Having a child is like remodeling a house. Calculate the cost of the project, multiply it by 10, and that's the real cost of having a child. Time lost away from work when the kid has to go to the hospital. But it's great.

This article sounds discouraging to have a child. Like a child is a burden on a couple's life. All the people I know that have children didn't allow their finances slow them down. They made it work because they wanted to have a family.

dienliv- The intention is not to discourage, but to set up expectations and encourage couples to understand the financial implications before starting a family. The article points out the various ways that finances must be reallocated, but in no way does that imply a child would be burdensome.

We can comfortably afford raising children, but we're child-free by choice. Raising children is not something we want to accomplish.

I'm looking forward to solving our financial situation...because I can't wait to have kids!

I wonder how many of us would be here if our parents had considered all of these things.

I think this information is crucial and a great resource for anyone contemplating having children. I feel too often people rush into having babies without really thinking about the overall cost. Knowledge is power. Thanks, Savvy!

I think this is an awesome article, Savvy. People who are considering to have children should read this article.
These are only 8 of the things that future parents need to know, there are many more too! In no way, this was discouraging at all, I think that we need to look at things sensibly too beside the wonderful, delightful aspects of being parents. Like blblio says, knowledge is power

We had our daughter and she was an accident, we were not in a situation to have a baby, but we have made it work and she helped us become an even better couple. We have a better focus on our goals and future, because we are still scraping by, we have in the past year clear all of our debt and are now saving for a house. I have become determined to finish school to increase our income. Now with another on the way, we'll be struggling again but we manage to make it work and we know that our hard work will be rewarded. Every situation is different.

$11,000 in the first year??? You can do it for A LOT cheaper than that if you need to. My personal advice is to breastfeed! Saves at least $1000/year

I know that number seems so very high. Hand-me downs! If you can't breastfeed sign up for those wonderful coupons, they save a ton on diapers and saved a bunch for my sister on formula.

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food for thought..others do notice........At our church we have a family who has 3 children and one on the way...here's the thing...all the mom ever talks about is how they have no money and her sister has to help them pay for everything---so then why did she allow herself to get pregnant again???!!!! UGH!!! so frustrating...and to find out that others in the church have also helped them monetarily and they never paid them back either!! All the while going on vacations, new cars, extras classes, sports, that all costs money....They also expect the school to cover the lunch cost for their 2 children in school and field trip fees!it is very frustrating to think that they are parents who should be smart enough to know better and show a better example for their children. Why is this ok? We cannot work our butts off working 2/3 jobs to support our own smaller families while others EXPECT everyone to just "help" them and take take take....now the school is offering tuition assistance to come from the church collections!!! I for one WILL NOT be contributing to the church basket anymore so that these type of families can abuse the system and our hard earned money!