How many kids can you really afford in today’s economy if you love big families?

[Kelly6]

we live in small rural town on our farm house, so wanted a big family.

Today so happy and joyful day for us.

[Kelley1]

100 years ago, when a few families lived on farms, the children paid their way by working on the farm, so the more children, the more the farm produced. However, since there are no family farms in the USA, children are very expensive. Few families could afford more than 3 children.

[Kelley1]

Thank you for the MHO.

[ImSparkly]

We’ve got two and that’s enough, about six years between the two. Health issues kept me from having another. Housing and groceries here in Canada are crazy compared to my parents in California, and sibs elsewhere in the states.

[Kelly6]

@ImSparkly
Health issue?

[ImSparkly]

Complications.

[OneViewpoint]

The US economy is designed to keep the average person mired in debt from womb to tomb. So more and more people are opting out of kids and families. My ex and I raised 2 boys. We wanted a girl too (especially my ex) but, it never happened. It would have been nice to experience the difference between raising boys and a girl. C'est La Vie, I have 2 healthy successful boys. That is enough.

I think if you are gonna raise a large family here, a rural life on a parcel of land is probably the way to go in the USA too.

[SeekerOfTruth007]

The government pays you huge tax incentives to have children. I don't recommend it, but my parents raised 3 kids on what amounted to lower class income. Most years, they qualified for government assistance is how low my parents combined income was, because they were usually sick or under-employed.

They pay you refundable child tax credits and Earned Income credits to have children, so even if you make below average income, you should be able to raise 2 or 3 children in the USA. If you make above average income, you should be able to raise as many as you want. My sister makes over 200k per year now and her husband used to make about 110k per year. He took a lower paying job a few years ago to be closer to home more often after my sister got sick. They only have one child though, and don't plan on having another. He's a massive success though, because he'll be the High School Valedictorian and a star Tennis player too.

[Kelley1]

Even with government support, the children of poor families have less.

[Nikki1989]

A quick Google search told me around $310,000 for each child until the age of 17 and much more if you intend to send them to college or university.

[Kelly6]

@Nikki1989
WOW, 300k for 1 kid?

[Nikki1989]

That is what it said. I have heard people estimate it is closer to a million by the age of 21.

[nastyb]

my parents raised two childrne under poverty. they were miserable. Truly do not do it unless you have the money. Otherwise you will suffer.

[Kelly6]

@nastyb 100% agree

[Rei13]

It depends on where you live/what your income looks like/what you prioritize in having. Might be hard to have a big family if you live in the city and can barely afford what you have without children compared to living in the middle of nowhere on a comfortable income

[molonski2]

I would have loved a big family , but even then it was just too risky $$$ wise , if I felt my marriage was stable , a wife efficient in eccomic matters , working as a team , I'd have 5 or even 7

But that sadly was never going to happen ( 2 ) and I was working my guys out , just impossible.

[exitseven]

We had 3 kids and that was a lot back then. When I was a kid in the 70s most families in my neighborhood had 5 , 6 or even 7 kids. We had somebody n the neighborhood that had ten kids.

[PeachyPie93]

I think 2 is a good number 3 tops if you don't want it to become a burden..

[LiamJHayden]

I inherited my house and have a good income, but also live in California. If I could have kids, I'd think any beyond four would start to become financially difficult here.

[Iron_Man]

You better stay where you’re at because America is extremely expensive to raise even one child to even support yourself now

[MrChinaski]

I have two. We sank a truckload of cash into private schooling. I think three would have been a financial challenge. But there are far cheaper ways to raise kids well.

[RandomGirl42]

I'm glad it is a joyful day for you! 😊

And we can barely afford the 1 dog and cat we have! 🤣

[AviatorTom]

We had 3 kids. It was challenging, but we did it. That was several years ago. In today's world, one, maybe two, kids is a realistic limit.

[AgentG111]

Depends on your income, location and how big.

[Sunrising]

I haven't met anyone to have children with at present.

[MikeTheBartender]

I'm fairly wealthy and if I had a family I'd say four max. And that would be a comfortable but not glitzy lifestyle.

[jshm2]

Doesn't really matter, as if you have the love, you will find a way.

[jamesgoldman]

None, £6k is enough to support me comfortable for a year

[XXblack88]

On my income one kid would be hard

[Sammy098]

I think it really depends on where you live and how much you make

[Celticwolf78]

Maybe 1 or 2 not even that while the idiots are in office

[TonyMetal___86]

In such economy, maximum two

[loveslongnails]

Forget the economy, I don't want kids.

[Marissa4]

None really.

[Tonita026]

None to be honest

[dragoblack]

A pet fish

[dougeats]

4 tops

[rapfan107]

Hardly one