Don't ever have kids.

[NDallasRuss]

NDallasDaughter got her braces off a couple of months ago, and has a retainer she's supposed to be wearing. She accidentally threw it away with her lunch trash at school yesterday. It's going to cost $283 for a new one. She doesn't have that much, so we'll have to pay the difference - out of pocket, since the braces ate up the lifetime orthodontia benefit. I can't just not get it and undo $4500 worth of braces. Man, kids are expensive. And irresponsible.

And yes, I recognize that she's only going to get more expensive as time goes on. Look for my posts later on down the road about the cost of prom, the dent she'll put in her first car, how expensive college is, wedding costs, etc. I'd have been better off buying bitcoins!

 

[Noleguy06]

Thank you for posting. Just recently got married and everyone around us either has kids or want kids. I'm eh and this only helps.

 

[NDallasRuss]

Thank you for posting. Just recently got married and everyone around us either has kids or want kids. I'm eh and this only helps.

Admittedly, the good parts are really great. But man, so much of the time and money that you probably have plenty of now, will be consumed by the kid.

I'm just hoping that all this investment pays off when she does something to change the world for the better, and figures out how to monetize it so she can take care of her dear old dad!

 

[RunRonnieRun]

Thank you for posting. Just recently got married and everyone around us either has kids or want kids. I'm eh and this only helps.

Thought you were neutered?

NDallas - you’re whining about $300? Cost of doing business.

 

[Cribbs]

Yeah, I have a $2,000 daycare bill every month. Smh on kids.

 

[SeaPA]

I feel your pain. I just paid for an awesome ski trip for this winter. Hopefully the boys’ orthodontist and his family will enjoy it and post some nice pics on Facebook, maybe even bring me back a souvenir.

 

[OrlandNole]

When my kids are out of college, I'm going to have so much extra money I'm not going to know what to do with it. It will be like adding another full time income.

 

[NDallasRuss]

NDallas - you’re whining about $300? Cost of doing business.

Not the amount, as much as the principality. The initial $4500 for braces included the retainer, and she threw it away. She set it on a napkin while she ate lunch: She'd left her retainer case in her classroom...because she didn't want to lose it...

 

[NDallasRuss]

Yeah, I have a $2,000 daycare bill every month. Smh on kids.

Kinda like when you can stop buying diapers and formula, that's a big milestone day: when the kids start school and you drop the preschool bill. Unless you send them to an elite private school, I guess. Seems like the money's never really freed up though - just reallocated to the next thing in line.

 

[Fijimn]

NDallasDaughter got her braces off a couple of months ago, and has a retainer she's supposed to be wearing. She accidentally threw it away with her lunch trash at school yesterday. It's going to cost $283 for a new one. She doesn't have that much, so we'll have to pay the difference - out of pocket, since the braces ate up the lifetime orthodontia benefit. I can't just not get it and undo $4500 worth of braces. Man, kids are expensive. And irresponsible.

And yes, I recognize that she's only going to get more expensive as time goes on. Look for my posts later on down the road about the cost of prom, the dent she'll put in her first car, how expensive college is, wedding costs, etc. I'd have been better off buying bitcoins!

We are already sacking ortho money away for my daughter. Preemie adult teeth be pretty jacked up....babies born at 26 weeks can be very bad. Hope for the best. This is, of course, on top of the $1.1 million the NICU billed my wife's insurance...

 

[SeaPA]

Not the amount, as much as the principality. The initial $4500 for braces included the retainer, and she threw it away. She set it on a napkin while she ate lunch: She'd left her retainer case in her classroom...because she didn't want to lose it...

She’s probably the first kid who ever threw away a retainer.

 

[Random_John]

My kid when he was in day care was about $900/month
He needed Nutramigen formula as a kid as it was all he could keep down. $40 a can serveral times a week.
We paid for 2 trips and stays at the hospital because of the issue that caused the need for the formula.
We paid for tubes in the ears and he was his doctor's youngest patient ever.
As mentioned earlier about diapers.....forget about it.
Earlier this year he broke his leg and that was more than $1000

 

[OrlandNole]

 

[ggmike1992]

Been there done that. Currently in the college era of expenses.

 

[runkpanole]

I have one and another on the way. Just on daycare alone, I may go broke.

 

[F4Gary]

Wait till she's in her 20's, single, gets pregnant, and moves back in with you...

 

[RTM58]

 

[funksouljon]

We were paying $2k per month for preschool, was a nice change when big moved to K but since it is full day K, we still pay some. Next year is when we don't have to pay for her. Little is still 2 years out.

Was chatting about a family friend who plays almost $50k in preschool in the Boston area. WTF? You could hire a live-in nanny to raise your kids for that amount!

 

[ReliableOstrich]

Have been subtly hinting to GF how much of a nuisances kids can be in hopes of having her arrive to same conclusion herself.

I have no interest in such frivolity. This world is messed up and getting worse, no desire to force another human to put up with the mess we've created until the year 2120.

 

[Fijimn]

Have been subtly hinting to GF how much of a nuisances kids can be in hopes of having her arrive to same conclusion herself.

I have no interest in such frivolity. This world is messed up and getting worse, no desire to force another human to put up with the mess we've created until the year 2120.

I sat on the couch last night with my little one watching Rudolph, with her snuggling next to me asking me why the deer were so mean to Rudolph. And listened her talk about how she wants to be a pet and a people doctor when she grows up...maybe she'll be one of the ones to change the messed up world.

 

[seminoledq]

Been there done that. Currently in the college era of expenses.

That's where I'm at too. Both my kids will graduate college with loans that we will help with but not cover completely. Eventually the money we are sliding into the 529's will be able to go towards something for us, like retirement savings or a golf cart.

 

[ReliableOstrich]

I sat on the couch last night with my little one watching Rudolph, with her snuggling next to me asking me why the deer were so mean to Rudolph. And listened her talk about how she wants to be a pet and a people doctor when she grows up...maybe she'll be one of the ones to change the messed up world.

Fair enough. I do have more hope in the millennial and younger generations, they seem to have a sense of empathy and social responsibility genX, genY, boomers, etc... have largely been lacking.

It'll serve them well in a world where all jobs are done by robots and all money is controlled by robber barons. My world view has grown exceptionally bleak in light of a mix of technology, rigged policy, and growing racial animus. Dystopian you could say.

 

[VirginiaNole]

Good luck folks. As of last spring my youngest graduated college, has a job and her own apartment.

I am done with all that. The boss and I can always return the grand kids when we have had enough....if/when they arrive. In the mean time we are empty nesters.....

 

[RTM58]

Fair enough. I do have more hope in the millennial and younger generations, they seem to have a sense of empathy and social responsibility genX, genY, boomers, etc... have largely been lacking.

It'll serve them well in a world where all jobs are done by robots and all money is controlled by robber barons. My world view has grown exceptionally bleak in light of a mix of technology, rigged policy, and growing racial animus. Dystopian you could say.

 

[seminoledq]

Good luck folks. As of last spring my youngest graduated college, has a job and her own apartment.

I am done with all that. The boss and I can always return the grand kids when we have had enough....if/when they arrive. In the mean time we are empty nesters.....

Well done you lucky dog.

 

[DanC78]

Don't ever get divorced. The cost only goes up.

I spend about 20k on attorney fees a year (to date at least) on my stepson who lives with us half the year. I love him, but damn...he's not cheap. Plus I have to split half of all his cost, even when he's not with me...like travel soccer, 1500k a year for him to play a sport I've never seen him play....yeah....think about that.

 

[seminole97]

Earlier this year he broke his leg and that was more than $1000

 

[cfbfan23]

I don't run into too many folks who honestly regret having kids. They can be a pain and are expensive, but they're worth it.

 

[LesClaypool]

I don't run into too many folks who honestly regret having kids. They can be a pain and are expensive, but they're worth it.

I love my daughter more than anything else in the world...but, absolutely no fault of hers, just basic human selfishness, I'd definitely consider not having kids if I had it to do over again.

 

[NoleFan2U]

Now you tell me this?

 

[Nole Lou]

I love my daughter more than anything else in the world...but, absolutely no fault of hers, just basic human selfishness, I'd definitely consider not having kids if I had it to do over again.

I don't think those two statements can both be true.

 

[Nole Lou]

I have three...they've been expensive, but we've managed it well, and have escaped the real high ticket items like travel hockey or horses. On the other hand, it did cost my wife 15 years of full time work, so I guess it's just as huge.

All three have done braces...if you have little kids, just resign yourself...all kids get braces now. I couldn't tell why my kids needed them, and I can't tell the difference after they've had them. But every kid "needs" them now.

From what I understand, the new thing is braces TWICE. When they start trying to put your 9-year old in braces, keep that in mind...apparently now they're pushing a first round, and then a second round later.

I definitely haven't loved shelling out every expense, but I can't say I've ever considered that I'd rather have had the money than the kids. I like my kids a LOT. I mean, everyone (almost) loves their kids, but I also really LIKE my kids. From the time they were toddlers to the time they were adults, they have been my favorite people to be around.

 

[cfbfan23]

 

[RTM58]

Don't ever get divorced. The cost only goes up.

Hence the Kiffin gif.

 

[RangerNole]

Kids are awesome; but not for everyone as we see in society today. My question is those of you dropping 2k a month on day care I have to assume your wife makes serious bank as well? I mean 25k a year to have someone else watch your kid is like 30k-35k in taxable income and it is being spent on just one thing? My mortgage is pretty close to 25k per year and I live in a house on HHI with water views. Not trying to make anyone feel bad but dang that is some serious cash for day care.
Did anyone ever consider just having your wife stay with the kids? I know some people get upset by this suggestion and I am NOT trying to tell people how to raise their kids; that is always your call. My wife and I discussed this prior to me even proposing and we both believed that if you have kids our main goal was to raise them ourselves and to be productive, morally sound, good decision makers etc. Even if both parents are home that doesn't always happen but it did for us and raising our kids, once we had them they were was always priority #1.

Heck one of the most surprising but thankful things in my life was when I came home and we discussed how a company was going to pay me roughly 30k-40k per month to go overseas and do contracting work. My wife said she was ok with it, which I thought was the big hurdle; she just wanted it to be a family decision. We had the discussion with the kids and I figured I was on easy street. Nope kids were basically like no dad we want you around and you could die. Maybe my wife set me up; but still it is nice that your pre-teen kids want you to hang out with them.

 

[LesClaypool]

I don't think those two statements can both be true.

Sure they can.

 

[cfbfan23]

Kids are awesome; but not for everyone as we see in society today. My question is those of you dropping 2k a month on day care I have to assume your wife makes serious bank as well? I mean 25k a year to have someone else watch your kid is like 30k-35k in taxable income and it is being spent on just one thing?

Daycare costs vary. $2K/month is probably at the upper end for most areas of the country. There is a break-even number for every family which will more than likely guide their decision to daycare or not. With 1 or 2 two kids, daycare probably makes sense.....but if you have a bunch of kids, the stay-at-home scenario might make sense.

My mortgage is pretty close to 25k per year and I live in a house on HHI with water views. Not trying to make anyone feel bad

I'm pretty sure that no one in the Locker Room is envious of your housing situation.

 

[seminoledq]

Kids are awesome; but not for everyone as we see in society today. My question is those of you dropping 2k a month on day care I have to assume your wife makes serious bank as well? I mean 25k a year to have someone else watch your kid is like 30k-35k in taxable income and it is being spent on just one thing? My mortgage is pretty close to 25k per year and I live in a house on HHI with water views. Not trying to make anyone feel bad but dang that is some serious cash for day care.
Did anyone ever consider just having your wife stay with the kids? I know some people get upset by this suggestion and I am NOT trying to tell people how to raise their kids; that is always your call. My wife and I discussed this prior to me even proposing and we both believed that if you have kids our main goal was to raise them ourselves and to be productive, morally sound, good decision makers etc. Even if both parents are home that doesn't always happen but it did for us and raising our kids, once we had them they were was always priority #1.

Heck one of the most surprising but thankful things in my life was when I came home and we discussed how a company was going to pay me roughly 30k-40k per month to go overseas and do contracting work. My wife said she was ok with it, which I thought was the big hurdle; she just wanted it to be a family decision. We had the discussion with the kids and I figured I was on easy street. Nope kids were basically like no dad we want you around and you could die. Maybe my wife set me up; but still it is nice that your pre-teen kids want you to hang out with them.

This is easy to explain. Your wife knew what kind of coin she'd be getting if you went overseas and croaked. Your kids didn't.

 

[RangerNole]

Daycare costs vary. $2K/month is probably at the upper end for most areas of the country. There is a break-even number for every family which will more than likely guide their decision to daycare or not. With 1 or 2 two kids, daycare probably makes sense.....but if you have a bunch of kids, the stay-at-home scenario might make sense.



I'm pretty sure that no one in the Locker Room is envious of your housing situation.

I am sure but wasn't my point. I live in a high housing cost area; median home cost is 400k or so, but my mortgage is about the same as day care. I didn't think about more than 1 kid though, so I can see how it gets high. I guess for us would rather lose wifes income for 6 years or so than pay 25 k to day care. No worries though everyone has their plan and what woks for them.
Of course if you lived where I do you get the POA war to deal with, so there are draw backs.

 

[RangerNole]

This is easy to explain. Your wife knew what kind of coin she'd be getting if you went overseas and croaked. Your kids didn't.

Actually she was much better off if I lived back then than she is today if I get whacked. Of course she could have taken all my money, my kids, flat out disappeared back then and I wouldn't have known it for months. I still can't tell you what is my bank account right now; haven't handled money in our marriage in over to 20 years.