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10. Growing up in with constant financial stress is hard on kids

Reply to The Straight Story (Original post)

Tue Dec 13, 2011, 07:02 PM

Dec 2011

Im not talking about just not having the latest cool clothes or neat gizmo; I mean growing up in a house where no one answers the phone because it's a bill collector or skip tracer. Listening to parents fight over money isn't fun. Evictions, repossessions, foreclosures - all of these suck for kids. The way these two are spending - nearly a grand more a month than they make - that's where they're headed with ONE kid. Babies and children need things - diapers, food, clothes, medicine and a hundred other things - that all cost money, and will dig them deeper into a hole.

It's not about 'class' - its about common sense. If they can make serious changes in their spending, start saving and plan ahead, no doubt they can afford another child. At this rate, they can afford to wait.

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(Suze Orman)Apparently Poor & Middle Class People Shouldn't Have Babies [View all] The Straight Story Dec 2011 OP

Well, I agree with it to some degree Uranus Needs Men Dec 2011 #1

While their intentions are honorable, their priorities are out of whack rocktivity Dec 2011 #7

Many, many people work on different shifts and their families do just fine. It takes a lot of extra Brickbat Dec 2011 #12

they may want their child to have siblings to grow up with, to teach, to learn from, etc. CreekDog Dec 2011 #22

this is what we do Maine-ah Dec 2011 #27

Since we are all anonymous on here, may I ask shift happens Dec 2011 #32

combined income while I was working was 70k a year. Maine-ah Dec 2011 #38

I agree with Suze. DeadEyeDyck Dec 2011 #2

"Their expenses are $6500/mo. They make $5600/mo" Obviously that's not working. alphafemale Dec 2011 #3

But if they don't want her advise DeadEyeDyck Dec 2011 #6

"You CAN'T afford another kid" is exactly correct. ManiacJoe Dec 2011 #31

I agree too lakerboy Dec 2011 #4

Nobody can actually afford a child Missy Vixen Dec 2011 #5

But Suze ... frazzled Dec 2011 #8

Your response illustrates what (for me) is so despicable about those contemplating having children Uranus Needs Men Dec 2011 #11

You've got it all wrong frazzled Dec 2011 #14

Re-read your post, m'dear Uranus Needs Men Dec 2011 #15

Hello, you try re-reading frazzled Dec 2011 #28

I'm finding your posts kind of amusing cali Dec 2011 #17

What the hell! vankuria Dec 2011 #23

Jesus Christ people frazzled Dec 2011 #29

Wasn't addressing your post, sorry vankuria Dec 2011 #39

Heh, I'm sorry, too! frazzled Dec 2011 #40

How much of that income is made by the wife/mother? customerserviceguy Dec 2011 #9

They are about the same but she carries the insurance sammytko Dec 2011 #13

In a lot of places customerserviceguy Dec 2011 #24

Growing up in with constant financial stress is hard on kids REP Dec 2011 #10

Post removed Post removed Dec 2011 #16

oh codswallop. I know lots of kids who grew up relatively (and quite) poor cali Dec 2011 #18

I agree with Suze - here's my take (or story as it were) - Mira Dec 2011 #19

Forgoing a second child will not solve their income/spending problem. She should address that first. Brickbat Dec 2011 #20

They are running $900 in the red every month. Until they can get that straightened out, iris27 Dec 2011 #21

Right now they can't afford another ANYTHING! WillowTree Dec 2011 #25

I agree, though I haven't read her exact words. It's much more expensive to have children napi21 Dec 2011 #26

i don't watch videos but yah suze is right pitohui Dec 2011 #30

why would anyone ask her for advice to have another child? madrchsod Dec 2011 #33

I don't think she's saying that. She's saying people in the red shouldn't be having kids. Selatius Dec 2011 #34

I have to say on that matter, that we are over populated. juajen Dec 2011 #35

Suze estimated it costs an additional $700-1000 a month per child. boppers Dec 2011 #36

Orman is a charlatan, but... Sen. Walter Sobchak Dec 2011 #37