak. Every extra year I work provides significant extra resources for my family, to help the girls afford their first houses and get a good start in life when they graduate. I'll probably work another 5 years beyond what I'd probably do if it was purely about self-interest for myself and my wife.

I'm lucky that I enjoy my work, so it's not a massive sacrifice, but I do enjoy my leisure activities more. I'm really looking forward to being able to go somewhere interesting in the world with the missus and just stay there for 6 months. Also I'm a Brit here in the UK so health care is just not really an issue.

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>Also I'm a Brit here in the UK so health care is just not really an issue.

The Tories really don't like the NHS so I'm assuming they will continue to squeeze it. I wouldn't be surprised if we end up paying for things like joint replacements.

> ...to help the girls afford their first houses and get a good start in life when they graduate...

I thought having a possibility to graduate is 'the good start' in life.

Not for a few decades now. Since a 4 year degree is the baseline for young people entering the workforce, a degree is not a guarantee of prosperity.

Why can't your kids work for their own house? It builds character. My mom told me I had to get a scholarship if I wanted my college paid, so I got one. Nobody is going to hand me a house either so I sought (and received) exceptional return in Bitcoin

So you got lucky on a crypto-gamble and you think your situation applies to everyone?

Help could mean a lot of things... it could mean $20K towards their down payment all the way up to buying the damn thing, the poster didn't really clarify.

This whole "builds character" thing is a bunch of bullshit that people spout off to poo-poo those that have a leg up in life.

Its not a gamble. It's a sure thing that only people with the right mix of technical knowledge and Austrian economics can see

Could you describe what you saw?

Also very easy to justify as obvious after the fact only.

I can only assume your account is satire.

Fair question, they can. Both are working towards well paid careers. Still, housing costs in the UK are extremely high these days. I got help from my parents with the deposit for my first house and I want to be able to do the same thing for my kids.

They’re both hard working, they do well at school and have part time jobs over the summer. I’m not worried about them on that score.

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