Reply #115: I don't know how old you are.

[Pithlet]

But things have changed a lot, even in just the past 20 years. Kids really do cost a lot, and I think it's even worse now than it ever was. Until you have them, you really have no idea. It doesn't sound like a big deal to you. Until I had kids, I had no clue either. Kids mean a higher grocery bill. By quite a bit. Even with the coupon cutting and the discount shopping. Groceries have shot up lately, and they aren't coming back down. They also mean more clothes. For example, every time I do laundry, I find another pair of pants with a hole in the knee. And that's when I haven't found that I've put a pair on and they no longer fit. So, gotta buy more. It's a constant expense. They outgrow their shoes constantly. And even if you buy these things discount or second hand. It's still an expense. And then there's daycare, if you work while they're young. It's hundreds, if not thousands of dollars a month. That's money you never see again and couldn't save. Then medical expenses. They need their checkups. Not to mention they get sick. Sometimes it's an ER visit. My insurance requires me to pony up 150 bucks every time that happens. Some aren't lucky enough to have insurance that good, if at all. It's a 20 copay otherwise. I'm also lucky enough that one child requires an expensive prescription medication. Every month, and also requires a specialist every three months, which is an even more expensive copay. Then there's entertainment. Toys. Books. You can be as frugal as possible, but you've got to provide something. And it costs. Yeah, we do the library, but they have their favorite books, too. It all adds up, very quickly. You'd be surprised.