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I explain it to people of reproductive age as such: Kids cost roughly $270k (2022 inflation adjusted from earlier USDA data) to raise from birth to 18. Each child. Can you afford a Supercar or a fancy boat? If not, how can you afford a kid? And more than one? Good. Luck.

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> Kids cost roughly $270k (2022 inflation adjusted from earlier USDA data) to raise from birth to 18. Each child. Can you afford a Supercar or a fancy boat? If not, how can you afford a kid?

an 18 year auto loan sounds like a bad idea. but $15k (nominal) per year is less than state university tuition.

Back out from current housing, healthcare, food, fuel and other non discretionary costs to what wage/income you’d need to be in the black including the cost of children. Last I checked, the math doesn’t pencil out until you’re hitting ~$50k-$60k/year, a bit below median income ($67k/year), and you’re cutting it really close.

Reasoning from first principles is depressing sometimes.

https://www.zippia.com/research/should-i-have-a-baby/

Could probably afford one with a 18 year installment plan. ;-) Also, hand-me-downs.

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