Actually, very much so. My husband and I aren't ready to have kids quite yet, but money is definitely a big issue when the time comes. It's actually pretty scary...

Nope. We have been saving a lot and learning about money since the start so it wouldn't be an issue.

Nope. Im not married and have no love interest so its not an immediate concern but I know that before I commit my life to someone and start a family I will be financially viable.

Nope. We're child-free due to personal reasons, not economic ones.

Well it doesn't stop many people who have kids for the government handouts.

Nah, never wanted kids. 42 now, and no regrets. I can certainly see how it can be tough financially in this day and age though!

yes. my husband and I would already be trying if it wasn't for money problems. We're 30 and I thought we'd already have a child by now, but it may never happen. I don't want to bring a child into the world unless we are more financially secure, since there are so many unknowns that could be very expensive.

Haha, very true, bluepuppybites!!

Yes, my husband & I are waiting until we have more of our mortgage paid off and have gotten a couple more pay raises until we start a family.

Has anyone seen the movie Idiocracy? This reminds me of it...

I love Idiocracy! It's hilarious!

We do not have kids yet and yes one of the reasons is money. I worry how we will pay our mortgage if i take a few months off from work. So we have been trying to save extra money to get us by so i could take a few months off.

Liss that's what I'm concerned about too. My work gives me the 12 weeks off but it's all unpaid. I'm the breadwinner in my family. My husband's income is not steady. We can save up three months of big expenses, but I feel like we need even more --- just in case everything doesn't go smoothly and I have to miss even more work because of bedrest or something like that.

What is Idiocracy?? Never heard of it!

Here's the trailer for Idiocracy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0yQunhOaU0

Basically, smart people hold off too long on having kids, and dumb people reproduce like crazy and take over the world, and Luke Wilson ends up being the smartest guy in the world.

It's definitely a factor in our waiting. I finished law school less than two years ago and just started my 'career' job (I was a judicial law clerk for a year) so we're saving now for baby. I honestly think family (we're both the oldest) will be very generous with nursery furniture/ clothes (it's just how our families are ) but daycare around here is $1,000 - $1,200 a MONTH. I'd like to wait until we have a little more in the bank.

PLUS: I can roll over my sick leave and vacation leave so I'm ONLY taking personal leave now (that's use it or lose it) ... and saving up the other two types of leave for maternity leave

I don't want kids, under any circumstance. But, shouldn't your financial situation play apart in the decision making? If you're in financial distress why would you bring someone else into the equation, that doesn't make sense to me.

thanks jacrabbit, that sounds hilarious

we waited 8 years to start trying and then he lost his job! sucks.

i know that my fiance and i talk about affording a child more and more, but i don't think that it's going to keep us from having them. it's something that we've always wanted and we'll just have to adapt when the time comes.

CaterpillarGirl - ugh that does suck!!!

Its smart to think ahead but if you wait til you can afford it, it may be too late. We stressed about it but decided to go ahead and its worked out. And she's so worth it!

It didn't stop us from having the first two. It's certainly not encouraging another though!

Oh I am sorry CaterpillarGirl -that does suck.
I don't want kids right now and I am inching towards 30 (I am 28) so who knows. If I do decide I am stable enough for kids then I will most likely adopt. I am not interested in my own.

My husband and I are a few years off from having kids so hopefully the economy will have rebounded by then, but if it doesn't, it may have an impact on our decision.

yeah, money is certainly part of the reason we haven't had children yet.

My fiance and I have recently been discussing this very topic. Although it will be a few years until we have children, I worry that we will not be able to afford to have a child. Hopefully by then his job will be more secure and we will have enough money saved up.

Well, luckily I don't want kids for another 5 years at least, so it isn't a big issue. But I do know that I want to be financially stable before I even start trying.

Finances are certainly a factor in when we'll have kids, but right now it's not a full-fledged concern. Then again, we're still working on the getting married part! We're both very good about saving and we're working on financial plan together in the coming months to buy a house (kids will definitely be a part of that discussion).

Yes, this is a major issue for me and my hubby and one of the reasons why we have not gotten pregnant. It really sucks. But I have so much to worry about on a month to month basis that bringing a child to this earth will make our struggles much harder. And school is another issue. Trying to finish my education is very important to me and my husband. I hope and pray that by the time i finish my BA I will be able to bring a baby to our lives.