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Post by preraph on Nov 21, 2010 19:41:30 GMT -5
I don't know if anyone happened to catch it, but Joy Behar had a childfree panel on her show. Actually it was 2 childfree and one undecided. She asked the basic questions, and the panel was generally being diplomatic and offering excuses for childfree people being ostracized. But it was nice to see a discussion of it on mainstream media nonetheless. One question Behar asked, of course, was if they regretted it. Both of the CF women were probably over 50, and both said they had no regrets whatever. When asked what about having someone to take care of them in their old age, one of them said she saved about $250,000 by not having a child and reckoned she could afford to hire a Swiss masseuse to do that if she wanted to. Of course, to me those figures you hear about how much it takes seem inflated. School is the big expense, and that's got other options. Behar even said she went to public school and didn't see why everyone wanted to do private, but it does vary area to area. Anyway, nice to see some discussion. She quoted those stats we've seen about the increasing number of childfree. One lady offered as a solution to a decreasing population (who will pay for Social Security) that we just need to let more immigrants in. Of course, she doesn't realize that so many of them are not even paying taxes, much less Social Security, so easier said than done.
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Post by fencesitter on Feb 10, 2011 20:18:52 GMT -5
On the cost of raising a child, it seems to depend on the region of the country. I know from my childhood friends still living in small town, middle America, that the costs are within reason (assuming public schooling). I live in a metropolitan area, where basic--definitely not high end--childcare costs a minimum of $200/week when the kids are older than infant stage. $250/week for the first year. Without counting any other expenses, that alone amounts to over $44,000. Then after care when they are in Kindergarten, summer weekly camps (averaging more than the daycare expenses!), etc. If you have to work outside the home, you are into rather substantial sums even once they are in school full-time.
Honestly, I don't know how anyone can afford children where I live based on the figures routinely mentioned by my parent friends. They usually don't complain, and I never comment, but it costs a veritable fortune even for the middle class. Needless to say, had I had children, I would have done my best to move to a more affordable area.
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Post by cnu5000 on Feb 14, 2011 8:08:58 GMT -5
Here there will be alot of emphasis on sending children to the good private colleges which most people even the upper middle income can no longer afford. They say most people here can not both save for their own retirement and their children's education.
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Post by preraph on Feb 14, 2011 16:39:29 GMT -5
The thing about it being regional is it's all relative. Because people in those areas where it's astronomical to raise children and who send them to private schools also are paying 10 times the amount for their housing and probably making more money at their jobs. Those in my part of the world usually make about $30K a year for an individual person and many times less, but the housing is cheaper. Still if I do the math, based on a friend of mine's household with about $60K total income, spending $1000 a month on rent, plus big electric bills, that cuts your income in half, pretty much. Add on $800 a week for day care for ONE child, and you're in the red. I don't see how anyone affords it, and many do end up on government assistance.
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Post by cnu5000 on Feb 16, 2011 7:16:54 GMT -5
Unless the parents(I am being policitally correct in saying parents-I really mean mothers) earn alot of money-day care will eat one salary. I notice here with working mothers relay on grandparents for help.
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