I had a child almost 2 years ago now, and the value of money didn't change much. The value of time underwent some volcanic upheavals, on the other hand. There

I had a child almost 2 years ago now, and the value of money didn't change much. The value of time underwent some volcanic upheavals, on the other hand. There's an awful lot of crap that modern parents buy for their babies that's actually totally irrelevant to what the baby needs to do well (plus it's crazy expensive -- there's a massive "baby tax" -- where everything for babies is extra pricey unless you buy cheap-o brand -- that's kinda like the "wedding tax"). But babies don't need their own rooms, furniture, etc. etc. etc. -- they really couldn't care less about having all of this stuff of their own. They want their parents, and they want to do what their parents do. But their parents are busy working harder so they can pay for the furniture, fancy "genius baby" toys, and fake baby versions of all of the things adults use, when the kid is just dying to use the things the parents already have, and interact with the parents themselves in surprisingly sophisticated ways (if the parents let it happen, that is). Don't even get me started on baby food (hint: eat healthy, breastfeed, and when the kid starts wanting solid foods just leave out the salt and amazingly they pick up on how to chew right away!). Having a kid isn't expensive at all -- monetarily -- unless you get suckered by the industry. (Note: Unless you need to pay serious money for schooling; then it will be very expensive further down the line...). But in terms of time... well, everything changes. We're doing better & better at integrating her into our lives (rather than "now I'm watching the baby so everything else stops), but I'm a developer. There's no good way to involve a 2-year-old in writing code, so while the laundry may be done and the dishes washed, I tend to work a lot at night.....